Saw the 458 and 488 side by side for first time

Bitte, de rien, prego!


Regarding the 458/488 design; I like both.
However, after approx. 6 years 458, I even find them too similar, I would have expected more differentiation from the 488.

 

To me, the 488 is a design evolution. The lines are sharper and more aggressive. Personally I like it a lot more. I had the 458
And soon will have the 488.


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Still own both and imo the 458 looks dated next to the 488. Once you see them next to each other there really are quite a few changes between them.

 

The 488 success shows that Ferrari did it right with the 458 successor. I guess many Ferrari owners see it like you, the 458 is (still) a beautiful and impressive car therefore I see no reason why the 488 should not be also beautiful and impressive.

Maybe I'm a little bit different with my expectations; after this fundamental change regarding the engine concept I expected also such a fundamental change in the design, quasi a "complete restart" with the V8 mid engine product line. But I think Ferrari did not have the courage for such a step (and of course not the financial capabilities...).
They followed as always their own "Ferrari way"; one generation with a new engine, than one generation with a new body.

 

Not following your reasoning. Porsche did the same thing! They launched turbo cars for all 911's and even 4-cylinders for the 718's and yet the exterior is, rightfully so, an evolution rather than a revolution.

The engine changes to Ferrari are 'forced' upon them by having to meet either very stringent emissions requirements and/or large engines cause very heavy tax burden for buyers in certain countries. If it were entirely up to Ferrari, I am sure they'd hang a V10 NA in the 488! It's the world we live in. And frankly, probably rightfully so.


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I saw them side by side a few weeks back in Beverly Hills. The 488 made 458 look exactly one generation behind, and I would choose 488 anytime. But when I look at them individually, I still like the 458 more. 488 proportion looks kinda odd by itself somehow. Very interesting. I need to get my eyes checked I guess

 

This is really subjective and base in on the Image Unavailable, Please Login person's budget and plans with the car.

I recently purchased a 458, and I think it looks better than a 488 from the front. The little vents on the end of the 458 headlight just make the car look more aggressive. The outlet vents behind the front bumper and in front of the hood on the 488 just look boring.

Side & rear: 488 has more sporty look and serious power.

Interior: 488 is newer and more modern.

Engine top cover: 458 engine looks more mechanical and classic. 488 looks more future tech.

Exhaust pipe: tri-pipe on the 458 is definitely a classic F40 thing. The dual pipes on the 488 looks more aggressive.



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This one show a nice comparison between the front of the two
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^ interesting how different the hoods are.

458 is "scooped out" and i think this makes it look lower in the front (and wider)

488 has a nice curve in the middle.

Both great cars.

 

I love to read all the opinions. It really is so subjective. I think the only thing that is for sure is the 458 styling is an all time great and they did a very good job to update it with the 488.

My own opinions are along the line of lamborarri, when he says the 488 makes the 458 look a generation old. I still prefer the 458, but that is based on my personal biases (I can't get over the sound).

For whatever its worth my thoughts:

Overall I think they flipped the front and rear styling motifs from the 458->488. By that I mean the front of the 458 is mostly flat across whereas the rear has these scallops that terminate in a kind of "wing"/ "bar" that goes from side to side. On the 488, that "wing"/ "bar" goes side to side in the front and the front has those scallops. The rear of the 488 is flat across the top, similar to the front of the 458.

Front: The 488 looks great, and has a bit of a jr. LaFerrari look to it, but I think the 458 is cleaner, and to my eyes is more "Ferrari/Italian" rather than the slightly Lamborghini/Italian looking 488 (again to my eyes!). My styling knock on the 458 are the aero vanes/ "whiskers", which I think work and look fine, but I wonder if there were alternatives and what they were. I slightly favor the 458's front.

Side: This is the one view on the 488 I really dislike. I think the side scoops and door handle break up the elegance the 458 has. I will say seeing the tops of the side scoops when you are looking straight on at the front and looking to the rear is a neat trick which recalls the F430, the 360 and going further back the 250LM. But I will definitely take the 458.

Rear: The 488 rear is so much cleaner and its wider looking to my eyes. The 458 rear looks busier and while I love the 3 tail pipe motif, I think the rear of the 458 is its weakest point. But, it looks "Ferrari" to me and I hate to say it but the 488 rear end has a little bit of an "Audi" sense- again this is just how I see it. Maybe I'll change over time. I think I would call the rear even.

