Wife left me. This could get ugly.
12-10-2018, 08:41 PM
#62
I have a manual GT3... I also have a 458 Spider, a Speciale, and a 16M.
I have put thousands of miles on each, and like children I love each in their own way.
The 16M, like its coupe sister the Scud, is “old tech” raucous and hilariously fun to drive.
The SF2 F1 gearbox in those cars is a wonderment, when all the logic allows the SF shift it is like getting punched in the kidney under hard acceleration. The sound of the 16M is insane, and from an era before all the Euro nannies started legislation reducing exhaust sounds.
The 458 series is a step forward with regards to tech, and performance, but I would not say it is better as a “drivers car.” There is more emotion in the Scud/16M. I have taken my 458 Spider on road trips logging over 3500 miles in a week. It is very comfortable for long drives, and fun in the twisties too.
IMO the GT3 is just as special in a different way and I grab the keys for the GT3 as much as for any Ferrari.
With regards to operating costs the 458 may be cheaper to run than the older generation F1, but the rest of the Scud tech (engine, etc.) has a reputation for reliability.
If operating costs keep you awake at night then it is best to avoid any Ferrari. All non warranty repairs are ridiculously expensive.
My wife very much prefers driving in the 458 over the 16M...and that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
I have put thousands of miles on each, and like children I love each in their own way.
The 16M, like its coupe sister the Scud, is “old tech” raucous and hilariously fun to drive.
The SF2 F1 gearbox in those cars is a wonderment, when all the logic allows the SF shift it is like getting punched in the kidney under hard acceleration. The sound of the 16M is insane, and from an era before all the Euro nannies started legislation reducing exhaust sounds.
The 458 series is a step forward with regards to tech, and performance, but I would not say it is better as a “drivers car.” There is more emotion in the Scud/16M. I have taken my 458 Spider on road trips logging over 3500 miles in a week. It is very comfortable for long drives, and fun in the twisties too.
IMO the GT3 is just as special in a different way and I grab the keys for the GT3 as much as for any Ferrari.
With regards to operating costs the 458 may be cheaper to run than the older generation F1, but the rest of the Scud tech (engine, etc.) has a reputation for reliability.
If operating costs keep you awake at night then it is best to avoid any Ferrari. All non warranty repairs are ridiculously expensive.
My wife very much prefers driving in the 458 over the 16M...and that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
12-10-2018, 08:43 PM
#63
My vote would be for the 458, no question about it. I've had a 430 and 458's, and driven Scuds. Scuds are a great car, fun to drive, and fairly raw (which is a good thing IMO). But the 458 is altogether different. The engine is fantastic, transmission is better, less finicky, and less breakable, suspension is better for street driving (in "bumpy road" mode) but can be made very stiff for tracking (though I wouldn't do much major tracking in either car you're talking about) or more exciting street driving 
. And it sounds incredible. 458 is a car that just feels like it wants to have fun, and will constantly urge you to go faster and push harder. And IMO looks better than the 430 as well. 458 (and 458 Speciale) are the last Ferrari NA mid-engine V8s, which makes them something special as well. Good luck with the choice, in reality you can't go wrong with either
. And it sounds incredible. 458 is a car that just feels like it wants to have fun, and will constantly urge you to go faster and push harder. And IMO looks better than the 430 as well. 458 (and 458 Speciale) are the last Ferrari NA mid-engine V8s, which makes them something special as well. Good luck with the choice, in reality you can't go wrong with either
12-10-2018, 08:54 PM
#64
Loved my 458 Spider, great daily driver and far more of an event to drive than my GT3. Put thousands of miles on the 458, battery died in month 3 despite daily use of battery tender and was replaced under warranty. Hardtop folding mechanism failed in month 18 and required parts sent from Maranello which took a few weeks to fix. Had to place blue painter's tape over the hardtop switch so I wouldn't get the roof stuck in the open position.
12-10-2018, 09:06 PM
#65
Race Director
Thread Starter
I have a manual GT3... I also have a 458 Spider, a Speciale, and a 16M.
I have put thousands of miles on each, and like children I love each in their own way.
The 16M, like its coupe sister the Scud, is “old tech” raucous and hilariously fun to drive.
