First Ferrari! (488)

Hi all, I recently bought my first Ferrari, a CPO’d 2018 488gtb, after a disastrous experience with a cursed McLaren 600LT. The 488 has about 4500 miles on it.

owning a Ferrari was childhood dream, it’s almost surreal to drive it each day. A note: it is my daily driver (other than in snow).

I’m curious if anyone has any simple tips/tricks for taking good care of the car. Does the 488 have any quirks I should be aware of?

the build quality is miles better than the 600LT. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Congrats! Nice spec too!

 

Congratulations. Very nice spec. I have a 2016 CPO 488 GTB which I bought last year and love it. No quirks so far. Enjoy.

 

Congrats. I love that interior. I bet its so soft.

 

Congrats - note it should always be connected to the battery tender when parked, although it may not be that critical if you drive it daily.

 

Thank you! I was lucky to find it available nearby

 

Thank you! That’s great to hear that it’s been smooth sailing for you

 

thanks! Whole interior is a cut or two above the McLaren, which even had a bespoke MSO interior. When it was working, the 600lt drove sensationally, but that was laughably rare.

 

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. How many days do we think it’s safe to leave it sitting?

 

Congrats...my 1st Ferrari was a 488GTB a 2019 I put 9500 miles on.

If it has a Ferraro OEM battery get rid of it. Put an Interstate battery in it and keep it on the trickle charger. Since you drive yours about everyday between driving and a new Interstate you should not have any low battery issue with the Ferrari electronics. You can keep it unplugged for a few days..depending on your battery...2 or 3 days but after a week or 2 the battery will be dead.

Not sure how true this is but when I bought my 488 my decades long sales guy took the time to go over everything with me and the tips he gave me besides the battery tip is to push the start button with foot off the brake and let the car cycle the electronics and to always park it in 1st gear. Again not sure if that all helps but that's what I did. I did start the car sometimes with foot on the brake and never had an issue.

Stay up on oil changes, brake fluid flush and changes, let the car warm up before hammer on it...all things you should do with any vehicle.

 

as in shift down to 1 and the park, instead of neutral then park?

 

If you ever get any weird warning messages. Don't panic. Just turn the car off and cycle the key again.

PS. A weak battery can cause all kinds of weird gremlins.

Also, lower the car and add spacers. Nobody likes the stock ride height.

 

Congratulations on your 488. I'm a relative newby too having only had mine a couple of months.

 

Congrats and welcome new Wide World alumni member. WW is fantastic.

 

Wow, what a spec.. is the exterior color Avorio?

As mdrums alluded to, no matter the Ferrari I always replace the battery immediately especially if OEM, swap out the OEM tender for a CTEK to minimize chance of electrical problems and always have the car on tender when not in use

Huge congratulations, 488 is an amazing car!

 

yep, you nailed it. Avorio. I’ll have to check which battery is has. I once had a Stelvio QV, it too had battery issues that led to all kinds of weird gremlins and false warning lights etc. must run in the family

 

For me it doesn't matter what battery it has, I'm always replacing it with a new one to commemorate new ownership...but if it's an OEM, even more reason to swap it out!

 

they have been great. Looking forward to doing some social & driving events with them

 

great ride!! I think the 488 is one of their best!!

 

I love the look of the 488. For me, it’s the perfect blend of modern but still curvy with a hint of the classic pininfarina style.

 

nice car...i put an offer on it when it was in florida 2 years ago. saw it again at world wide recently....l

 

What a interesting spec! never seen that color and interior combo. Very Classy!

 

Yes park in 1st.

 

Is this 488 a creme white? Reminds me of Sammy Hagar's LaFerrari!

 

Yea, cream is fair. They call it Avorio (Ivory) but in anything but direct sunlight, I think it looks more like cream than ivory