Bob, next time you're in the mid west, give me a shout. You can drive this and you will smile all day long, more torque than you can imagine. You'll also be the new stop light hero of the F-150 truck guys. Chad PS: to the OP. Sorry about the 458, get it sorted out with dealer, don't throw in the towel, Ferrari and dealer will take care of you, no worries. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Well that sounds cool! But I was talking about the modern ones. The two cars that I have driven that really scared the hell out of me were the Lambo Countach and a replica 427 Cobra, followed closely by the Pantera. Man do you need nerves of steal to drive those things fast!
The Scud is not the better car. YOU prefer it, which is something completely different. I have driven both and I love them both. They are not similar cars and there is a very good case to be made for owning both. You go on holiday in the 458 and you go hooligan in the Scud. Exactly. Onno
I totally respect your opinion, but I still think my 458 gets my heart going everytime I step on the gas. Yeah, I miss my 3 pedals, but the acceleration is just mind blowing! I do hope you do get the issues worked out with the car - and perhaps you'll develop a better appreciation after all the problems are solved. I would be pretty bummed if the same happened to me.
The acceleration is good and while I miss 3 pedals alot the 7 speed dpk transmission is a technical marvel and makes the car faster than a manual car. The other gentlemans comment on the new Shelby mustang shows different things for all folks and there is no right or wrong. I just bought a 2012 Shelby and I like the 6 speed manual and the 550 hp power. The car that excites me is the Mosler. 600 hp and very light weight with delightful steering. In my view a varaint of that car is what ferrari should build. If I was Ferrari it would concern me that the vette ZR! handles as well and a lot quicker. Ferrari has always been better untill now. I love the heads up display. the exterior design of the vette is stale and hopefully the new 2013 design will be better!
It's unfortunate that you're having problems. Not *entirely* unexpected, but definitely very disappointing. Image Unavailable, Please Login
With nearly 14,000km under its belt, my 458 is a paragon of reliability. It had an early oil change and the power steering oil change campaign and that's it. It's my first Ferrari and I'm stunned at the lack of warranty issues. I've never been to the track, mind you.
The dealer looked at the lifter problem but cannot find the cause. After replacing the calipers they put sealant on the valves based on Brembo's advice. They said my car is the first one they have seen with lifter and brake caliper issues. Hopefully tomorrow when I go to the track again the leak is fixed. The 458 is particularly disappointing because my expectations are so high from my ownership experience with the CS and regular 430. I find that 458 has gone too soft and cozy in comparison even to the regular 430. Although my regular 430 is a road car, it is more thrilling than the 458 on the street due to two things: a more complex and mechanical engine sound, and engine vibrations that convey a sense of power. The 458 is boring precisely due to the lack of these two characteristics. These differences may be inherent in the new engine design and may transfer directly to the possible track version.
This is the whole point of the 458... It'll do the same as other cars and not be as exciting so the point is to go faster then you can be scared... What was "raw" in the 2004 CS is now tame by 458 standards thus go faster to get the raw feeling back... That's just my thought on it. I want to be able to go fast and not feel like I am gonna lose contol.. I may be wrong since not owning one yet but I have driven many and I like the feeling of moving faster and being in more control.... 2 months and counting............ Tony........
Just love all this talk about the 458 not being exciting, a little dull even. Really, what were those two top class drivers, Tiff and Jason, thinking when they were foaming at the mouth with excitement and praising the 458 as a brilliant driver's car? What was Plato, the 2010 BTCC Champion, rambling on about when he called the 458 his favourite car ever. Sheesh! Do these guys not know anything!
I don't recognise any of this at all. Having gone through 360, 430, and Scuderia before the 458 I can't say I've noticed the car has gone soft at all. It has two personalities for sure and if you trundle around in low speed in comfort mode it is quite smooth but that is a relative use of the term smooth. Open the exhaust valves even slightly and the noise is incredible and way better than the stock 430 ever was. Unless US cars are seriously emasculated I can't see how anyone would say the 458 is boring. Most road testers have remarked upon the two distinct natures of the car and how easily it will transform from a fairly relaxed, easy to drive car in town to a ferocious and highly enjoyable drive when the road opens out.
