Hi All My 2010 car was quite different to my 2012 car. The gearbox is different and the exhaust no longer pops so much on the overrun or when you lift off? However, my main issue is that the mannetino has been fiddled with, the car now seems stiffer on the more aggressive settings. As such it's a real handful in anything other than bone dry conditions. That is great, but the 2010 car was much more driveable more of the time and in whatever setting. I spoke to the dealer and they say its true the car is now stiffer and more aggressive. You can upgrade a 2010 car to 2012 spec, but you can't do the reverse. In other words 2012 ack to 2010, according to the dealer. I don't believe this. I want to keep my 2012 car but have it in set up the same as the original. What should I do? I believe it's an ECU upgrade for the car. Either way, I want my old car back but on this new spec and colour combo. Surely it's possible.
Is the car still too stiff even when the rough road setting is used? When you mention more aggressive setting are you referring to Race and CT off?
IMO you will like it after appr. 3000 miles latest! Just enjoy it. It's the best car you can own and drive!
I own an '11 (same as '10) and have driven a '12. At the time I was trying to decide whether to spend the 8K to update to the '12. Frankly I didn't sense that there was much difference between the cars, at least under non track conditions, so I passed. When you say, "... it's a real handful in anything other than bone dry conditions," I'm wondering if your '12 is problematical in some way. Perhaps your service manager or technican can drive it and see if they think it behaves as a normal '12. And as some have suggested the soft shock setting is available for comfort but of course not what you would use when pushing it.
I have a 2013 and can't imagine it being any better. It gets snarly on Race Mode and is super smooth on Sport.
i head a new 458 the other day and was surprised how quiet it sounded compared to the 2010s...even at high revs...
I never owned or driven a 2010 458, but the unexpected quiet and refinement across the rev range (in sport mode) was probably the single most important factor in deciding on my 2013 Spider. My dealer insisted I'd love it and they were right...it's noticeably quieter and has a much smoother response (helped by shifting improvements) than my 2010 Cali did despite its unbelievably high capabilities.
As some of have said, "Race Mode" and/or a "toggle switch" ( which I have) permitting valves to be open or closed, makes for a pretty good sound. My issue is the low "drone" so frequently occurring when the valves are open. As I, and others have noted, the 360 with a Tubi Exhaust or the 430 with open valves, sounded better "out of the box". Best
I have never liked the soft feel of my 2010 458 compared to the 360 and 430 's I have owned. I think ferrari did the right thing to make the car more agressive and stiffer. I am in favor of "a handful to drive" I do however like the sound of my 458. I drive it in race mode all of the time to hear the sound. It is a much better harmonic sound than my other Ferraris without tubi exhaust. Hats off to ferrari for listening to thier customers. When I go to the dealer for an oil change I will ask them about the chasis change. Thank you for the post Lee
I like a car that is progressive and confidence inspiring. Not spiky and unpredictable, as per the 2012 spec. The car has very little traction and is way too stiffly sprung for general road use. It would be great for qualifying on new tyres, but how often do you get to drive your road car in that manner? Especially in Florida with 55mph speed limits? I loved my old 458 because I could drive the tits off it in wet and dry conditions, everything else in between too. It was completely benign and telepathic in its response. I lnew exactly how much grip I had and I could feel everything trough the seat and wheel. I knew when it was going to slide and by how much. With the stiffer set up, that is fine in the dry but in lower grip situations it's quite unnerving. The car breaks away much more suddenly and generally feel less friendly. Not what you want in those conditions. It should be softer and more compliant. Now, Ferrari need to strike a balance for this. Between wet and dry as ultimately you can't head into the pits and change settings. Sadly. If you ask me the driveability has been compromised too much now in favour of ultimate dry conditions. I sold my car because my dealer offered me near on list for my 2010 car and it had done 5k, that is why I swapped. Now, can anyone answe my actual question? Can I get it changed back to 2010 spec? Ferrari dealer says no, but in my experience they don't know a lot other than what their computer screen says. There are exceptions.
Also, most ferrari drivers like driving fast in straight lines. I don't think I've ever seen another 458 or any other ferrari for that matter being driven properly. Sad but true. I criticise the current spec because I can say hand on heart that I've driven both at the absolute limit and beyond. If you feel you have too then please feel free to persuade me I'm wrong. For instance, how many of you have driven the car (both 2010 and 12) properly in the wet with with the aids off? Sure, you can argue that I shouldn't do that. But I am a driver and I like to drive without any aids. That is true driving, not computers doing it for you. That is why I like older cars too. Driving in the wet with ECT off was a great pleasure before. I could get the car moving about on the road in a predictable and enjoyable manner. Now it's just scary. In the dry, the limits are just even higher and it feels even less sensible. So I don't bother. Maybe I need to get my car checked over again.
