488 GTB vs Spider
Discussion
Sorry if covered before, but I did have look.
I'm looking to buy my first Ferrari soon & have decided on a 488 having driven a GTB and also a Roma.
The Roma was lovely, but a bit too "sensible" Too quiet & I prefer real buttons for the controls. I drove the Roma before the 488 & knew within the first 200 yards of the 488 test drive that it was "the one".
I'm leaning towards the GTB for a number of reasons.
Whilst I appreciate the extra weight of the Spider is not an issue in terms of acceleration given the power, the extra weight is relatively high in the car, so must have at least a marginal impact on handling?
Can I ask if over time the Spider develops any extra squeeks, rattles or is any more prone to wind noise with the roof up?
It's obviously something else to potentially go wrong. Have any Spider owners had any faults with their roof?
My main reason though is the extra cost of the Spider. The current premium for approved used Spiders looks to be circa £18,000, which is not a trivial amount & the advice I've had from both the main dealers I've spoken to is that the price differential between GTB & Spider is reducing gradually, so over my planned 2 to 3 year ownership period. I'm unlikely to get that extra outlay back.
I appreciate this is speculation, however well informed, but what do you guys think?
I'm looking to buy my first Ferrari soon & have decided on a 488 having driven a GTB and also a Roma.
The Roma was lovely, but a bit too "sensible" Too quiet & I prefer real buttons for the controls. I drove the Roma before the 488 & knew within the first 200 yards of the 488 test drive that it was "the one".
I'm leaning towards the GTB for a number of reasons.
Whilst I appreciate the extra weight of the Spider is not an issue in terms of acceleration given the power, the extra weight is relatively high in the car, so must have at least a marginal impact on handling?
Can I ask if over time the Spider develops any extra squeeks, rattles or is any more prone to wind noise with the roof up?
It's obviously something else to potentially go wrong. Have any Spider owners had any faults with their roof?
My main reason though is the extra cost of the Spider. The current premium for approved used Spiders looks to be circa £18,000, which is not a trivial amount & the advice I've had from both the main dealers I've spoken to is that the price differential between GTB & Spider is reducing gradually, so over my planned 2 to 3 year ownership period. I'm unlikely to get that extra outlay back.
I appreciate this is speculation, however well informed, but what do you guys think?
This is going to be your first Ferrari. It's without doubt a passionate purchase so with that in mind, get the one your heart desires the most.
I shall probably get shot down for this, but I've never really seen the point of owning a spyder/convertable in the UK's climate. Ok if you intend to do european tours, but imo, there are very few occasions when you can enjoy roof- down motoring given our weather.
I shall probably get shot down for this, but I've never really seen the point of owning a spyder/convertable in the UK's climate. Ok if you intend to do european tours, but imo, there are very few occasions when you can enjoy roof- down motoring given our weather.
If you can put up with the idea of an older car, drive a 458 before you make up your mind.
I would only have a 488 as a Spider. The extra drama and sound makes up for the fact that it is a turbo so you short shift rather than rev it out. I don't know if there are any issues that develop over time, but the scuttle shake is well enough managed and unless you want to track it often (in which case keep the roof up), I'd say disadvantages are minimal if noticeable at all.
I would only have a 488 as a Spider. The extra drama and sound makes up for the fact that it is a turbo so you short shift rather than rev it out. I don't know if there are any issues that develop over time, but the scuttle shake is well enough managed and unless you want to track it often (in which case keep the roof up), I'd say disadvantages are minimal if noticeable at all.
Having owned the GTB, Spider and Pista Spider, the spider gets my vote every time.
I doubt Hamilton would be able to notice the extra weight impacting performance and handling, whilst not being on par with him I did push all three and certainly couldn’t notice the difference.
IMO the spiders also look better and as others have mentioned the open top driving experience is sublime.
I doubt Hamilton would be able to notice the extra weight impacting performance and handling, whilst not being on par with him I did push all three and certainly couldn’t notice the difference.
IMO the spiders also look better and as others have mentioned the open top driving experience is sublime.
I’ve posted on here many times that my 488 Spider was probably my favourite Ferrari and the only I regret selling.
Have another in a heart beat. The Spider offers so much more than the coupe, sounds so much better with the rear screen down and looks fabulous roof down with the carbon race seats. I much, much preferred my 488 to my two prior 458’s. Still feels epically quick as well.
Have another in a heart beat. The Spider offers so much more than the coupe, sounds so much better with the rear screen down and looks fabulous roof down with the carbon race seats. I much, much preferred my 488 to my two prior 458’s. Still feels epically quick as well.
I own a 488 spider - 13 months in and its a fantastic car.
The spider aspect adds a massively worthwhile dimension to the car and in summer its literally like having 2 cars in one.
As states above the ability to drop the rear screen is useful all year down - the car looks stunning with the roof up or down.
A fabulous car that Im struggling to bring myself to sell. I fancy a 296 GTS but that means spending 80k more which is a lot of money !
Get a 488 and get the spider...you won't regret it
The spider aspect adds a massively worthwhile dimension to the car and in summer its literally like having 2 cars in one.
As states above the ability to drop the rear screen is useful all year down - the car looks stunning with the roof up or down.
A fabulous car that Im struggling to bring myself to sell. I fancy a 296 GTS but that means spending 80k more which is a lot of money !
Get a 488 and get the spider...you won't regret it
Regarding handling, Ive not noticed anything negative about the handling - i doubt very much that any sensible driver could come even close to the point where the handling difference (spider vs coupe) became apparent ....I think it would only manifest itself with hard track driving and let's be honest, how many people track their 488s!
The handling and performance of the 488 spider is pretty wild as it is ...Ive owned many many performance cars and nothing comes close in terms of the experience of the 488
The handling and performance of the 488 spider is pretty wild as it is ...Ive owned many many performance cars and nothing comes close in terms of the experience of the 488
scoobyc said:
Its not the handling differences that worry me about the spider, its the reviews that mention the scuttle shake over broken roads etc,which I know would annoy me - what's the owners feedback of real world scenarios?
Not an issue. Strangely only ever felt it occasionally with the roof down when tootling about. An occasional pothole and you’d feel the windscreen shimmy a little. When pushing on, roof down and on it on a&b roads felt absolutely rock solid. Roof up felt exactly the same as a coupe. Cue Mc fans drone on about carbon tubs, etc, etc but really not an issue and no, the car is not a wobbly jelly so I wouldn’t give a thought to “press’ reports.garystoybox said:
Trev450 said:
rdbrooksie said:
I have a a 488 Spider and never noticed any noise or shaking. I use my car regularly too.
And just to emphasise the point I shall post it twice 
Please don't start me on the state of the country's roads.Gassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff