Buying Ferrari - 458 vs 488?
Discussion
I am fortunate to have both.
Is the 488 an objectively better car.....Yep. But I prefer the 458, it has less grip and more drama, and to be honest the torque of turbo cars means you are doing insane speed on the road.
Noise is not even close to my ears.....
I dont track road cars, if I did the 488 would blow the 458 away
The F8 will be better than the 488 but I doubt it will make me feel any different about the 458.
I honestly see 488's being less than 458's in next 12 to 18 months, try selling a 488 or a 458 to a dealer and see what one they want.
Just my PoV and this situation is not ideal for me so dont shoot me down!
Is the 488 an objectively better car.....Yep. But I prefer the 458, it has less grip and more drama, and to be honest the torque of turbo cars means you are doing insane speed on the road.
Noise is not even close to my ears.....
I dont track road cars, if I did the 488 would blow the 458 away
The F8 will be better than the 488 but I doubt it will make me feel any different about the 458.
I honestly see 488's being less than 458's in next 12 to 18 months, try selling a 488 or a 458 to a dealer and see what one they want.
Just my PoV and this situation is not ideal for me so dont shoot me down!
Honestly imo (and i’m seemingly the only person who thinks this!) the 458 just didn’t sound that good; almost the weakest point of the car. It was a great engine for throttle response and outright performance, but acoustically it seemed to be a flat crank ‘noise’ that got louder as you went through the revs. Certainly nowhere near as evocative as the symphony of the 12 cylinder cars. I’ve never missed it one bit. Agree that the the 488 is so quick in comparison that you need to take extreme care on the road not to get carried away. I seem to hit my self imposed speed limiter much quicker and more often than I did in my 458’s.
As another lucky owner of both I'd have to echo most of the thoughts here, each to their own! I have met many people who would take the 488 over a 458 any day (although they are generally 488 owners so they would say that) but personally I will be selling the 488 before the 458 that's for sure. I think the 488 is a much more complete car and certainly much faster... which is why I prefer the 458. The 488 is so crazy fast once you have experienced it for about a second you are going far too fast. Also it feels like something you could use pretty easily every day which is great, but a little less special for weekends in my mind.
Having taken both on track also, yes the 488 is much faster and has more grip too so it would monster the 458 head to head but it's not like the 458 embarrasses itself.
I think if you are going to do long journeys and use it a lot and have only one "weekend car" then the 488 could be a great choice. But if it is just for the occasional special drive I'd get a 458, especially a Spider
Having taken both on track also, yes the 488 is much faster and has more grip too so it would monster the 458 head to head but it's not like the 458 embarrasses itself.
I think if you are going to do long journeys and use it a lot and have only one "weekend car" then the 488 could be a great choice. But if it is just for the occasional special drive I'd get a 458, especially a Spider
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?
I had the choice of either. I drove both on a track. Looked into the various costs of ownership etc.. etc.. and bought the 488.For me it's a better car in every way. It drives better, it looks better and if buying new with the warranty, servicing and ability to customise to your own preference makes it bater value.
But it's all subjective, the above is my own personal view. The whole N/A debate does not interest me, if you're some kind of N/A engine obsessive then fair enough but for me the F40 was one of the best Ferrari's ever made and that has a turbo charged engine. Personally I don't buy the idea that somehow the 458 will hold its value more because it has an N/A engine, most people buying these cars are not enthusiasts and don't care.
My advice go drive them, look at them and decide for yourself.
I have no regrets and am glad I stumped up the extra cash.
LIVENT said:
Personally I don't buy the idea that somehow the 458 will hold its value more because it has an N/A engine, most people buying these cars are not enthusiasts and don't care.
it'll become that way though, the people who aren't enthusiasts will just buy the latest model and the 458 will be remembered for it's n/a engine and being a classic in generalgarystoybox said:
Honestly imo (and i’m seemingly the only person who thinks this!) the 458 just didn’t sound that good; almost the weakest point of the car. It was a great engine for throttle response and outright performance, but acoustically it seemed to be a flat crank ‘noise’ that got louder as you went through the revs. Certainly nowhere near as evocative as the symphony of the 12 cylinder cars. I’ve never missed it one bit. Agree that the the 488 is so quick in comparison that you need to take extreme care on the road not to get carried away. I seem to hit my self imposed speed limiter much quicker and more often than I did in my 458’s.
I'm also of the opinion that the later V8s are a bit challenging acoustically, but there is, fortunately, a solution https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQKodXlzb2/ The sound of a 458 with a capristo is almost a good enough reason to buy one IMO, and I need another car like a hole in the head.
WCZ said:
LIVENT said:
Personally I don't buy the idea that somehow the 458 will hold its value more because it has an N/A engine, most people buying these cars are not enthusiasts and don't care.
it'll become that way though, the people who aren't enthusiasts will just buy the latest model and the 458 will be remembered for it's n/a engine and being a classic in generalHaving watched last night a U-Tube spot of 458 v 488 and noticed both drivers preferred the 458, today I test drove the 458 back to back against the 488. If I was to award points out of 10 for both cars (& indeed my F430 as well ) this is what it would be: F430 - 5 points, 458 - 6 points, 488 - 9 points. The 488 won on looks, driving pleasure, performance and sound. The later did surprise me as it is a turbo.
dereksharpuk said:
Having watched last night a U-Tube spot of 458 v 488 and noticed both drivers preferred the 458, today I test drove the 458 back to back against the 488. If I was to award points out of 10 for both cars (& indeed my F430 as well ) this is what it would be: F430 - 5 points, 458 - 6 points, 488 - 9 points. The 488 won on looks, driving pleasure, performance and sound. The later did surprise me as it is a turbo.
