488 [Advice Requested] About to pull the trigger on my first Ferrari

I owned a '13 458 Spider and a '17 488 Spider. Both great cars and as others have posted drive both and you should be able to make the best decision for you. Here are my suggestions for you to consider:
- the 458 has a great NA engine that whines like no other V8.
-the 488 has outstanding torque that you can feel on every acceleration. It is so addicting. The top end sound is not in the league of the 458 but I enjoyed the downshifts on the 488 better. Drive them and compare for yourself
-my 458 had a brutal A/C system. Living in FL that makes a big difference. The 488 was not an iceberg but at least it got the cabin cool enough to drive with top down when I wanted
-no matter which car you get make sure they have a new battery installed. The Ferrari branded battery is a POS. Even though I kept it on the trickle charger when not driving I was left stranded twice
- the best news for you is the car market is in the tank. You should be able to get an outstanding deal on either one. Be sure to negotiate hard.

Good luck

 

strong work! that's my 400 in Verdes Ithaca.
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I felt the same.....I so love 458's, but the 488 just knocks me out! That's why I named her K.O. (;-))

 

I would buy the local 488 with 4,200 miles. It has a clean record and service history, it’s certified pre-owned and the spec sheet is a decent build. I would however take into consideration the seats. The seats in that spec aren’t too comfy for long distance road trips, they are much better than Lamborghini’s and mclaren’s but still not the greatest. And as for the 458 vs 488 debate, if you were to get a 458, MAKE SURE ITS THE LATEST MODEL THEY HAVE. I would only buy models either from 2013-2014. Any models earlier than this will be very problematic and very expensive, especially the spiders. Over time things just start to break and you end up paying for it. The 488 is much more reliable than the 458 and the technology is better. I wouldn’t normally consider the tech as a selling point but you do have to remember who owns Ferrari(fiat) and let’s be honest, the infotainment system they used in the earlier models were complete ****. The 458 will put a bigger smile on your face, you will feel more alive driving it but the 488 is a better purchase.


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I think I'ved read everyone's posts and am surprised that no one has offered this opinion:

whichever car you decide - it appears that that decision is now done - my one suggestion is: wait!

we are just in the first stage of the worst calamity the world has experienced since the Great Depression, barring the horrors of WWII. The economic repercussions of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic will be beyond anyone's present imagination.

Six months from now you will buy the same Ferrari at a huge discount, the size of which you will not believe. And if you have the patience to wait another six months your discount will be even more shocking

 

So just short the market and make even more if you feel that way? But no one knows for sure which way things will go. A little over a month ago we had one of the greatest economies in our history so we could bounce back in not that much time. Or things could get much worse in a few months and we all die, if that's the case at least you would have enjoyed your final days driving a Ferrari

 

Sean,

I see myself in a lot of what you just described. Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a modern Ferrari. Believe it or not, I slept no more than 2-3 hours a night for almost 3 weeks before writing the check for my 458. That’s the way it is. It drained me physically, but it was worth it.

From what I gather, you’ve chosen the 488. I congratulate you wholeheartedly on your choice and hope you find the perfect 488 for you soon! Will be looking forward to some pictures when you have the time!

Kindest regards,

Nuno.

 

Now that’s a proper man cave right there!

Is that a beer can?

Kind regards,

Nuno.

 

glad you like it!

it's a red bull, tropical edition