Maverick787

All I can say is good luck with your choice, several opinions you will get here some valid and some not so much.

- GT3/RS will be a better track car than the 458, and consumables cheaper of course
- GT3/RS steering much better
- GT3/RS good dealer support
- GT3/RS flag 6 amazing but will not outshine the 458 V8 not close, and no need to modify exhaust
- 458 high rev V8 absolutely amazing
- 458 Street driving a amazing don’t have to drive above 6k RPM to enjoy if you street drive
- 458 Sexy lines and last of the the magic V8’s
- 458 was bullet proof never broke and one of the most reliable Ferrari’s
​​- 458 Becoming dated and not a lot of good specs available
- 458 If cost is a concern easy to find Porsche support

End the end I’m a die hard Porsche guy, but I try things …..no regret my 458 ownership. Sold the car for a 675LT which is a drug once you drive it, and drove it more than the Porsche. Hence sold the RS for a Speedster. My view can’t go wrong with either choice drive them and decide.

CubsFan1

Hey OP, been in this spot - Porsche GT car or something different (e.g. more exotic) like a Ferrari 458 or Lambo Huracan. Ultimately decided to try a Lambo and had two newer ones (2WD & 4WD). I know your question is 458 and not a Huracan but IMHO it's a similar dilemma. I thought about owning something exotic for so long I wanted to experience it. I found it was definitely interesting, plenty of performance and obviously unique to most stuff on the road. Had no regrets and no complaints. Certainly will have lots of admirers and that comes with either brand. Why not try the 458 first, scratch the itch, and if it ends up being the one you're set. There will always be an RS available if you decide it's time to move on.

Side notes...one other thing to consider is how you want the car equipped. If I were to look at the 458 again it would have to be equipped with the sport bucket seats, which many of them don't have. Owning the RS now with the carbon bucket seats, it's a feature I really appreciate and the connection it provides the driver as a compliment to the overall RS package.

Good luck!

usctrojanGT3

I'm thinking about adding a Speciale to the stable next year. Can the car handle a few track days a year?

CME

The Speciale will handle a few track days with ease. The issue is the carbon ceramic brakes. I have heard different things from different people and you need to be mentally and financially prepared to get new rotors and pads if used hard on the track. Other than that the car should be a blast at track days.
chet

Rockerchief

Here you go: have you ever owned a Ferrari? Have you ever owned a GT Porsche? Whichever one you said “no” to, buy that one. You marry a Porsche, you fool around with a Ferrari. A Porsche will take care of you. A Ferrari will take the cash out of your wallet and go shopping, but you won’t care.

maroli

If you can stretch to a Huracan EVO RWD, those have everything the Ferrari has but much more. Better engine, gearbox, reliability, warranty, handling, and looks (to me). 8 month wait for delivery though.

NSD991

[QUOTE=Maverick787;17591174]
All I can say is good luck with your choice, several opinions you will get here some valid and some not so much.

- GT3/RS will be a better track car than the 458, and consumables cheaper of course
- GT3/RS steering much better
- GT3/RS good dealer support
- GT3/RS flag 6 amazing but will not outshine the 458 V8 not close, and no need to modify exhaust
- 458 high rev V8 absolutely amazing
- 458 Street driving a amazing don’t have to drive above 6k RPM to enjoy if you street drive
- 458 Sexy lines and last of the the magic V8’s
- 458 was bullet proof never broke and one of the most reliable Ferrari’s
​​- 458 Becoming dated and not a lot of good specs available
- 458 If cost is a concern easy to find Porsche support



What he said!

RennOracle

This might sound stupid but get a 675LT or a Fiat Scuderia. Both brilliant and still terrible undervalued. Particularly the 675lt.

Matt Lane

It's fun dilemma for sure, hope you enjoy the hunt as much as the outcome.

I can only compare the 458 to earlier GT3, and well, the Porsche is 'way' more of a track-focused car. RS much more so again, of course. My GT3 is so good (not fast, but good), I wouldn't even consider tracking the 458 as a substitute. Maybe the occasional open track day, but that's it.

