458 Spider Owners Please Chime In | FerrariChat

458 Spider Owners Please Chime In

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Soup Nazzi, Apr 22, 2016.

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  1. Soup Nazzi

    Soup Nazzi Rookie

    Dec 7, 2015
    4
    How do you like your spider?

    I currently have a '13 458 italia, however I'm thinking of trading it in for a different color combo, however it's a spider.

    Any owners ever own both and regret going convertible?

    Do you miss not being able to see the engine in the spider?

    Pros cons of both?

    Thank you for the advice.
     
  2. Dolceexte

    Dolceexte Formula 3

    Dec 20, 2015
    1,008
    Love the open air
    Looks great with top down
    Looks okay with top up
    Engine bay is a joke on spider
    Do feel it flexes more than coupe; not as stiff
    Can't go wrong with open air drives
     
  3. mjayz

    mjayz Rookie

    Jan 23, 2010
    27
    Although I just purchased '13 spider a month ago, I don't think I would ever trade the top down with the engine view.
     
  4. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    +458

    Sounds much better even with the top up...you can put the rear window down and hear the music from the rear even in the rain and cold weather. You can hear the engine all the time during drives...you have to get out of the car to see the engine.

    I would never own a coupe...one of the reasons F12 is not a consideration. The hard top convertible is the best of both worlds. I would not trade the hard top feature for the engine window. Guess l got it out of my system with the 360 Spider.

    Best
     
  5. mik458spider

    mik458spider Formula 3

    Jan 13, 2013
    1,386
    The spider has 2 worlds. And this is the only way to hear the sound like a bystander while driving. Whats the point to see the engine? If engine is visible, then you have to make sure its always clean, like working 2 jobs.
     
  6. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    105,399
    Vegas baby
    I found that Ferrari made the spider more of a GT than the coupe. Exhaust quieter, shock settings softer, and shifts smoother.

    There is some chassis flex.
     
  7. dolphins08430

    dolphins08430 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 2, 2011
    449
    I had both cars and I preferred coupe.
    Imo the spider lacked the firmness of coupe and had to much cowl shake.
     
  8. Dolceexte

    Dolceexte Formula 3

    Dec 20, 2015
    1,008


    Yes agreed
     
  9. PA Wolfpacker

    PA Wolfpacker Formula Junior

    Aug 19, 2007
    685
    Naples, FL
    Full Name:
    Neil
    I owned a '13 spider and absolutely loved it. If the roads in PA were worth a d*mn I would still have it. I agree with the comment that with the rear window down there is nothing better than driving under an overpass and running the engine up to 9000 rpm. Heaven.
     
  10. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    #10 PhilNotHill, Apr 22, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2016
    How about a tunnel? ;)
    Colorado has 55.

    Cowl shake is more significant if you track alot.
     
  11. 2fastforu

    2fastforu Formula Junior

    Aug 5, 2006
    351
    I absolutely love my Spider, top down as much as possible. And gunning 9K rpm in a tunnel is a bliss. The cowl shake doesn't bother me as much even though the roads here in Seattle are terrible. Would never buy a coupe for a Ferrari. Although an F12 would be fine I guess, was just looking at them and wondering if I could trade my Spider for an F12. Just wishful thinking. I'm happy with the Spider but that V12 is something special.
     
  12. Dolceexte

    Dolceexte Formula 3

    Dec 20, 2015
    1,008
    Had both I think pure driving experience would be Speciale coupe. Spider is amazing top down all the time. Tunnel and underpass...amazing!!! Will have 488 Spider soon so will let you know if it's the same.
     
  13. Twosherpaz

    Twosherpaz Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2014
    930
    Thermal, CA
    Full Name:
    Private
    Echo the lowering of rear window sentiment. Not that it's 458 relevant, but the lil engine in the 488 is nice to actually cover up.
     
  14. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    ROTFL :D
     
  15. fredhassen

    fredhassen Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2015
    709
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Full Name:
    Fred Hassen


    Yep!! Only do Spiders. I have grown to like the soft tops better because I hate that A lot of people thought it was a coupe til I put the top down. Lol

    If my tops up, I'd prefer they know it's a spider so there is no best of both worlds. :). I do miss that about my old 430 Spider.

