RE: Ferrari 458 Spider: Review
Discussion
supercampeao said:
mwstewart said:
This is really interesting. The F430 Spider was praised as being within a near indistinguishable level of rigidity to the coupe. There is zero scuttle shake or column wobble in mine.
I find it really hard to believe that Ferrari would go backwards like that!
I thought that too. No wobble in my 430 either. Would be v surprised if 458 suffers from this...I find it really hard to believe that Ferrari would go backwards like that!
Davey S2 said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
NA always beats turbocharged. Which is why I went Ferrari!
Agreed. Although you can use either of these everyday they are still most likely to be used for high days and holidays and for sub 5000 miles a year. That means it has to feel really special every time you drive it and as good as the McLaren is I think I'd be more excited seeing the 458 when I opened the garage door.
TBH I'd opt for a mint super low mileage 355 Berlinetta manual, but if it had to be between this and the McLaren, I am sorry to say that I'd go for the 458, for a number of reasons:
1) It looks SO MUCH better
2) The engine is a NA masterpiece
3) Reports strongly suggest it gives more feedback; and therefore
4) I'd feel better driving it
chelme said:
Davey S2 said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
NA always beats turbocharged. Which is why I went Ferrari!
Agreed. Although you can use either of these everyday they are still most likely to be used for high days and holidays and for sub 5000 miles a year. That means it has to feel really special every time you drive it and as good as the McLaren is I think I'd be more excited seeing the 458 when I opened the garage door.
TBH I'd opt for a mint super low mileage 355 Berlinetta manual, but if it had to be between this and the McLaren, I am sorry to say that I'd go for the 458, for a number of reasons:
1) It looks SO MUCH better
2) The engine is a NA masterpiece
3) Reports strongly suggest it gives more feedback; and therefore
4) I'd feel better driving it
1) Personally I think the 650s is a much more cohesive design and I absolutely hate the fact the 458 sits so high on its suspension, its just wrong
2) You are right the engine is wonderful, one of the best around; it’s hard to see how its turbo replacement later this year will be as good
3) I have reported this before but its worth repeating, I feel the 458 chassis removes need for the driver to have any skill at all to make it go quickly, the electronics are just too clever making it playstation like and remote. You always feel like the car is second guessing you
4) Apart from being nudged out slightly on the engine I feel the 650s is the better package. The duelality of the chassis is sublime so giving you the best of both worlds, personally I think it looks better and I know this might sound silly but to a middle aged guy like me it just feels more grown up
Schnellmann said:
Had a test drive of a 458 coupe in Switzerland. Most annoying drive of my life. About one to two seconds on the loud pedal followed by a healthy shove on the brakes to avoid speeding.
I've highlighted the main reason for your annoyance
You should have driven it somewhere where you wouldn't constantly be s
tting yourself of getting caught and fined 25% of your annual income.I'd buy a Segway if I lived in Switzerland.
Streetrod said:
3) I have reported this before but its worth repeating, I feel the 458 chassis removes need for the driver to have any skill at all to make it go quickly, the electronics are just too clever making it playstation like and remote. You always feel like the car is second guessing you
Chassis specifically, or just the electronics? It still has the standard range of settings on its Manettino:
Nice article on the Ferrari 458 but not much of a comparison 
At the end of the day its a choice between the Ferrari badge and everything that comes with it and the better car McLaren 650S.
As far as I'm concerned the McLaren beats the Ferrari in every department except the soundtrack but even that's closer than people think with the sports exhaust. Yes a turbocharged car sounds different to a V8 N/a car but that's not to say it isn't a great sound in its own right. When the 458T comes out Ferrari's major plus point will no longer exist and the McLaren will wipe the floor with it. If you like your N/a V8 sound above everything else you need to get yourself a current 458 soon
If you want the overall better car the McLaren 650S Spider is definitely the best supercar in the world .... in its class
Being a Ferrari diehard and longing for a 458 spider I've just put my money where my mouth is and bought a 650S Spider, because parking my Ferrari loyalty aside the McLaren is the better car IMHO
At the end of the day its a choice between the Ferrari badge and everything that comes with it and the better car McLaren 650S.
As far as I'm concerned the McLaren beats the Ferrari in every department except the soundtrack but even that's closer than people think with the sports exhaust. Yes a turbocharged car sounds different to a V8 N/a car but that's not to say it isn't a great sound in its own right. When the 458T comes out Ferrari's major plus point will no longer exist and the McLaren will wipe the floor with it. If you like your N/a V8 sound above everything else you need to get yourself a current 458 soon
If you want the overall better car the McLaren 650S Spider is definitely the best supercar in the world .... in its class
Being a Ferrari diehard and longing for a 458 spider I've just put my money where my mouth is and bought a 650S Spider, because parking my Ferrari loyalty aside the McLaren is the better car IMHO
The 458S is the only current supercar which comes without caveats.
