458 to 458 Speciale, worth the extra 150k?

[PrancingHorses]

Certainly, I would ask to spend at least an hour on various roads and see how you feel. I have driven a Pista and that felt more like a much more powerful and precise 458 and less track focussed than a Speciale. Some may disagree but that's how it felt to me.

[Gibbo205]

PrancingHorses said:

Certainly, I would ask to spend at least an hour on various roads and see how you feel. I have driven a Pista and that felt more like a much more powerful and precise 458 and less track focussed than a Speciale. Some may disagree but that's how it felt to me.

Think it is just the way cars are going, the very latest track specials like Pista are also fine to use a road cars as the suspension is such high quality it is so well damped.

Our of all Ferrari's 458 Speciale is my favourite followed by 458 and then 812.

Maybe in the end I already have the best car for my needs with the 458 Italia and as someone else suggested I should maybe follow my dream and get a GT3 to go alongside, would make sense as my other car is a Honda S2000 so I'd have all the 9000rpm masterpiece engines, 4 pot, flat 6 and the V8.

Edited by Gibbo205 on Friday 15th May 14:36

[Tuscan Wil]

It is certainly a nice problem to have right now. I agree that you must at least sit in the car in action. Not try to be a kill joy. I am genuinely intrigue how to test drive a car for an hour or any decent amount of time, given the Speciale is so mileage sensitive. I am not sure any dealers or vendors would allow you take the car out for an hour and said. "oh sorry the car is not for me!?!?"

Unless you have a very good relationship with the dealer of course?

[Lob355]

Yes when I bought my speciale I was not allowed a test drive

[PrancingHorses]

If you have a good relationship with your dealer you can have a decent test drive.

[rosino]

PrancingHorses said:

Have you driven a Speciale? Not half as comfortable to drive as an Italia. I don't think anyone would manage a road trip across Europe in a Speciale....out and out track focussed car. A fantastic one at that but it's a different experience all together...really depends on what one intends to use the car for I guess...

I had the most epic trip ever in my Speciale in South Germany on the Alpine Strasse, through Austrian mountain passes onto Italian Dolomites. The trip I will remember for a long time and probably one which will never be bettered. The Speciale was simply astonishing. Lots of luggage room for 2, reliable, and incredibly rewarding to drive. I found the suspension quite pliant all things considered compared to my GT3s. By quite some margin.

I kept motorways mileage low as there’s no point in wasting miles on those. Had the car shipped to Germany and took it from there. Probably best solution to enjoy these cars.

Never driven an Italia went for the Speciale directly. Best car i have ever owned bar none. I have an F12 which i just took delivery on and keen to find out how it compares. For sure the engine note is nicer than the Speciale but for the rest we shall wait and see.

If you could have the upgrade for sensible money I would say do it. Speciale will always remain the last v8 Ferrari and one of the best they ever built at that too. Consider LHD too as the premium for RHD is totally unjustified in current economic climate.

[456mgt]

Honestly, I can't see them handing you the keys for an hour to try it out, regardless how much they value your business. You'll know in a few hundred metres whether or not you like the car. It'll take significantly longer than an hour before you know that it's going to get under your skin and become a keeper.

One other thing. What people regard as hardcore varies a lot between individuals. Never driven a Speciale but had a Challenge Stradale for a few years and it was one of the most comfortable cars to tour in. The Carrera GT that replaced it is even more hardcore (in my view) and I've been touring in France in that. Hardcore is *your* definition, not anyone else's.

[oo7ml]

Interesting topic.

I’ve never driven a Speciale, but i don’t think you need to drive one to realise it will be one of the greatest cars that Ferrari will ever build. No matter what they do with EVs going forward, they simply won’t have the soul or charisma of a NA V8, and particular the Speciale, so it’s safe to say

On the other hand, it doesn’t seem like you will keep it as a garage queen, which is great, however you will knock a significant portion off it’s value if you do plan to add significant mileage to it, and only keep it for 2 years.

Own possibly the greatest V8 Ferrari of all time and potentially lose a lot financially in 2 years... VS buy a second super car, and not place yourself in such a negative financial position in 2-3 years time.

My conclusion (for what it’s worth), is that it completely depends on your personal and financial circumstances. If I were you, I would only buy the Speciale if you plan to keep it long term (10+) years... which is a great position to be in.

Life is short, go with the option that will reward you with the greatest satisfaction... for more than a week.

[Gibbo205]

oo7ml said:

Interesting topic.

I’ve never driven a Speciale, but i don’t think you need to drive one to realise it will be one of the greatest cars that Ferrari will ever build. No matter what they do with EVs going forward, they simply won’t have the soul or charisma of a NA V8, and particular the Speciale, so it’s safe to say

On the other hand, it doesn’t seem like you will keep it as a garage queen, which is great, however you will knock a significant portion off it’s value if you do plan to add significant mileage to it, and only keep it for 2 years.

Own possibly the greatest V8 Ferrari of all time and potentially lose a lot financially in 2 years... VS buy a second super car, and not place yourself in such a negative financial position in 2-3 years time.

My conclusion (for what it’s worth), is that it completely depends on your personal and financial circumstances. If I were you, I would only buy the Speciale if you plan to keep it long term (10+) years... which is a great position to be in.

Life is short, go with the option that will reward you with the greatest satisfaction... for more than a week.

The problem is I can afford to buy a Speciale outright if I sell my 458 and keep it 10+ years as were financially sound thank god during these times whixh is a nice position to be in.

But buying a Speciale would tie up all my car budget fund as to speak as the rest is for our house and living.

I drove the 458 today, did not even get above 40mph as just went on a little drive but it is such a dramatic car at any speed, which I bet Speciale also is the question is would I rather a 458 Italia and say a GT3 or just a Speciale and I think I'd rather two different great flavours rather than just one awesome flavour as to speak.

