RE: Ferrari 458 Speciale: Catch it While You Can

[celicawrc]

It's an over-styled ugly mess. The interior is just as bad, like all modern Ferrari's!

Build quality is woeful, the drive train is amazing though.

[PHOENIXUK]

celicawrc said:

It's an over-styled ugly mess. The interior is just as bad, like all modern Ferrari's!

Build quality is woeful, the drive train is amazing though.

Really, hadnt noticed any of that myself, thanks for the headsup.

[Guvernator]

Looks wise I've not been entirely sold on the 458 family, the overall shape is lovely but the little details like the chintzy lights etc just make it seemed over-styled. However one thing I can't argue with is that power-train.

I've only ever seen and heard a "normal" 458 and that was great but the engine in the Speciale sounds absolutely amazing, those stats are like a wet dream.

N\A - check
V8 - check
Razor sharp throttle response - check
Noise - check
Free revving - check
135bhp per litre - check
A 9400rpm rev limit!! - check

If someone asked me to write a list of traits for my fantasy engine, it would be exactly that and it actually exists. Just a shame I don't have £200k odd going spare. As the last of the N\A V8 Ferrari's I suspect prices for these are only going to go one way. If anyone has the means than do whatever needs to be done to acquire one, I suspect we won't see it's like again.

[British Beef]

Seems to me that every car can be implied as "last of a kind"......

Last with Manual gearbox
next
Last Naturally aspirated
next
Last Turbo (without batteries)
next
Last V8 engine
next .........
not sure where it will end.
Personally a 430 with a manual box, I think would be a line in the sand, last manual V8 NA car Ferrari produced!

[epom]

I suppose even when I'll be able to afford one of these I still won't be able to afford it

[Nightmare]

I must be the only person on the planet who was truly disappointed with the 458 on the road.
Massively fast steering rack but no feedback from wide front tyres
Very stuff setup (whatever mode and damper setting) making it very twitchy feeling on even moderately broken surfaces
And the noise.....epic from about 4k. At which point you're breaking ANY speed limit in anything other than first gear. Which means you don't hear the noise much
Aside from being very very fast, I have to say I found it a let down
Off to hide from everyone!

[bakes]

Having moved from a 458 Spider to a Speciale and using both as daily drivers I can say that without doubt the Speciale is a keeper for a very very long time. The standard 458 was a great car, and more every day usable in the fact that it's quieter.
But I was amazed at how much quicker the Speciale is. Its just more urgent, more intense, more fun, more like a race car. The faster acceleration and lap times are not down to tyres. It's a stripped out racer with more power and the weight savings make a big difference. It doesn't have sound deadening so hard to hold a telephone conversation and the stereo is truly woeful. I think I insulted the factory when I asked if there was an upgrade- answer- nobody has ever asked to upgrade the stereo on a Speciale! Well as I actually use the car it would have been nice. It is however pretty comfortable with the bumpy road damper setting.

But, bottom line is, I've never owned anything like it. It's truly amazing. Something like 991GT3 doesn't come close in excitement. You can enjoy it without breaking the speed limits and that's the great thing with any Ferrari, the unique sound adds to the fun and occasion.

488 doesn't do it for me...sound doesn't compare

[sjc]

It "may" go up? It already has... Shedloads .

[griff7]

sjc said:

It "may" go up? It already has... Shedloads .

Yes they are already at 300k + already

[Hollowpockets]

I've done over 4000 miles in my one so far, it is the best car I've ever owned or been in. Full stop

Even cars with 7000 miles are going 20/30k over list now

[Nigel A]

Mine's been round the EVO triangle

Superlatives to describe it are hard to come by without sounding cliched.

If finances allow I might keep it forever so I'm not too worried about resale value - although it is nice know I'm not losing money on it. It will be making regular trips to North Wales...

Ferrari sent me an image of it on the production line:

[Guvernator]

Bloody hell, they are all coming out the woodwork! As Nicolas Cage one famously said in Gone in 60 seconds "I saw three of these parked outside Starbacks"

That's it, I'm out, common as muck all these Ferrari Speciale's

[LA458SP]

I doubt any sub £200k LHD Speciales can be found now... The "fair value" £239k blue one mentioned in this article is a LHD! Any Speciale I've seen under £200k (LHD) has always been plus VAT, thus making them well above £200k!

[griff7]

LA458SP said:

I doubt any sub £200k LHD Speciales can be found now... The "fair value" £239k blue one mentioned in this article is a LHD! Any Speciale I've seen under £200k (LHD) has always been plus VAT, thus making them well above £200k!

The article was not very accurate especially not pointing out the left hand drive spec of the blue car.

