Only one I know of that has a 599GTO and 458S is Camlet1 in the 599 section. Several of us 599GTO owners came from a 458. Some GTO owners still have their 458's. Obviously they are totally different cars. I don't think they are really in the same category by design or even price point (although the 458S/SA will get a spike as they are new models). Front engine V12 GT car vs. mid-engine V8 for starters. Personally I love the GTO and wouldn't trade her for a 458SA let alone a 458S. The sound of the GTO is extraordinary and its just a fabulous extremely rewarding drivers car that gets more rewarding as you push her. My 458 Italia was also a very nice driver but a bit soft and nowhere near as raw and visceral as the GTO. I don't have real seat time in a 458S to comment on it vs. a GTO, BUT I will say that IMHO the GTO is a constant never ending shock and awe moment. People hit their brakes when you downshift your GTO and I'm talking in all of the lanes around you. Its a bad ass stealth-like warrior with a NA V12 engine and tranny that would make Enzo proud. You hold the paddle and the car downshifts like in the 599XX. Single clutch F1 is crazy raw. I could go on and on. Maybe Camlet1 can chime in or I'd suggest posting in the 599 section.
I have owned both...Perhaps I am biased but I think the 458S is the better car...I like the GTO more now that I sold it; when I bought it, it felt like an excuse...too heavy to be a GTO, fast but not ultimately rewarding as a track car. I sold it to buy my Enzo and didn't regret it...Today I think the GTO is a great car, a real hot rod and a veryspecial Ferrari, even if I still dont think it should be called GTO. I would gladly buy another one The Speciale is an incredible experience...it is not the speed that impresses, it is the astonishing driveability. It is a car that makes average drivers feel like superheroes. It is also one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made If you are looking for value, buy the GTO as it will hold its value better...Unless of course you can get your hands on a Speciale A...Thats what I did!
Having driven the Speciale I'd love to read a detailed comparison between the 599 GTO and the Speciale which sounds like it should be pretty much the same last the Speciale A.
GTO is categorized as special Grand Tourer Car so IMO this is where the uniqueness of GTO, front engine with aggresive throtle and loud barking sound of exotic mid engine Ferrari. GTO has his own unique characteristic like no other front engine have and 458 Speciale is the highest level of 458 line with her truly mid engine Ferrari. I found that Speciale is not as loud as GTO but Speciale is more sporty and exotic looks. Obviously they are totally different cars in term of characteristics……. hard to compare since V8 and V12 and they are both really well built Ferrari.
I was due to drive the Gto today, sadly couldn't. I am considering one to sit along side my speciale. Amazing cars, only its size puts me off.
I have found that most people don't know much about the 599GTO except that its purportedly special. For example, the GTO is only "large" standing still. She gets real small at speed. IMHO the GTO is much more challenging to drive than the 458. Why ? Front engined chassis dynamics of car that is a direct derivative of the 599XX. Basically the 599GTO is 90% of the 599XX and NOT a relative of the 599GTB/HGTE except for the body shape. The GTO has almost no understeer - sounds ridiculous but true. That combined with a truly extreme high winding (8400 rpm) V12 (just a slightly detuned 599XX), the 599XX racecar type tranny, and a whole host of other GTO only goodies makes for a rewarding driver (IMHO THE best drivers car ever). Fact is the GTO drives better at speed than ANY car I've been in. Track breeding from the 599XX ? Possibly/probably. Seems like many 1st GTO owners (or even 2nd/3rd owners) were speculators that just didn't drive their cars often (not unlike those F car owners that just MUST always have the 1st run of a car). The current crop of newer GTO owners are mostly people like me that have already had other sports/exotic cars and want something different, but obviously special. We also like to drive our cars. If what you really want is a super easy to drive synthetic mid-engine toy that will rotate at will the GTO is probably not for you. Stick to the 458 model as its an awesome car that will also provide a very special experience. If you want organic, raw, visceral beast that feels extraordinarily planted going at speeds that might scare the 458 then a GTO just might be for you. If you already have a Speciale than just buy a GTO - you can always sell it. In fact I'd say that US spec GTO's are highly sought after and prices are pretty strong (unless you have a whacky spec.). I miss my 458 like a miss an old girlfriend. The 458 was tremendous fun while it lasted, but ultimately I married the GTO. My 2 cents.
Lots of truth here...The GTO IS a more challenging drive than the 458 or 458 Speciale...But it is not a faster drive. The 458 Speciale is faster in every way including a straight line (although they are very close) and it will run rings around a GTO on the track. An F12 is also a much better track car than a 599 GTO (I have owned and driven both around a track and there is NO comparison)...With the electronics off, the GTO is a real handful; the 458 S is absolutely intuitive and safe One should buy a GTO for what it is: a remarkable sports car that provides excitement going fast, regardless of whether the current crop of supercars has surpassed it. The shape has aged very well and if you buy the right colour combination (too many cars have weird colour/interior combinations) you wont regret it....and it is true that it has nothing to do with a 599GTB/HGTE...completely different car in feel, character and handling
George330 how long did you own your GTO ? Your a VERY brave/competent (or crazy man to drive a GTO with all electronics turned off (even on a track). I find the GTO and 458 were perfect in "race" mode and thats how I drive them. Even in the 458 turning off the electronics was borderline suicide. Are you a current/former professional/amateur racecar driver ? I also thought the F12 was very soft compared to the GTO and I'm shocked that you'd prefer an F12 over a GTO on a track (1st person I've actually heard say that). I haven't tracked my GTO yet, but all those who do (track the GTO's) say to never turn off all the nannies and just keep her in race mode. Good for you if you can go all out on a track with no electronics on.
