Please help me choose a Speciale

Hey guys, quite new to this board but have been dreaming of a speciale since I spent a day in on a track a few years ago. Time has finally come to buy one. I flirted with the idea of an SLR or Ford GT but my heart is with the Ferrari I think. Basically looking for a weekend car to have a blast in, that may appreciate over time.

The three speciales that I’ve been looking at are:

1. black with gold stripe and gold wheels, black alcantara interior. Very high spec, full carbon package outside and extended alcantara on the inside, and 16,000km.

2. Tour de France blue with white stripe, black wheels and yellow/black leather interior. Medium spec otherwise and 18,000 km.

3. Grigio ferro, black alcantara interior, black stripe, grey wheels. Quite low spec (no carbon on the outside for instance) and 23,000 km. This one also comes from an official Ferrari dealer with two years of approved warranty.

I personally like the Grigio’s looks the most but am having a hard time getting past the low amount of options and relatively higher km. That being said I’d be happy with any of the cars so I’m really torn as to which one to go with - which one represents the best value for what it is.

 

The black with gold stripe is at the one at Car & Car in Milan? I bought my Speciale there a few years ago, and it was a nice and easy transaction. I would buy from them again.
Regarding your question, I would avoid a low spec. You will always regret...
And if you look for a white Speciale, I'm thinking of selling mine. But I have a higher mileage (32.xxxkm).
Good luck in the purchase!

 

Tough choices. With three significantly different colors it seems that would dictate your decision. I prefer Grigio. Please share photos of your purchase.

 

Yeah, the black is from Car & Car. I personally like the black but not sure if its a "Ferrari" colour and if it would be desireable when I inevitably want to try something new in 5 years.

Here are the links for the black: https://www.carecar.it/annunci/ferrari-458-speciale/#1511343471564-cbef8ae1-0bdd
and the tour de france blue: https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/ferrari-458-v8-4-5-speciale-gasoline-81a80ff0-7e36-4e86-af72-09e11d6be850?sort=price&desc=1&lastSeenGuidPresent=true&cldtidx=14&position=14&search_id=2fke688n7ur&source_otp=t10&source=listpage_search-results&order_bucket=unknown

 

Tough choices. I love the TdF blue one you linked.

 

You have a wide variance in taste so half the fun will be in the hunt and take your time. I picked up my SpecialeA 2 years ago now and I changed the wheels to the diamond cut variety but do have both sets. I really like the grigio (silverstone) too. If you end up like me, you will love the Speciale. Your value aspect more than likely will come mostly from the amount of mileage on any particular vehicle. Finding the low option to go along with your other desires won't be easy although the supply of Speciale's is much greater than the limited SpecialeA so I needed to be a bit flexible when I was looking.
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I've seen a few in person, and any red with a NART stripe is my preference.

I prefer white on the Italia, but the Speciale looks so good in red. Only red car I've ever owned.

 

Beautiful Aperta. Wish an aperta was in the budget at the moment, but I'll have to stick to the hardtop. The spec does seem to be similar to the grigio ferro that I'm looking at. I didn't post a link to that one as its off market for now with a ferrari dealer.

 

Grigio Ferro all the way. As far as I'm concerned, there are no "must have" options on Speciale and I rather prefer low option spec Speciales. Don't be afraid of the km's these cars are near bulletproof. And that 2 yrs of warranty has you covered for a while anyway. Plus, from an authorized Ferrari dealer. In my opinion, it's a no-brainer.

Looking forward to seeing pics of the one you choose.

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The nicest Aperta I've ever seen!

 

Get the best one … best condition, best spec, lowest miles.
Color is purely subjective and what speaks to your heart. (Personally of the 3, I like the TDF color, but mine is white).


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The only color that is not "Ferrari" is pink.

Having said that, black is a bit peculiar for a 458. Even under the dealership bright light it could be mistaken for an Italia. Solid stripes would have mitigated that.

The grigio looks very elegant. But you may have to discount it on resale due to the low spec. Bear in mind that unlike SA it's not "Limited Edition".

Conversely, in 5 year time the TdF will still look fresh. I mean if I owned it first thing in the morning I would walk to my garage to admire it.

 

Thanks guys. I may just negotiate hard with all three and see where I get the best deal. The market for Speciales hasn't seemed to have softened like it did for Ford GTs, Carrera GTs and the like.

 

That Nero Daytona one similar to this one that sold in Belgium a couple years ago

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Very similar. Light grey stitching on the one in Milan.

Can the Americans on the board enlighten me as to what is happening to the prices of Speciales in the states? They seem to be markedly higher than that in Europe. The opposite of basically every other car ever made, and certainly the opposite of Italias or Spiders.

 

There are more than a few Ferrari's of similar vintage that are (were) selling for much more than their European market brethren. I can't figure out why, different demand I guess.

It has been very wild.

https://bringatrailer.com/ferrari/458/?search=Speciale

 

Thanks for this. Really interesting. Most of those are lower mileage examples than what you will find in Europe. I have a hard time even finding a sub 10,000km Speciale in Europe whereas in the US that seems to be predominant. It probably also accounts for a lot of the price disparity - though not all of it.

 

Certainly one aspect is the $5+ trillion the US govt pumped into it's juiced economy, inflating everything including Ferraris. But it's true Speciale values seem to have risen disparately...

 

During 2021-2022, I saw 3 different sub-5k km Speciales listed/sold almost immediately by F-dealers in Germany in mid-300's, only to appear on market again few weeks later and sell again in low-400's. Flippers play part in driving up prices as well.

 

True on the govt pumped up inflation in the US. I would add though, that they aren't any Saints over there in Europe or elsewhere in the world. Their inflation is just as bad or almost as bad as ours is. The world governments failed their people in a HUGE WAY. It has left me scratching my head for awhile however there seems to be a big narrowing over the past year at least on the SpecialeA's that I do follow. Those have come up in price and in fact, surpass the US in some cases. But much like the real estate market which they say its a local market, so is the pricing for Ferrari's too and certain spots in Europe still sell at a big discount. Its too bad we can't soak them up and bring them to America except that the economics of that won't let that happen.

 

We have a bunch of rich stupid people ruining it for the rest of us at the moment

I paid sticker for my pista 6 months ago, although it’s considered a high sticker variant because of the options , how can I seriously consider 150 over for a car 6 years older with 5 times the miles ….

Now that rates are 8.5 percent or more I think you’ll see less of the fast money


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Neither.

The Speciale is one of the most overrated cars.

Get a 458 if you want NA, and then put the rest in Bitcoin. Or an F8 if you don't mind an FI powertrain, and the rest in Bitcoin.

You'll be happier and richer in the long run.

 

While you are entitled to your own opinion that has got to be the dumbest thing I have heard here. HEY, smart one or know it all, my SpecialeA has appreciated by $350,000 but I could care less about that and am so happy to own one. Also, I don't care where bitcoin goes, could care less, but I do like my money backed by something and not just a ponzi scheme or also known as the greater fool theory.

 

Happy to take on investment advice as none of my other advisors seem capable of making me money, but here I am just trying to figure out how not to go wrong with a rather important purchase. I must say, your opinion on the speciale does seem to be in the minority and I've spent enough time on a track in one to know that I also don't agree with it.

 

That other guy is a stupid jerk. He comes on to a topic he is clearly biased against and spouts its mouth off as if to say you are the dumb one, He should be suspended! He says these cars are over rated and the market CLEARLY says otherwise perhaps making the Speciale the most iconic Ferrari along with a few others. So he belongs in the minority The last place one would need to take investment advise from is that moron. He needs to apologize to you for attempting to gain some knowledge yet he ridicules you.