RE: Driven: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Rumblestripe]

As with most others on here, it's unlikely that I will ever darken the doors of a Ferrari dealership. That said I do believe that Ferraris are becoming less and less usable in the real world. It would have been interesting to read how easy it is to pilot such a car through the narrow roads to Lands End. Whenever I see a modern Ferrari I'm always struck by their inordinate width, this surely must limit their usefulness as a B-road blatter?

Not sure whether I'd pay £13k for it (even if the right wrist of Jesus was actively involved) but I have seen that iridescent yellow paint in sunlight and it does look absolutely fantastic, mind I'll warrant that filling in chips might be a tad costly 'n' all!

[130R]

kambites said:

If I was in the market for a 200k Ferrari, I'd happily pay someone 20 grand to stick a proper gearbox in it.

Maybe so but you would be in a tiny minority, even when Ferrari offered both almost everyone took the F1 box. I do understand the appeal of a manual though.

[kambites]

130R said:

kambites said:

If I was in the market for a 200k Ferrari, I'd happily pay someone 20 grand to stick a proper gearbox in it.

Maybe so but you would be in a tiny minority, even when Ferrari offered both almost everyone took the F1 box. I do understand the appeal of a manual though.

True, but after market kits don't usually have to sell in huge numbers to be profitable as long as there is a usable gearbox around that they can cannibalise.

[LongLiveTazio]

Streetrod said:

But I was buoyed by an article I read in one of my old Octane magazines yesterday whilst in the bath.

Were you sinking at the time? Maybe Octane should market itself as a life preserver for those with boats

kambites: I'm not sure it would even physically be possible? The layout of the car will be dictated by being dual clutch gearbox only and the electronics will work in conjunction with each other. I don't think you'd find anyone save for Ferrari or maybe Michelotto who would have the expertise to deal with the computers.

[gumball3K]

My opinion is the 458 is not as pretty compared to its predecessors the 430, 360 and 355. Just like Daniel Craig for James Bond 007 again he's not suave and sophisticated like Connery, Moore and Brosnan.

[Streetrod]

LongLiveTazio said:

Streetrod said:

But I was buoyed by an article I read in one of my old Octane magazines yesterday whilst in the bath.

Were you sinking at the time? Maybe Octane should market itself as a life preserver for those with boats

kambites: I'm not sure it would even physically be possible? The layout of the car will be dictated by being dual clutch gearbox only and the electronics will work in conjunction with each other. I don't think you'd find anyone save for Ferrari or maybe Michelotto who would have the expertise to deal with the computers.

Whoops! sorry about that, spelling as is not my best point

[SonnyM]

gumball3K said:

My opinion is the 458 is not as pretty compared to its predecessors the 430, 360 and 355. Just like Daniel Craig for James Bond 007 again he's not suave and sophisticated like Connery, Moore and Brosnan.

But he can do the job perfectly - just like the 458.

[Polarbert]

Manual gearboxes for the win.

[SCD]

I did a photoshoot on Sunday morning with a lovely 458, just shows they are usable in the snow!!
http://supercardriver.zenfolio.com/p187677478/h2f2...

[george h]

Why is everyone going on about how it's so pretty? It's no where near its rivals in terms of styling.

[SonnyM]

george h said:

Why is everyone going on about how it's so pretty? It's no where near its rivals in terms of styling.

You're right - it looks NOTHING like the MP4-12C.

[fwaggie]

"There are some things you just don't do, and wantonly taking into snowbound parts somebody else's £200k, 550bhp-plus supercar is one of them."

What? Loan car, winter tyres, recovery vehicles back at PH towers, why would you *not* go for a play? Ok I can understand not doing the whole journey (it would be boring after the 500th provoked donut) but I for one would love to know how it handles on winter tyres on our current roads?

Re styling, love it. Looks far better than everything out there. And I'll have one in red please.

[Verde]

If Santa decides, yet again, that I am not worthy of a Zonda this year and I must instead have this 458, then so be it...

[athol]

Eh, not for me.

Haven't liked a Fezza since the 550M.

Each to their own of course.

[ZeeTacoe]

SCD said:

I did a photoshoot on Sunday morning with a lovely 458, just shows they are usable in the snow!!
http://supercardriver.zenfolio.com/p187677478/h2f2...

hmmmmm. That does look bloody good in blue.

SonnyM said:

george h said:

Why is everyone going on about how it's so pretty? It's no where near its rivals in terms of styling.

You're right - it looks NOTHING like the MP4-12C.

Its interesting for a start

[Jonny671]

The only thing I'm not sure on is the wheels.. I'm not sure if they 100% work on it.

[Car Enthusiast 1]

Have you guys seen the newer version of the 458 Italia- the Ferrari 458 Challenge? It's basically a track version of the Italia, which also has some majour tweeks to the suspension and the aerodynamics! In addition, I can proudly say the Ferrari 458 Italia, is one of my favourite super cars! Wouldn't you?

[trunks82]

wolves_wanderer said:

b14 said:

If only it wasn't so ridiculous looking.

Like someone has beaten it with the "Chris Bangle stick"

The Bangle analogy is a good one as in a couple of years I think that most people will come round to it. Having seen one in the flesh it is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen.

it is a beauty,but no 355 which is THE best looking car ever made,imho!

[will261058]

I didnt think this car could look any worse but yes it obviously can and no this has nothing to do with slagging off a car that I cant buy! There are loads of other Ferrari models that that I could never buy either but I lust after. Sadly this is not one of them.

[will261058]

wolves_wanderer said:

b14 said:

If only it wasn't so ridiculous looking.

Like someone has beaten it with the "Chris Bangle stick"

The Bangle analogy is a good one as in a couple of years I think that most people will come round to it. Having seen one in the flesh it is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen.

Why is the "Bangle analogy" good? Why do we have to look at a car for a couple of years before we like it? I am a dyed in the wool BMW enthusiast yet I do not like the Bangle era. The E60 5 series is only "ok" to me now after 7 years and a new (much better) model has superceeded it! Thankfully BMW seem to be going back to the days when new models looked good as soon as the sheet was taken off instead of having to wait for a couple of years! If the designers cant drag you round to " their way " as soon as you see their efforts then in my book they have failed.