It's better than the Macca because it feels special at any speed. You don't even need to start it up.
When a review uses the 200mph reason as a crutch for the 650S to lean on, you know are struggling for reasons to mark-down the 458.
Macca lost this round fair and square to piece of Ferrari brilliance but I hope the next Macca will squeeze the 911 in the same way it has done the 458.
It's better than the Macca because it feels special at any speed. You don't even need to start it up.
When a review uses the 200mph reason as a crutch for the 650S to lean on, you know are struggling for reasons to mark-down the 458.
Macca lost this round fair and square to piece of Ferrari brilliance but I hope the next Macca will squeeze the 911 in the same way it has done the 458.
Streetrod said:
chelme said:
Davey S2 said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
NA always beats turbocharged. Which is why I went Ferrari!
Agreed. Although you can use either of these everyday they are still most likely to be used for high days and holidays and for sub 5000 miles a year. That means it has to feel really special every time you drive it and as good as the McLaren is I think I'd be more excited seeing the 458 when I opened the garage door.
TBH I'd opt for a mint super low mileage 355 Berlinetta manual, but if it had to be between this and the McLaren, I am sorry to say that I'd go for the 458, for a number of reasons:
1) It looks SO MUCH better
2) The engine is a NA masterpiece
3) Reports strongly suggest it gives more feedback; and therefore
4) I'd feel better driving it
1) Personally I think the 650s is a much more cohesive design and I absolutely hate the fact the 458 sits so high on its suspension, its just wrong
2) You are right the engine is wonderful, one of the best around; it’s hard to see how its turbo replacement later this year will be as good
3) I have reported this before but its worth repeating, I feel the 458 chassis removes need for the driver to have any skill at all to make it go quickly, the electronics are just too clever making it playstation like and remote. You always feel like the car is second guessing you
4) Apart from being nudged out slightly on the engine I feel the 650s is the better package. The duelality of the chassis is sublime so giving you the best of both worlds, personally I think it looks better and I know this might sound silly but to a middle aged guy like me it just feels more grown up
3) You can, should you wish, switch every thing off. It gives you the best of both worlds;an introduction to having control of the car and as you get more familiar with it, the more aids can be taken off...any normal person would not get any where near the limits of these cars on the road anyway unless they are intent on causing an accident or losing their licence...
4) You FEEL the 650S is the better package and yes it does sound silly because any middle aged guy driving either car is likely to look a little sad, but hey, each to their own
Carl_Docklands said:
The 458S is the only current supercar which comes without caveats.
It's better than the Macca because it feels special at any speed. You don't even need to start it up.
When a review uses the 200mph reason as a crutch for the 650S to lean on, you know are struggling for reasons to mark-down the 458.
Macca lost this round fair and square to piece of Ferrari brilliance but I hope the next Macca will squeeze the 911 in the same way it has done the 458.
Well said. I want Mclaren to be the best, but within this context, I am just not convinced. Better luck next time i say...It's better than the Macca because it feels special at any speed. You don't even need to start it up.
When a review uses the 200mph reason as a crutch for the 650S to lean on, you know are struggling for reasons to mark-down the 458.
Macca lost this round fair and square to piece of Ferrari brilliance but I hope the next Macca will squeeze the 911 in the same way it has done the 458.
Edited by chelme on Thursday 22 January 17:31
GRBF430F1 said:
Nice article on the Ferrari 458 but not much of a comparison
At the end of the day its a choice between the Ferrari badge and everything that comes with it and the better car McLaren 650S.
As far as I'm concerned the McLaren beats the Ferrari in every department except the soundtrack but even that's closer than people think with the sports exhaust. Yes a turbocharged car sounds different to a V8 N/a car but that's not to say it isn't a great sound in its own right. When the 458T comes out Ferrari's major plus point will no longer exist and the McLaren will wipe the floor with it. If you like your N/a V8 sound above everything else you need to get yourself a current 458 soon
If you want the overall better car the McLaren 650S Spider is definitely the best supercar in the world .... in its class
Being a Ferrari diehard and longing for a 458 spider I've just put my money where my mouth is and bought a 650S Spider, because parking my Ferrari loyalty aside the McLaren is the better car IMHO
Good for you At the end of the day its a choice between the Ferrari badge and everything that comes with it and the better car McLaren 650S.
