I like how the F8 sounds | FerrariChat

I like how the F8 sounds

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Tupper, Jul 2, 2025 at 1:39 PM.

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  1. Tupper

    Tupper Rookie

    Jun 28, 2025
    10
    Chicago area
    Maybe it's a new owner honeymoon thing, but I like how the F8 sounds when you wind it out to redline.

    I came into this knowing that there were complaints about the muffled sound, especially due to the GPF's. I come from some loud cars, including a nearly straight piped 992 Carrera S with a Stage 2 tune, a V10 Audi R8 which also had a titanium valveless exhaust, as well as a Huracan Evo which had OEM exhaust but was still silly loud.

    While not as loud as those, it's still a great sounding car, but in a somewhat different way. Refined and exotic, which kind of fits the car's look. Anybody else in my boat?
     
    lamborarijason, TR007 and GTf12 like this.
  2. subzero25314

    subzero25314 Karting

    Dec 28, 2024
    50
    YES. I love it. Here's the thing. I dont want MORE attention in this car. I love being able to pull out of my house and neighborhood at 530am and not wake every human being up. But when it's warmed up and you get into higher RPM it just screams. it's the perfect balance for someone who wants to daily drive it.
     
    F8F8evoevo, TR007 and Tupper like this.
  3. Archer1021

    Archer1021 Karting

    Aug 8, 2021
    145
    Mine is great too. I actually get tons of compliments that it sounds great. I was driving behind a huracan yesterday night tho that just sounded unreal with the V10. Lambo does have Ferrari beat on the sound overall. Althought the 812 is up there with the V12
     
    Tupper likes this.
  4. People who don't like how the F8 sounds fall into one of two groups:

    (1) they own a 458, and are holding on to dear life to a 15+ year old car and the whole "last mid engine NA V8 Ferrari" thing that's endearing, at best, and just hackneyed, at worst;

    OR

    (2) are otolaryngologists or ENT doctors and looking for new patients
     
    Ash Patel, Cigarzman and Tupper like this.
  5. 3POINT8

    3POINT8 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Jan 23, 2014
    5,248
    You can like the way an F8 sounds but still think other cars sound better. I own a 458, Evo and F12 so I am spoiled rotten on sound. That said I have nothing against an F8. I have heard them on track but haven't had the pleasure of properly ringing one out first hand. I would agree with OP the sound fits the car.
     
  6. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
    3,408
    Tampa FL
    I know there is better sound in the F8.. yes slightly louder but much better sound. I can hear in there, the harmonics and tone that is highly strangled in the F8. Problem for me is I do not have the time nor patience to put up with CEL on the dash and so far as far as I have read no aftermarket exhaust company and ECU tuner can guarantee the car will run problem free and reliable.
     
    430jm likes this.
  7. Tupper

    Tupper Rookie

    Jun 28, 2025
    10
    Chicago area
    I'm not even knocking the 458 or Huracan Evo or any of those great sounding NA cars. Love what they offer, been there, experienced that, all good.

    To me, I don't know what it is. It just got to be the same old thing after a while. I can't believe how friggin fast the F8 is, and even without it being crazy loud, you actually FEEL something visceral driving it. They really nailed the gear changes. It's my first Ferrari so maybe they are all like this, but this thing ain't a joke, LOL!
     
    mdrums likes this.
  8. Faider

    Faider Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 30, 2024
    303
    LA/NY
    I agree the F8 sounds great at redline but getting that car to redline also may get you arrested. Speed and power is beyond belief. I had a hard time finding places to open it up properly. Congrats and welcome. Amazing car
     
    Tupper likes this.
  9. Echelon

    Echelon Karting

    Jan 28, 2025
    65
    My buddy has a F8 with tune, carless down pipes, and X pipe and I'll tell ya, it really turned the F8 into IMHO the best "value" option for a mid engine V8 Ferrari. The tech, speed, looks, and sound really come together.

    I talked myself out of scooping up this F8. It's a mirror image of my 488GTB spec but I just couldn't justify knowing I'd have to drop 100K cash on top of the trade and tie it up (I don't do loans on the fun cars) and then another $20k on exhaust and tune. She is a beaut tho!


    https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/vdp.action?listingId=419163400#listing=419163400
     
  10. 3POINT8

    3POINT8 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Jan 23, 2014
    5,248
    First Ferrari has a lot to do with it. You picked a heck of a place to start too!
     
    Tupper likes this.
  11. Tupper

    Tupper Rookie

    Jun 28, 2025
    10
    Chicago area
    This is so true. I redline in 1st gear and by the time I'm in second gear and up to about 5000 RPM it's time to let off the gas, this car is so fast. That's one negative, I guess. I need to find a proper place to at least rev it out to 3rd gear or so...
     
  12. Tupper

    Tupper Rookie

    Jun 28, 2025
    10
    Chicago area
    I've always had a policy that when I show up, I show up. Go big or go home, LOL!

    Not to knock Romas or Portafinos or anything, but I did look at a Roma about a year ago as my "next" sports car but I just didn't feel like that would do it for me. I knew that if I'm going to buy a Ferrari, I'm going with either the mid-engines or one of the V12's
     
    AD211 and 3POINT8 like this.
  13. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 23, 2013
    14,580
    AUSTRALIA
    Full Name:
    ANGELO

    IMO FERRARI > DRY SUMP Its all about the engine.

