I was discussing with a colleague that more owners go from a Speciale to a Spider than the other way around. Why is that? Supposedly the Speciale is "the car" but still people change to a more relaxed version of the 458. In my case, I cant really speed (I ask if I could even feel the 40 hp difference...), the sound is much more present with the top down, and for mountain passes and beautiful scenery a spider is the car. I know some you you made the same change, please enlighten me as to why. thank you
Just a change of pace. Ideally you'd have both, but most people can't afford to have both at the same time.
I see so basically you exchanged yours because you couldn't really stretch the Speciale in normal roads?
I didn't. I kept my Speciale. I'll never sell. But I know someone who did for this reason. (Interestingly, now he wants to sell the Spider and find another Speciale).
Hmmmm so it’s the other way around? Because a few speciale owners changed to a spider (the aperta is super expensive so....)
I went speciale to Spider. Spider is exceptional in hearing the wail which was my priority. Speciale looks awesome, sounds less exciting than 458's due to the changes made. Just got a Performante Spyder and THAT is the real deal.
The main reason is that for those who don't drive hard enough the extra "feel" of the Speciale is lost on them. Sound then becomes more important. I've driven my buddy's 458 Spider and it's fairly "soft" compared to a Speciale. That's fine for many so to each their own.
I didn't feel comfortable driving a $400k car on public roads, especially since a Speciale was totaled on a highway near me by a truck. Likewise, I was nervous enough in the Italia, and I'm still nervous in the Spider, when jerks on the road drove right up on my rear end, let alone in the Speciale. I do find the spider more intoxicating than the Speciale with the top down or the little rear window down. The differences in speed are negligible to me with how I drive. I do miss the hood scoops and stripes on the Speciale though.
A better comparison is probably the Speciale v the 488 Spider, which is more powerful. The magic of the Speciale really only tells when you’re above 8/10ths, at which point it possesses a level of feel and control that the spider doesn’t, even though the 488 Spider has extra power and more importantly much higher torque. The 488 Spider has much of the stiffness of the coupe whereas the 458 Spider doesn’t. The 458 Spider offers no torque improvement and is much softer. If you really want to attack a mountain pass or fast sweeping road at a really strong pace the Speciale stands way ahead of the 458 Spider. For me the 458 Spider’s comfort advantages don’t come into play even on a long road trip because the difference between the two cars on the best fun roads is too much. I currently have both Speciale and 488 Spider and just came back from a long road trip in the Speciale (another thread posted about that). The 488 Spider can make an argument against the Speciale - the turbo motor does have some merits to it; the extra torque makes fast pace driving over long distances and very varied terrain and road conditions much less tiring. This has a significance because if you spend 8 hours in the seat at a time the 488 keeps you fresher longer, which is better for your enjoyment of a fast road. Even so, it is the Speciale that more often gives you those “I know why I love this car” moments when it reveals its abilities to you. It has a level of detail and connection in the driving experience other cars I have owned or driven can’t match. With the Speciale in my garage the 488 Spider does still have its place though and my next trip (September) will be in the 488. The 488 Spider scores the following: - top down in the mountains is fantastic - the 488’s noise is not much less inspiring than the Speciale to my ears - turbo torque helps with road driving (where sometimes you have to approach a bend slower than ultimate pace because of lack of visibility around it, and the mid range torque gets you back up to speed quicker and with less effort) - 488 is more comfortable with less aggressive gearchanges and a little less urgency on the throttle (not a good thing for fast driving but good when at 7/10ths) - 488 has sound deadening so motorways (which you can never completely avoid) are less tiring Eventually the 488 Spider will leave my garage - hopefully for a Pista Aperta but if not a Pista which I have confirmed. The Speciale will stay. Don’t think I could sell it.
Do you agree with Lukeylikey that the 458 spider is much less fun specially in twisty mountain roads?
You wrote a damn fine post about the speciale ! I still haven’t driven the 458 spider hard and even though it shakes a bit I think it will still be a lot of fun in a mountain pass. Damn I have to make time to go there!! By the way, will you think the pista will be more emotional than the speciale?
