458 impressions

same here! i'd love more indepth info. perhaps amount of cars, and opportunities to drive them haven't gotten there yet? when is yours getting here? thought you took delivery couple of weeks ago?

 

A few people have given their impression. They're scattered around the forum if you look.

 

I'll give a 5,000km report. The only visit to the dealer has been for an oil change at 1,500km (probably unnecessary but who's to argue) so reliability so far is very impressive. Likes include the engine (sound, power, flexibility, smoothness - everything!), styling (after 3 Lambos it took some getting used to), seating and driving position (with the Race seats at least), gearbox (outstanding), agility thanks to the fast steering and sharp turn-in, tight body with no rattles, luggage space (room for 2 suitcases up front!), smooth ride and fast acting front lift.

Dislikes are the steering is too light for my taste, and the dash screens are dumb with a choice of a proper speedo or satnav but not both. The turn indicator lights in the dash are hard to see and so is the low fuel light (I'm used to the wheel-mounted buttons though).
I wish they had a tilting exterior mirror for reverse parking so I can see how close the rear wheel is to the curb like my Porsche does.

That's about it. I'm driving it way more than I expected to because it is so capable.

Bottom line, it's a great car.

 

Hands down the best Ferrari out there for power and ease of driving. The engine sounds outrageous and the car is drivable as a daily driver or easily taken to the track. Only "complaints" TFT screens take a while to become familiar with and all of the controls on the steering wheel as well. I also own a California and this blows that out of the park in every way but for long trips over 100 miles. IMHO best car money can buy.

 

All I can say is "I'm in Love with my 458." Only dislikes are, audio interface is still damn confusing. The steering wheel audio controls are damn slow too. Also, I wish there was a tilt down side mirror function in reverse.

 

I got my 458 on Saturay. I love how fast it shifts. However, to voice a thought and see what others think...

My 458 seems too refined. I have had two 360's and a 430. They seem a bit more raw and seemed to have passion and a soul. My first impression (only in my first 100 miles) is that I am not sure were the soul has gone. The car, in some funny way, is just TOO refined. It's sort of just too perfect. Now, don't get me wrong, the car looks great, runs great, is quicker than anything I can imagine, smooth quiet and throaty when you get on it. etc. It can clearly be used as an every day driver...and maybe that is the issue. I hope I start to fall in love a bit more as I get more time in the car.

Thoughts? Have you found the passion and soul of your 458?

 

ive had a 458 since sepember, iT seems that it is more comfortable and relaxing to drive than my 2010 audi s5 convertable
oposite from my 430.

 

what seats do you have on the 458?

 

Great to hear!

Sounds like you need a dirty, old, 348 in your stable next to the 458!

Something with a little more character than a 458, something a little more 'raw'.

Ive driven a friends 360 F1 and I thought that was too easy to drive. I preferred my 348 over it honestly. Its more of a challenge, which is more fun if you ask me.

Id love a 458, but I would still keep an old school Ferrari in the garage.

 

Ok here we go. I am a Pro race driver and have a month old 458. I ordered the car in Pozzi Blue with dark Saddle interior and some other goodies including the kevlar steering wheel.
Car is a far cry from my 360 Modena and is not the Ferrari of old.
First it is very quiet and takes some getting used too. After one month and 1500 miles this is one great car!!!!!!!!!!! I even hooked up the Sirius sat radio because for the first time I can cruise with radio on but when you lite it up LOOK OUT as this is one hell of a FERRARI. Love the speed and quick transmission shifting. The different suspension modes are great and it handles great. At the moment I am not happy with the carbon fibre brakes and am exploring how to deal with them.
Any questions?
Buzz
05 Harley Ultra Glide
09 Caddy CTS-V
RX -8 race car

 

What is it about the brakes you're not happy with?

 

The technology is unreal I don't know how the F engineers are going to improve on this engine.
Getting this level of performance from a normally aspirated 4.5 L v-8 is quite an accomplishment.
Coming out of a scud and even my 599; the tranny in the 458 is uncharacteristically smooth in sport however in race mode it has plenty of "soul".I think we tifosi are not used to the smoothness of a double clutch set up and so are initially takenaback when driving the dual clutch set up.It's almost like too much of a good thing and missing the pain in the loins of the older ferraris!
I love the steering. It is precise yet informative.The ceramic brakes are fade free and what I love most is that they are essentially brake dust free.
The lines cannot be properly appreciated by pictures.Detailing this car makes one appreciate its beauty and functionality.
Minor dislikes are the silly screen setup and the directional arrows being partially obscured by the rims of the screens
MAJOR Dislike= For those cars with white or yellow tach screen backgrounds there is no background lighting during the day?????(see pg 133 of the manual)-so those who order yellow tachs be warned.
Also for the first time the standard radio is decent.
Fantastic performance/gorgeous looks.

