Engine sound in cabin

[sone]

Ballistic said:

mb1 said:

av185 said:

Drive a 458 back to back with a 12c and see which one stirs your driving soul....

Did exactly that a couple of month ago... Looking to decide between the 2.

The 458 is a typical Italian sportscar. A lot of noise and flash but little useful feel back to the driver, underlined by poor build quality and very fragile mechanics.
Every bumps or uneven road surface make you feel like the whole car will fall apart.
Have a look at any 2+ year old Ferrari with a few thousand miles.... You will see what I mean.

IMO, a Ferrari is an expensive Fiat for people that are looking for a wealth statement and a badge before anything else. And before everybody jumps at my throat, I am fine with that, it is ok to express how successful one might be. It is after all, the car brand by excellence. There is no arguing about this fact.

12C is for people that are more interested in the car itself.
The 12C is in a league of its own when it comes to handling, overall capability and performance (although I have to admit no having tried the top end 911s).


You can start firing

Hi Michael,

I made the same comparison, when deciding what to buy next and share your thoughts entirely.
I was quite frankly disappointed with the 458, it was my first Ferrari experience so maybe I was expecting too much. The ride was very fussy, seats uncomfortable, engine noise disappointing and the front end goes very light and twitchy under hard acceleration. I've also heard about, and seen first hand, the suspect build quality.

The 12C feels spot-on for me behind the wheel and the handling and ride quality is sublime. I'm also very impressed with the technology that this car offers. The only re-adjustment I'm having to make is getting used to the sound of the turbo v8 engine, which is an acquired taste after being used to the great v8 muscle sound of the SLS.

BTW, I love the colour combination of your car, very unusual and quite stunning!

All of us 12C owners should try and arrange to meet up some time next year. Anyone interested?

Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 16th November 08:58

Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 16th November 09:02

I don't think I've ever read opinions of the 458 which are so far off the mark before. The build quality of the car in my experience is excellent, maintenance costs for a supercar relatively speaking resonable. My car was a 2010 so not covered in the service package, first service £600ish second a little less than that. In my ownership (15months 9k miles) I never had as much as a dash light come on. Read through the v8 Ferrari forums and do a comparative of moans and niggles with the Mclaren forum. I'm not saying its any better or worse that the Mclaren but let's be realistic.
A seven year service plan tells me that the manufacturer is confident that the car shouldn't be expensive to maintain a four year warranty again sends the same message not that they expexpct it to fall apart.
Im a fan of the Mclaren and will drive the 650 as a next possible toy but I'll do it with a balanced view of other marques.

Sone

[mb1]

sone said:

I don't think I've ever read opinions of the 458 which are so far off the mark before. The build quality of the car in my experience is excellent, maintenance costs for a supercar relatively speaking resonable. My car was a 2010 so not covered in the service package, first service £600ish second a little less than that. In my ownership (15months 9k miles) I never had as much as a dash light come on. Read through the v8 Ferrari forums and do a comparative of moans and niggles with the Mclaren forum. I'm not saying its any better or worse that the Mclaren but let's be realistic.
A seven year service plan tells me that the manufacturer is confident that the car shouldn't be expensive to maintain a four year warranty again sends the same message not that they expexpct it to fall apart.
Im a fan of the Mclaren and will drive the 650 as a next possible toy but I'll do it with a balanced view of other marques.

Sone

Here we go again........

Funny, I never go on the Ferrari forum. I am sure, given I am now a McLaren owner, I am not as objective as I should be and may be the difference is not that significant. But, I know why I made the choice I made and I do not look back a single second at those expensive Fiat, and I don't have to convince myself or others on the Ferrari forum. Because I know I am right (based on my own car selection criteria).

Happy driving -

[mb1]

Ballistic said:

Hi Michael,

I made the same comparison, when deciding what to buy next and share your thoughts entirely.
I was quite frankly disappointed with the 458, it was my first Ferrari experience so maybe I was expecting too much. The ride was very fussy, seats uncomfortable, engine noise disappointing and the front end goes very light and twitchy under hard acceleration. I've also heard about, and seen first hand, the suspect build quality.

The 12C feels spot-on for me behind the wheel and the handling and ride quality is sublime. I'm also very impressed with the technology that this car offers. The only re-adjustment I'm having to make is getting used to the sound of the turbo v8 engine, which is an acquired taste after being used to the great v8 muscle sound of the SLS.

BTW, I love the colour combination of your car, very unusual and quite stunning!

All of us 12C owners should try and arrange to meet up some time next year. Anyone interested?

Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 16th November 08:58

Edited by Ballistic on Sunday 16th November 09:02

Thanks Paul. I can only agree
The more I drive the car, the more I like it, which to me is quite unusual, as being a perfectionist, I usually tend to pick-up annoying little things...
A group meet is an excellent idea. Or my be a Le Mans drive for the race ? I am trying to organise that with a couple of other friends (AM owners).

[sone]

mb1 said:

Here we go again........

Funny, I never go on the Ferrari forum. I am sure, given I am now a McLaren owner, I am not as objective as I should be and may be the difference is not that significant. But, I know why I made the choice I made and I do not look back a single second at those expensive Fiat, and I don't have to convince myself or others on the Ferrari forum. Because I know I am right (based on my own car selection criteria).

Happy driving -

"Fiat"

Very grown up!