    Never met a car that didn't look better with the top down. :)
     
  16. DavidJames1

    DavidJames1 Formula 3

    Mar 6, 2010
    1,780
    Bangkok, Thailand
    Agree 100% - I would never buy the coupe and love the convertibles. My aperta is probably the best car I've owned.
     
  17. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    I HAD a 2010 italia and HAVE a 2013 spider. I found the Italia to have the most amazing structural rigidity. But, it was almost Lexus smooth and somehow became less of an occasion to drive then my slower/less than perfect previous 360/430s. The spider I almost sold within the first month as it just didn't feel right. Long story for another day.
    3 years on I still have it. At the end of the day, it has 2 completely different modes: top up or down. And it has 3 additional "1/2" modes as I call them. Meaning top up or down is radically changed by exhaust flap position (1st 2 1/2 positions) and the third 1/2 is roof up and rear window down.
    By having all these different driving modes, you alter the car's feel very drastically. This in turn makes for the illusion that you have more than one car to drive. I have yet to be bored my car. Small warts and all, the spider for me is always an occasion to drive.
    Most importantly, I find the rear deck of the spider to look cooler than seeing the motor. Ferrari did a fantastic job with the styling. Yes, I miss seeing the motor with the engine lid up. But not that much. (After my drives I lift up engine cover and have fan in garage to get all that heat out of the car/garage. So, I see, or should I say, don't see, the motor all the time!)
    Best
     
  18. Lonnie

    Lonnie Formula Junior

    May 22, 2013
    499
    NY/Delray Beach FL
    Full Name:
    Lonnie Mandel
    had a 13 Spider now have a 15 Coupe would not go back to a Spider on a 458 however I do own 360 and 430 Spiders 6MT and love them both
     
  19. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 22, 2002
    19,241
    where do you live? if your LA or south florida get the spider. If you are northeast keep the 458 and get a 430 spider or 360 spider for the 5 months of the year where you will actually have the top down.
     
  20. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
    14,258
    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
    Full Name:
    Mel
    I know a friend in South Africa who has a 16M ...

    Open driving for him is impossible for him because of the sun ! :eek:
     
  21. saraojo

    saraojo Formula 3

    Mar 9, 2015
    1,275
    Northeast
    Have an italia coupe and a 430 spider. I agree that the convertible is like having two cars to drive. If I didn't have the 430 spider I would choose a 458 spider over the coupe since its more fun.
     
  22. 2fastforu

    2fastforu Formula Junior

    Aug 5, 2006
    351
    I have to agree for the most part. Except for 911. IMHO 911 cabriolet looks ugly compared to the coupe.
     
  23. fredhassen

    fredhassen Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2015
    709
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Full Name:
    Fred Hassen


    Hey! Don't be making fun of my Turbo S Cab!! I'm going to cry for a month now!! :)
     
  24. Michael Petersen

    Dec 11, 2015
    69
    Australia
    I can't comment of the comparison between the 458 Italia and the 458 Spider, but ... I would always recommend a spider of whatever car. Wind in your hair, sun in your face, open air around you, and that sound, OMG, that sound - there is nothing like the experience of the 458 Spider. I've had soft tops since 1978, a Triumph Stag for 25 years (and it's 3 engines - but that's another story), a Maserati Bi-Turbo Spider from 1988, a Maserati 4200 CambioCorsa Spider from 2003 and now the 458 Spider. Obviously the Ferrari is a universe apart from my previous cars, but they all had one thing in common that is absolutely addictive - the open air feeling. I love in Melbourne, Australia and have the roof off about 300 days of the year. It's not always hot, but if it's not raining, then I immediately take off the roof. - So my advice is, go for the 458 Spider. Forget the fact that you can't see the engine - as PhilNotHill says, (to paraphrase) - you can't see the engine when driving a 458 Italia, so forget about that issue.
     
  25. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    One of the things l don't like about a cloth top spider is l feel l must wait until the top is completely dry before putting the top down. With the hard top l just towel off the top and can put the top down right away, thus saving precious moments of top down driving. ;)

    And then l worry that somebody or a bear (yes, a bear) will tear into the cloth top when the car is unattended. Never happened yet but still a concern. And we never leave any food in the car as bears can smell it a mile away and will do anything to get at it. Really.

    I'll never forget when our bankers from the big city took us out to dinner and encountered a bear on their way back to their Aspen hotel from the restaurant. Made a big impression indeed. ;)
     

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