3.8 RS - 458 Italia. Crazy or inspired?

[Skittles001]

Hi. This isn't a dreaded value post so please bear with me: I have a high spec mint 2011 Grey/Red 3.8 RS which I have found has risen somewhat in value over the past couple of years! This is bonus as I didn't buy the car as an investment so in many ways it makes no difference to me until I sell the car which hasn't been on the agenda... Yet.

But what this price rise has meant is that the cost of an equivalent age 458 has converged with the 3.8 RS. While the 3.8 RS is amazing and I truly love the car like I have no other car to date, I've always also hankered after a 458 which, until recently, have been in a different price category. So I am toying with the idea of moving from the 3.8 RS to a 458....

The 3.8 RS is a super car with loads of character so am a little nervous the 458 will feel anodyne in comparison when the initial euphoria has settled down.

So here is the question: has anyone moved from a 3.8 RS to a 458 or vice versa? Any thoughts on whether I'm making a crazy decision?! Any thoughts very welcome!

Edited by Skittles001 on Tuesday 7th October 19:37

[Skittles001]

Hi. This isn't a dreaded value post so please bear with me: I have a high spec mint 2011 Grey/Red 3.8 RS which I have found has risen somewhat in value over the past couple of years! This is bonus as I didn't buy the car as an investment so in many ways it makes no difference to me until I sell the car which hasn't been on the agenda... Yet.

But what this price rise has meant is that the cost of an equivalent age 458 has converged with the 3.8 RS. While the 3.8 RS is amazing and I truly love the car like I have no other car to date, I've always also hankered after a 458 which, until recently, have been in a different price category. So I am toying with the idea of moving from the 3.8 RS to a 458....

The 3.8 RS is a super car with loads of character so am a little nervous the 458 will feel anodyne in comparison when the initial euphoria has settled down.

So here is the question: has anyone moved from a 3.8 RS to a 458 or vice versa? Any thoughts on whether I'm making a crazy decision?! Any thoughts very welcome!

Edited by Skittles001 on Tuesday 7th October 19:38

[Skittles001]

Thanks for all the input. It's been really interesting. I'm set up for a test drive in a Grey/Black 458 this Saturday but I'm sure I'll like it. The big question mark I have (and as identified on here already) is the 3.8 RS is a genre of car that will never be made again and I wouldn't be able to get back in to one if prices continue creeping/lurching upwards. That said, I don't buy cash for investments but to be driven. So not an easy decision!

Unsurprisingly the RS got some decent bids from the trade so it's good to know that the high asking prices for those on sale do seem to be backed up by strong purchase prices.

Will be sure to post some thoughts after I've driven te 458 back to back with my 3.8 RS.

[Skittles001]

Slickhillsy said:

Let me suggest an option not tabled yet...

430 Scuderia! I've just gone from a 997 GT3 to one of these and this thing is laugh out loud / recalibrate your sense of speed good! I feel it still has enough of that analogue feel (it is a manual after all) to be as visceral as the Porsche with the added theatre that the Porsche missed. As a driving experience it matches / surpasses the GT3 in ALL areas (steering / chassis / engine / noise / grip & poise) plus it's is an appreciating asset - unlike the 458.

I LOVED my GT3 and did 15000 miles in 2 years in it. I can safely say I have no regrets (especially with the exhaust valves permanently unplugged ?).

The king is dead, long live the king! Problem solved!

I must admit I hadn't considered one of these. I thought they'd gone stratospheric price wise.

[Skittles001]

So, thanks all for your opinions/advice. All gratefully received and very helpful indeed.

So, I pulled the trigger and swapped the 3.8 RS for 458. Wow these cars are different! I know the analogue versus digital analogy is a cliche nowadays but it really does describe these two cars perfectly. I'm by no means a racing car driver but the 3.8 RS is so visceral, the steering is superb and, to me, the driving experience is dominated by the gear changing and the handling/steering. It's not an easy car to drive well, but that's the beauty of it. The 458 is so technologically advanced - it really is an occasion to drive and flatters the driver (mainly the gear change). To me the driving experience is dominated by the noise (and what a noise, popping on the overrun too) and the beautiful looks. The gearbox is astonishing but, if it were available in a manual I'd almost certainly have chosen that but it's not and it's not the end of the world as I had a great experience in one of the best manual cars ever built and the other elements on the 458 sufficiently compensate. If the 458 was a manual it would be materially slower - not just the gear shirt times but with 570bhp, the 9k redline etc I would have to be processing so much more in order to make comparable changes, but it would be more involving. It's early days but I'm really pleased with the 458 and thanks to the price rises on the 3.8 RS I get to experience, IMHO of course, two of the greatest cars ever made!

I had a few queries about it so just to add: my (ex) 3.8 RS has just gone up on the Romans website if anyone is interested (I have no vested interest as they have purchased it from me). It's a gem: no ignitions in any rev range and all the documentation from new including the sales invoice.

Here is the new car. I went for a stealth look (if that's possible) of Grigio Silverstone, Black wheels and yellow callipers:

Edited by Skittles001 on Monday 20th October 19:45