V12V to 458?

[CPBRI]

Have had the V12V for 3 years now and have enjoyed it (except for some trouble early on).

Lately, I've been thinking more about a 458. Wanted to get your thoughts on such a move.

Would love to hear from any Aston owners who also have a 458, or have made a similar move.

Good or bad...

[paddy328]

I have a client that went from a DBS to a 458, then a speciale and he never looked back, but it all depends on what you want out of a car.

[SlartiF430]

Not quite the same but I had a v8v, then a db9v and went to a 430. The drama, sense of occasion and exhilaration that i feel in the 430 cannot be touched by any of my previous astons. i would never swap to get into any of my previous cars, however i would have a db9v as a second car for those occasions when i want the style of a GT drive.

[adamfawsitt]

Before you go to the dark side you might want to try a V12VS which is a very focused drivers car but still has the cachet of not being a Ferrari...

[V8 Animal]

458 must be the best Ferrari made IMO
If you feel you can live with the attention it will bring and it will then why not.
Good call on the S but I would trump that with the V12S

[dredders]

IMHO. If you love the sound of your V12, a Ferrari V8 will be a tad disappointing.

[michael gould]

dredders said:

IMHO. If you love the sound of your V12, a Ferrari V8 will be a tad disappointing.

have you heard a 458 on full throttle ..........its hardly disappointing !!!!!

To the OP ....scratch the itch

[GrahamPM]

I've had a couple of V8 Vantages and now on my second 458 - absolutely wonderful cars! I test drove a V12S last year when they came out, and tho, a great car, it's not a patch on the 458.
You'd have to drive one to fully appreciate it - but it's just like a big go kart. The steering is so direct, turn-in's wonderful, and the noise...fantastic! The engine just thrives on revs; it's a mighty quick car and the bench mark in performance cars IMHO.
Graham

[Omaruk]

GrahamPM said:

I've had a couple of V8 Vantages and now on my second 458 - absolutely wonderful cars! I test drove a V12S last year when they came out, and tho, a great car, it's not a patch on the 458.
You'd have to drive one to fully appreciate it - but it's just like a big go kart. The steering is so direct, turn-in's wonderful, and the noise...fantastic! The engine just thrives on revs; it's a mighty quick car and the bench mark in performance cars IMHO.
Graham

This


Drove a 458 on an extended test drive last week. Fab!

[CPBRI]

Thanks for the input!

I should have also stated I was interested in the 599 too.

Appreciate the replies.

[Barnezy]

I hired a 458 whilst in Vegas this year and to be honest I was expecting more, apart from the sound which was unreal! Not quite the same category of car as a vantage either. I would say a Vantage is a better car to live with daily.

[ajr550]

I had a 2002 Vanquish for 3 years and tested V12 V and V12VS earlier this year before taking delivery of a 458 Speciale in April.You cannot compare any of the 3 Astons with the Speciale which forces you to re calibrate your driving brain.The Astons are nice cars the 458 Speciale is absolutely mind blowing.

Edited by ajr550 on Wednesday 8th October 21:26

[mb1]

CPBRI, forget the 458, try a 12C or 650S.
If you are not blinded by the cavallino badge, you will quickly find out which one is the better car...
I went recently from a V12V to a 12C and I am over the moon with it. Usable as a daily drive and mind-blowingly quick.
Having driven both, the 458 is no match for the 12C. But them I might not be that impartial !

You might want to read this: Bye, for now... V12V to 12C...

[giggsy]

I would add if you are considering the 458, do try the McLaren 12C or 650S... I did a few test drives in each & preferred the McLaren... Both the 458 & 12C are amazing but the speed & ride is slightly better in the 12C.. The price also is in 12C favour, around £20K cheaper.. But it's a good dilemma to be in :-)
Enjoy choosing your next car!!!

[KarlFranz]

Well I guess you should also throw the Huracán into the mix.

[CPBRI]

mb1 said:

CPBRI, forget the 458, try a 12C or 650S.

I would absolutely consider the McLaren, and did. Looked into it a year ago, but did not fit comfortably in the car. Ingress/egress was also not easy for me.

Is the 650 different? Roomier? Need more head room.

Edited by CPBRI on Thursday 9th October 13:43

[Phil74891]

I'm not sure this will help much, but I recently visited a Ferrari main dealer in the UK to have a look at a 458 Speciale. I wasn't able to secure a test drive because I made the appointmentent last minute, I only had a two hour window and their demonstrator was already out. I was thinking last of the normally aspirated V8s, stunning reviews etc. etc. Possibly a (very) long term investment.......

Anyway I visited the showroom as it was on the way to where I was going, had a sit in a customer's Speciale, plus a regular 458 and Spider. Having just got out of my V8VS I found the build quality of the Ferrari to be inferior to the Aston - I know everyone laugh out loud.

But then the 458 and the Vantage V12/V8 are completely different cars. I see the 458 as an all out rocketship sports car and the Vantage a baby GT really.

All personal observation and opinion of course. I will drive a 458 Spider the next time I'm over, I think that's the one to have - once they drop 50k or more, if they ever do.

What did annoy me a bit was the sales guy who said you can't have a Speciale unless you spec it with a minimum of 42k worth of extras to take it up to 250k. Which is fine, as Ferrari want to keep their product exclusive, but it would involve adding back a whole load of weight to a stripped out car in unnecessary radios and satnavs etc. I guess you could spec carbon fibre everything, and I guess the stripe is quite reasonable at GBP6,750.......

Anyway, not much use, just some idle rambling. I aim to own a 458 at some stage but not for some time yet.

Go for it OP.

[mb1]

CPBRI said:

I would absolutely consider the McLaren, and did. Looked into it a year ago, but did not fit comfortably in the car. Ingress/egress was also not easy for me.

Is the 650 different? Roomier? Need more head room.

I just realized you had already replied to the other thread ! Sorry....

The 650S is the same as the 12C except that the chassis has a cut-out to ease getting in and out.
I don't think it will make a huge difference.
Are you sure you are that tight in it ?
I have a lot more room for my legs in the 12C than the V12V.
Did you try a 12C with manually adjustable seats rather than the electric seats ?
I have the manual ones and they provide a larger range of uncoupled movements (I like driving fairly flat, which is not possible with the electric seats)

[mb1]

Phil74891 said:

Anyway I visited the showroom as it was on the way to where I was going, had a sit in a customer's Speciale, plus a regular 458 and Spider. Having just got out of my V8VS I found the build quality of the Ferrari to be inferior to the Aston - I know everyone laugh out loud.

I concur. I was very disapoonted by the build quality of the 458. Bits of foam sticking out, poor paint finish and the feeling that the car was going to break on every potholes.
I was convinced 3 month ago that like you I would have a 458 as my next car. After all, all the journos are saying it is the one to have... But after 2 separate test drives, I was convinced of the opposite and then there was a McLaren in the car park on my way out....Well, it is not the last time journalists are wrong......

To be fair, buying a 458 is most probably an emotional purchase and as such the buyer would definitely enjoying doing 30 miles on sunny Sunday's once a month

[AdamV8V]

Phil74891 said:

What did annoy me a bit was the sales guy who said you can't have a Speciale unless you spec it with a minimum of 42k worth of extras to take it up to 250k. Which is fine

Is it? I think it's abominable.

They should therefore be called "compulsories" not "options"!!