RE: Driven: Ferrari 458 Italia
Discussion
I am on the fence with this one. The Enzo derived back end does not appear to match the front. Also the screen appears to be very deep, it looks like you could see you knees. Anyway, I will make final judgment when I see it in the flesh.
PS The fact that no manual is available is a great let down and it seems will no longer be available on any future new Ferrari's
PS The fact that no manual is available is a great let down and it seems will no longer be available on any future new Ferrari's
Dagnut said:
aarondrs said:
JTK said:
totally different category, 911 gt3 rs to 458 italia. That explains the diffrent price category...
But I'm not sure it does. In what way is it a different category? 2 seater car that has similar performance, equally practical, equally fast and with (if we are about such things) equal 'status'.Hardly miles apart.
In any event it only matters if you want to play Top Trumps in the pub. In the real world assuming equal drivers I very much doubt a 458 would leave the RS behind.
It is a massive price gap though.
On the looks I think it has overall a generally good shape let down with stylized details which will make it age in the same way a 348 has aged and the 996 front headlights ....
everyone is thrilled by the driving though, it v the McLaren will be one of the battles of 2010 if McLaren can get the first cars to testers out that year.
Andy
everyone is thrilled by the driving though, it v the McLaren will be one of the battles of 2010 if McLaren can get the first cars to testers out that year.
Andy
traffman said:
So the people that dont like it , what sort of machinery do you like ?
thats a good question. as car nuts we should all love this car and ferrari generally right? yet there's something about prancing horsies that leaves me totally cold, with the exception of the carbon lovelyness of the f40 and scuderia. ferrari's heritage, motorsport hand-me-downs and recent obsession with weight are of huge appeal. unfortunately i think, with appologies to any PH tifosi, almost everyone i know who owns one is utterly clueless. it is the default choice of people who buy a car to impress others; what's the average mileage of the 430's for sale? how many do you ever see getting ragged round a trackday? how many have lapped the ring as anything other than mobile chicanes? not looking to pick a fight, i'm sure there are cars out there that get used, not polished, i just havent seen them. so for me i dont think i could live with the image. just not me. it shouldnt matter but given the choice out there it does. i'll be very happy the day my barn has a carrera gt, f40, viper acr, r500, 964rs and 916sps. simple beautiful timeless design, rwd, manual, no electronics. 
gimme a day with a 458 though and i'm sure you wont be able to wipe the stupid grin off...
in 5 years the 458 will be replaced by something even faster, with even better computers and it will slip into relative obscurity. the footballers, money brokers and overborrowed will move on to the next best thing.
Edited by fbrs on Friday 20th November 13:25
tonym911 said:
Who was it who first said it would be a good idea to combine light brown with red? Surely all red car interiors should be black? Even – or especially – Ferrari ones. If this was a Rover it would be getting slaughtered.
I disagree. Black interiors are dark and dull and wouldn't be my choice npersonally think the light brown/tan looks much much better with the red. And I don't beleive this is a new colour combo either. Davey S2 said:
Dagnut said:
aarondrs said:
JTK said:
totally different category, 911 gt3 rs to 458 italia. That explains the diffrent price category...
But I'm not sure it does. In what way is it a different category? 2 seater car that has similar performance, equally practical, equally fast and with (if we are about such things) equal 'status'.Hardly miles apart.
In any event it only matters if you want to play Top Trumps in the pub. In the real world assuming equal drivers I very much doubt a 458 would leave the RS behind.
It is a massive price gap though.
GT3 RS - 0-60 4 secs
0-62 4.2 secs
458 - 0-60 likely to be 3.2 ish
0-62 less than 3.4
That's 20%.
There are no stats (that I can be bothered to find) for the 0-100, 0-124, 30-70 or quarter mile times but I think it really will be a big difference!
[/silly top trump mode]
That's like comparing the performance of your Cayman S to a 3.0 Z4 or a 370z (and these are both closer to the 'S' in on paper stats than the RS & 458). I think you would consider (and be right in thinking) that your car is much quicker and better handling. I think you would also describe the % price difference (which, isn't that disimilar in % gap to the above 2) as worth it, no?
Anyway, it is not just about performance, for most the 458 offers so much more in ownership & appeal (as with all Ferrari's compared to most Porsches) than the GT3 RS (and as said previously I love this car). In the same way you chose to buy a Cayman S over a Z4, 370z or SLK. They are not comparable and in a different category.
Not having a go just showing another point of view and feel it may help to relate using your own choice of car (really not trying to wind you up, promise).
BTW - nice choice of car.
300bhp/ton said:
tonym911 said:
Who was it who first said it would be a good idea to combine light brown with red? Surely all red car interiors should be black? Even – or especially – Ferrari ones. If this was a Rover it would be getting slaughtered.
I disagree. Black interiors are dark and dull and wouldn't be my choice npersonally think the light brown/tan looks much much better with the red. And I don't beleive this is a new colour combo either. Edited by tonym911 on Friday 20th November 13:28
fbrs said:
unfortunately i think, with appologies to any PH tifosi,
None taken. fbrs said:
almost everyone i know who owns one is utterly clueless.
Maybe, but they're so pretty (the cars)! 
fbrs said:
it is the default choice of people who buy a car to impress others;
IMO & no offence but I think that's why you see so many Porsches on the road. 
fbrs said:
how many do you ever see getting ragged round a trackday?
