Ferrari 458 LPG conversion possible?
Discussion
Hi all. My first post here but I'm a long term lurker following a lot of the debate/knowledge on PH.
I've been toying with the idea of "super car" ownership for everyday use for a while and have finally decided to take the plunge on a Ferrari 458 Italia. I've found a nice 2012 Grigio Silverstone/Nero one with only 8k miles, 2 owners and the balance of the 7 year service pack. It has front lift etc so a good DD.
I've agreed numbers etc with the seller and paid a holding deposit but am at a bit of an impasse on one issue which the dealer cannot give me a straight answer on and I hoped I could tap the knowledge of PHers
I will likely also use it for mundane journeys to maximise my enjoyment from a significant investment eg 150mile round trip commute etc. so the cost of fuel is a real consideration for me so my plan is an LPG conversion for the car. The dealer sees no reason why this can't be done but I was hoping for something more concrete before I proceed with the sale.
So here are my questions:
1. Has anyone on here done an LPG conversion on a V8 Ferrari?
2. Any idea is the engine will sound the same?
3. What king of mpg can I expect?
4. Will this impact the warranty?
Any thoughts gratefully received.
I've been toying with the idea of "super car" ownership for everyday use for a while and have finally decided to take the plunge on a Ferrari 458 Italia. I've found a nice 2012 Grigio Silverstone/Nero one with only 8k miles, 2 owners and the balance of the 7 year service pack. It has front lift etc so a good DD.
I've agreed numbers etc with the seller and paid a holding deposit but am at a bit of an impasse on one issue which the dealer cannot give me a straight answer on and I hoped I could tap the knowledge of PHers
I will likely also use it for mundane journeys to maximise my enjoyment from a significant investment eg 150mile round trip commute etc. so the cost of fuel is a real consideration for me so my plan is an LPG conversion for the car. The dealer sees no reason why this can't be done but I was hoping for something more concrete before I proceed with the sale.
So here are my questions:
1. Has anyone on here done an LPG conversion on a V8 Ferrari?
2. Any idea is the engine will sound the same?
3. What king of mpg can I expect?
4. Will this impact the warranty?
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Edited by DavidRizz on Thursday 22 January 19:13
You can afford a 458 yet you are worried about fuel costs? I appreciate that is some serious mileage you are doing which I'm sure will raise eyebrows anyway if you consider it a serious investment that you will be substantially depreciating on a daily basis. Your priorities seem a bit muddled here, I don't think anyone would normally consider an LPG conversion on an exotic car like that. Then again I guess there is a first for everything.
One thing though having worked on the design of a very similar car, where do you think the LPG tank is going to go? The package on these cars is tight at the best of times let alone adding a whole new retrofit system into the equation.
One thing though having worked on the design of a very similar car, where do you think the LPG tank is going to go? The package on these cars is tight at the best of times let alone adding a whole new retrofit system into the equation.
I'd be very surprised if anyone has ever done it, as the cost of running such a car, and the depreciation that will come with doing high mileage in it will vastly outweigh the fuel savings.
You'd also have a very hard time finding anyone who'd be prepared to actually do it, and I'd be astonished if it didn't void the warranty.
You'd also have a very hard time finding anyone who'd be prepared to actually do it, and I'd be astonished if it didn't void the warranty.
DavidRizz said:
1. Has anyone on here done an LPG conversion on a V8 Ferrari?
2. Any idea is the engine will sound the same?
3. What king of mpg can I expect?
4. Will this impact the warranty?
1. Yep, did similar on my old F50 and strapped LPG tanks on top of the spoiler. Took 15 mph off the top end due to aero deficiencies but meant I could drive from Peckham to Oldham and back with no bother. 2. Any idea is the engine will sound the same?
3. What king of mpg can I expect?
4. Will this impact the warranty?
2. Of course it will! My Testarossa ran on old chip fat oil and sounded like an F1 car (and had a lovely aroma of The Magpie to boot).
3. 17.3.
4. Surely not?! When I fitted an MR2 kit on my old 355 it didn't invalidate my insurance, so why would this?
If you're going to be doing 40k+ a year in a 458 then fuel costs will be the least of worries.
At that mileage it would cost you about 1-1.2k a month in fuel (15mpg?) but you'd be losing multiples of that in depreciation and if you can afford that, the 1k on fuel shouldn't be a consideration.
I would guess that a LPG converted 458 with 100k+ on it would not be viewed as good news by the trade.
This is a wind up surely?
At that mileage it would cost you about 1-1.2k a month in fuel (15mpg?) but you'd be losing multiples of that in depreciation and if you can afford that, the 1k on fuel shouldn't be a consideration.
I would guess that a LPG converted 458 with 100k+ on it would not be viewed as good news by the trade.
This is a wind up surely?
DavidRizz said:
Hi. Not a wind up but a serious set of questions. Why just because its a Ferrari should fuel costs not be a concern with the mileage I plan on doing in it?
The dealer who assures me the conversion is possible has suggested the LPG tank can sit in the front boot- it's massive.
'Dealer' of what? Crack?The dealer who assures me the conversion is possible has suggested the LPG tank can sit in the front boot- it's massive.
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