488 GTB - buying - anything to check?
Discussion
oharedm said:
Is it a dealer or independent. The obvious things to check are – rim damage, tyre age, battery is hard to test but you could look to see if it is the original. If it has carbon seats look for undue wear on the drive side bolster.
I hate rattles and have spent countless hours tracking them down on mine. You normally don't tune in to rattles on a test drive as you are blown away by how quick the car is. Check for brake pad wear, especially on the front as a new set is £1.5k. Mechanically I have not heard of any major issues to look out for.
It's a main dealer.I hate rattles and have spent countless hours tracking them down on mine. You normally don't tune in to rattles on a test drive as you are blown away by how quick the car is. Check for brake pad wear, especially on the front as a new set is £1.5k. Mechanically I have not heard of any major issues to look out for.
Great info, thanks v. much.
Yes, i don't like rattles either, very annoying, i'll try to listen out in the 488.
Edited by stimshady on Friday 1st October 16:41
jay2000 said:
I also on the hunt for a 488 and not had one before. Did you get one in the end? What's to look out for? Are the maintenance cost (servicing and consumables) high? I am inclined to stick with main dealers for their warranty but would appreciate advice from you guys. Cheers
Yes I got one, it’s unbelievable. From main dealer: Meridien Modena. I went for a GTB rather than a Spider. The main thing I noticed when buying one was just make yourself fully aware of all the options. Because there are many. And then you can find a car and recognise the options you want. I wanted a fully loaded one where possible and found one with loads of carbon bits inside and out (side vents, front splitter, rear light surrounds, doors step sills, interior bridge, steering wheel and other bits around dash), a perfect interior for me (Nero all over with extra red stitching), upgraded audio system, front & rear cameras and sensors, racing seats (carbon fibre ones), sports exhaust, adjustable mirrors, white rev counter. I think the only thing it hasn’t got is suspension lift which is hit n miss needed if you read others opinions.Then try to get a low mileage one and you can really find an excellent machine.
I have seen a couple of other 488s around since buying and when you are aware of the extras you spot them immediately (if they are there or not). So, for me, this was great because I feel I got a fully loaded car and I don’t think the extras really changed the price too much. So it’s worth waiting for a good spec that you want.
As mentioned, servicing is included for 7 years from new but even then it’s not that crazy after, maybe £800? Warranty will be needed after two year from official dealer runs out, so that’s prob another grand a year on average - not sure yet as haven’t got there. Insurance is just over a grand for 4000 miles with Locktons (good insurer, worth checking out).
I really enjoyed the experience of buying from main dealer, plus you have the comfort of them being there if anything does go wrong.
I’d say take some time, learn about the options, find a good one. I’ve never driven a Ferrari before this one so I can’t comment on what it’s like compared to others, but it’s just incredible. 100% happy with it.
Hope that helps.
And here’s a pic
Edited by stimshady on Saturday 13th November 18:32
blueSL said:
Adjustable mirrors were of course standard as were rear parking sensors. Front parking sensors and parking cameras (front and rear) were all separate options. Photochromic mirrors were an option.
The standard Ferrari exhaust options were just the tips - standard, black, titanium. If it has a sports exhaust, that would be an after-market replacement.
The standard audio system is poor so the JBL upgrade is worth having.
Opinion varies about the lift, having it required the self-levelling headlight option too. For me, the lift is essential and even with it, the nose will still ground, depending of course on where you take it. My worst grounding was, of all places, in Esher. Go to France and there are often these days vicious speed bumps at entry to and exit from rural villages.
- It shows Sports Exhaust System on the spec list, which are the black pipes instead of polished... But yes, i believe they are just tips, they look nice though. The standard Ferrari exhaust options were just the tips - standard, black, titanium. If it has a sports exhaust, that would be an after-market replacement.
The standard audio system is poor so the JBL upgrade is worth having.
Opinion varies about the lift, having it required the self-levelling headlight option too. For me, the lift is essential and even with it, the nose will still ground, depending of course on where you take it. My worst grounding was, of all places, in Esher. Go to France and there are often these days vicious speed bumps at entry to and exit from rural villages.
