Any regrets changing 430 Spider for 458 Italia?

[jonny finance]

In my humble opinion the Italia looks and drives far, far superior to the Spider. Guess the drive bit applies to most if not all comparisons between tintop and open version..

Of more interest to me on a personal note is how different early and late 458's seem to actually drive! An early car (10/11 plate) has a reputation for being more vocal, a tad sharper, rawer and a touch quicker than the later cars.. The sound is said to be down to different software but the other differences are a mystery??

I would certainly try both - an early mint low mile 458 and a later, maybe higher mileage, lower spec but in the same price bracket car.

To summarise . The Italia is the only choice, price permitting, a 10/11 or a 12/13 plate car is a worth while consideration.

As for the Mac being mentioned in the same thread as an alternative WTF!!!! don't even go there. Most dreary, uninspiring boring product out there.. Not going to even mention worrying residuals (woops sorry I just did) The firm is currently at the back of the grid and for me the back of my mind when it comes to current road cars..

[GRBF430F1]

jonny finance said:

In my humble opinion the Italia looks and drives far, far superior to the Spider. Guess the drive bit applies to most if not all comparisons between tintop and open version..

Of more interest to me on a personal note is how different early and late 458's seem to actually drive! An early car (10/11 plate) has a reputation for being more vocal, a tad sharper, rawer and a touch quicker than the later cars.. The sound is said to be down to different software but the other differences are a mystery??

I would certainly try both - an early mint low mile 458 and a later, maybe higher mileage, lower spec but in the same price bracket car.

To summarise . The Italia is the only choice, price permitting, a 10/11 or a 12/13 plate car is a worth while consideration.

As for the Mac being mentioned in the same thread as an alternative WTF!!!! don't even go there. Most dreary, uninspiring boring product out there.. Not going to even mention worrying residuals (woops sorry I just did) The firm is currently at the back of the grid and for me the back of my mind when it comes to current road cars..

Not if you have a carbon tub like the McLaren. No compromise at all with a 12C/650S spider FACT !
But your right everything else is like a Jelly on a plate

[jonny finance]

GRBF430F1 said:

Not if you have a carbon tub like the McLaren. No compromise at all with a 12C/650S spider FACT !
But your right everything else is like a Jelly on a plate

Hmm, not convinced.. Was lucky enough to use a 12C in Germany a while back and definitely felt and sounded a touch 'jittery' mind it was very well used with quite a few K's on the clock..

Reminds me - My dearest took delivery of a brand fire new 1 series sport convertible 18 months and 10,000 miles ago. When I first had a good hearty spirited drive I was seriously impressed with the seemingly lack of compromise,It being a soft top. Had great poise, handling and front end turn in was sharp as a pin. Lack of shimmies and structure wobbles was also most evident. I don't drive this car very often and recently again took it out for a 'dusting off' - its a different car, still has fairly good handling but the whole thing is now very loose with characterised convertible foibles.

Guess the roof is like a big ol flat rollbar strut brace thing. Droptops are Fab for cruising, sun tanning and looking cool (not always) but if your more inclined to prioritise the drive bit stick to the fixed roof..

[sealtt]

Thanks for the feedback, I do love the 458, but being as it would have to be a convertible I think (since I do always put the roof down on spirited driving - which is 80% of how I use the car) it would have to be the Spider.

Given the £100k premium over my F430 Spider I think that is hard to justify right now, I'd rather just add a Bentley GT V8 Cabrio to my collection for that money, for some lovely old fashioned style family trips around the countryside.... We do it in our RR Vogue right now, but I'm sure on a lovely sunny day a cabrio Bentley would be even better!!

[F355spider]

sealtt said:

Thanks for the feedback, I do love the 458, but being as it would have to be a convertible I think (since I do always put the roof down on spirited driving - which is 80% of how I use the car) it would have to be the Spider.

Given the £100k premium over my F430 Spider I think that is hard to justify right now, I'd rather just add a Bentley GT V8 Cabrio to my collection for that money, for some lovely old fashioned style family trips around the countryside.... We do it in our RR Vogue right now, but I'm sure on a lovely sunny day a cabrio Bentley would be even better!!

Did have that combo myself a couple of yrs back, i found that the Bentley was so good we used it in preference to the 430 spider pretty much all the time. We ended keeping the bentley but chopping in the 430 for a 458 Italia which proved to get used alot more.

Rob

[sealtt]

Hi F355,

Thanks for your comments, very interesting and really does confirm what I had started to suspect. I think we are leaning towards adding a Bentley GTC to the collection rather than getting the 458 now. Will have to book some test drives to make sure. I think it will be more enjoyable for us all (me, fiancé & 7yr old daughter).

In the meantime I will look into getting the F430 speakers upgraded!