The SF2 F1 gearbox in those cars is a wonderment, when all the logic allows the SF shift it is like getting punched in the kidney under hard acceleration. The sound of the 16M is insane, and from an era before all the Euro nannies started legislation reducing exhaust sounds.
The 458 series is a step forward with regards to tech, and performance, but I would not say it is better as a “drivers car.” There is more emotion in the Scud/16M. I have taken my 458 Spider on road trips logging over 3500 miles in a week. It is very comfortable for long drives, and fun in the twisties too.
IMO the GT3 is just as special in a different way and I grab the keys for the GT3 as much as for any Ferrari.
With regards to operating costs the 458 may be cheaper to run than the older generation F1, but the rest of the Scud tech (engine, etc.) has a reputation for reliability.
If operating costs keep you awake at night then it is best to avoid any Ferrari. All non warranty repairs are ridiculously expensive.
My wife very much prefers driving in the 458 over the 16M...and that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
I have put thousands of miles on each, and like children I love each in their own way.
The 16M, like its coupe sister the Scud, is “old tech” raucous and hilariously fun to drive.
The SF2 F1 gearbox in those cars is a wonderment, when all the logic allows the SF shift it is like getting punched in the kidney under hard acceleration. The sound of the 16M is insane, and from an era before all the Euro nannies started legislation reducing exhaust sounds.
The 458 series is a step forward with regards to tech, and performance, but I would not say it is better as a “drivers car.” There is more emotion in the Scud/16M. I have taken my 458 Spider on road trips logging over 3500 miles in a week. It is very comfortable for long drives, and fun in the twisties too.
IMO the GT3 is just as special in a different way and I grab the keys for the GT3 as much as for any Ferrari.
With regards to operating costs the 458 may be cheaper to run than the older generation F1, but the rest of the Scud tech (engine, etc.) has a reputation for reliability.
If operating costs keep you awake at night then it is best to avoid any Ferrari. All non warranty repairs are ridiculously expensive.
My wife very much prefers driving in the 458 over the 16M...and that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
12-10-2018, 10:04 PM
#68
Rennlist Member
Rob,
Congrats on having the wife on board! The 458 is a fun car to drive and different enough to the GT3 to make them both keepers. The test drive will determine if you love one enough to write the check. I came close to writing that check and prefer it over the 488 and 430 or Scud. A good friend has a 458 and it is his favorite but the Boxster Spyder is still his wife’s favorite car! Take her along for the test drive!
Congrats on having the wife on board! The 458 is a fun car to drive and different enough to the GT3 to make them both keepers. The test drive will determine if you love one enough to write the check. I came close to writing that check and prefer it over the 488 and 430 or Scud. A good friend has a 458 and it is his favorite but the Boxster Spyder is still his wife’s favorite car! Take her along for the test drive!
12-10-2018, 10:22 PM
#69
Race Director
I say trade your GT3 for a .1 or .2 GT3RS. I think that should be great and save yourself quite a bit of money and headaches. The RS certainly will get a lot of attention
12-10-2018, 10:28 PM
#70
Rennlist Member
just get the 458!!!
12-10-2018, 11:10 PM
#71
Race Director
Thread Starter
Unfortunately the 991 RS just doesn’t appeal to me as much as the GT3. I like clean lines, which is why I like the 458 but the 488 does nothing for me.
12-10-2018, 11:13 PM
#72
Race Director
Thread Starter
Rob,
Congrats on having the wife on board! The 458 is a fun car to drive and different enough to the GT3 to make them both keepers. The test drive will determine if you love one enough to write the check. I came close to writing that check and prefer it over the 488 and 430 or Scud. A good friend has a 458 and it is his favorite but the Boxster Spyder is still his wife’s favorite car! Take her along for the test drive!
Congrats on having the wife on board! The 458 is a fun car to drive and different enough to the GT3 to make them both keepers. The test drive will determine if you love one enough to write the check. I came close to writing that check and prefer it over the 488 and 430 or Scud. A good friend has a 458 and it is his favorite but the Boxster Spyder is still his wife’s favorite car! Take her along for the test drive!
12-10-2018, 11:26 PM
#73
Three Wheelin'
12-10-2018, 11:29 PM
#74
Race Director
Thread Starter
12-10-2018, 11:41 PM
#75
458 no question. Very different from gt3 in a good way.