I went from a Speciale to a 488 GTB. The Speciale was awesome!! Fantastic looks and driving dynamics beyond my expectations. The car truly shines when pushed hard and begs for more. That being said, the car is less than ideal for any circumstance where it can’t be exploited IMO. I adored the car on the track, but found I lacked enjoyment taking it out for date night or other low thrill destinations. The car is rough, loud and at some rpm’s it drones. At this point in my life I can have only one Ferrari, so I desired one than can do everything from date night cruising, to spirited adrenaline filled jaunts. Hopefully, one day I will find myself with both cars, but for now it makes more “sense” to have a 488.
And yes, the v10 is insane in this car. Far more rigid a driver than the 458 and 488. But ferrari is a ferrari.
Damn dustman.....for me lambos are arrivals cars but damn yours look beautiful! Ehehe happy you kept the spider, it’s something else
I can neither agree or disagree with what he enjoys. The spider is a more enjoyable and exciting experience for me than the Speciale because it's a spider and not a coupe. Scuttle shake doesn't bother me like it seems to bother some people. In a perfect world I'd have a 458 Aperta and not have to worry about the seemingly endless number of idiots on the road around me. I'd still have to deal with scuttle shake, but I'm a top down kind of guy (I'm talking to you ladies!). Note: I didn't like the 488 when I test drove it (nor the Lambo Huracan, which I test drove on the same day). I didn't find the 488 as engaging or exciting to drive as the 458, which is why I have had three iterations of the 458 and no iterations of the 488. After test driving the 488, I decided to hunt down a 458 Speciale instead. You would be best served making your decision based on what you enjoy and not what other people on Ferrari Chat enjoy... (But, if you can afford the 458 Aperta, 100% do it! DO IT!!!)
Thank you for your feedback. When you say idiots, what did people did that bothered you? And they bother a bit less in the spider? Everyone says the Aperta is perfect because it’s an open top speciale but it’s also true that it has exactly the same stiffness as the spider. Since you drove the 488 spider, can you comment on the stiffness compared do the 458? I agree, this is just to know what other owners think, that’s all. The spider will stay! Thank you
I think the more all the exotic cars approach the limit of 0-60, 1/4 mile, and track lap times, the more they will start to feel like exactly the same car. Every time these cars get closer to the limit, the less character they have and the less fun they are due to the excessive amount of technologies employed to achieve that singular goal.
Hmmm it actually makes sense.... Mclaren 1250s or whatever sold to anyone with a drivers license, from an 18 to a 95 year old. 0-300 5s, well you need a lot of systems to achieve that so the car will be filtered as f#$k otherwise people will die. You’re actually on point! Some reviews of the pista even say, you love it for what it can do not for how it makes you feel (speciale).
People tailgating. People trying to snap photos in the next lane at highway speeds or faster. People seeing the car and driving aggressively on all sides of you (not sure if it is because they want to race, show off, or if the car just sparks that kind of stupidity in people). They don't do these kinds of things less in one Ferrari versus another, but I don't have to worry about it as much if they crash into me. All too often the folks doing this crap don't have insurance that can cover even a small portion of fixing a Ferrari, so you either pay out of pocket or your insurance covers it. I didn't bother test driving a 488 Spider after driving the 488 coupe a few years ago. That test drive already told me what I needed to know. The 488 is not a bad car per se, but for me it wasn't as exciting to drive overall the way that I drive. And who doesn't love the sound of that screaming NA V8 with the top down? Why would I pay more for a car I enjoy less?
When I picked up the 458 spider recently, I already knew what I liked and what I didn't like. It was easy, and the dealer just happened to have a car that was optioned perfectly for me. It was kismet...
The way I think of all of exotics is like this quote from Alice in Wonderland: "Everybody has won and all must have prizes." The most important thing is buying what you enjoy the most and everybody wins. Well, except for the car company who didn't sell you their car I guess... lol