 

Very hard pedal and lost pedal on track. Think there maybe some air in system. Only did 3 laps at slow speed but fast on straight, car did not want to stop from 150MPH. Will check it out Feb 1st.
Buzz

 

Buzz, I was a little freaked out how little braking I had when I first started my tracking laps. Not sure if they had to break in or simply warm up, but it was almost a half hour before they worked, then they were fine. Since I sold my 2010 back to the dealer to pick up a different color and 2011 model year to be delivered this April, I'm not sure whether the brakes would work well on street for a one time emergency stopping, or whether they need to be hot to work. That initial bedding in made have been what they needed from then on?

 

Buzz, I was a little freaked out how little braking I had when I first started my tracking laps. Not sure if they had to break in or simply warm up, but it was almost a half hour before they worked, then they were fine. Since I sold my 2010 back to the dealer to pick up a different color and 2011 model year to be delivered this April, I'm not sure whether the brakes would work well on street for a one time emergency stopping, or whether they need to be hot to work. That initial bedding in made have been what they needed from then on?

 

You nailed it. You said it so well. Although, I do not currently own a 458, i have a f430 coupe. Right now i'm contemplating between lp560 or 458. My mind in leaning towards 458, but I'm concerned that 458 might feel too refined. My f430 feels raw and has that distinctive F soul. I hate the fact that nowadays many cars are coming out too refined. Double clutch is nice and what not but I prefer single clutch because it feels more raw and I like the feeling of able to feel gear changes. For instance, my 2010 911 pdk and e92 m3 both have double clutches and they shifts like no other but I prefer my f430 single clutch. It's just more fun. IMHO double cluctch cars take the fun away. Single clutch is best of both world i think. It gives you convinience of clutchless and also give you the feeling of engagement of gears. In the future i hope they make cars with double clutches that are not so smooth. It seriously takes the fun away. Lastly, I think 458 is too quiet. I love my f430 because it's loud and raw and it's so much fun to drive. I fear 458 lacks this and what is F without all the noise and rawness? I know i will eventually get a 458, because it is the newest and baddest F, but it is bit disappointing. I was hoping Ferrari would not join the band wagon of new performance cars coming out too refined. Just my 2cents!

 

Sounds great! Can u please post Pics of the interior? I'm about to spec mine and would love to see. Thx






58. I ordered the car in Pozzi Blue with dark Saddle interior and some other goodies including the kevlar steering wheel.
Car is a far cry from my 360 Modena and is not the Ferrari of old.
First it is very quiet and takes some getting used too. After one month and 1500 miles this is one great car!!!!!!!!!!! I even hooked up the Sirius sat radio because for the first time I can cruise with radio on but when you lite it up LOOK OUT as this is one hell of a FERRARI. Love the speed and quick transmission shifting. The different suspension modes are great and it handles great. At the moment I am not happy with the carbon fibre brakes and am exploring how to deal with them.
Any questions?
Buzz
05 Harley Ultra Glide
09 Caddy CTS-V
RX -8 race car[/QUOTE]

 

I really like the extremes offered by the 458. After an initial loud start-up, it calms down and can be driven in my neighborhood w/o being obnoxiously loud. But open it up, especially in race mode and the wail is, in my view, better than the intoxicating, banshee wail of my Challenge Stradale. The dual clutch shifts so smoothly, effortlessly and pulls the car away from others w/o doing much more than just giving it moderate gas. But stomp the gas and the rapid fire shifts are so relentlessly fast, one after the other, that you're pressed back into your seat until intuition signals "slow down" for god's sake. And stomp it recklessly or in the wrong place and watch out, the car will buck before hunkering down and to me, that's raw. Yes, the car is refined but so is a modern jet fighterplane. My take is the performance, meaning acceleration in and out of corners is so highpitched and dramatic under WOT that any reference to wanting it more 'raw' makes no sense. The only question I have is: how will they possibly improve on this car, aside from the minor quibbles like controls and indicator lights that are hard to see, etc.

 

I think when people use words like 'raw' and phrases like 'mechanical integrity' much of the time they're actually talking about 'crude' and 'under developed'. They're mistaking 'clunky' for 'soul'. All exaggerations on my part of course, but I think to a degree many mistake being assaulted by under developed machinery for driver involvement.

 

I'm with Lesia44 on this,
I have a Cobra Replica and to me raw is: clunky, stinky, loud, technology free ( very old technology) and you do get "assaulted" every time you drive the car; It's fun and it's definitely raw and exactly what the Cobra was meant to be.
The 458 imo was not meant to be "raw" but rather a precision instrument; Fast, precise, somewhat refined and fun in it's own way; enjoy it for what it is and if you really want "raw" then get another car and add it to your stable; there are plenty of "raw" vehicles out there that would complement beautifully with the 458.

 

This is my 10th Ferrari, starting with a new 1979 308GTS. I don't know if I can understand this "to refined" stuff. How can a car have this much power, be drop dead gorgeous, have fabulous supension, a comfortable ride, silky smooth instant shifts, spacious interior, crowd gathering, track hugging, musical sounding magnificant machine not be anything but the best? Everyday you don't have one life will go by, and you will miss something very special.

 

And that pretty much sums things up.

Mike

 

Bravo! I'm so glad to hear someone step up. Can't wait to get mine