A GT3 was always my dream car, I only did not make my dream a reality because when I drove the 458 it was just a far more special car, but of course I'd love to own a GT3 also. With the market going the way it is I feel I am well positioned to either buy a gen1 991 GT3 and budget around 75k which should be possible with the current market predictament which would mean little to zero financial hit when selling it on in a couple of years or budget around 115k for a 991.2 GT3 manual, again which should be possible and again save myself from any hard hit.

Plus be pretty cool to have an S2000, GT3 and 458, proper 9000rpm club.

[Taffy66]

I owned a 991.2GT3 PDK alongside my 458 and they complement each other perfectly..The 458 is now sat by a 991.2GT3 RS WP which is an even better combo..
Your 458 is a perfect spec example very similar to mine except except different colours..In your shoes i'd keep the 458 and would use the money to buy a nice 991.2GT3 but in Manual not PDK..Now that would be a perfect garage duo..!

[Gibbo205]

True would love a 991.2 GT3 manual in red but I’d also be happy with a 991.1 GT3 also in red.

Got the S2000 for my manual thrills, easily best manual gearbox I’ve ever used.

[Mattt]

If you want something with a little edge alongside the 458 have you considered something like an Atom or Caterham?

Perfect track toy and solid residuals.

P.S. Where’s my Rift S

[Gibbo205]

Mattt said:

If you want something with a little edge alongside the 458 have you considered something like an Atom or Caterham?

Perfect track toy and solid residuals.

P.S. Where’s my Rift S

Tried Caterham while back and as a track car I agree but I love to enjoy my cars on road and after driving a Caterham on the road I was put off, got the S2000 for open top fun, heavy compared to a Caterham but light compared to most modern cars.

[Gibbo205]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

If your a biker then I think you'd love it.
For me it just felt too exposed when your alongside a truck you literally feel like an ant and thus if the car accidentally slides say into a curb could even hurt pretty bad. As a road car it is just so small with no real safety protection and thus just feel exposed.

On a track or an empty car park, for sure you won't beat one for fun.

[MDL111]

Off topic but I keep coming back to the S2000 as a car I want to own at some point. Friend of mine had one at university and I thought it was about the coolest thing around (and I don’t like convertibles)

[Tuscan Wil]

Gibbo205 said:

If your a biker then I think you'd love it.
For me it just felt too exposed when your alongside a truck you literally feel like an ant and thus if the car accidentally slides say into a curb could even hurt pretty bad. As a road car it is just so small with no real safety protection and thus just feel exposed.

On a track or an empty car park, for sure you won't beat one for fun.

Second to that. I was in my mate's Westfield in Central London, sitting at a traffic light. A Range Rover pulled up, I almost wanted to put my hands up just to make sure the driver saw us before being ran over. I am a biker too, but you sit higher than most drivers when you are on a bike. I felt a lot more vulnerable in the Westfield with big cars around on public roads.

[theRossatron]

Gibbo205 said:

OK that is good to know, it would be used on the road a lot and on a lot of trips, so good input, I guess next step is to really drive one in coming months.

I've owned both the 458 Italia and still have my 458 Speciale and if anything the Speciale is better on longer trips. Its slightly stiffer, more planted and has a noiser cabin at speed but the gearbox is infinitely better and the all or nothing throttle from the Italia is gone making it much easier in traffic.

Comfort aside, the brakes are so much better too having the LaFerrari units, it puts down traction a whole lot better and is just much more exciting to drive at any speed.

If I'm honest, I was a little disappointed with my 458 Italia, I had built it up in my head but it didn't live up to my expectations - the Speciale did. Obviously its hard to justify the extra money but I think its worth it.

[Gibbo205]

theRossatron said:

I've owned both the 458 Italia and still have my 458 Speciale and if anything the Speciale is better on longer trips. Its slightly stiffer, more planted and has a noiser cabin at speed but the gearbox is infinitely better and the all or nothing throttle from the Italia is gone making it much easier in traffic.

Comfort aside, the brakes are so much better too having the LaFerrari units, it puts down traction a whole lot better and is just much more exciting to drive at any speed.

If I'm honest, I was a little disappointed with my 458 Italia, I had built it up in my head but it didn't live up to my expectations - the Speciale did. Obviously its hard to justify the extra money but I think its worth it.

Thank you, fortunately for me I love my Italia, no disappoints at all but as with all things, you always wonder how much better the special edition car is.

I like the gearbox on the Italia but saying that I did notice the DCT on my 2014 car is vastly smoother than the 2010 car I drove and yeah the touchy throttle I can understand is a problem for many people but it does not really bother me as I am always driving in race or traction off mode, only time touchy throttle is an issue is motorway trips at which point wet mode helps and even more so cruise control.

So no disappoints for me, but the Speciale is a dream car as is a GT3, a good choice to have and am just going to watch the market over next few months to see how prices on Speciale and GT3's fair.

[Taffy66]

It sounds to me that the Speciale is really beckoning you..As a one only supercar considering you love the Italia the only sensible progression is a Speciale..However if a two supercar garage is viable then i'd buy an F12 or GT3 to sit beside your Italia.
Of the four cars mentioned above, given a choice of only one car to keep forever the the Speciale wins hands down IMO. Apologies if i sound like i'm contradicting myself bit the Speciale is probably my favourite car of all time...Well, a close second to a CGT if i'm honest, but then that's in another price league altogether..

[Cheib]

Romans have just listed this car ...no stripe but a two tone body. Don’t know enough about spec on these but for for a less than 1k miles car that seems like a decent price

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Can see cars with getting on for 10k miles start appearing for less than £250k soon.