Buying Ferrari - 458 vs 488?
Discussion
Every time I see the current prices of 458 it cheese me off that I sold mine. I didn't really lose anything on it selling it when I did, but I could quite easily have kept on to it for another couple of years and potentially not lost anything either. Hindsight is 20/20 eh.
Funnily enough I was having this exact thought on the way home yesterday. 458 is a lovely car, but the early examples are now getting on for 9 years old now and prices haven't really moved at all.
I'm not particularly a fan of the 488 (looked at one before I sold my 458) as there's a je ne sais quoi factor about a big N/A engine making that much power, but it's hard to argue with the numbers.
Funnily enough I was having this exact thought on the way home yesterday. 458 is a lovely car, but the early examples are now getting on for 9 years old now and prices haven't really moved at all.
I'm not particularly a fan of the 488 (looked at one before I sold my 458) as there's a je ne sais quoi factor about a big N/A engine making that much power, but it's hard to argue with the numbers.
I was looking at the 488 prices and was surprised how close they are to the 488. I like the look of the 488 but possibly not the turbo aspect. I've had my 599 for 2 years and bought at the wrong time as their values seem to have dropped 20%, possibly more at trade in. I don't really want to get stung again.
Jonny TVR said:
I want to start this debate again 3 years on. After seeing some 488 and 458's at Le Mans this weekend I'm thinking of making the move from my 599 to one of these. What are peoples views?
Having had two 458 Italia’s, I spent some considerable time in the 488 GTB on demo. It is a car that impresses more and more the longer you spend with it. My wife summed it up when she said it just seemed 10-20% better than the 458 in all areas. Highs for me were much improved gearbox software and ride quality. Even the refreshed infotainment screens look infinitely better with just updated resolution/graphics.The engine is epic. Have no preconceptions, just try and form your own opinion. The only issue I had was that I found the car a little too refined, even in race mode. Which for me, as a weekend car, was an issue. So I bought a 488 Spider, which sounds wonderful with the back screen down. I haven’t missed my 458 Italia in the slightest.
I have just made the jump from a 458 Italia (2011) to a 2018 488 Spider - I should have done earlier!
I was always apprehensive with the reviews on here and generally about the 488 but when I actually drove one with the roof down and rear window open it was amazing. The sound was right up there when the valves open up (add a remote valve controller and you are sorted!!).
The 488 is a great step up - the car feels much faster (and is!), it is more tighter on the road and rides much better than a 458. Parked side by side the 458 is now beginning to look dated when compared to the 488 and especially in spider form.
There is a much larger choice of 488s available with nicer specs than an equivalent 458 - and I think its only a matter of time when the 458s drop even more as they come off their warranties and 7 year service plans.
I you try a 488 before you right it off based on reviews - as that is what I did and really regret not trying one out earlier!
I was always apprehensive with the reviews on here and generally about the 488 but when I actually drove one with the roof down and rear window open it was amazing. The sound was right up there when the valves open up (add a remote valve controller and you are sorted!!).
The 488 is a great step up - the car feels much faster (and is!), it is more tighter on the road and rides much better than a 458. Parked side by side the 458 is now beginning to look dated when compared to the 488 and especially in spider form.
There is a much larger choice of 488s available with nicer specs than an equivalent 458 - and I think its only a matter of time when the 458s drop even more as they come off their warranties and 7 year service plans.
I you try a 488 before you right it off based on reviews - as that is what I did and really regret not trying one out earlier!
I have just replaced my 458 Spider with a 488 Spider and it is a far better and up to date car. As others have said it is 20% better in every area. The biggest improvement is it feels so much more planted on the road than the 458. It is more civilised with loads of small improvements. The only criticism I have that in manual it is too easy to hit the limiter in 1 and 2 gears (I would prefer an automatic up shift when that happens as my old LP560 used to do). The exhaust note is not as good at high revs but a small price to pay when you consider the amount of time you have that that experience on a drive. The display is also an improvent and seems easier to use without forever locking up as the 458 used to do. The torque in high gears is amazing I love it but die hard na fans may not be so keen.
W4NTED said:
There is a much larger choice of 488s available with nicer specs than an equivalent 458 - and I think its only a matter of time when the 458s drop even more as they come off their warranties and 7 year service plans.
Drop "even more"? They haven't dropped in years - in fact, they seem to have gone up since the last time I looked. I'd love a 458, but their refusal to depreciate is keeping them out of reach!
davek_964 said:
Drop "even more"? They haven't dropped in years - in fact, they seem to have gone up since the last time I looked.
I'd love a 458, but their refusal to depreciate is keeping them out of reach!
You are not looking hard enough as prices have softened over the last year or so. The 2010/2011 Italias were all around £150k last year and are now £130-140k, The 2013 Italias can now be had for £150kish I'd love a 458, but their refusal to depreciate is keeping them out of reach!
The spiders are still pretty strong but they have dropped too. 2013 cars now can be had under £170k and the 2011 for £155k ish.
Look outside the dealer network and even more deals to be had!
Something like this was £175k last year: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
and Something like this was £145k last year: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
And these were way over £315k: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
The market is softening....I know as just sold mine for £10k less than I was being offered same time last year.......
Edited by W4NTED on Tuesday 18th June 14:14
You still get cars like this, at a main dealer..
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
2013 458 Italia, granted it has the essential carbon but stock seats... and £175k?
