Italia vs. Spider - Differences

Depends really on the person etc but my take on it is this/-
Both my italia and spider had racing seats ...
The differance on legroom is 1-2 inches less in the spider
But bear in mind that it's these at backrest that touches the rear shelf, it's the rear shelf that sticks out further on a spider so you can get the legroom but u have to have the seat back too vertical, if u want a reasonable angle on the seat back then u have to pull the seat forward to achieve it, this losing the 1-2 inches of legroom ... So if u want to sit bolt upright then u can have legroom, but if you want to have a reasonable angle on the seat back be aware u will lose the legroom
I used to swap between driving with my knees up round the wheel and my back comfortable and having a nice leg stretch out but sitting erect ... Annoying dilemma!
Didn't have any problem with headroom in the spider at all

 

Randy,
I would like to thank you for this post. It is so helpful to understand the differences. I have owned a 2012 Maserati MC Sportline and will now be looking to upgrade to a 458. Its a tough decision, because for me its all about the sound of the engine and exhaust when I'm driving, but, i live in a climate (Midwest) where the car will be used 6-7 months a year. The most interesting thing you confirmed for me is the noise in and around the cockpit with the top down on the spider fights with the engine noise and exhaust. I would hate to think my decision of a spider over an italia would be the rear window, but, stranger things have happened. LOL!!! In the Italia, with both windows down, do you still get the protection from the noise around you and can you hear the exhaust etc etc? Could you elaborate on Windows down in an italia vs spider with rear window down? On my MC Sportline, i could hear exhaust nicely with windows down, and it is a front engine car. Also, the roads in the midwest are not always as smooth and as nice, so any comments there on differences between the spider and italia? thank you again for your insight and thoughts.

 

Italia windows down the sound is fantastic.

 

Seriously? That just sounds rather pathetic, sorry to say.

I find it attracts mostly middle aged men and young boys under the age af 15 - neither is my thing, and I'm sure my wife appreciates this. Besides that, if you need a nice car to strike up a conversation with a fun girl,,, well,,, oki.

 

My wife and I both love convertibles. Thankfully I fit in the spider nicely.

Best feature over the Italia is that the rear window goes down all the way with the top up. So you hear those glorious engine/exhaust sounds without getting your hair mussed or get cold. Lately I have been driving to skiing each morning with top up/rear window down and back home in the afternoon with the top down. Heaven.

 

IMO, the 458 spider is much better than the coupe, because of the metal roof, so it's like having 2 cars. One of the best thing about Ferrari is the sound, and the best way to enjoy the sound is to open the roof. The sound to the driver's ears and passenger's is 100 times better and louder when roof opened than only windows opened, because it's coming from the back. And about the performance, as an average skill driver, you won't be able to tell the difference. And how many times in a year that you take out 75% of the car's performance? Most of the times, you are only using less than 50%.
The only downside about Spider is that when the roof is closed, the coupe looks better from the back. It looks lower without that humps. But then nothing beats driving Ferrari with roof opened on a sunny day.

 

+1 on everything mik458

Had a Italia and now a spider. The spider is like having 2 cars in 1. Like Philnothill I always have the rear window down when the top is up so I can hear the engine sound and it doesn't mess my gf hair.

 

The coupe offers the better drive though.

 

Any perceptible bulkhead shake in the Spider?

 

https://youtu.be/aErhRtiR0z4

Here's a great video of the spider from the driver's POV. This is with the roof up and rear window up and to me still sounds very loud. Can't imagine how much louder it would be with the window down. If you wear headphones you get a great sense of what it sounds like. Although, I've never driven one so I cant confirm how accurate the video is.

 

+1 neither is to my liking either. LOL My GF can't tell my 458 from my 911.

 

Here we go: windows down in an Italia, you certainly pick up lots of exhaust noise, no question. What the spider does with windows up but rear window down, is that it eliminates all the air turbulence/noise you get from the side windows when down. In the spider, when only rear window is down, you hear only exhaust and various mechanical noises coming from the engine bay which is just over your shoulder. You are sort of isolating yourself from the white noise coming off the road.

Bumpy road issues/compromises are very speed dependent in my opinion. If I am going less than 25 miles an hour - typical on a city/suburban street, the road imperfections are transmitted to the steering rack in the spider in ways that I did not experience in the Italia. You can feel the rack - for lack of a better description - being tugged in various directions based on road surface irregularities. But, driving at speed on the highway, the suspension is now much busier responding to the road surface such that the "noxious" front end sensations are no longer clearly transmitted/perceived.

If that doesn't answer your question, please feel free to PM me.

best

Randy

 

Randy,

That's the best description that I've heard on the subject.

 

Randy,
Thank you so much for your insight!!!

Eric

 

Well yes. Not living in a city/urban area means driving under 25 mph very very little.

 

not forgetting that the Spider has a bit of "breadvan" look from certain angles, despite the fact that I love Spiders, furthermore if you follow one down a motorway it kinda strange looks small and narrow with the top down, ie doesn't have the same road presence as the coupe

 

Guess that's why my spider draws a crowd driving down the highway.