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Some 458 Spider news

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by m3mike, Jul 29, 2011.

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  1. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #1 m3mike, Jul 29, 2011
    I usually stop in at Lake Forest whenever I am in that part of the country, and this time I actually went by to see if they had a Mclaren in yet. They don't, just a rolling chasis which was still pretty interesting. I asked about the 458 spider and the salesman told me that "our people have seen it and it is definitely a folding hard top." I asked him if he thought that would hurt coupe sales since a hard top converible avoids most of the pitfalls of a standard spider. He said apparently Ferrari thinks it will because our coupe allotment was reduced by 20% for next year. He has been a very reliable source in the past.
     
  2. ReinD

    ReinD Formula Junior

    Sep 16, 2010
    472
    #2 ReinD, Jul 29, 2011
    "Hurt" is such a negative term. "Offset" seems more appropriate. I don't think anyone is expecting most people to buy both a coupe and a spider - although some people do ultimately end up with both.
     
  3. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #3 m3mike, Jul 29, 2011
    I know in the past I never considered a spider because I do a lot of track days and they are generally not permitted. A folding hard top gives you the benefit of top down driving on sunny days yet is still trackable. With the exception of cost why get a coupe?
     
  4. mhh

    mhh F1 Veteran

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    #4 mhh, Jul 29, 2011
    Weight, and therefore performance.
    Structural rigidity, and therefore handling and ride.

    And sometimes aesthetics, though looks are personal.
     
  5. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,732
    #5 Mitch Alsup, Jul 29, 2011
    Some of us never want the wind in our hair.
     
  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tazandjan, Jul 29, 2011
    Mitch- That is because some of us have no hair, me included.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  7. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #7 m3mike, Jul 29, 2011
    Weight will only be about 150 -200 lbs which is irrelevant in the hands of occasional track day amateurs who can't drive anywhere near 10/10ths anyway. It may have some structural rigidity advantages but certainly not as great as with a true soft top.
     
  8. HH11

    HH11 F1 Rookie
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    #8 HH11, Jul 29, 2011
    This pretty much would be a description of myself. I cannot drive the car near the limit and the "extra" weight to me would not be noticeable in terms of lap times and overall feel. I am the type of buyer who wouldn't even think twice about a folding hardtop over the coupe. Knowing that I get a real roof and the option to put it down, makes the choice very easy. Like you said except for the price, you really get the best of both worlds.

    The next guy may want the wind in his hair. Not that you buy the car for him anyway.
     
  9. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

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    9,732
    #9 Mitch Alsup, Jul 29, 2011
    I think once you have bobbed the top off, the chassis will never be as structurally sound, hard-convertible, soft-convertibble, or GTS. Once the top is no longer carrying structural loads, the chassis is simply less stiff.
     
  10. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #10 m3mike, Jul 29, 2011
    I feel exactly the same. This is the first time I am thinking spider, and that's a plus for Ferrari in my opinion.
     
  11. Ice9

    Ice9 Formula Junior

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    #11 Ice9, Jul 29, 2011
    I will play devils advocate here:

    While none of us drives at 10/10s ALL of us experience the aesthetics of the car every time we drive it. Based upon 2 facts, I suspect the spyder will not be as visually striking as the coupe:

    1) It will have no glass cover for the engine (as an owner I can tell you that this never ceases to amaze people)

    2) The lines of the car will deviate from those of the coupe. On FC, with all of the differences of opinion, there is near unanimity on the beauty of the 458. Any deviation from that body, by my estimation, will look inferior.

    The coupe is dead - long live the coupe!
     
  12. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

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    #12 scycle2020, Jul 29, 2011
    I will take soft top all day long for a spider- lighter, easier to fold and the new multilayer lining tops are quiet and secure. If i want, I will get a true coupe that has not been chopped up.
     
  13. zakeen

    zakeen Formula Junior

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    #13 zakeen, Jul 30, 2011
    I know to me, a Ferrari is meant to be a race car on the road and a convertible just does not give me that feeling........

    Coupe all the way for me.
     
  14. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 TheMayor, Jul 30, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    You're right. It's a good thing Ferrari doesn't make open top race cars. That would be terrible :)
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  15. Joe Mac

    Joe Mac Formula 3

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    #15 Joe Mac, Jul 30, 2011
    Because maybe you live in connecticut, Minnesota, Canada, etc (as well as countries where e cold can freeze your balls to the size of dimes) and have little to no use for a drop top?
     
  16. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
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    #16 racerdj, Jul 30, 2011
    I wonder when you add the spyder allotment to the reduced coupe allotment whether you will have more cars available for 2012?
     
  17. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #17 m3mike, Jul 30, 2011
    Actually I live in the South, and my attachments are much larger than yours. If you would have read the thread before being a smart ass it clearly said that standard spiders aren't permitted for most track events.
     
  18. Joe Mac

    Joe Mac Formula 3

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    #18 Joe Mac, Jul 30, 2011
    Mike, not sure why you suggest I'm being a smart ass nor do I get the track reference. I'm speaking about being in cold weather areas and the lack of desire for a drop top. Check your attitude at the door and grow some reading compression. Now, by the way, I am being a smart ass
     
  19. m3mike

    m3mike Formula Junior

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    #19 m3mike, Jul 30, 2011
    If you used the word "you" in a collective sense and not personally then no offense was intended and none is taken.
     
  20. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

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    #20 Rcktrod, Jul 30, 2011
    LOL
     
  21. MD326

    MD326 Karting

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    #21 MD326, Jul 31, 2011
    This news does not please me. I'm not sure what it is but folding hardtops should stay on GTs.
     
  22. Wolfgang1756

    Wolfgang1756 Karting

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    #22 Wolfgang1756, Jul 31, 2011
    +1
     
  23. g4titan

    g4titan Formula 3
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    #23 g4titan, Jul 31, 2011
    haha oh man... nice
     

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