488 GTB vs 488 Spider | Page 2 | FerrariChat

488 GTB vs 488 Spider

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Staj, Jun 7, 2016.

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  1. Solid State

    Solid State F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 4, 2014
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    Maximus Decimus Meridius
    #26 Solid State, Nov 27, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Not a good combo...
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  2. Scraggy

    Scraggy Formula 3

    Apr 2, 2012
    2,068
    England
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    Scraggy
    My Apertamis jelly on a plate compared to 675LT, very discernible shake especially in Sport upwards but for me the fresh air is worth it, just nothing like it. I am not a racing driver.

    Mac have the zero scuttle shake thing licked.
     
  3. Scraggy

    Scraggy Formula 3

    Apr 2, 2012
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    Scraggy
  4. bobbyd

    bobbyd Formula Junior

    Nov 17, 2003
    722
    If you believe Ferrari's claim of 95% rigidity of the coupe I have a bridge to sell you........more like 60% in reality - just nowhere near as solid feeling from driver's seat as coupe.

    So essentially that is the trade, compromise in feel while car is moving vs open roof - your choice.
     
    LVP488 likes this.
  5. 100badboy100

    100badboy100 Formula Junior
    Owner

    Sep 15, 2016
    825
    Devon- U.K.
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    Michael
    If you read back on my posts I shared a link for a really good UK based review of the spider on UK roads that covered the whole scuttle shake issue, which as per Bobby's post is definitely there so needs to be factored in to the buying decision....

    Regards

    Michael

    Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
     
  6. cpiguy

    cpiguy Formula 3
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    Oct 3, 2007
    2,137
    Westlake Village, CA
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    Arnie Friedman
    So I guess that no one has the interior spec difference, which is why I started the thread. It felt like I literally lost a couple inches of leg room along with the fact that the seat didn't recline as far. I truly felt uncomfotable compared to my GTB. Enough so that I've decide to cancel my order for the spider. :(
     
  7. keithos27

    keithos27 Formula 3

    Oct 26, 2012
    1,225
    Full Name:
    Keith
    Just throwing a minor difference but in the 458 the Italia had more room behind the seats which allowed for a greater angle of recline for those of us who are taller...
     
  8. MKS

    MKS Rookie

    Jun 2, 2007
    37
    Did anyone race the spider against the coupe to confirm the .4 seconds slower ?
     
  9. dustman

    dustman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 12, 2007
    11,163
    Sorry to hear that. It's the recline limitation.
    I'm 6'1" and it's a bit of an issue.
     
  10. RBK

    RBK F1 Rookie

    Jul 27, 2006
    3,105
    Calif and Nev
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    Bob
    As well as UV rays. Best
     
  11. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Jul 25, 2008
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    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
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    Mel
    I am quite sure you will not notice that .... :D
     
  12. United458

    United458 Karting

    Dec 2, 2015
    212
    Chapel Hill, NC
    the number differences b/w the two are meaningless.....
     
  13. 458italia2014

    458italia2014 Formula 3

    Aug 3, 2013
    1,048
    matter of preference, I love coupes and depending on the car would choose one over a spider. But if I was to buy a 488 I def would go with the spider.
     
  14. SignatureJames

    SignatureJames Karting

    Jun 23, 2012
    93
    the spider appeal is growing with the performance numbers that close for a street car
     
  15. Capristo Exhaust USA

    Capristo Exhaust USA Formula Junior
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    Jul 29, 2009
    378
    Riviera Beach, FL
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    #40 Capristo Exhaust USA, Dec 1, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Good Thread, and even better points.

    For those who are mostly upset about not seeing the engine on the spiders, we have a solution. AND they are both on SALE until the end of 2016.

    Ferrari 458 Spider Carbon Engine Bonnet - $1,500 OFF
    (Unpainted) $11,995 ****($10,495 Sale price)****
    (cleared carbon Bottom, primed ready for paint Top) $12,995 ****($11,495 Sale price)****

    Ferrari 488 Spider Carbon Engine Bonnet - $1,500 off
    Finished product (No paint needed) $11,495 ****($9,995 Sale Price)****

    Contact
    [email protected]
    or one of our Certified Dealers

    F458 Capristo Carbon Engine Bonnet (first 2 pictures)

    F488 Spider Carbon Engine Bonnet (third picture)
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  16. baciboi

    baciboi Rookie

    May 29, 2019
    1
    Full Name:
    Brayden Bacigalupo
    Currently, I'm ordering a window for the back of my spider so that you can see the engine. There are a few third-party companies that will do that but its definitely not by Ferrari. So that will take care of the Engine being covered up in the spider. It only takes up the size of the panel but it sadly comes nowhere near the size of the GTB.
     