- Sorry, yes, it states "INT/EXT Electrochromic Mirrors" so that's the upgrade i was referring to when mentioning mirrors.
- I wouldn't say the JBL sounds like a 3K system or whatever it cost new, so the standard one must be shocking! Still, it's not bad (but then if they are charging £2K+ (or whatever it was) for Apple Car Play it's clear everything is priced, err, enthusiastically).
- The Ferrari seems much higher than the V12 Vantage it replaced, which has a very low carbon fibre front splitter - but it did clear everything - just! Albeit mostly in the UK.
blueSL said:
Yes, I have those black exhaust tips, saves cleaning, but there are no, for example, movable flaps to change the exhaust note.
Ferrari have a customisation catalogue which is really there to retroa-fit options for subsequent owners which were missed first time around, things like the carbon parts. Retrofitting is of course even more expensive than having them in the initial build because the original parts are left over and there’s more labour.
I don’t believe the sound system can be upgraded, maybe the cameras too. You run into problems with changes to the wiring loom and the cost skyrockets.
It would be good to be able to change the exhaust note, the noise definitely gets a bit less after about a second or so after ignition, it would’ve been good if they had the option to keep it in ‘loud’ mode.Ferrari have a customisation catalogue which is really there to retroa-fit options for subsequent owners which were missed first time around, things like the carbon parts. Retrofitting is of course even more expensive than having them in the initial build because the original parts are left over and there’s more labour.
I don’t believe the sound system can be upgraded, maybe the cameras too. You run into problems with changes to the wiring loom and the cost skyrockets.
blueSL said:
Yes, when I bought my 488 GTB, the option was listed as Sport Exhaust Pipes (EXA3), £432, same with my F8. That amount of money buys you very little in the Ferrari world so you are just getting the exhaust finishers which look pretty good even so (IMHO). If the exhaust has got flaps opening and closing, it's not OEM. Very few Ferrari options affect the mechanicals, they are almost all cosmetic with just a few what I would call functional - parking sensors and the like.
For my 812 GTS, I've gone for the titanium ones (EXAT) which are £1440 to go with the titanium wheel bolts which are included in the wheels I have chosen.At least there are 4 exhaust tips on this car!
By the way, somebody mentioned they thought the extended warranty for a 488 was £1000. Afraid not, for the F8 Spider, the latest figure I have (Jan 2020) is £4080, for the 812 GTS, it's a distinctly chunky £5400. Unless you are very risk averse and go with the extended warranty, it's a case of mentally setting that money aside and hoping your actual costs are less. One to ponder when you next look at the launch control button...
Is that extended warranty £4080 for 1 year? For my 812 GTS, I've gone for the titanium ones (EXAT) which are £1440 to go with the titanium wheel bolts which are included in the wheels I have chosen.At least there are 4 exhaust tips on this car!
By the way, somebody mentioned they thought the extended warranty for a 488 was £1000. Afraid not, for the F8 Spider, the latest figure I have (Jan 2020) is £4080, for the 812 GTS, it's a distinctly chunky £5400. Unless you are very risk averse and go with the extended warranty, it's a case of mentally setting that money aside and hoping your actual costs are less. One to ponder when you next look at the launch control button...
i believe it is still possible to remove the bypass valve pipes on the exhaust (regardless of the system you chose originally)... it leaves them open and so they stay loud, but it's not an easy thing to do. No button etc.
That's probably why the car becomes quieter quite quickly after starting the engine - they close.
That's probably why the car becomes quieter quite quickly after starting the engine - they close.
blueSL said:
Yes, had it from new, had a number of build-quality issues when it was new but since then it's been fine and I've driven 9000 miles in it. New rear tyres, bought directly from Pirelli and a replacement wheel arch liner but that is it. Of course, if the gearbox were to let go, that would be a major expense but that other one - new ceramic discs are not covered by the warranty anyway.
i imagine they are avoiding the huge amounts of 'warranty' discs that might be needed if everyone started tracking them?! Still... £10K or so for new ones isn't cheap if they do need changing.Gassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff