458 as a Daily Driver

458 is as comfortable to drive daily as any other car bar a Mercedes S or Bentley..... very easy on your back and legs unless you plan to be very spirited for longer periods, where the ride will eventually get you.

I’d go for 2012 onwards personally, as those cars are well sorted, and you will have some of the maintenance plan still included, but to be honest, nothing really goes wrong. As long as you take care of it, and have regular service checkups based on mileage, I think it’s a fantastic option. The only downside is obviously that the higher mileage will create a lot of depreciation compared to the usual 458 lightly driven examples, but hey, if you can afford it, do it I say! You’ll never arrive in work with a bigger smile on your face than after a drive in it

 

This is the first time this question has been asked...oh wait there are about 500 threads with the exact question.

Search is always a good thing.

Yes it can be a daily.

 

I use my 458 as a DD and love it. No problems. I had same concerns when I bought mine and found scores of owners who drove multi thousands of miles with no issues. Forget about depreciation and enjoy. Go with 2013 or later


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OP don't worry about previous threads on the topic, post away and maybe you can get some more up to date feedback
I agree that the 458 is fine as a DD. My service costs were apx $600 USD per year, certainly not expensive.
I went for a 2013 to make sure any bugs were sorted from the earlier cars, however if any issues on earlier models have been sorted they'd be fine to purchase.
I put several thousand in mileage on mine in the first year and loved every minute of it.
You'll be the happiest man in town having a 458 as a DD!!


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I typically buy my cars pre owned with higher mileage for this reason specifically. I dont like to drive cars with guilt of large depreciation from adding miles and not being able to enjoy it. That being said mine is high mileage and i drive it every day. Just keep up on the maintenance and you should be fine, quite comfortable in comparision to the lamborghinis i have drove in the past.

 

+1 on a 458 as a DD

 

I looked at the 2017 NSX.
Get the 458 —strongly suggest the spider

Even the NSX salesman was smitten with my 458 spider. I showed him the interior and then the frunk space

When I operated the top, the whole place came out to watch.

Reliable? Practical?

My spider has over 100,000 miles. Still enjoy driving my beater from maranello!

 

It’s okay as a daily driver. I’ve put almost 40k kilometers on my 2012 458 spider since buying it two years ago and although the car is mechanically sound, here are the parts I’ve had replaced:

- RH rear speed sensor in 2017
-LH rear speed sensor in 2018 (lasted one year more)
-o2 sensors
-ABS sensors

One big issue with this car due to heavy electronics are that sensors are timed life. Your sensors will die, thankfully most sensors are cheap (in the Ferrari scale of course) and accessible and therefore cheap and quick to replace (day job).

However if you’re unlucky, sensors in your gearbox may also die, which requires reassembly or replacement depending on where in the double clutch gearbox the sensor resides. Most common are the gearbox speed and e diff differential pressure sensors.

My spider is due for a replacement e diff sensor, which requires disassembly of the differential from the Getrag DSG and replacing and reassembling. Quoted 13k part and labour at dealer and 7.7k at independent and requires one to two weeks of labor. Note that few independents are capable of this work as it requires access to Getrag gearbox specific workshop manuals.

So relatively reliable for an exotic but due to nature of sensors dying over time keep that in mind if it’s your only car and you have a long commute.



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Has anyone else here aside from daflk above had getrag issues? Mine has been reliable at 12 to 13k miles. I just wanted to know of any thing else to watch out for

 

Mine gives me a headache if I drive it for more than an hour; and wrecks my back and shoulders and neck.

I bought it as a DD but it's just too much...too much everything; noise, attention, everything. Plus, I can't really hear anyone on the phone over the engine which makes it hard to use as a day to day tool whilst running a business.

Things to think about.

 

Absolutely no issue on phone. Bluetooth works fine . even with top down I can carry on a conversation... just put windows up. Also, I am 73 and other than ass in first, have no issues with driving comfort.


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would love to see a pic of that mileage! didn't know the counter went up that high

 

Brilliant. Keep rocking it, stories like yours are what keeps me in the game. DD wise, I just worry about what my sports injuries will prevent me driving when I hit my 70's!


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Perhaps I'm not quite as strident, but I agree with this for the most part. I'm investigating the F12 and the new Continental GT and will keep my 458 for the shorter drives.

 

What year 458 do you have? customer brought by his 13 458 and the shifting is quite faster than my 2011.

 

the transmission on the 458 isn't that good for DD in a city. if you're driving it on the highway its probably ok.

 

What Zalfor said. The NSX is a bit more refined, quieter, more Japanese-like in its characteristics. Shifting is smoother, the 458 is a bit rougher by comparison, especially in a city. The NSX is AWD, don’t know if that is important to you. Also, it’s a heavier car.

 

Remember that it rains into the engine compartment.

Can't imagine my 458 being my only way to get to work and having to park it in questionable places.

Driving it for me is an event, even though I'm not worried about miles or resale. Just me.

 

A DCT failure of some kind seems to be the only serious problem one could encounter with the 458.
Another thread has suggested going for a Ferrari warranty does not make sense financially, however it would be a good protection (at about $4.5K/year) if this risk is considered needing a mitigation.
Regarding the gearbox for city use, I think it will only be a discomfort if trying to use it in auto - using the paddles (with no possibility of stalling since the clutch remains automated) should be OK.

 

honestly, i don't recommend 458 as a DD. but you'll probably buy it anyways because we all have this ferrari feeling

 

I don't see why you couldn't daily drive it.
I would recommend getting the newest/best car you can afford without stretching it.
For daily use I'd go with a less loud, more refined color like Grigio Titanio or Silverstone (or similar).
It would be nice if it had Bluetooth.
Try out different seats, for me Daytona-style seats in my Spider are awesome.