First Ferrari

Yes, sorry guys. Fancy terminology for a exhaust flap controllers out there. Forza, iPE, Novitec, etc. Makes a huge difference in how the car sounds and therefore feels at normal daily driven rpm ranges. Add a high flow cat or straight pipes, and I think you'll be quite pleased.

 

The 458 is one of the best modern Ferrari's made. You will absolutely love it and it's so much better in a total ownership experience than any BMW.

You can't explain what owning a Ferrari is like. The history of the brand, the racing pedigree, the revered nature of the brand. It's the intangibles that other brands don't have.

I absolutely loved my F355 Spider but I love my 458 spider 10 times more. If I could own both I would but I can only have one and it's the 458!

 

I agree with you Buddy. Especially these days. I definitely agree with SECRET. I have headers->100 cell cats->stock exhaust box + NR software on my 458 Italia and it is FANTASTIC. They say more power- and it feels it- but the biggest thing is the sound and also the shifts seem to be cleaner, smoother, and a drop faster? (I think this last point might be imagined). I would not recommend this for the feint of heart because when the exhaust flaps open- you will hear the car!

I can tell you guys I've owned 3 F430 variants: Spider, Scud and Coupe stick shift. The 430 is a really great car. I love it. But the 458 (overall) is even better (as it should be).

I think as a first Ferrari, the 458 is probably the best choice. It kind of does it all so well and by no means does this make it a jack of all trades and master of none. I think the most important thing is the car is just plain fun to drive. And its gorgeous to look at. Don't make the mistake of driving it gently for a few minutes and think the car is just too tame. If you get a little bit more aggressive with it, it will respond.

I still love driving my F430, I love driving stick shift cars too. But to come back to the point, I think as far as V8 cars go- the 458 is a highwater mark for Ferrari and a fairly safe choice as a first Ferrari.

 

My grandfather has a 458 and it's one awesome car, he's owned it for a while now and has never spoken a bad word about it. Every time I ride with him it's like heaven on wheels. But as said above check out the 458 section the guys on here are awesome.

 

PM me with any questions but sold my F430 to buy an FF just 2 months ago so know them both and are very different but couldn't be happier with the trade. Like many before me have said, depends on what you are looking for as far as an experience and what you want to spend.