Hi, This probably sounds like a stupid question. Wondering if anyone had much experience with a 360 Challenge Stradale and 458 so as to be able to compare between the two. I guess they are from different eras and probably would be tough to compare. Just wanted to hear any opinion or thought on this. Thanks. Illufa
I have a 360 CS and I love the how raw it is. There is no other Ferrari like it. I ordered a 458 Italia which will be delivered next month. I drove the 458 on the track and it was amazing too, but they are different beasts. My 458 will eventually get replaced, but my 360 CS will always be in my garage...
My buddy here in the states had a 360 CS, 430 Scud, and now 458. He said the seats in the 360 CS are much snugger than race seats in 458 unless you go "small". Gearbox/engine of 458 blow away 360 - as you said, different generation. Steering however he states was brilliant in 360 CS. More direct/feedback and with more resistance vs 458. He said on the road the 458 "glides" over most road imperfections. In the 360 you hear and feel them. In a word, "raw" as was stated vs refined would be good one word summary. If the roads in Indonesia (I think that is where your post came from) are anything like what I saw in the Philippines the 360 CS might be a nightmare. Best
If you are a man, then go with the 360CS ! 458 Italia is the big brother from the California - both are cars for girls.
Having both a CS and a 458 they are different driving experiences. The 458 has vastly more performance and power. The CS has great road feel and is amazingly engaging. Given the need to choose between the 2, the CS stays and the 458 goes. FWIW the CS has been amazingly reliable and the 458 has been beset with endless issues.
Are you the original owner of your CS? If so, then that deserves a comparison list of "issues" between the CS vs the 458.
I am the original owner of both cars. Issues with the 458 have included: bad ball joints X 2, an incomplete weld in a panel in the engine compartment that caused a rattling noise, brake pad issues, several trim fit and finish issues, faulty trunk release, battery went bad in spite of always using the maintainer, A/C quit blowing cold air. There may be a few more but I do not recall off hand. Let's not forget the several "campaigns" - power steering fluid etc. Great driving car but I have been surprised at the quality control issues. FWIW I have owned 13 Ferraris dating back to 1974 so I am not new to the game. The car has been well cared for and not abused at all. I am fortunate to have a great dealer in FOA and a fantastic tech-Thomas McKeller who have made things right but it is still a PIA.
Forgot to mention that since 2004 issues with the CS have been virtually non-existant. "Hope I have not jinxed it by saying that."
I am sure this is hugely disappointing for you. How many miles do you have on the 458 and what is the model year?
It's a 2011 with about 3,000 miles. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful car that goes like hell but I have less rose colored glasses about Ferrari than many who participate in this blog. I stopped drinking the coolaid years ago. They are special and unique but far from perfect. Then again, the original question was to compare a CS and the 458 and not to be philosophic. FWIW the new cars are WAY better in performance, fit, finish and creature amenities than the old V12s but they seem to be losing part of the soul that made them so unique. I suspect this is what the current generation expects and demands e.g. fancy stereos, navigation, back up cameras etc. One reason I love the CS is its minimal fru fru. Cheers
As a HUGE fan of the CS, I know it has had its share of campaigns and niggles (cam variators, etc). Yet, I too would choose the CS over a 458 if I had to make a definitive choice. Since you are more than just a passing enthusiast (IMO, a hardcore owner), tell me, do you think that the quality control at Ferrari has diminished in the last 39 years or is it a matter of Ferrari not paying attention to details and rushing the new models out just to keep their competitors at bay? For all you die hard Ferrari maniacs I am not saying a late model Ferrari is junk or lacks refinement.
I'm 66 and blessed with good health and a great life so car trouble is annoying but hardly "hugely disappointing." Sometimes wisdom and perspective come with age.
Quality is much better these days then in the past but they clearly are "pushing product out the doors." Overall, for all the bugs on the Ferrari, it is way better then the last two Mercedes I have owned-SL55, E63. Perhaps my 458 "was just built on a Friday after a wine filled lunch."
Hello doctor Mark, you are truely a great person. Do you mind listing the 13 Ferraris that you have owned? It would be fun to see. Thank you in advance.
Sure. 275GTB, 365GTB/4, 365GT, 330 GTC, 512BB, TR, 308GTB, 308GTSQV, 328GTS, 355GTB, 360 Modena, 360CS, 458. The shame is that I was too short sighted to buy cars years ago when they were cheap e.g. 250 SWB for $3,000 and a 250 GTO for $6,500. This was in 1967 when they were just "old cars."Then again I did not have the extra money at that time.
Thank you very much. How did you like the Testarossa in general? That was my dream car when I was 10 years old. Yes who would have thought a 250 GTO would worth this much now! So that was $6,500 back in 1967, how much was a regular single family house then? Just to do a relative comparison. Today's 599 GTO is roughly $500k, which is about the price of a regular house.
We overlap in that I also had a 512BB and a 328GTB. Interestingly my experience with the Boxer was that it was extremely reliable and tough, but not so my 328. My '11 458 has so far been without issues, so it seems that there is still a lot of variation in the build quality, as befitting a still largely hand built vehicle. As for soul, one can order or find a 458 without the trappings of modern technology -- nav, stereo, Ipod, .... and probably get a bit higher performance because of the weight savings. Or one can pick up a track oriented 458 when it becomes available.
