I think they may have decided not to use the "GTS" designation because of its close association with the targa-style top as used on the 308/328 GTS, the 348ts and the F355 GTS. Still, it does seem a bit odd to have revived the GTB moniker for the coupe. Maybe they ran out of Ferrari-associated people or cities to name cars after? Fred
I agree completely. I have an F430 Spider and a 458 Spider, and I've often thought that the 458 is quite a bit like a targa. Fred
No. The Targa has a distinct 'roof panels out only' thing going on. Just because the Spider has the humps behind your head doesn't make it Targa.
White 488 GTB at Ferrari Racing days Circuit Paul Ricard OFFICIEL 2015: https://www.flickr.com/photos/franckspotter/19433963264/
True. However, the height of the "pylons," necessitated by the fitment of the metal retractable roof, and the appearance of the top when it is raised, with its distinctive vertical glass window, are reminiscent of a targa. Remember, until the introduction of the 458 Spider, all Ferrari models designated as "Spyders" had cloth tops. In their appearance and all-weather capability, the 458/488 Spyders are a kind of hybrid. Fred
Few of my 488 photo's ! Klick for all others Look at the " Logistic Mode" in which the 488 drives max 25 km/h !
I preferred the F 430 "toplessness" to the 458. But, the 458 not a targa. There is one big advantage to the 458 system. My GF HATES riding in convertables with the top down. But I had a solution I put the top in the 458 down, kept the rear window up, and raised the windows on the side. The buffeting is really minimal and it does not fuss your hair. And, you still get the sun and open air feeling. You can't really do that with the F430. You're still pretty much exposed to the elements. It's a compromise. I like them both for different reason. One thing you don't want to know is the cost to replace a fabric roof in an F430 -- which you have to do every 7 to 10 years.
Talking about maintenance expense and Ferrari in the same sentence is just a hoot. Ok you spend over $300k for a car and can't afford to replace a canvas roof? I bought the $9900 two year warranty extension on the 458 Spider and sleep like a baby. People have warned me that a new transmission is $80k. I have no idea where they get such a number. BTW the 488 has the same tranny programmed differently. My point is that if you worry about maintenance expenses then an Fcar is probably not for you. Porsche led the pack in fewest problems by new owners again this year. Lexus has a great repair record. You have to decide what they want: fun or minimal maintenance expense. All of us are in different financial situations which will certainly change over time. There is no one right answer. My first wife would not ride with the top down. My second wife wont ride with the top up if it's not raining. And she won't drive anything but a stick. Don't miss #1 for a second. Can you say passive aggressive? On nice days we would take separate cars. It was great. I could drive with the top down, listen to the music i wanted, drive the way i wanted and not listen to her complaints. Those days are over now. Thank goodness.
Nice 488 review in new forza mag. Basically better in every way than 458. Faster, more comfortable, more connected, better brakes, interior. Etc. Ended by saying its a masterpiece. Oh yeah almost forgot they had an opinion on engine sound (and response too). Guess what it was Ill take a 458 thanks very much
Just got Forza and read the 488 First Drive article. To my amazement CO2 is 4% less. That's it a measely 4%. Not favorably impressed. All this work and redesign for 4%! This tells me the 488 was designed for the China market not for so-called pollution reduction. Mileage is improved by 15% which considering how bad the mileage is already is a joke. Instead of getting 10 mpg in Race mode to 11.5 mpg just is not meaningful. I personally don't really care about the mileage but a 15% improvement is not significant to me. I drive the car to have fun saving on gas expense is way down the list. Please note: nowhere on the 458 can i find the gas mileage. The computer has to know but won't tell us. That should tell us that mileage is not deemed by Ferrari as very significant. You have to compute it yourself. I drove 100 miles since my last fill up. The car took 10 gallons. That's 10 mpg and i was in Race mode. So if i bought a 488 the car would tell me i have 115 miles to fill up instead of 100. BFD. The 488 better be hugely more fun to drive cause what i am reading doesn't have me enthused ...yet.
It's mostly about performance under a higher efficiency paradigm. The efficiency improvements in mileage, emissions etc are about meeting regulatory requirements for the fleet, esp given the risk of losing the current exemptions. Also, is CO2 now also being vilified as "pollution"? I hope things haven't come to that.
It is and always has been - it's nothing new. According to the US EPA, CO2 accounts for 32% of the greenhouse gas emitted from burning fossil fuels in the US. Just because it's what we exhale, does not mean that it can't be a polluting greenhouse gas, if produced in large quantities.
But i bet emission and mpg test are done under std mode and typical street driving. Re test in race mode and enthusiast driving and see 488 turbos same or worse than 458.
Go into P&R and you'll find people advocating that we emit more because "it's plant food", don't ya know. That's the level of scientific discussion on FChat.
