458 Italia from a 991 GT3 ?

458 Italia from a 991 GT3 ?

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Discussion

SagMan

Original Poster:

623 posts

220 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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Would appreciate any experiences from members who have moved from GT3 to a 458? or indeed from a Audi R8 V10?

I've enjoyed the GT3 a lot, truly lovely drivers car. But one aspect that has been reported frequently is the need to drive it fast most of the time in order to get enjoyment from it. I've test riven a couple of 458's and found it more entertaining a lower and practical speeds.
I'm looking for a circa £140k example, either black or grey. Preferably from Ferrari dealer with 2 year warranty and balance of a service package. Is a 2012 version with say 10,000 miles reasonable at lower £140k's, there are some available. I assume deprecation would be £10-15k per year?
Spec wise I'm assuming following are quite key:
- LED wheel
- Scuderia badges
- Carbon detail on interior.
- Sat Nav
- Lift ?
- Parking Sensors?

Anything you guys would recommend.

Thank you for any help.

ferdi p

1,519 posts

172 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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Lift only necessary if you have an awkward drive etc, 458's have much better ground clearance than GT3's.

I went 991GT3 to 12c & now onto 488 so I see where your coming from. The GT3 is quite simply sensational but I wanted my 'toy' car to be something really special & for some reason the Porsche felt like a mega sorted 911 & not a bespoke sports/supercar.

Skittles001

665 posts

263 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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It's personal choice but for me the options I really appreciate on my 458 are:
- carbon racing seats. Having come from a 997.2 RS these were a must and they haven't disappointed.
- lift. I go on eurotrips etc where it makes getting into car park ramps a doddle. The car is however not as close to the ground as a GT3 as has been pointed out.
- LED wheel.
- Parking sensors.
- Forged wheels.

Nice to have:
- yellow callipers (I have a grey car so works well) and rev counter.

Wish I had (but haven't)
- tyre pressure monitoring.

bluesatin

3,114 posts

272 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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Based on my experience of buying a 458 4 weeks ago I think you will find it hard to get that spec/age of car sub 150K. You may get 2011 car with warranty and service for sub 150 but not a 2012. However independents are a different story but you don't get 2 year warranty.

jonny finance

926 posts

206 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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Hello - a coincidence in reverse!! I posted a similar question in the Porsche section last week.. Am a more than
Happy 458 owner but the 991 GT3 is a car I've always had half an eye on. Now prices are gently softening my interest has
spiked a touch. In a mad moment I put up an advert for my 458 with the mention of a swap, then removed ad then today put it back up again !?! ......... If I did go ahead I'm sure I'd regret it....
Incidentally most posters advised that I'd be mad - which didn't help...

As for spec on the 458, I'd most certainly go for the carbon chairs and for me the lift is key. Not only for the obvious re steep accents/descents and humps etc but also if in the future you might choose to lower the car slightly to improve aesthetics, with the lift its always going to be an option.

As for other options the higher the spec the better - BE GREEDY. I was........

Edited by jonny finance on Tuesday 3rd November 19:47

sealtt

3,091 posts

158 months

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
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I found the 458 was in a different league to the R8 V10. I never got to drive a 991 GT3 due to the shortages and I didn't get on the list, though did try.

I think you will have a very good idea from the test drive about the 458, it is pretty great fun. I can tell you on track it is truly sensational too.

hornbaek

3,675 posts

235 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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The Ferrari shouts from the word "go" whilst the GT3 (RS) is a wolf in sheep clothing. It can sit in a carpark unnoticed and you can use it in and out of town but on the track it is a weapon. And you pass the noise test on all tracks which is not the case with the Ferrari. I think it comes down to personal choice rather than perfomance. They are both great cars just addressing different types of people.

I have just browsed the ads and if i am not mistaken, yours is the delightful yellow 458. You have only done 1300 miles so my suggestion would be, to take the Ferrari and drive it down to The Alps, drive some 2000 miles in in a find out what that car is really capable of before you start thinking about changing it.

Edited by hornbaek on Wednesday 4th November 07:58

jonny finance

926 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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I have just browsed the ads and if i am not mistaken, yours is the delightful yellow 458. You have only done 1300 miles so my suggestion would be, to take the Ferrari and drive it down to The Alps, drive some 2000 miles in in a find out what that car is really capable of before you start thinking about changing it.

Edited by hornbaek on Wednesday 4th November 07:58

[/quote]


That's the one and luckily my 'Sunday Best'!! Have done miles and time in previous 458 and know what a capable and fabulous machine it is!
Mind a trip down to the Alps sounds a bucket list trip.

SagMan

Original Poster:

623 posts

220 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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Many thanks for the feedback.

I found the GT3 ticked every box except the day to day lower speeds smile test. The R8 was a more pleasurable car to spend daily life with. But the GT3 was simply stunning when driving quick, I couldn't fault it other than been a more capable than I was prepared to go!

Why is the carbon seats so important? I had comfort spec on GT3 and never had issues daily or on resale. Do carbon seats in 458 carry re-sale premium? Are they more comfortable / supportive.

What value would you put on lift, re-sale £2-3k? I don't live in hilly location so don't expect to use much. Is ride height similar to R8?

thanks again.

jonny finance

926 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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SagMan said:
Many thanks for the feedback.