The examples you linked above a bit out there in my opinion.. a white 458 (hmm), a grey one with standard wheels and seats and 20k mileage, and a Speciale which have always been priced all over the place. Agree that there has been some softening, but main dealers still seem to think 458s seem to command strong selling prices even if they aren't buying them in for as much anymore.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
2013 458 Italia, granted it has the essential carbon but stock seats... and £175k?
The examples you linked above a bit out there in my opinion.. a white 458 (hmm), a grey one with standard wheels and seats and 20k mileage, and a Speciale which have always been priced all over the place. Agree that there has been some softening, but main dealers still seem to think 458s seem to command strong selling prices even if they aren't buying them in for as much anymore.
Durzel said:
You still get cars like this, at a main dealer..
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
2013 458 Italia, granted it has the essential carbon but stock seats... and £175k?
The examples you linked above a bit out there in my opinion.. a white 458 (hmm), a grey one with standard wheels and seats and 20k mileage, and a Speciale which have always been priced all over the place. Agree that there has been some softening, but main dealers still seem to think 458s seem to command strong selling prices even if they aren't buying them in for as much anymore.
I hear what you are saying but coming out of a 458 first hand and trying to sell it for over 6 months at inflated dealer prices made me realise that the market has indeed changed. The red car you posted is a joke it's never going to get that sort of money with the 488 spider only £20k more which in finance terms is like £200 a month more. https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
2013 458 Italia, granted it has the essential carbon but stock seats... and £175k?
The examples you linked above a bit out there in my opinion.. a white 458 (hmm), a grey one with standard wheels and seats and 20k mileage, and a Speciale which have always been priced all over the place. Agree that there has been some softening, but main dealers still seem to think 458s seem to command strong selling prices even if they aren't buying them in for as much anymore.
The main dealers are all optimistic about prices but what counts is them selling them. Dick Lovett has had this one for around 3 months now - decently priced and spec'd but it's not moved:
https://www.dicklovett.co.uk/ferrari/used-cars/201...
In fact look at all their used Ferrari's and you will see most say "price adjusted" on the front page near the pic of the car - says a lot IMHO!
Isn't it the market generally .. supercars, collectors and classics. Dealers expecting what they used to be able to achieve and not adjusting, except when buying it would seem! Uncertain economic outlook. I had been following F12 prices and there is one that a dealer has been marketing for at least a year with no sale and fairly recently they actually put the price up £10K.
Lucky enough to have had both a 458 spider and a 488 gtb at the same time and yes the 488 is the better car all round but I recently sold one of them and it wasn’t the 458 spider !
For me, the 488 just sounded very muted and un-Ferrari like and in the end I fell out of love with it.
The 458 on the other hand aurally is in a different league and in my opinion how a Ferrari should sound but hey ho, things progress and move on but I’m a die hard 458 fan and mine will be staying with me a long while yet...
488 spider on the other hand just looks yummy, but that engine sound.....
For me, the 488 just sounded very muted and un-Ferrari like and in the end I fell out of love with it.
The 458 on the other hand aurally is in a different league and in my opinion how a Ferrari should sound but hey ho, things progress and move on but I’m a die hard 458 fan and mine will be staying with me a long while yet...
488 spider on the other hand just looks yummy, but that engine sound.....
TonyF said:
Lucky enough to have had both a 458 spider and a 488 gtb at the same time and yes the 488 is the better car all round but I recently sold one of them and it wasn’t the 458 spider !
For me, the 488 just sounded very muted and un-Ferrari like and in the end I fell out of love with it.
The 458 on the other hand aurally is in a different league and in my opinion how a Ferrari should sound but hey ho, things progress and move on but I’m a die hard 458 fan and mine will be staying with me a long while yet...
488 spider on the other hand just looks yummy, but that engine sound.....
Try it with a remote exhaust valve and your perception will soon change - it sounds even throatier than a 458 with open valves on full scream and actually pops and crackles too For me, the 488 just sounded very muted and un-Ferrari like and in the end I fell out of love with it.
The 458 on the other hand aurally is in a different league and in my opinion how a Ferrari should sound but hey ho, things progress and move on but I’m a die hard 458 fan and mine will be staying with me a long while yet...
488 spider on the other hand just looks yummy, but that engine sound.....
I came from the Porsche 991.2 GT3 Touring into a 488GTB last December and I also looked at the 458.
For me I personally like the look of the 488 more, the warranty and 7 year service plan is also a massive plus and the performance is amazing. The sound may be different compared to the NA 458 but it is in no way a muted car when climbing through the revs.
For me I personally like the look of the 488 more, the warranty and 7 year service plan is also a massive plus and the performance is amazing. The sound may be different compared to the NA 458 but it is in no way a muted car when climbing through the revs.
Coming at it from a different direction, I was recently at a Ferrari driving event in Italy and drove with two different instructors on consecutive days. Both asked me what Ferraris I had owned and what I currently had and when I mentioned the 458 Spider both said, completely independently of each other "you must never sell the 458 - last naturally aspirated V8" although one did add "unless you buy a Speciale instead".
W4NTED said:
I did know that I promise!
Jokes apart though I meant the last naturally aspirated engine was put in to a Speciale...and not a regular 458.
Anyway horses for courses...I’ve had both and IMHO the 488 is a superior car.
Your right, it is the superior car, but it loses hands down in the sound dept !!Jokes apart though I meant the last naturally aspirated engine was put in to a Speciale...and not a regular 458.
Anyway horses for courses...I’ve had both and IMHO the 488 is a superior car.
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