458 or 650S
Author
Discussion

JohnG123

Original Poster:

659 posts

151 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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Currently have a 2012 California as a weekend car.

Am undecided on a 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider or a 2015 McLaren 650S. Both seem around the same price.

I know the 458 comes with a 4 year warranty and 7 years servicing.
The McLaren 3 year warranty.

I don't do any track use but do at least 6000 miles a year in the weekend car so defiantly won't be a garage queen.

I just have slight doubts on the future value of the McLaren compared to the 458.

Thoughts ?..........

Anyone had both or traded one way or the other be good to hear your experiences.
Always had my heart set on a 458 only recently as the McLaren devil been on my shoulder.
Many thanks


RamboLambo

4,843 posts

191 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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Drive a spider with a Carbon Tub and you will never buy one without it ever again unless you like jelly on a plate - need I say anymore

A10

633 posts

120 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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No, but you always do...

andrew

10,270 posts

213 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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what sort of idiot doesn't like jelly on a plate ???

JohnG123

Original Poster:

659 posts

151 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
quotequote all
Not really the feedback I was expecting .

Do like jelly though .

A10

633 posts

120 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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I've got a 458 spider and I'm very happy with it. Will get a 650s at some point because I've not owned a Mclaren, and then I'm going to get an Aventador as I've not owned a V12. Then who knows! Bit stumped after that.

The point being that at this level you won't be disappointed by any of them. It will simply be down to personal preference as to which you prefer.

RamboLambo

4,843 posts

191 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
quotequote all
Ok, Only as requested :

Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate.

Carbon Tub is a must for a supercar spider IMHO. Having been constantly irritated by scuttle shake in a series of Ferrari's I have to say the McLaren is a revelation. The strength, extra rigidity as well as weight saving is a revolution and means there is zero compromise over a coupe. Its not until you live with the cars you realise how much of a selling point this is or at least should be.

Ballistic

963 posts

281 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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The 458 often gets compared with the 12C which developed into the 650S.

IMO opinion they are both quite different to drive and it depends on what you are looking for.

I can usually tell within the first few miles of a test drive if a cars going to appeal or not.
The 458 was the first Ferrari I've even driven and I didn't gell with it. Suffice to say I now have a 650S spider and couldn't be happier.

Skittles001

671 posts

284 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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I've just moved from a 458 italia to a 650 spider. I love the 458 and went to test drive the 650. I didn't expect to like it but I did and traded the 458. The carbon tub really makes the spider as stiff as the coupe. I HATE scuttle shake and the macca doesn't have any.

You can't go wrong with either car - they are both great and in different ways. Both cars are ones I wanted a period of owning as IMHO they are definitive super cars. I'm glad I had did the order of ownership this way around if that makes sense.

I pick up the 650 in 2 days!

Edited by Skittles001 on Thursday 25th February 22:30

_Leg_

2,827 posts

232 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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bk tinglingly good...


Kyodo

749 posts

145 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Both are stonking but I'm surprised the prices would be similar. Perhaps because I think of the 650 as an incoming car and the 458 as outgoing…

Don't listed to LamboJambo, I like jelly on a plate (or in a dish) too.

Slickhillsy

1,772 posts

164 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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RamboLambo said:
... jelly on a plate - need I say anymore
No - but the chance of that happening are VEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRYYYYYYY Low... biggrin

JW82

135 posts

129 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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OP - my circumstances were fairly similar to your own. Had a 2011 California which I used mainly for weekends and roughly the same mileage as you mention. I fancied a change basically like yourself.

I quite liked the idea of a N/A car as opposed to a turbocharged experience but fully appreciate this is less important for others. Whilst the McLaren is undoubtedly a fantastic car, you do need to drive both as they are quite different.

The first person to reply to your initial post will almost certainly chime in to vehemently disagree with me on this but two points that put me off the McLaren (as a brand as opposed to one particular vehicle) were the fact that the model line up was updated very regularly and furthermore with varying levels of updates.
Secondly, I lost count of the amount of McLaren owners I met who had to reel off (at great length) the type of car they had with varying levels of software updates, degrees of carbon fibre on the car whilst repeatedly reiterating how much better than anything else it was. Anything. Ever. Or in the future. Again and for me at the time, these things weren't important at all. I just wanted a car that was fun to drive and put a smile on my face. And would not take me 3 minutes to describe to someone.