[smilo996]

Certainly better in every way than an equivilant Porsche. Cannot see prices dropping much.

[PHOENIXUK]

Nightmare said:

I must be the only person on the planet who was truly disappointed with the 458 on the road.
Massively fast steering rack but no feedback from wide front tyres
Very stuff setup (whatever mode and damper setting) making it very twitchy feeling on even moderately broken surfaces
And the noise.....epic from about 4k. At which point you're breaking ANY speed limit in anything other than first gear. Which means you don't hear the noise much
Aside from being very very fast, I have to say I found it a let down
Off to hide from everyone!

You do appear to be in a bit of a minority here and anywhere else on the interweb,for that matter. Whether one thinks the Speciale is the latest great thing or not it is a bit of a streach to say a bogo 458 was all of the above especially the 'very stuff setup' in any damper mode but they are your opinions and everyone is entitled to them, however different...

[Durzel]

Minor point I guess but if you just want more theatre Race mode opens the flaps a lot earlier in the rev range, and keeps them open longer.

Also the bumpy road setting makes it a bit more er.. absorbent, but I can't say I've really had complaints about the ride quality at all.

[mikewood]

bakes said:

Having moved from a 458 Spider to a Speciale and using both as daily drivers I can say that without doubt the Speciale is a keeper for a very very long time. The standard 458 was a great car, and more every day usable in the fact that it's quieter.
But I was amazed at how much quicker the Speciale is. Its just more urgent, more intense, more fun, more like a race car. The faster acceleration and lap times are not down to tyres. It's a stripped out racer with more power and the weight savings make a big difference. It doesn't have sound deadening so hard to hold a telephone conversation and the stereo is truly woeful. I think I insulted the factory when I asked if there was an upgrade- answer- nobody has ever asked to upgrade the stereo on a Speciale! Well as I actually use the car it would have been nice. It is however pretty comfortable with the bumpy road damper setting.

But, bottom line is, I've never owned anything like it. It's truly amazing. Something like 991GT3 doesn't come close in excitement. You can enjoy it without breaking the speed limits and that's the great thing with any Ferrari, the unique sound adds to the fun and occasion.

488 doesn't do it for me...sound doesn't compare

Whereas I can't share Mr. Bakes' past ownership experiences for comparison, I'm in full agreement with his opinion of the Speciale (although I find the stereo mostly acceptable!).

It's. just. awesome.

[Thankyou4calling]

LotusOmega375D said:

Great car but:

"Ferrari hasn't divulged total production numbers for the Speciale, but it's unlikely to be more than 2,000 coupes, on top of which you can add 499 open-topped Speciale A examples."

So it my be rather Speciale, but it's not exactly rare is it? That's more than the entire annual output of Lotus Cars!

There's no way Ferrari will be making 2000 speciales.

There total annual production if all cars, all models is only 6/7000.

[sealtt]

bakes said:

Having moved from a 458 Spider to a Speciale and using both as daily drivers I can say that without doubt the Speciale is a keeper for a very very long time. The standard 458 was a great car, and more every day usable in the fact that it's quieter.
But I was amazed at how much quicker the Speciale is. Its just more urgent, more intense, more fun, more like a race car. The faster acceleration and lap times are not down to tyres. It's a stripped out racer with more power and the weight savings make a big difference. It doesn't have sound deadening so hard to hold a telephone conversation and the stereo is truly woeful. I think I insulted the factory when I asked if there was an upgrade- answer- nobody has ever asked to upgrade the stereo on a Speciale! Well as I actually use the car it would have been nice. It is however pretty comfortable with the bumpy road damper setting.

But, bottom line is, I've never owned anything like it. It's truly amazing. Something like 991GT3 doesn't come close in excitement. You can enjoy it without breaking the speed limits and that's the great thing with any Ferrari, the unique sound adds to the fun and occasion.

488 doesn't do it for me...sound doesn't compare

Nice little insight into using it daily, I sure as hell couldn't put up with such a car as a daily driver! Not even a regular 458, maybe I'm getting old?

The last bit you mentioned is interesting, I disagree that any Ferrari can be enjoyed without breaking the speed limits, I found the F430 Spider I used to own really frustrating in normal driving. The noise and response makes you want to go fast, and when you can't... ARGH!

I have done a bit of driving in 458s, on the track I loved it, pure driving bliss on track, I can only imagine how good the Speciale must be. On the road I certainly thought it was more enjoyable than the F430 at regular, legal speeds, and was thoroughly enjoyable and exciting to drive.

Great that you are out there and enjoying such a fantastic car, thanks for sharing.