Hi, Could anyone help with the following questions please, for the 458 and also highlight if some of the below is different for 458 vs 458 Speciale: 01 - Valve Controller: from reading and searching on the forum, the Forza seems to be the most popular / best? Would anyone recommend anything else? 02 - Exhaust Valves Operation: when do they open and close as normal - i.e - are they closed when the car is first started and only open at 2,500 RPM? 03 - Startup Sound: which mode (Race, etc) gives the best startup sound. I’ve heard a few cold starts and one today on a stock exhaust car today and I thought it would be a lot louder… it was almost like the car was already heated up and didn’t need to idle with the rev up at the start? A 992 GT3 was started after it, and that had a much louder and longer cold start? 04 - P: is it possible to put the car in P, or does it only show in P when you start the car? Even when the parking break is pressed when you stop, the car doesn’t show P? Thank you in advance for your help.
I don't remember if it shows P, but pull and hold the little brake hold lever below and to the side of the wheel to get the car to hold position. Like when you leave it running but need to get out. The previous owner installed a valve controller in my 458 but I don't really use it. If I want louder I switch up the knob to Race and if I want to be low key (like leaving the house early in the morning) I put it down to Sport and keep the revs low. I almost never remember to play with the controller fob or which button does what
I always liked the Capristo valve controller, but my Speciale may have a Forza...not sure. Startup isn't particularly impressive with the Speciale. Don't worry, she gets better are she warms up and improves towards the 9k redline, unlike newer cars.
I'd go Forza, as it allows you to force the valves closed. Not good for hard driving, but it is good for road trips. My Capristo controller wouldn't allow that. Also, the Speciale sounds like a vacuum cleaner with the h-pipe. It really needs an x-pipe to sound like a Ferrari. The Italia sounds great, because it doesn't have that stupid design.
Thank you for the help. I was never aware that the 458 had such a low startup sound, which has its positives too. The car sounds truly amazing up in the higher revs, but I’d love to get some more sound while at lower speeds, so that I don’t have to drive the car like a lunatic to hear it I’ll start searching for more details on the X pipe, but if you have further information too, it would be appreciated - thank you
