RE: Driven: Ferrari 458 Spider

[alexpa]

Porkie said:

Pretty different cars in both Target markets and also Prices now I think.

You have to admire Ferrari....

From one V8 model with the 360/430's a few years back.

They now have 2....

one a 'softer' more GT type V8 that maybe appeals to different kinda people. Like women

Then a harder faster and focused (and expensive) 458

I think there’s space for a new baby Ferrari. Sub 100k. Less (no) nanny electronics, light, small(er), sub 1000kg (850kg would be nice!), looks along the lines of the Dino 206 S, doesn’t need huge power, 300 bhp/tonne will do, im dreaming!!

[Porkie]

Lets hope so! Sounds great.

[thewheelman]

The "i'd rather have..." option will always come up when talking about cars. Personally, i'd still take the Ford GT over it, it may be 3 years old, but it's £100k cheaper & is still one of the best looking cars ever made. With the added bonus, that the Ford will probably rise in value over the years

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2392534.htm

[minimatt1967]

Porkie said:

Lets hope so! Sounds great.

Yes, the Dino name could make a triumphant return. V6 that revs to 9k to give the 911 a thrashing? I'm salivating!

[diddly69]

Fantastic car, you must have such a fun job!

[phib]

It took me 32 years to save for my 355 spider ..... wonder how long it will take to save for the 458 spider ... love it and cant wait to get my hands on one

Phib

[Dagnut]

thewheelman said:

The "i'd rather have..." option will always come up when talking about cars. Personally, i'd still take the Ford GT over it, it may be 3 years old, but it's £100k cheaper & is still one of the best looking cars ever made. With the added bonus, that the Ford will probably rise in value over the years

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2392534.htm

Carrera GT no question..open top as well so better comparison

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2578139.htm

[thewheelman]

Dagnut said:

thewheelman said:

The "i'd rather have..." option will always come up when talking about cars. Personally, i'd still take the Ford GT over it, it may be 3 years old, but it's £100k cheaper & is still one of the best looking cars ever made. With the added bonus, that the Ford will probably rise in value over the years

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2392534.htm

Carrera GT no question..open top as well so better comparison

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2578139.htm

I'm ashamed to say i had forgotten about the Carrera GT

[Dagnut]

thewheelman said:

I'm ashamed to say i had forgotten about the Carrera GT

#


greatest noise I've ever heard from a road car..spine tingling

[Guvernator]

Dagnut said:

thewheelman said:

The "i'd rather have..." option will always come up when talking about cars. Personally, i'd still take the Ford GT over it, it may be 3 years old, but it's £100k cheaper & is still one of the best looking cars ever made. With the added bonus, that the Ford will probably rise in value over the years

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2392534.htm

Carrera GT no question..open top as well so better comparison

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2578139.htm

This would be my choice too if I had £250k to spend on an open top supercar. It looks nicer, it sounds nicer, is rarer and it's probably engineered better. Plus it will appreciate rather than depreciate. Lovely

[E38Ross]

George H said:

Apart from the FF, I can't think of a worse looking Ferrari. The interior doesn't even look a nice place to be.

I'd take an SLS roadster over this any day of the week.

this. i used to really like the 458 but now i look at that and think it's way too fussy, IMO. the interior in particular is trying way, way too hard. i think from an interior point of view, McLaren have nailed it. i also prefer the styling of the McLaren, it's much more subtle but will not date as quickly as the 458 IMO.

[Plainview23]

Guvernator said:

This would be my choice too if I had £250k to spend on an open top supercar. It looks nicer, it sounds nicer, is rarer and it's probably engineered better. Plus it will appreciate rather than depreciate. Lovely

Fair point, finance wise it's a bit of a no-brainer.

[Luca Brasi]

I think it looks awful, especially with the hood up. Coupé is a million times better looking.
Rather have Scud 16M Spider.

[DeltaEvo2]

Best car in a while?...Yep.

Edited by DeltaEvo2 on Wednesday 5th October 19:21

[DeltaEvo2]

Guvernator said:

This would be my choice too if I had £250k to spend on an open top supercar. It looks nicer, it sounds nicer, is rarer and it's probably engineered better. Plus it will appreciate rather than depreciate. Lovely

What that pig better looking than the Ferrari?

Thanks

Edited by DeltaEvo2 on Wednesday 5th October 19:39

[Guvernator]

DeltaEvo2 said:

Guvernator said:

This would be my choice too if I had £250k to spend on an open top supercar. It looks nicer, it sounds nicer, is rarer and it's probably engineered better. Plus it will appreciate rather than depreciate. Lovely

What that pig better looking than the Ferrari?

Thanks

Edited by DeltaEvo2 on Wednesday 5th October 19:39

Yep, I prefer clean classy lines rather than chavvy lights and stuck on tat for the sake of it. Don't much like any of the current Ferrari lineup looks wise to be honest. Designed to appeal to footballers, oil sheiks and dodgy Russian types rather than the lovely lines Fezza's used to have but that's just me.

[Carnnoisseur]

IMO visually stunning. However, I also understand why some people believe that the lines are wrong. I really think this is down to the colour not doing it any justice - wish you had test driven a Nero model.

[Mr Whippy]

Dagnut said:

hmmmmmmm..so 9000rpm , 3rd gear in a 458 is what speed exactly?

Think it's about 85mph... not that bad at all really.

[alexpa]

minimatt1967 said:

Porkie said:

Lets hope so! Sounds great.

Yes, the Dino name could make a triumphant return. V6 that revs to 9k to give the 911 a thrashing? I'm salivating!

You’ve hit the nail on the head! Resurrect the Dino name. An ‘entry level’ Dino would be perfect! Ferrari already have the capacity, they built a new factory at Maranello in 2008.
In the early 80’s I recall Ferrari saying annual production would “never” go over 3500 units per year. Now they have China, Russia, etc to supply. A look at production numbers shows 2470 in 1980, 3288 in 1985, 4487 in 1991, 2345 in 1993 (recession…), 3946 in 2000, 5409 in 2005, 6587 in 2008, 6573 last year.

I’d suggest Dallara for a carbon tub (a la Alfa 4C, KTM x-bow etc) to keep it light, stiff and outsourced (like they do for most components) for cost. A removable targa top, a singing n/a V6 (2.0 ~250hp or 2.5 ~300hp would be sufficient) like you say, bare minimum of driver aids (no controls on the steering wheel!), gorgeous, curvaceous body work in aluminium, about 800kg kerb weight, race series, I really am dreaming!

[Dagnut]

Mr Whippy said:

Think it's about 85mph... not that bad at all really.

Forgot it was a 7 speed..I imagined it would be closer to 100mph