Why does "everyone" prefer the 458 over the 488?

I too had an '84 GTI and loved it. White on blue. Adjustable seat bolsters. Cool wheels. Alpine car stereo that was worth more than the car. Sorry to derail the thread....

 

That's what I have, but OEM radio. I don't think it derails the thread which is 458 or 488. The larger order bit is pick the car that makes you happy. Horsepower is just one of many metrics.

 

I notice that the new Lotus looks almost exactly like a mini 488. Not a mini 458

So apparently Lotus doesn’t agree either.

 

Hahahahaha

 

Both sound the same too!

 

oooo shots fired

 

Is that really the flex you think it is?

I think both cars are good looking for different reasons. Time will tell but looks are always subjective.

 

The Emira is one great looking lotus.

 

I agree! This one sounded like a symphony of rock and roll weaponry so it definitely was fitted with an exhaust.

 

I test drove both. I preferred the exterior cleaner lines of the 458 but the test drive convinced me the 488 was a better quality car all round. They both sounded great and I realized the times when you get the 458 up to 8000 rpm on public roads are few and far between. I'm still on the fence, but my gut tells me if I buy a 458, after the initial excitement wears off I will regret not getting the 488.

 

I don't think anyone would argue with that assumption. It is. But a Lexus is even better quality all around.....however..... the true test of which car is the best for you is the one that puts a bigger smile on your face.

 

Oh no, you're completely misguided here. Yeah, you're not going to get up to 8000 in 3rd gear very often in the 458, unless you like to live in a 4x9 space, but the thrill comes after 3,500 RPM. If you live in a city, the 458 is the one to get. If you live out West with wide open roads, the 488 is better. You need that 488 near redline to get the full throaty of it, but the 458 begins at 3,500. The 488 is going to be relatively quiet in urban driving or on the highway. The 458 will always have a presence while idling that the 488 can't match. Rev the engines at a stoplight to see what I mean.

Technically, the 488 has the specs to make it superior in all areas of performance, but then again, the Tesla Plaid S is even more superior in terms of acceleration in real world use, but I'd rather have a 488. Its the intangibles that make the 488 a better car than the Plaid. In the same way, I think its the intangibles of the 458 that make it better than a 488. Both are great cars, but smiles per mile my vote goes to the 458, its always a special event with the 458, its your personal roller coaster ride.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Too bad the company sucks....total mismanagement of this opportunity.

 

honestly, the thread is turning into a bit of satire.

I do think that everyone prefers the Emira over the Elise though. ;-)

 

2001 Porsche Boxster
Base model
Best 217 horsepower ever
Loved that car. Would still own except got clobbered at an intersection

 

You makin’ too much sense!

 

My wife had one too, she loved it!

 

I have a 458 Aperta and a 488 Challange EVO...two of the most extreme examples..I run the EVO on the road(cat delete..809hp tune)...Both give me extreme wood. That said I won't choose which one is better at one thing or another. The one closest to the garage bay doors that day wins....Thanks Ferrari...

 

How did you make the evo street legal?

 

I like both, but bought the 458. It came with fabspeed headers and exhaust and a cat delete and turns about 600 horse, so closer to the 488 but no turbos. Still street legal. With the engine at idle, it sounds mean. Revved, its sounds nuts. But, if I had gotten a good deal on a 488, I would have bought one. Its slightly nicer to drive around town. I have driven the 458 in stop and go traffic and its not the nicest ride with the very sensitive throttle.

 

Shiv can send you a simple tune that significantly improves the sensitive throttle map.

 

I can say this... currently, there are MUCH better 488 examples for sale than 458's it seems. I search CarGuru's weekly just to stay on top of the market and hey, who doesn't like browsing?! I hide all the cars with accident history and widen the net to the entire US and I'll tell ya, the 458's that are nice and spec'd with race seats, good colors and options are HARD to find these days. The 488's are much easier to locate with sporty spec's, carbon seats, etc.

I know the race seat popularity boomed with the 488 and that helps (god the couch seats are UGLY!) but if you're impatient it's a much easier search to find a nice 488 VS a keeper 458.

Both are amazing cars! I'm not sure I'd buy a 458 and ADD it to my 488 garage, I'd have to go for a 812SF if I had two F cars. The 458 will always hold a special place in my heart though!

 

Took me years to locate and acquire another mint 458 spider with race seats. I currently look every week in case another pops up in a diff color.

 

I was looking for the race seats, but because I am tall and they were way better than the standards in terms of ride height. It took me months of looking to find my car, and I literally just lucked out and stumbled into it, and my requirements weren't that severe. I just wanted a car with the race seats, carbon interior package, and not red or yellow, and no accidents. Still took months. 488's were much more available, but all the cars I was finding were just outside of my price range for the spec I wanted, or were hanger queens with next to no miles on them and base spec.