Got my 458!

Took delivery of my 2012 458 last week. What a car! Ferrari has really achieved something here. Briefly, it is just ridiculous in terms of steering response, beauty, power, ease of use, oversteer thrills, and just plain fun.

It sounds like a chainsaw cutting glass on the downshift. The exhaust smells sort of rich and organic, hot alloys outside and sharp leather treatment inside. A joy for all the senses.

It feels lighter than it is. So agile, almost jittery, but settles over 70mph. The Super Sports were scary in sub-freezing (suburban Chicago) weather at times, but I must have been getting decent grip based on all the tramlining and noisy debris I was picking up. I don't want to change between R compounds and winter tires, so these seem the most versatile.

It's special because:
1. It's my first F car
2. No waiting list
3. A huge tax break by changing state of residence
4. It has a white tach and white stitching

I was late in drinking the Ferrari kool-aid. I don't like arrogant companies and was worried about quality and reliability. But there I was, in Italy last summer, reading a Schumacher biography, checking fchat every day, meanwhile PCNA is putting the screws to me back home, 4 trips to 2 different P dealers for service, no relief. So, as usual, the prancing horse won.

Compared with PDK, I find Ferrari's dual clutch to be not quite as smooth, especially at parking lot speeds, but instantaneous and direct, more connected. This is very good; it feels like a well-driven manual, not a poorly driven slush box. The paddles are far superior as well. Harsher shifts are part of the post 9/2012 software, I think. Automatic mode is fine (one's only hope of good mileage) and none of the modes seem to stutter or search at low speed. Wet mode is useful. Race mode is incredible. I did the recommended run-in. Not for the rings, but for the gears and brakes and for me.

My recent cars for comparison include an 09 Gallardo and a GT2 RS. I would be happy to discuss/celebrate differences if anyone is shopping and wants to PM me.

I don't think I would be as happy in a McLaren or Aventador. I don't track my cars, so I spec'd it as a daily driver, with electric seats, audio, rear camera, cruise, and few cosmetic options. THANK YOU! to those f-chatters who helped me choose options.

Doing it over again,
I would go for the racing seats. LED wheel, yes. The audio is plus/minus. Too difficult to use. The lack of stems is a big plus. They are obsolete IMO. The camera is OK. I would ditch the white stitching as it reflects in the windshield. Probably some more carbon options too, despite the expense.

I really struggled with carbon or painted side skirts. I think they look stellar in low light and awful in the bright. Skipped them. I didn't get lift as I don't plan on having the car lowered. That may have been a mistake as I have already heard some sickening sounds on inclines and backing out of driveways. I think it was just a rattle or a spring popping....I hope...

On the negatives, it makes weird turbulence noises near the wipers. Just the aero fingerprint of the car? A bad piece of trim? It also requires a mechanic and some form of prayer to get fuel into it. The acrid smell on corners is washer fluid? I understand it might go away if I half empty the tank. Ride is harsher and noisier than I expected, in all modes.

The car had 115 delivery miles, yet an average computed speed of only 7.9mph. (They may start the computer after factory testing.) That would be a boat loading speed or a lot of idling at some point. Clearly not a test track speed. I expressed my displeasure to the dealer, who shrugged and said 45-60 delivery miles is average. Overall, this means it was a troubled car at some point, correct? But if so, it also means they put in the time to get it set up right

Over 600 miles now, can't wait to get my sweaty hands back on the wheel.
In a week I'll be hiding from the salt and trying to figure out how to wash it all off.

Cheers
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Good tips, thank you.

I wear those "young guy on the make" jeans with the big back buttons. Yes, the ones I am too old to wear. Those are disastrous on bolsters.

I'll try auto mode. I hit the limiter during a 458 test drive. I thought it would upshift at redline.

 

Thanks guys.

I'll work on some interior pics if you are interested.