A quick question Isuk re your move from 430 to Scud. I am having two schools of thought i.e. move from 430 to Scud or bypass Scud and go to 458. I have played all the pro's and con's in my head but the one which bothers me the most is the 430 and Scud essentially "look the same". Interested to know if this particular issue factored in your thought process and how.
Sure they found it exciting...they drove the 458 at a pace that 9 out of 10 owners rarely or never will. Why all the unexciting/dull remarks? The culprit may be the 458's super quick/smooth, dual-clutch F1 gearbox. As great as it is, some may find it too smooth...too good. At normal road speeds, the F430's F1 shifter probably has more character...it feels/sounds like a quick manual shift. Between the dual-clutch gearbox and the car's other refinements, the 458 probably needs to be driven closer to its potential to really tap into its magic.
Thank you. I like the car but it is "rude and crude". But it is a race car, formula 2. I noticed you owned a X19. I had one and loved it. Regards Lee
I gave up my Scuderia for the 458 .Personally I prefer the raw of the Scuderia .I think it is one of the best they made in my time.The 458 I have is cool it's refined it's like my M3 with super balls. If I tracked a Ferrari it would be the Scuderia.To me the 458 drives you.You have to drive the Scuderia.I have heard that the 458 has had the more accidents at this time of it's release.No wonder the power with the creature comforts can be underestimated .I have had 3 ferrari's this is the only one my wife will drive.That's my 2 cents
our Ferrari experience with the three past models is the same, i.e. 460 430 and now a 458. The 458 has been softened too much. The steering in past models was taut on the 458 it feels gentle. Ferrari even put a bump button on the steering wheel. I laugh every time I see it. The car still sounds great and is very quick as you have said. I like it but to be honest I am 65 years old I cannot imagine young people liking the car. You said it perfectly Lee
You are right, it is phenominal when opened up, but here in speed limited USA that can only be done on a track. In sedate street driving it is more boring than my CS and regular 430 which I still have for direct comparison. I want it to feel like a Ferrari all the time, not just when I track it. The 458 is particularly disappointing precisely because of all the rave reviews by experts in the media. That may be due to the fact that they mostly drive the cars quickly, not living with it day to day.
There are very few 200 mph cars that are going to feel exciting at the low US speed limits to be fair so it's a bit misleading to single out the 458. I found the Scud more frustrating at lower speeds as it was noisy and more wearing when you were just bumbling along in traffic.
It's funny you mention that .When I would go to dinner out.I would tell my wife I want to take my Scuderia she would always hesitate after a couple of times of the shrug I asked her what's the problem.She told me it felt like she was riding in a garbage can that it was noisy and very uncomfortable.
When I read threads like this, I often wonder if its my lack of driver sophistication, or my easy going personality that makes me differ. As example, I enjoy most of the movies I see. I guess I'm easily entertained. That being said, I just drove my car to Vegas and back, and on the way there, it was loud (valves set to open) crude in acceleration, fast as hell (cruising 140mph most of the time), exciting, and absolutely gorgeous. On the way back, which was fathers day, my wife and I cruised back at 85mph, valves closed, sport mode, stereo on, making perfectly clear Bluetooth calls to our parents, totally comfortable in our stunning Italian Leather and Alcantara interior. I've owned 2 430's and 50 other performance cars along the way, and loved almost all of them. I honestly can't imagine loving a car more than this one. The new 458 is the complete package!!! I can't wait to get outside and start it up. It blows my mind every single day. I totally respect everyones opinion and it's definately a case of different strokes for different folks. This is just my opinion, for what it's worth To the OP, my first 430 had several issues and they were never able to resolve them, so I got the dealer to swap it for a second one, and it never had a single issue in 7000 miles. I'm sorry about the problems you're experiencing and hope things get resolved quickly.