Interior: the 488 is a little cleaner, and the 458 a little bit more whimsical. Clarkson said the dash was "bonkers" in his video review of the 458. I will take it, but if it were reversed I wouldn't think it a great problem, so I will call that a draw as well.

So congratulations to me, I've managed to convince myself I still prefer the 458; but every time I've seen a 488 I think: oohhh thats nice too!

 

Everything is subjective so in my view those are throw away comments and most likely not meant to be as harsh as they sounded.

Thank you for posting what you think!

Best

Lee

 

Exactly. +458

 

488 is nice, but the 458 "has it". I thought the 430 really messed up the flow of the 360, the 458 was absolutely beautiful. The 488 is to the 458 as the 430 was to the 360 IMHO.

 

Personally Like the 458 more.. will definitely be an iconic car! However the 488 is no doubt a fantastically built/designed car.

________________________________
1987 Ferrari 328 GTS
1981 Renault 5 Turbo 1
1973 Porsche 2.7 RS
On the hunt for a 458 speciale!

 

It never seizes to amaze me how incredibly different people's opinions can be. I still can't believe when I drive on the freeway and look at the cars people buy. The diversity is staggering. Colors, makes, models. It's all over the place. Seems like no matter how ugly the car and color, some schmuck will buy it. I always preferred the 430 to the 360. Something about the big headlights on the 360 that made its front look a little too gentle/insect like. They fixed that with the 430. I also love the tail lights that come up slightly on the 430. The 360 without the black (challenge?) grill in the back didn't look so hot. Of course the cars are very similar looking, just like the 488 and the 458.

 

have had both, well, the 458 had and 488 coming, the 458 is quite 'soft' looking IMO - the 488 is a nice aggressive evolution.

 

+458 & +360

 

I just keep wondering why they put an F12-looking hood on the 488. Looks out of place with the front bumper IMO. Maybe its just me as I've not heard it mentioned. Both cars are attractive and actually look very similar especially to non-car people.

 

Your point being?

.

 

Lol. 👍


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Please note:

The 488 GTB is faster than the 458 even when parked at a standstill.

But the 488 doesn't sound as good.
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Hi.

I like the 458 more but the 488 is an extremly good looking car. I like the more elegant look of the 458.

 

488 wins from the front, 458 from the side, they tie from rear and top
Overall, its a tie. They're both awesome looking cars

 

Funny how different people see things differently. For me, the profile of the 488 was the clincher. I always felt the 458 was missing something on the side. The side air intakes of the 488 added the essential aggression I was hoping for.

 

My subjective and highly partial 2 cents:

In the back, the 458 has a triple pipe exhaust, homage to the F40 and in the front, aeroelastic winglets... How cool is that?! The 488 has not. Points lost in my book.

I do feel the door handles and sidepods on the 488, on the whole in terms of design, feel a bit added on. Aesthetically, it seems they don't belong there. On the whole, they strike me as more strange than beautiful. Something that requires a person to adapt to their shape. An acquired taste perhaps, whereas with the 458 one falls in love instantly.

Looking down the engine compartment's glass (Italia and GTB), the 4.5 looks more stunning than the 3.9.

Analyzing two very special cars on something so subjective as taste, beauty and design, tells more about you than about the cars. I'm not a guy looking for the latest evolution/technical novelty nor always wanting the faster car (sometimes the faster car is not the better car nor the one that makes you feel more special). Therefore I won't be seen downplaying the 488 when its replacement comes out, the same way I didn't point the finger at the F430 when the 458 came out.

The 488 looks more modern because IT IS more recent. The 488 is also faster and a wonderful car. Ferrari ruled the segment of NA engines with the 458 and is now doing the same with the 488 in terms of turbocharged engines. I do think the 488 is a beast, but the 458 sounds better.

Again, this is just me. Please disregard me: this came from a guy who, upon seeing his soon-to-be white 458, said "shut up and take my money"! Will drive a 488 in the near future, when I leave my 458 to be serviced at the Ferrari dealer, but in terms of design I maintain every word and rest my case!

Kind regards,

Nuno.