Lastly too, I loved the car from 2010. It was perfect. The only thing I too would have changed was that silly valve thing. The boomy drone at 4k rpm is so synthetic. I like real, genuine engine and exhaust noise. As per motorsport.
You're describing a Scuderia, not a 458. As I wrote in a thread, the 458 (even in the more aggressive 2012 versione) is not as rough as the past F-cars such as F430/Scuderia.
You are welcome to come drive with us anytime, I think you would find that there are quite a few competent drivers out there who prefer speed in corners and have the talent to exercise the car. We do tend to keep in on the race track for safety and personal responsibility reasons. I just did an event 2 weeks ago where I was able to drive a 2011 and 2013 spec 458, including one day in the rain. While some of the differences in the settings are indeed noticeable, as discussed in depth on other threads, what you are describing sounds like a wildly different chassis setup, which should not be the case. Curious if your earlier thread (http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390606) provided any answers? It may sound basic, but different tires could be contributing to this; I'd also add that my 2012 coupe with PZeros feels like it's driving on ice regardless of the settings anytime the temperature is below 40 degrees. Have you driven your newer car with similar tires in similar conditions to your old one?
What? A mid-engine 500+ hp car you can get with "race" seats and has a "race" setting is too stiff?? Heavens! Sorry I couldn't resist! Personally I wish the race setting was stiffer...
On your question of whether it is possible to 'convert' a 2012 to 2012 specs, I have no special knowledge but here are some thoughts. Given that there is a "handling kit" that converts a 2010 to 2012 specs, it is possible that having the parts list for the kit can be used as a basis for doing a reversal on a 2012. I know that a set of accelerometers and other hardware are involved, as well as software for the ECT. A shop that knew what it was doing might be able to find out what hardware (part #s) are removed from a 2010; and the specific components of the "handling package." But that would be only part of the story. Software is also involved so the coding package would also need to be learned. A place to start could be a discussion with a Ferrari technician who has actually installed a handling package. It would be a major project and you would need to be really motivated to do it. I suspect the dealer is right in the sense that there is no set package to reverse-convert. You also might consider that when you are done, you may have a unique car but one that could be worth less than it was. If you really feel strongly about this, and you seem to, it may be easier and cheaper to just sell the 2012 and pick up a pristine 2010.
I'll try different tyres. The car is on the same spec rubber as my old car, but I will try another compound first before anything else. I can't remember if its on P Zeros or Pilot Sports. Which ever it's on I'll try the other. As for whoever said they wish it was stiffer, I find that bizarre. What purpose would the forthcoming track focused 458 serve? It's a ridiculously stiff already. And anyone who thinks that it now isn't too stiff in ECT off for wet/damp needs their head examined. It would be much slower than the softer spec car, not only would it be far scarier but you just don't have the grip. Confidence is worth serious time in the wet. And changes to a car don't need to be dramatic to make big differences to handling, especially in the wet. Stiffer dampers are very noticeable if you're a sensitive driver. As for it being a 500bhp mid engined sports car and therefore by nature a beast, I take that on board. Obviously. But my F50 and F40 are too, the point is there aren't different evolutions of them that were better before. Horses for courses though, most of you seem to like it. I've always loved driving in the wet. That is why I am disappointed. I would love to chance to back to the 2010 and 2012 car in the wet with some of you, so you could really see what I'm talking about. Lastly, none of this changes the exhaust mod which is another unwelcome change. I'm reluctant to swap back because my car is unusual in that its blu pozzi with cuiou, rare and traffic stoppingly gorgeous. I am sure I've come across as a know it all. That is fine, I want an answer, that's why I've not held back. I've won national championships and race a professional level to this day. It's important I explain that. You would be amazed at the number of people I have sat next to and even raced against who don't have a clue about car set up or even how to drive. The guy who won the championship in my series this year didn't know what a roll bar was for. Yet he won Formula Renault 10y ago and Ginetta G55 this year. He was also slow in the wet, why? Because he liked a stiff car. Blistering in the dry though.
Hopefully you can change tires and maybe have and 11 or 10 program downloaded to your ecu if it is just tuning. Also can you post up pics of your 458 sounds like a beauty?
I'll post up pics. It is amazing. I just need a 2010 car for when it's wet! I do absolutely love it though. Was just upset they tampered with the best car they ever made. IMO