The best thing about 599 GTO is the sound. And the best way to enjoy the sound is by going spider. Consider this instead : 599 SA Aperta. This one is using the 599 GTO's engine, but you can take off the roof. Imagine listening to 599GTO like a bystander when you are driving. And this one will hold it's value for sure. Ferrari Toronto has one for sale.
599SA is a sweet choice as its super rare, but with respect to price points, you could have a 599GTO and a 458SA and have a few bucks left over. Also the 599SA while having the GTO engine does not have all of the GTO goodies. Sorry to belabor the obvious but I think that the general population has missed the boat with the 599GTO. The GTO is a completely different car from ANYTHING remotely related to a 599GTB. The GTO is not a direct competitor to the F12 or 458S or SA. The GTO is a street legal racing car. Its a detuned 599XX. Its not "just" about the sound (which IMHO blows away the F12 or an Enzo). Maybe its just me but the GTO is just a completely different level than anything I've experienced previously. I'm shocked that anybody with real heavy daily driver seat time in a GTO would contemplate a 458S in lieu of same.
The Aperta's set up is very different to that of the GTO. It is not a GTO with the roof chopped off. Although they share the same engine (and a few other bits), there is much more to being a GTO than just those components.
The GTO will be a classic and time will appreciate it. There are not many front engined v12 cars of that flavour. It is one of those cars that wiould stay in the garage over the life of the owner. The 458 Speciale is an epic car but not really on the same level. But it comes down to individual preference and life situation. Britain's Best Driver's Car 2014 - Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ariel Atom 3.5R - YouTube The 458 Speciale took out the contest against the gt3, 650s etc.
The GTO IS far better with the electronics on. I am most definitely NOT a professional racing driver and this is probably why I m faster in a 458 Speciale or a F12 than in the GTO! I find the GTO a difficult car on the track, perhaps my skills are not strong enough for it. I think you should reserve judgement until you drive all three on the track back to back. I would bet money that you will be faster in the Speciale and the F12! The GTO feels more raw than either car (in fact I m disappointed that even my old Scuderia feels more "racy" than the Speciale), so you get the impression that it is more an out-and-out racer, but if lap time is everything you may come to a different conclusion. I also appreciate the smaller size of the two newer cars, it makes placing them easier... I don't doubt that a better driver might yield a closer (or even reversed) result. And I reiterate that I would gladly buy another GTO as I now recognise it is much more special than I originally thought
While I sincerely take all of these racetrack statistics with a grain of salt, if you are just looking for the "quickest" and "easiest" car to go fast in then you might as well forget the GTO. Your probably better off buying a 911TTS or a Nissan GTR Nismo if you want "easy". Truth is, as we all know, that there will always be newer and faster cars made every production cycle. If you are, however, looking for a rewarding drivers car, one that is not only extraordinarily raw and visceral, but will also challenge you every step of the way, then look no further than a 599GTO. I just don't think you can quantify or pidgeon hole a GTO. When they were produced in 2010/2011 the GTO was made to be a drivers car among drivers cars. The best of the best for those that could appreciate a street legal racing car. Again, I'm not taking away anything from the 458S. Just pointing out that easier and faster can also mean less rewarding. Buy both !
I agree … GTO has its own uniqueness, no other car can match GTO's characteristic and hard to describe with words. Driving GTO gives the driver different sensation. 458S is more modern technological car, fast and absolutely nice car with different sensation than GTO.
Agree with your sentiments. I suspect we will be having the same discussion in a year or two comparing the Speciale with whatever the new turbo cars are like.There is a point where most of us can't get close to the cars abilities and then it's simply what aspects of a car you enjoy. I think back to the little Mazda mx5 when that came out - it had a big impact - not because it was the best or the fastest or had the right badge but simply it hit a sweet spot that gave a lot of people pleasure.
Yes. I had hundreds of hours of fun on country roads in that car...at sea level. at total dog at 8k ft ABOVE sea level. the 458 spidr is much the same...at 100x more fun but only 10x the price. Best
Well my GTO arrived today. Hope speciale comes this week too Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Perfect. It will be interesting to get your descriptions on these two track oriented cars. From what I've heard you will find the Speciale easier to get fast times but the GTO may be more of an accomplishment to get around quickly.
The GTO is a just massive. It's a hard car to drive quickly due to both it width and its 7ft nose ! People say it wraps around you...,but I'm yet to get to that stage. The noise is simply epic. I don't think anything sounds as good this car, and with turbos coming along never will again. The Speciale is a different, young, light on its feet ferrari. That will be my daily. Gonna love them both. Interesting to see which my fave will be.