  17. Napoli

    Napoli Formula Junior

    Nov 18, 2017
    958
    Full Name:
    NOYB, Ray!
    Headroom. Looks. Price. Availability.
     
  18. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Veteran

    Jan 21, 2017
    5,730
    France
    Cruising=spider, driving=GTB ;)
    No bad choice, just a matter of taste.
     
  19. Il Co-Pilota

    Il Co-Pilota F1 Veteran

    May 29, 2019
    6,023
    Hopefully some place nice.
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    A.B
    From having been in the 458 Italia and Spider, as well as the 488 Spider, I think there's a noticeable difference between the 458 and 488. What I mean is that the difference between the 458 Italia and 488 Spider is much more subtle than the difference between the 458 Italia and the 458 Spider. I will even go as far as saying that the 488 Spider feels more ridgid than the 458 italia. While the 458 Spider received a softer suspension setup to work with the softer chassis, the 488 GTB and 488 Spider shares the suspension setup as the 488 Spider is rigid enough to handle the Berlinetta setup.
    Interior size wise, generally with the electric seats in the 458 and 488, space is diminished compared to a car with racing seats. The racing seats are "thinner" back to front, which means that when they are moved all the way back, there's more legroom. On top of that, with the electric seats, you tend to sit a bit high. If you ever want to do some track time where you need to wear a helmet, for tall people, the electric seats can be an issue as you will hit the roof with your head. The racing seats allows you to sit quite a bit lower which I personally prefer.
    As for the difference between the cars in question. It's much more a matter of visual taste, I think, than performance. Can't recall there being an interior size difference between the 488 GTB and 488 Spider.
     
    of2worlds likes this.
  20. humdizzle

    humdizzle Karting

    Mar 9, 2016
    161
    You can argue all the percentages you want. But at the end of the day coupes are more rigid and lighter than the equivalent verts. This is probably more the case with Ferraris than McLarens since those have a carbon tub. The whole convertible mechanism and motor add a lot of weight too. like 200 pounds. Plus the glass engine cover on the coupe is nice.

    Just depends what you want.
     
  21. 488mct

    488mct Rookie

    Feb 6, 2017
    44
    Oman
    I was in the exact same situation. All the arguments mentioned above are great but for me it was more to do with the kind of person I am. The attention driving a Ferrari is something one needs to get used to, with an open top you Ferrari the attention magnifies to 10x. Also depends on the year round weather of your location. We have HOT and HUMID weather all the time, convertible season is rather short so the premium just didn't make sense. Over time convertibles leak and the mechanism needs attention, one more thing to go wrong. I decided on a coupe and couldn't be happier :)
     
  22. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    I live in Florida, I personally would only buy a spider. In fact I’ve never had an FCAR or DD that was not a drop top. Best ,Kirk.
     
  23. wrs

    wrs F1 World Champ
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    Jul 11, 2015
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    I agree you get a lot of talk when you have the top down. However, my top will never leak because I never take the car out in the rain :)
     
  24. OldDog

    OldDog Karting

    Nov 2, 2017
    55
    Sarasota, FL
    Full Name:
    JJ
    I traded my '18 GTB in for a "19 Spider. Interior room is similar but the Spider has race seats so that helps. Both cars seem to me to drive the same. Top down and thinner race seats make it easy to put a set of golf clubs (in a carry bag) crosswise behind the seats. Don't know how that would have worked in the GTB as I never tried it. My daily driver is a convertible 'Vette so the GTB just felt too enclosed. Like Kirk I am a "Floridaman" so I need that sun. (But my skin doctor is not so sure). My wife solved that issue by loading up with sunscreen. She then leaned against a charcoal door panel on the Spider and spotted it. Came off OK but it had me concerned. The "Vette has some sunscreen stains that have not come out, so that issue is something to consider.
     
    of2worlds likes this.
  25. Il Co-Pilota

    Il Co-Pilota F1 Veteran

    May 29, 2019
    6,023
    Hopefully some place nice.
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    You do know it will not melt, right? It's a car after all ;)
     
    wrs and of2worlds like this.

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