Interesting and thanks for sharing. I wonder if purchased today which would win the prize on depreciation over the next 2-3 years.dereksharpuk said:
Having watched last night a U-Tube spot of 458 v 488 and noticed both drivers preferred the 458, today I test drove the 458 back to back against the 488. If I was to award points out of 10 for both cars (& indeed my F430 as well ) this is what it would be: F430 - 5 points, 458 - 6 points, 488 - 9 points. The 488 won on looks, driving pleasure, performance and sound. The later did surprise me as it is a turbo.
Is that the car guys TV video? They have some great content, met Damien breifly at a Ferrari event and is a real enthusiast.I've just traded both my 458 and my 488 for a Speciale. I always preferred the looks and the sound of the 458 (apart from the annoying on/off blare in RACE) over the 488 but thought the 488 did everything else just that little bit better. It's a tough choice and I think really comes down to personal preference.
While the 458 looks and sounds better than the 488, it apparently has a big problem with snap-oversteer which the 488 does not have. Read professional reviews on Car and Driver, Road and Track, and the Kelley Book. To me, the possibility of winding up in a ditch would make me opt for the 488.
The 488 looks like fantastic value at the moment. A newer objectively better car that's faster for hardly any more money than a 458. On another point, I have a 458 and drive it very hard. I can emphatically confirm that it does NOT have a snap oversteer. It's handling is about as neutral as any car I've driven.
This (above).
While the 488 has higher limits, and more tolerance for cack handedness, the 458 is set up to save moderate levels of stupidity and to immensely reward the committed. I have found its loss of grip at 9-10/10ths to be progressive, predictable and enjoyable as long as the inputs are smooth.
While the 488 has higher limits, and more tolerance for cack handedness, the 458 is set up to save moderate levels of stupidity and to immensely reward the committed. I have found its loss of grip at 9-10/10ths to be progressive, predictable and enjoyable as long as the inputs are smooth.
Griffgrog said:
The 488 looks like fantastic value at the moment. A newer objectively better car that's faster for hardly any more money than a 458. On another point, I have a 458 and drive it very hard. I can emphatically confirm that it does NOT have a snap oversteer. It's handling is about as neutral as any car I've driven.
MingtheMerciless said:
This (above).
While the 488 has higher limits, and more tolerance for cack handedness, the 458 is set up to save moderate levels of stupidity and to immensely reward the committed. I have found its loss of grip at 9-10/10ths to be progressive, predictable and enjoyable as long as the inputs are smooth.
Having own an E46 M3 track car and an M3 CSL, one thing that surprised me most about the 458 is it will drift just like an M3, on the basis echoing the above, it is superbly communicative and extremely progressive.While the 488 has higher limits, and more tolerance for cack handedness, the 458 is set up to save moderate levels of stupidity and to immensely reward the committed. I have found its loss of grip at 9-10/10ths to be progressive, predictable and enjoyable as long as the inputs are smooth.
I've had my 458 on the Ferrari fit Pzero which to be honest I found the levels of grip very low, shockingly low, but I always knew what the was going to do.
I am now on Michelin PS4S and its a night and day change, the grip levels are much better and they are even more progressive, I find the car is superbly balanced, progressive and fun.
For me the 458 is objectively not as good as a 488, but I purchased the 458 simply because I found the 458 felt and gave me far more emotion to drive than the 488 and lets just be honest here, the 458 is so damn capable there is really no more need for more grip or more plantedness. Yes if you want a track car or want faster lap times, buy a 488, but if you want a car that brings pure emotion to drive and makes the hairs on your neck stand up, the 458 wins it by miles its in another league for sounds and the way it revs and I prefer the slightly loser less grip setup, its more fun to drive on the road.
pnin said:
Looking for 458 and also thinking 488 / F8.
Prices of 458 still look to be the same; no change for low mileage (<20k) cars.
What to buy?
Drive all 3 !Prices of 458 still look to be the same; no change for low mileage (<20k) cars.
What to buy?
If its as a road car for 75-90% of the use for me the 458 was a lot more fun and dramatic than the 488, don't get me wrong the 458 is mighty fast but for the road the 488 is too fast. The 458 being slower for me made it a more fun road car, more engaging and more thrilling at lower speeds.
If you do a lot of track stuff get a 488 its a far more capable track car with its active aero and a lot more torque out of corners.
I'd avoid the F8 as am sure they will take a big hit depreciation wise, 488's are starting to become real good value in fact some are priced lower than 458's.
I personally went 458, though the F8 was not available when I was looking but as a road car its so much fun and it feels so special to drive even at legal speeds, whereas the 488 at legal speeds is dare I say it a bit boring.
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