Ferrari 488 - whats the "must have" spec?

[PinkHouse]

MingtheMerciless said:

As above on essentials.

On a two tone body, I had my roof wrapped. Looks just as good as the £8k? official option.

Can't upload so link here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CUcrhuv2ddC7optt5

That's stunning, where did you get it done?

[andyr]

petjam said:

I would also make sure it has lift. You might not need it but it will help re-sale.

I have really used lift when touring in the EU. It has been absolutely essential on several occasions - like not being able to park at a hotel without it.

[Bedlamater]

andyr said:

petjam said:

I would also make sure it has lift. You might not need it but it will help re-sale.

I have really used lift when touring in the EU. It has been absolutely essential on several occasions - like not being able to park at a hotel without it.

Agreed, I wouldn’t have bought a car without it. Thankfully it’s seems a large percentage of cars were specced with it.

Also the is reminds my that as much as all that low level carbon exterior is great to look at, especially the diffuser, you go accidentally reversing into a curb or clipping a car park bollard that is a very very expensive repair job!

[Coxey]

If it’s red, pretty much everyone has said. When I found my perfect specification it had to have yellow calipers with the forged alloys and for me I really wanted the yellow rev counter. Mine also came with all the external carbon available and all the interior carbon and racing seats.

[petjam]

That's mine. Have had it for 3 years, not sure what I would go to. Maybe an 812 GTS but that's an entirely new ball game.

[Coxey]

petjam said:

That's mine. Have had it for 3 years, not sure what I would go to. Maybe an 812 GTS but that's an entirely new ball game.

That’s lovely

[MingtheMerciless]

PinkHouse said:

That's stunning, where did you get it done?

Thank you!

Charles Hurst in Belfast did it for me.

[turboman786]

Trev450 said:

Unfortunately, changing a car within a short period from purchasing is probably the worst thing to do when it comes to incurring a loss.

Not in my experience, Ive done it dozens of times and your comment is certainly not my experience. It all depends how much you buy and the spec/pedigree of the specimen.

[Trev450]

turboman786 said:

Trev450 said:

Unfortunately, changing a car within a short period from purchasing is probably the worst thing to do when it comes to incurring a loss.

Not in my experience, Ive done it dozens of times and your comment is certainly not my experience. It all depends how much you buy and the spec/pedigree of the specimen.

In that case I hope I'm proved to be wrong for your sake.

[mako111]

turboman786 said:

Trev450 said:

Unfortunately, changing a car within a short period from purchasing is probably the worst thing to do when it comes to incurring a loss.

Not in my experience, Ive done it dozens of times and your comment is certainly not my experience. It all depends how much you buy and the spec/pedigree of the specimen.

If you are a serial swapper and have good relationships with dealers who have sold you lots of cars then that can minimise the cost to change. That said it always costs to change, either your trade in price or what you pay on the new motor. The trade lives off margin.

[gunner]

So if Iw found the perfect 488, after much looking, and it doesn't have lift I should genuinely pass? just want the brutal truth once way to another please??

[gunner]

PS I should have said the car will spend a mere 5% of its life the city and not Touring...Tank you.

[MingtheMerciless]

It's a hard one. You will find similar issues to your own when you want to move it on. If you know a dealer well enough, ask them how much a difference it makes?

I only had a 458, not a 488 so I don't know if there are any differences which would matter to this question. I had literally no issues in 9 years of ownership. But I would never risk a multi story car park. If you can ensure that you never have to do this then I'd go for your dream car.

A funny consequence of no lift - many years ago I was going home by ferry via Pembroke and the ferry was loading up a ramp to the side and my car at the time (360) was just beached at the point the ramp joined the ferry. I was sweating and the 200 cars behind me were looking with some disdain and impatience at the numpty in the (yellow) Ferrari and basically taking out the popcorn or turning redder and redder with irritation. So this chap with a walkie talkie wandered up, had a look, called someone on the walkie talkie and they basically leaned the ferry over by about 5 degrees somehow so I could drive on.

So don't worry about the lack of lift. There is always a solution. I did order it however on my 296GTS. I don't want to have to lean ferries over again if possible.

[gunner]

Great answer, thanks.

[maura]

Never had it on UK 488 GTB & Pista but did have it on my Euro Pista Spider, as some Euro trips would have giving me a problem. It will affect resale, but not as much as people think, but most importantly it sounds you have been looking awhile and found the spec you want, push the button. Did you ever buy the SF90?

[gunner]

I mistakenly bought an SF90 without the AF pack, which was a mistake I reversed without coming to too much harm. Now potentially buying one with the AF pack, which makes it a different car to drive (just in my opinion) but no rush. Have a 296 GTS for now and think I have found a lovely 488 as I said...

[maura]

Sunday 25th August 2024quotequote alleditdelete
gunner said:
I have gone for an AF. At even reasonable speeds the dampers give you a difference significant enough that it's worth going for, not that the 'normal one' isn't brilliant. Any other words of advice before I push the button hugely appreciated.
maura said:
3 pieces of advice, 1) get off Pistonheads on SF90, too many haters who don t know the car at all, Sign up to Ferrarichat immediately, less about depreciation and more about real ownership, good & bad.
2) Sign up to The Intercooler and read the Steve Sutcliffe Retrospective Article on SF90 with AF, not the original hating journal articles. Ben Collins ex Stig did a retrospective video as well.
3) get yourself down to Carrs Exeter and look at the Grigio Titanio AF, was owned by a mate of mine, did all his track driving with Ferrari Clienti AF s, not his own car, never seen a track, knows his onions and that car is a mint 1 owner. Getting XX now. Only thing that went wrong was a E sensor door latch on passenger side. He said in AF form one of the best Ferrari s ever made just totally misunderstood. Enjoy the process.

Ahh yes AF completely different car, I ve gone as far to say don t bother with base SF90, you are not getting the SF90 in base form, have no idea where it fits in. If lift is essential to your Ferrari needs don t bother with a SF90 base, buy a 296 or another brand. I changed my Pista for AF Coupe, no way would I change my Pista for a Base SF90. The Multimatic dampers, titanium spring setup etc.. completely transforms the car. Both my Pista and AF lived in London, no lift and never ground out if , think the AF was ever so slightly higher than Pista coming into my underground car park. If you know Elite Detailing Car Park in Knightsbridge, never grounded out if taking care.

Edited by maura on Tuesday 17th June 09:17

Edited by maura on Tuesday 17th June 09:21

[jdwoodbury]

I had a 488GTB without lift it was not the end of the world, I drive it on a Scotland roadtrip with some seriously bad roads to get to AirBnb and we survived. I would also add Apple Airplay to the essentials list as it was an expensive option (2.5k) that you would expect to be standard. I would also look for any car without carbon splitters etc...just more to get damaged.

[gunner]

Thanks very much to you both. Great advice.

[MingtheMerciless]

100% agree on the carbon splitters. There are parts of Scottish roads that will forever be coated in (my) Ferrari splitter carbon.