They're too fragile. 
fbrs said:
i'm sure there are cars out there that get used
fbrs said:
so for me i dont think i could live with the image.
Try it, you might like it! 
The Milfman said:
fbrs said:
it is the default choice of people who buy a car to impress others;
IMO & no offence but I think that's why you see so many Porsches on the road. The Milfman said:
Try it, you might like it!
3 years ago an f40 slipped through my fingers, grrrr. i will my friend, oh yes The Milfman said:
Davey S2 said:
Dagnut said:
aarondrs said:
JTK said:
totally different category, 911 gt3 rs to 458 italia. That explains the diffrent price category...
But I'm not sure it does. In what way is it a different category? 2 seater car that has similar performance, equally practical, equally fast and with (if we are about such things) equal 'status'.Hardly miles apart.
In any event it only matters if you want to play Top Trumps in the pub. In the real world assuming equal drivers I very much doubt a 458 would leave the RS behind.
It is a massive price gap though.
GT3 RS - 0-60 4 secs
0-62 4.2 secs
458 - 0-60 likely to be 3.2 ish
0-62 less than 3.4
That's 20%.
There are no stats (that I can be bothered to find) for the 0-100, 0-124, 30-70 or quarter mile times but I think it really will be a big difference!
[/silly top trump mode]
That's like comparing the performance of your Cayman S to a 3.0 Z4 or a 370z (and these are both closer to the 'S' in on paper stats than the RS & 458). I think you would consider (and be right in thinking) that your car is much quicker and better handling. I think you would also describe the % price difference (which, isn't that disimilar in % gap to the above 2) as worth it, no?
Anyway, it is not just about performance, for most the 458 offers so much more in ownership & appeal (as with all Ferrari's compared to most Porsches) than the GT3 RS (and as said previously I love this car). In the same way you chose to buy a Cayman S over a Z4, 370z or SLK. They are not comparable and in a different category.
Not having a go just showing another point of view and feel it may help to relate using your own choice of car (really not trying to wind you up, promise).
BTW - nice choice of car.
But I still think that the 458 and GT3RS (or GT3) are in the same category (as is the Lambo Supperlegerra) as in if you were drawing up a list of powerful, fast 2 seater sportscars which could be used for road or track use they would both be on the list. No?
Using your analogy you could say the same about the Nissan GTR compared with cars like the 911 Turbo.
But as I said it is largely academic. In terms of driving experiance they will be miles apart.
I'm looking forward to the McLaren which really could give the 458 a bloody nose.
Davey S2 said:
Dagnut said:
aarondrs said:
JTK said:
totally different category, 911 gt3 rs to 458 italia. That explains the diffrent price category...
But I'm not sure it does. In what way is it a different category? 2 seater car that has similar performance, equally practical, equally fast and with (if we are about such things) equal 'status'.Hardly miles apart.
In any event it only matters if you want to play Top Trumps in the pub. In the real world assuming equal drivers I very much doubt a 458 would leave the RS behind.
It is a massive price gap though.
Folks, reading all your comments is interesting. Styling? Wait until you see it. I know it's a personal thing but it looks the nuts in the metal.
Performance figures -
From the press pack (apols for not including all in the report)
0-200km/h (124mph) - 10.4 secs
0-400 metres - 11.3 seconds
100km/h - 0km/h 32.5 metres (106.6ft)
200km/h - 0km/h 128 metres(419.8ft)
Fiorano lap time - 1.25 secs
I can't say what it'd be like against the 911 GT3 RS as I've yet to drive it. Against a 911 GT3 II? I love Porsches - particularly homologation specials - and it'd be very close, but the Ferrari's suspension would give it the edge on the road. On track? I guess we'll just have to wait and see... They're different cars though, the 911 Turbo being the more natural rival - 4x4 etc accepted. Honestly, in all the years I've been doing this I've never been quite so surprised by a car, it's miles away from the F430. The McLaren is going to have to be something very special indeed to get close to it.
Performance figures -
From the press pack (apols for not including all in the report)
0-200km/h (124mph) - 10.4 secs
0-400 metres - 11.3 seconds
100km/h - 0km/h 32.5 metres (106.6ft)
200km/h - 0km/h 128 metres(419.8ft)
Fiorano lap time - 1.25 secs
I can't say what it'd be like against the 911 GT3 RS as I've yet to drive it. Against a 911 GT3 II? I love Porsches - particularly homologation specials - and it'd be very close, but the Ferrari's suspension would give it the edge on the road. On track? I guess we'll just have to wait and see... They're different cars though, the 911 Turbo being the more natural rival - 4x4 etc accepted. Honestly, in all the years I've been doing this I've never been quite so surprised by a car, it's miles away from the F430. The McLaren is going to have to be something very special indeed to get close to it.
Davey S2 said:
Dagnut said:
aarondrs said:
JTK said:
totally different category, 911 gt3 rs to 458 italia. That explains the diffrent price category...
But I'm not sure it does. In what way is it a different category? 2 seater car that has similar performance, equally practical, equally fast and with (if we are about such things) equal 'status'.Hardly miles apart.
In any event it only matters if you want to play Top Trumps in the pub. In the real world assuming equal drivers I very much doubt a 458 would leave the RS behind.
It is a massive price gap though.
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