One of the last 458 Spiders

One of the last 458 Spiders

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F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
A short while ago the California was sold and I’ve been looking for a 458/458 Spider for a little while. I became interested in 3 used ones, Red, Yellow and Black.

I went to see the Yellow one and loved it but it had the sports seats and I wanted the race seats but thought I could compromise.

I discounted Red as I’ve had a number of Red Ferraris so went to see the Black one last Thursday, it was sold the previous evening!
But the dealer said they could do a deal on a new one so after a lot of haggling and thought and wearing out some friends ears (and learning the used Yellow car also sold this morning) I have agreed to buy a new 458 Spider with collection from the factory in July hopefully all to coincide with a planned Alps and Tuscany trip.

So it’ll look a lot like the one below, triple layer metallic yellow, black race seats, yellow stitching and seat stripes, lots of carbon plus grey wheels. (Thanks to Atomic80 on Ferrarichat for borrowed pics)









F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
F355spider said:
Lovely Mark, we certainly do need a meet! Lots changed since the days of 550 and 355 euro trips!
thumbup

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
ratboiler said:
Help I can't see the link to the pictures.
pcs are in the post above but if you can't see them try these

http://www.collinsclan.co.uk/458/1.jpg

http://www.collinsclan.co.uk/458/2.jpg

http://www.collinsclan.co.uk/458/3.jpg

http://www.collinsclan.co.uk/458/4.jpg

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
quotequote all
It's nearly there/ here!








F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
quotequote all
Nearly there!, flying to Bologna tomorrow, dinner at the Montana restaurant then Tuesday morning go for a factory tour and museum visit, lunch at The Cavalino restaurant then car collection at 14.30 drivingsmile

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Nearly there

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all


In February 2015 I took the plunge and ordered one of the last 458 Spider's to be built, after much thought I settled on a spec of Triple strato yellow with racing seats and lot's of carbon. I'd been fortunate to secure a factory collection, definitely a rare thing given only around 100 are arranged per Year. My brother is accompanying me on the trip

Fast forward to July 2015, collection is confirmed for the 14th which the factory worked particularly hard to fit in with our travel plans so huge thanks to Chiara at the factory and also Alan Little at Ferrari Northern Europe. Everybody at Maranello Sales, Ferrari Northern Europe and the at the factory were utterly brilliant and we could not have hoped for more.



Monday

We take the flight from Heathrow to Bologna, it’s delayed a little because some ***** decided to chain themselves to something in protest at Heathrow getting an additional runway, which hasn’t been confirmed anyway!. Marcus Uzzel from Maranello Sales is on the same flight and on arrival drives us to the Maranello Palace hotel, interesting fitting 3 large-ish guys and luggage in a VW Up and apparently this was an upgrade! Marcus kindly took us to dinner at the Montana, clearly he's well know and we’re taken through to the ‘drivers room’, no special visitors today though.












Tuesday

The big day, a relaxed start at 10.30 with a factory and museum tour, the productions lines were off limits to visitors as they’re gearing up for 488 production and I think also the F12 ‘speciale’ but we did get to see all the other bits including engine construction and the new F1 facility with both Vettel and Raikonnen’s cars being worked on ready for Hungary. Lunch at the Cavillino was fantastic and then back through the hallowed gates and into one of the Atellier suites for the handover.





We were introduced to Chiara and her colleague plus a professional photographer who was there to record the event and will, in due course, send on a book of photographs of the occasion., a nice touch



The car sat covered in a Ferrari red silk sheet, it’s a magical moment to roll it back and reveal something I’ve been waiting for and dreaming of for a good few months!





Lot’s and lot’s of pics later, some instruction in the controls, number plate fitted and some paperwork then we’re invited to look around the Classique department, lot’s of lovely early Ferraris receiving some impressive care and an area at the back we’re not allowed to photograph as some customer specials are in progress including a beautiful lacquered carbon LaFerrari.













Back to the Atelier suite and it’s time to celebrate, we joke about swinging the bottle of champagne against he car ‘ship style’ but decide on a more cautious approach only to be thwarted by a bottle or more to the point, cork, ready to go, I got the bulk of it but the car inside and out received a fair shower, a bit of tidying and it’s declared a good omen and a lucky car.

Time to drive out into the inner roads of the Ferrari factory then out through the hallowed gates onto the roads for the first time and on to the shores of Lake Garda for our 1st nights stop. Overall the whole collection was a fantastic experience and one not to be missed if you ever get the chance!














Wednesday

We plan a route through the hills to the West, some great roads and the car is simply awesome, we stopped briefly at the top only to be mobbed by an enthusiastic group of teenagers.






Some more spirited driving and then it was time to drop my Brother off at Bergamo for a flight to Dublin for a business commitment and I travel onto friends near Varese.



Thursday

We venture into Switzerland to drive some passes, I follow Eugenio in his 348 Spider knowing despite my horsepower advantage I’ll be pushed to keep up! we cross back into Italy then back to Switzerland and then finally back again to Italy, unfortunately the Italian customs started asking lots of questions and seemed to think I had bought the car directly from the factory, they wanted to see an invoice showing I’d paid Italian VAT, with no V5, the temporary document I had seemed worthless and there was talk of impounding the car, fortunately DVLA had been super efficient and the V5 had arrived at home the day before, my Wife was able to scan and email a copy which together with Eugenio's negotiation and reasoning fortunately saw us and the car released!.