It's a bit of a marketing ploy, but the Ferrari oozes 'raciness' with the steering wheel mounted controls, Schumacher input on design, and F1 aura of the brand. In fact, the 458 is a fairly docile and well mannered street car, happy to putter along comfortably with the shocks on 'bumpy road' setting and yet still make mental histrionic noises when you ride the tach north. It's an EXCELLENT street car, and reliable to boot. Lots going for it as the last Pininfarina house design, last N/A V8, etc. etc. I think the design has aged very well and that bodes very well for its second decade.

They really are apples and oranges - I think the 458 is a more 'special' car in that driving it is always a sense of occasion. I don't think of the Porsche GT's (or any Porsches for that matter) that way as street cars. Maybe I am jaded approaching 30 years of Porsche ownership, who knows.

I drive on track a fair bit (> 20 plus days a year), so for me, a GT3 in any guise is a winner. The 458 would be fine for occasional track days, but beyond that you will want to swap to iron discs, which is fine, but now you are taking away from one of the elements that make it such a nice stock package on street. The brakes in street driving will last a LONG time, and the lack of dust is great.

Finally, if you do go the 458 route, options and buyers and much more of an issue with the Fiat. In the 458 you'll want the LED shift lights, some carbon in the dash/driver zone, the CF buckets are great, the garish side shields and a few other odds and ends. Colors, service records and mileage play a big part in Ferrari resale, so keep that in mind. Not a show stopper, just more complicated. There are not a ton of these available and prices are up, esp. for the good ones.

Coming full circle, I would be honest with how much track (and how hard) right up front. That would be the biggest factor for me.

Cheers

Matt

groundhog

The standard 458 is just not that good (e.g. not Speciale), likewise the standard 488 (e.g. not Pista) - .2 3RS everyday of the week - better engine, better drive train, better pretty much everything right down to the driving experience. If you want something with more design flair and an excellent driving experience ---> Mclaren - 600lt, 675lt, 765lt......

The customer experience when buying new from Ferrari is far better than that offered by Porsche - specifically the time spent on the design and fit out elements, range of materials - specific details etc etc right down to a factory visit (depending on a number of factors).

In my view, if you're going to go ferrari have a look at the 812GTS for something a bit different.

Fang911

Have driven a good friend's 458 and Speciale on the road + track (Road America)...The "base" 458 has great packaging and a sense of occasion the GT3RS can't match but as a driving tool I was (very) disappointed by the steering which is vague / numb particularly on center which makes it a non-starter for me particularly given the cost and other than appearance cannot compare to a 991.2 GT3RS under any circumstances. The Speciale on the the other hand is markedly superior to the 458 in every way and is fantastic on both street and track- not better than the GT3RS, just different- but at a much higher price point. A superb, but pricey combo would be a manual 991.2 GT3 + 458 (or Speciale)- checks all the boxes (imo)-

sampelligrino

If you are set on tracking with any sort of frequency, I would go any Porsche GTx over anything from Ferrari because of cost and how temperamental Ferrari can be about anything under warranty

I don't track and it's slightly different, but I've enjoyed a 991.2 GT3 and ended up with a 458 Speciale which I've had for almost 2 years now. Haven't thought of the GT3 once since

Upscale Audio

Funny the guys states his budget and needs but people suggest a Speciale and 812GTS. I think the OP needs to tell us what he really is seeking. Does he desire a manual...at all? Small and tight? Maybe a 997.2 RS. Something comfortable? The dampers on the 458 are amongst the best in the world....period. If you live near bad roads it's unbeatable.

It's not a small car. And they draw attention. After owning many Fcars I can say the greatest day of my life was when I sold my last one. Every stoplight somebody had to wind down their window, try to get me to wind mine down,and say either "Wanna race?" or "Wanna trade?" being nice and all that. I'd have to feign laughter so I would not look like a d*ck. Same thing at gas stations. It was fun while it lasted though. I just prefer to stay under the radar. Especially since I have employees.

Love the 458 more than the 488, and the one that gets me sporting wood is the new 296GTB. Small and tight. That's why the 997.2 format fits me. You need to really break it down on how you plan to use it. And how often....being real about it.

jackmac

Sam,
I guess the 488 didn't win your heart?

SocalTouring

Hey man, it’s Tri from Pclub.

A Scuderia would be a better choice over the 458 for your use case tbh and should be considered as well. It is very much an RS in rawness and analog feeling in a mid-engine format that, in my opinion, is more balanced and composed to drive at the limits.

Im in OC if you ever wanna take mine for a spin.