458 Speciale appreciation thread
Discussion
stefan1 said:
I am a relatively new owner, but already I can easily see why the car would still thrill two years down the line.
I hadn't planned to buy one, but I'd sold my gorgeous TDF blue F12 in April (HR Owen made me an offer I could not refuse) and a couple of months later they told my 812 would be at least 2 years away (1st world problem, I know!).
However, the sales chap, being ever savvy, pointed out they had a 2 year-old 499 mile (yes, four hundred and ninety nine) Speciale for sale, and "how about trying that for a couple of years?". The car was in gorgeous white, with a lovely, simple spec. Sold.
Since buying the car I've tripled the mileage in two months and by golly I cannot think of another car that eggs you on so. I had driven one very briefly (for two laps) at Fiorano three years on the Sport Pilota driving course, but that was such a short experience I hadn't really taken away any real sense of the car.
The party piece is the handling. It is just so, well, biddable. The F12 was too, but the Speciale is on another level, thanks no doubt to its lighter weight. And of course it looks fantastic. To my eyes, the best looking Ferrari of the last 15 years.
The plan is to trade the Speciale in for the 812; but at the moment I cannot imagine selling it!
To end, a question on the exhaust. Perhaps the only very slightly less good element of the car is the noise. It is more of a "blare" than something tuneful. Flat plane crank V8s can sound better (exhibit A: 918 Spyder), so I am pondering an aftermarket exhaust. I'd welcome the PH view on the best options.
Big dig but a recommendation for exhaust. If you just want to be overwhelmed by a f1 like sound IPE. If you can't stand the sI hadn't planned to buy one, but I'd sold my gorgeous TDF blue F12 in April (HR Owen made me an offer I could not refuse) and a couple of months later they told my 812 would be at least 2 years away (1st world problem, I know!).
However, the sales chap, being ever savvy, pointed out they had a 2 year-old 499 mile (yes, four hundred and ninety nine) Speciale for sale, and "how about trying that for a couple of years?". The car was in gorgeous white, with a lovely, simple spec. Sold.
Since buying the car I've tripled the mileage in two months and by golly I cannot think of another car that eggs you on so. I had driven one very briefly (for two laps) at Fiorano three years on the Sport Pilota driving course, but that was such a short experience I hadn't really taken away any real sense of the car.
The party piece is the handling. It is just so, well, biddable. The F12 was too, but the Speciale is on another level, thanks no doubt to its lighter weight. And of course it looks fantastic. To my eyes, the best looking Ferrari of the last 15 years.
The plan is to trade the Speciale in for the 812; but at the moment I cannot imagine selling it!
To end, a question on the exhaust. Perhaps the only very slightly less good element of the car is the noise. It is more of a "blare" than something tuneful. Flat plane crank V8s can sound better (exhibit A: 918 Spyder), so I am pondering an aftermarket exhaust. I'd welcome the PH view on the best options.
tty materials these people use 304 stainless steel and want a proper exhaust tamer in db but with a great quality of sound kline with their proper inconel exhaust. Proper weight savings, proper material (same as the one used by literally every f1 team) and proper f1 sound withou making you deaf. Stay away from capristos and novitec if you want your ferrari to sound like one instead of a sort of a mustang.
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