Friday

After yesterday we decided to stay in Italy and drive the St Marco pass, highly recommended!








Saturday

I head for Tuscany for a week, my Wife has flown out to Pisa and we join friends at our favourite Fattoria, stunning scenery, roads and weather and Sarah and the whole team treat us like royalty as usual!












A week later we start our leisurely return to the UK over 5 days including stops in Varese, lunch at Lake Orta, Chamonix and two nights in northern France






Safely home after 2,200 miles











Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:15


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:18


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:23


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:25

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
jhowlett said:
looks fantastic, may i ask where you got the ferrari decal on the wall from? i think it would look well on my garage wall
Ebay is your friend smile

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FERRARI-Wall-sticker-lar...

F355GTS

Original Poster:

3,725 posts

257 months

Sunday 9th August 2015
quotequote all
mattf93 said:
F355GTS said:


In February 2015 I took the plunge and ordered one of the last 458 Spider's to be built, after much thought I settled on a spec of Triple strato yellow with racing seats and lot's of carbon. I'd been fortunate to secure a factory collection, definitely a rare thing given only around 100 are arranged per Year. My brother is accompanying me on the trip

Fast forward to July 2015, collection is confirmed for the 14th which the factory worked particularly hard to fit in with our travel plans so huge thanks to Chiara at the factory and also Alan Little at Ferrari Northern Europe. Everybody at Maranello Sales, Ferrari Northern Europe and the at the factory were utterly brilliant and we could not have hoped for more.



Monday

We take the flight from Heathrow to Bologna, it’s delayed a little because some ***** decided to chain themselves to something in protest at Heathrow getting an additional runway, which hasn’t been confirmed anyway!. Marcus Uzzel from Maranello Sales is on the same flight and on arrival drives us to the Maranello Palace hotel, interesting fitting 3 large-ish guys and luggage in a VW Up and apparently this was an upgrade! Marcus kindly took us to dinner at the Montana, clearly he's well know and we’re taken through to the ‘drivers room’, no special visitors today though.












Tuesday

The big day, a relaxed start at 10.30 with a factory and museum tour, the productions lines were off limits to visitors as they’re gearing up for 488 production and I think also the F12 ‘speciale’ but we did get to see all the other bits including engine construction and the new F1 facility with both Vettel and Raikonnen’s cars being worked on ready for Hungary. Lunch at the Cavillino was fantastic and then back through the hallowed gates and into one of the Atellier suites for the handover.





We were introduced to Chiara and her colleague plus a professional photographer who was there to record the event and will, in due course, send on a book of photographs of the occasion., a nice touch



The car sat covered in a Ferrari red silk sheet, it’s a magical moment to roll it back and reveal something I’ve been waiting for and dreaming of for a good few months!





Lot’s and lot’s of pics later, some instruction in the controls, number plate fitted and some paperwork then we’re invited to look around the Classique department, lot’s of lovely early Ferraris receiving some impressive care and an area at the back we’re not allowed to photograph as some customer specials are in progress including a beautiful lacquered carbon LaFerrari.













Back to the Atelier suite and it’s time to celebrate, we joke about swinging the bottle of champagne against he car ‘ship style’ but decide on a more cautious approach only to be thwarted by a bottle or more to the point, cork, ready to go, I got the bulk of it but the car inside and out received a fair shower, a bit of tidying and it’s declared a good omen and a lucky car.

Time to drive out into the inner roads of the Ferrari factory then out through the hallowed gates onto the roads for the first time and on to the shores of Lake Garda for our 1st nights stop. Overall the whole collection was a fantastic experience and one not to be missed if you ever get the chance!














Wednesday

We plan a route through the hills to the West, some great roads and the car is simply awesome, we stopped briefly at the top only to be mobbed by an enthusiastic group of teenagers.






Some more spirited driving and then it was time to drop my Brother off at Bergamo for a flight to Dublin for a business commitment and I travel onto friends near Varese.



Thursday

We venture into Switzerland to drive some passes, I follow Eugenio in his 348 Spider knowing despite my horsepower advantage I’ll be pushed to keep up! we cross back into Italy then back to Switzerland and then finally back again to Italy, unfortunately the Italian customs started asking lots of questions and seemed to think I had bought the car directly from the factory, they wanted to see an invoice showing I’d paid Italian VAT, with no V5, the temporary document I had seemed worthless and there was talk of impounding the car, fortunately DVLA had been super efficient and the V5 had arrived at home the day before, my Wife was able to scan and email a copy which together with Eugenio's negotiation and reasoning fortunately saw us and the car released!.



Friday

After yesterday we decided to stay in Italy and drive the St Marco pass, highly recommended!








Saturday

I head for Tuscany for a week, my Wife has flown out to Pisa and we join friends at our favourite Fattoria, stunning scenery, roads and weather and Sarah and the whole team treat us like royalty as usual!












A week later we start our leisurely return to the UK over 5 days including stops in Varese, lunch at Lake Orta, Chamonix and two nights in northern France






Safely home after 2,200 miles











Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:15


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:18


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:23


Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:25
Fantastic write up, a factory collection must've been a wonderful experience. The car looks lovely in pearl yellow. Certainly a head turner!
Lovely 599 also, does she get out much?

Do you have a daily driver also? Lovely garage you have there and a nice mix of cars!
599 does get out, It's done around 16k miles in 4 Years, yes have daily drivers as well