Also jelly must be raspberry. None of this strawberry stuff...






cho

927 posts

296 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Drive both and see which appeals to you more. Residuals is all about gambling so you might be lucky you might not. With the 650, newer reg is always going to drop more but it doesn't mean the 458 won't continue dropping either. If the depreciation is not affordable then don't do it.

As for gremlins, both manufacturers will have them so again it's pot luck. Most Mclaren gremlins appear to have been ironed out but you will always have minor ones which require a ctrl-alt-del reset.

I haven't driven any ferraris so don't know how a 458 spider would compare to the 650 spider but depends on if you track or not I suppose. Having owned a California you would know better whether the scuttle shake is acceptable or not

Buster73

5,487 posts

174 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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JW82 said:
OP - my circumstances were fairly similar to your own. Had a 2011 California which I used mainly for weekends and roughly the same mileage as you mention. I fancied a change basically like yourself.

I quite liked the idea of a N/A car as opposed to a turbocharged experience but fully appreciate this is less important for others. Whilst the McLaren is undoubtedly a fantastic car, you do need to drive both as they are quite different.

The first person to reply to your initial post will almost certainly chime in to vehemently disagree with me on this but two points that put me off the McLaren (as a brand as opposed to one particular vehicle) were the fact that the model line up was updated very regularly and furthermore with varying levels of updates.
Secondly, I lost count of the amount of McLaren owners I met who had to reel off (at great length) the type of car they had with varying levels of software updates, degrees of carbon fibre on the car whilst repeatedly reiterating how much better than anything else it was. Anything. Ever. Or in the future. Again and for me at the time, these things weren't important at all. I just wanted a car that was fun to drive and put a smile on my face. And would not take me 3 minutes to describe to someone.

Also jelly must be raspberry. None of this strawberry stuff...
Agree about the jelly but only if served with carnation evaporated milk.

RamboLambo

4,843 posts

191 months

Friday 26th February 2016
quotequote all
Both are great cars and I am a die hard Ferrari fan and owner so have no axe to grind.

You have to drive both and it comes down to personal choice at the end of the day.

I chose McLaren as it was different and in my view more exclusive. As I wanted a spider the carbon tub with no scuttle shake or compromise over a coupe was also a massive factor for me as I absolutely hate rattles and squeaks.

Yes performance wise the 650s chews up and spits out a 458 but on the public roads these days its hardly relevant.

A 2 year newer and better car IMHO has got to be a serious consideration versus the prancing horse premium and believe me McLaren residuals will come good whereas Ferraris are currently riding a crest of a wave

JB12C

43 posts

144 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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I had a 12C that I recently changed for a 458 and I wouldn't change back. The McLaren is a very good car but I got tired of the doors and the getting in and out over the sill. The Ferrari is much more fun at lower speeds and I find it an easier, more enjoyable car to be in and drive. I did 20,000 miles in my McLaren and had two services each costing nearly £2,000, the extended warranty was £3,300.00 for a year. The 458 is on the 7 year service plan and I have two years left on the warranty. That does make a big difference in my opinion. You will like a Mclaren but you will also like a 458 and I think it is a better bet financially if you are worried about costs and depreciation.

PGNCerbera

3,038 posts

187 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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IMO, the 458 looks far better, sounds better and is naturally aspirated.....

Yes, a 650s is quicker but so is a tuned GTR.

Brital

105 posts

142 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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Having driven 430, 458, Aventador and Gallardo; and owning Aston and Bentley, soft-top/roadsters/spiders the 650 is undoubtedly the most comfortable and satisfying to drive for long distances. It also seems to get Aston-like respect on the road, and much admiration in filling stations and when parked. I also think if bought at the right price it will out-perform in residual value as well as acceleration and handling.

A10

633 posts

120 months

Friday 26th February 2016
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If only the styling wasn't so disjointed.