I found the GT3 ticked every box except the day to day lower speeds smile test. The R8 was a more pleasurable car to spend daily life with. But the GT3 was simply stunning when driving quick, I couldn't fault it other than been a more capable than I was prepared to go!

Why is the carbon seats so important? I had comfort spec on GT3 and never had issues daily or on resale. Do carbon seats in 458 carry re-sale premium? Are they more comfortable / supportive.

What value would you put on lift, re-sale £2-3k? I don't live in hilly location so don't expect to use much. Is ride height similar to R8?

thanks again.
Unfortunately us humans must share very close DNA to sheep...Nobody knows why the carbon seats are sought after?? but.. Once one person suggests they are 'must have' everyone thinks this and follows .....I blame the salesmen who started this off in the 90s... 'shields.. oh you must order these or the car will be virtually unsellable' Blame is too strong a word - All manufactures soon cottoned on. The profit is in the options.. Mind,the racing seats R a thing of beauty but being honest maybe not as comfy as the elecy Daytona's..

Id guess ride height a touch lower than the R8 but still fairly good clearance as very short over hangs.. I still light the lift as offers complete peace of mind..
You have to watch the rear underside as much as the front as the diffuser is low.

Durzel

12,272 posts

168 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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Options are a bit of a chicken and egg thing. At some point in time someone must've started a campaign to convince people they needed nav, or shields, or whatever, and now it's just a self-perpetuating machine. Dealers must love it because it requires negligible work on their part, beyond perhaps a frown if you suggest not having something considered to be essential (but not so essential that Ferrari didn't include it in the first place).

Unfortunately lone standouts can't do anything to combat this perception. If you don't spec shields - for example - you might as well just set fire to the car once you've got your use out of it, because it is worthless. Deciding the fight the option war on your lonesome is perhaps admirable, but you'll get crucified on resale - that's just the reality of the market. Dealers know it, Ferrari knows it.

Ferrari also encourage it quite brazenly, with buyers of new models "encouraged" to spec to the nines in order to actually get the car they've put a deposit on in a reasonable timeframe. It's quite a clever strategy really because it means it sets the bar for other cars that follow.

It is a rather bizarre state of affairs though - I'm sure the standard car is 95%-99% as magical as a fully loaded car, but you'd be hard pushed to actually find a standard car anywhere.

jonny finance

926 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th November 2015
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Sir, please increase your optional extras or I would just like to thank you for leaving
the showroom... HaHa

Funny thing shields. I notice a growing acceptance and even supporters for 'without'
in the USA - many consider the front lines cleaner without... I too am starting to really like the 458 base alloy wheel, even though you hardly ever seem them.

Maybe as time goes on - less is more?

Martino7

12 posts

139 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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I kept my 991 GT3 for about six months before swapping it for a 458 Spider. The GT3 is a sensational car, but you really only experience the thrill of the car over 6,000 revs, and you are already over 70 in second gear... The 458 by comparison is a theatre of noise at much lower speeds and throughout the rev range. It also gets a lot more attention than the GT3 ever did, and that's positive appreciation over 99% of the time. The 458 is also a lot more comfortable so worth bearing in mind if you use the car for touring. The 458 is the best car I have ever had although I do miss owning a Porsche, so now getting a Boxster GTS for my wife, so hopefully then I can enjoy best of both worlds (if she lets me near it..). I would say however that the cabin of the GT3 is much better looking and laid out. The electronic gadgetry in the 458 can be very confusing to use, and the build quality of the GT3 is far superior to the 458. But I still prefer the 458 by far. I suppose the interesting question is, given the same year and same mileage and let's say a similar level of must have options, how much more would you pay for a 458 than a 991 GT3? I would say £60k.

As for options, the one lower cost option that seems to be always most admired is the horse stitched on the headrest!

MingtheMerciless

420 posts

209 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
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I have only just driven my first 991 GT3, on a track near Las Vegas. I didn't have enough time to form a detailed impression, but still I was surprised how wonderful it was, I'd say as good as the 458 on track, albeit different - in the 458 it's about the car, in the GT3 it's about you and what the car will do for you. But the theatre and drama and just feel good factor of a 458 in everyday driving still makes it a winner for me.

Durzel

12,272 posts

168 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
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There are no doubt more accomplished - or in the case of Porsche particularly - more precision instruments you could buy, for less money as well, but you've hit the nail on the head: it's the theatre of it. It's that intangible, ethereal quality that you can't see on a spec sheet, but you can feel - even before you've turned the key.*


* Yes, yes - you push a button, but that isn't as profound

SagMan

Original Poster:

623 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
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I'm excited to say placed deposit in a 2011 black 458. Low miles and perfect spec for me including lift which will be needed.
Thanks for all responses, GT3 was amazing car, truly stunning engineering . But properly buzzed about 458 to come, young boy dream yet I know it will be 7000 mile per year car, no garage queen.
Cheers again guys. Pictures to follow soon

Skittles001

665 posts

263 months

Thursday 19th November 2015
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Fantastic!!! Congratulations; you won't regret it.

Look forward to the snaps.

F355spider

1,395 posts

231 months

Sunday 29th November 2015
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Great choice, loved my 458 Italia

Just picked up a Gt3 and running it alongside my Speciale. Very different cars