As far as I'm concerned the McLaren beats the Ferrari in every department except the soundtrack but even that's closer than people think with the sports exhaust. Yes a turbocharged car sounds different to a V8 N/a car but that's not to say it isn't a great sound in its own right. When the 458T comes out Ferrari's major plus point will no longer exist and the McLaren will wipe the floor with it. If you like your N/a V8 sound above everything else you need to get yourself a current 458 soon
If you want the overall better car the McLaren 650S Spider is definitely the best supercar in the world .... in its class
Being a Ferrari diehard and longing for a 458 spider I've just put my money where my mouth is and bought a 650S Spider, because parking my Ferrari loyalty aside the McLaren is the better car IMHO
love a post like this. Interested in how the Mac will wipe the floor with a 458T though ? Or why you think so?
supercampeao said:
mwstewart said:
This is really interesting. The F430 Spider was praised as being within a near indistinguishable level of rigidity to the coupe. There is zero scuttle shake or column wobble in mine.
I find it really hard to believe that Ferrari would go backwards like that!
I thought that too. No wobble in my 430 either. Would be v surprised if 458 suffers from this...I find it really hard to believe that Ferrari would go backwards like that!
chelme said:
Streetrod said:
chelme said:
Davey S2 said:
Ex Boy Racer said:
NA always beats turbocharged. Which is why I went Ferrari!
Agreed. Although you can use either of these everyday they are still most likely to be used for high days and holidays and for sub 5000 miles a year. That means it has to feel really special every time you drive it and as good as the McLaren is I think I'd be more excited seeing the 458 when I opened the garage door.
TBH I'd opt for a mint super low mileage 355 Berlinetta manual, but if it had to be between this and the McLaren, I am sorry to say that I'd go for the 458, for a number of reasons:
1) It looks SO MUCH better
2) The engine is a NA masterpiece
3) Reports strongly suggest it gives more feedback; and therefore
4) I'd feel better driving it
1) Personally I think the 650s is a much more cohesive design and I absolutely hate the fact the 458 sits so high on its suspension, its just wrong
2) You are right the engine is wonderful, one of the best around; it’s hard to see how its turbo replacement later this year will be as good
3) I have reported this before but its worth repeating, I feel the 458 chassis removes need for the driver to have any skill at all to make it go quickly, the electronics are just too clever making it playstation like and remote. You always feel like the car is second guessing you
4) Apart from being nudged out slightly on the engine I feel the 650s is the better package. The duelality of the chassis is sublime so giving you the best of both worlds, personally I think it looks better and I know this might sound silly but to a middle aged guy like me it just feels more grown up
3) You can, should you wish, switch every thing off. It gives you the best of both worlds;an introduction to having control of the car and as you get more familiar with it, the more aids can be taken off...any normal person would not get any where near the limits of these cars on the road anyway unless they are intent on causing an accident or losing their licence...
4) You FEEL the 650S is the better package and yes it does sound silly because any middle aged guy driving either car is likely to look a little sad, but hey, each to their own
2) Switching all the electronics off on the 458 actually makes the car slower and in my experience and a hell of a lot more unpredictable. It reminds me of a Eurofighter in as much as the jet is unflyable within out its computers. The 458 has a similar feel
3) If you check the demographics for these cars I think you will find that most owners fit into the middle aged bracket, sad but true
Streetrod said:
1) Lets look at what the market says, currently over 140 458's for sale in the classifieds against only 53 MP4's/650's. To me that says the McLarens seem to be doing rather well thank you very much
Maybe the initial number of cars sold may have a certain relevance in that? I wouldn't argue if some boffin can point at measurable ways a McLaren is better in some way or another. But really, who cares? At this level is is not about stats. They are both good enough for daily vehicles. It should be about emotions served up via blissful sights and sounds. IMO
Jasandjules said:
Well, I'd like to drive both back to back and then buy the F458... Probably... (Pending Euromillions win)
Drove back to back and bought the 650S spider and TBH it wasn't even close when you put the badge, heritage N/a V8 sound etc.... to one sideAs Steve Sutcliffe said "it chews up and spits out 458s"
Insanity! Why do manufacturers think that buyers are willing to pay £50,000 for extras on top of the price list for this type of vehicle. £50,000 could buy a half decent Ferrari 355 or a decent sportscar from stuttgart or Hethel.
Depreciation on extras is severe so burning fivers is the name of the game here.
Depreciation on extras is severe so burning fivers is the name of the game here.
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