    Roma , Portofino and that new thing all WET SUMP. No way in hell would I EVER consider a wet sump Ferrari.

    Even the v12 front engine cars have we sumps.

    PS thats why they are cheaper the front V8's
     
    Tupper likes this.
  14. Faider

    Faider Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 30, 2024
    303
    LA/NY
    V12 Ferraris are cheaper than mid engine V8’s? Where? Average 812 GTS is roughly 100K more than the average F8 Spider. F12>488 as well
     
    mdrums likes this.
  15. uniqueMR

    uniqueMR Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2018
    389
    USA
    Full Name:
    Mr. O
    Love my F8 as well. Its a keeper for me..
    I keep my rpm above 5k and love it :)
     
  16. forty1

    forty1 Karting

    Jul 4, 2024
    118
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Nico
    If you like it, that's all that matters! I met a guy at a track day last year that had just bought an F8 as his first Ferrari. His car was quieter than the 458 or scuds watching from the pits, but he was one of the happiest owners when he got out, from about 75 vehicles.
     
  17. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    I do not. Matter of fact I think it’s atrocious.
     
  18. BuyHighSellLow

    BuyHighSellLow Karting

    Mar 18, 2025
    105
    Alberta Canada
    Thank you for finally saying it.. I agree wholly. I think it sounds GREAT. And I've had every mid engine V8 Ferrari since the 355 (exept the 360). The F8 sounds fantastic and I don't see the 'problem' everyone has with it. It's very smooth, high tech and of course, I'm hearing it from inside the cabin always so with the special (sound tube or pipe) that the F8 has which brings engine sound into the cabin over the driver's head, it sound wonderful to me. And yes, I always drive with rpm over 4200 anyway
     
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  19. F8F8evoevo

    F8F8evoevo Rookie

    May 27, 2025
    44
    UK
    Recent F8 owner and this was the one thing that made me look at the huracan. I bought the F8 from advice here and comfort. Now I own it i'm shocked at how people moan about the sound. I think it's great. No complaints from me. Want some noise, couple (or more) of downshifts and its great. Cold starts are nice. As someone else mentioned, just dont need any more attention than this car gets anyway. Lots of jealous people here in the UK and I mean lots. People constantly look and stare, i'm a little shy so don't like it so much especially when parking, if it was louder it would only attect more attention and people staring some hoping you are gonna make a mistake and hit someone or something. I just want to do what i'm doing, it's different at a show or event but I have used mine almost everyday since purchase because I love it so much. Defo not upgrading the exhaust.
     
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  20. BuyHighSellLow

    BuyHighSellLow Karting

    Mar 18, 2025
    105
    Alberta Canada
    Love to hear it. - I tried to psychoanalyze myself and wondered if because I went from 355 to 430 to 458 to 488 to F8... that I'm only happy with the sound because each car has been decreasing in sound by design from Ferrari at the same time that I was getting older lol.... so I thought maybe for a second that Ferraris and my age have been slowly weening me off the love of loud exhausts hahah... But nah, the F8 sounds perfectly nice, period.
     
    F8F8evoevo likes this.
  21. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 23, 2013
    14,580
    AUSTRALIA
    Full Name:
    ANGELO

    You misunderstood the point I was making. Comparing the V8 front engine models are all wet sump where as the mid engined V8 are dry sump. Thats why they are cheaper and lower Red Line.

    Not suggesting the V12 is cheaper . Im saying the front engine V12 is dry sumped. With that logic the front engine V8 could be dry sump but they dont to make it cheaper.
     
    Faider likes this.
  22. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 23, 2013
    14,580
    AUSTRALIA
    Full Name:
    ANGELO

    FYI the 488GTB has the same sound tube into the cabin :oops: Each car has its own sound , good or bad its its own sound.

    The problem is the F8 has another block on its sound the Particle Filter , another resistance.

    The 812 had car with no particle filter and then they had the particle filter. From new ask yourself which one would you buy ?

    You would NEVER pick the car with the particle filter.

    That's why I would always pick the Pista over a F8 , second hand that is.
     
  23. up4speed

    up4speed F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 16, 2012
    3,681
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #23 up4speed, Jul 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2025 at 11:14 PM
    I'm pretty sure that the 488 doesn't have the sound tube in the cabin . If I remember correctly, it was one thing that they bragged about when the F8 first came out.
     
  24. lamborarijason

    lamborarijason Karting

    Sep 18, 2017
    187
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Congrats!! F8 does sound great, I am glad I am not alone lol!! The cold start is quite loud, not wildly loud under load, not quiet by any mean, people still notice it, you never look like trying too hard and accelerating slowly. Only area that is too quiet is cruising at lower speed when exhaust valve is closed for me. Speed on F8 is nuts and even more impressive is the instant responds and it looks amazing. The Pista engine in F8 is hyper responsive.

    I love the way my previous F8 sounded, no exhaust mods, I traded it for the 992 turbo S last August after daily driving it for 2 years (regret it). F8 has very clean note under load and higher pitched in higher rpms than non GPF 488 which I had as well . Ferrari mentioned their team spent 6 months on sound alone, mostly in exhaust and internals as mentioned in the official Ferrari Magazine #42.

    50% or more of the complaint are from non owners that just made assumptions or watched a couple youtube videos.
     
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