Ferrari 458 Spider Review: This Might Just Be Worth Selling Your House For
Pros
Cons
Is it fast?
In a word: ballistic. It’s not just about the massive power that realigns your spine every time you jam the throttle into the carpet; it’s about the way the Spider delivers it. It shares the same drivetrain as the hard-top and the acceleration is truly brutal. It’ll only get to 199mph, mind you, so there are no double-ton bragging rights.
Is it sexy?
Yes. Or at least blokes would say so. The reality is that women are split; some rate it as a show-stopper but some call it ugly overkill. The truth is that there’s probably no other car on the road that polarises other drivers’ opinions so sharply as the 458 Spider. It’s a real Marmite motor but that drama might just be the reason you buy it. Either way, just brace yourself before you catch sight of its reflection while driving past shop windows. Nobody said the words ‘trouser tent’, but, err, yeah.
What’s it like to drive?
It’s a road-legal race car and it drives like it, with that high-revving 4.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 playing a starring role. When 9000rpm sears your senses, you see why this car costs so much. The drivetrain engineering is exceptional. Every epic whoosh-pop-crack with each full-bore upshift from the seven-speed dual clutch ‘box reminds you what a serious piece of kit this is.
But since this isn’t an American car it’s not just about the engine. The 458 Spider is technically less stiff than the coupe and you can feel it over some staggered motorway expansion joints and big potholes. But you should be avoiding those anyway when your tyre profiles are lower than a badger’s belly button. But on winding A-road blasts that adds an extra degree of compliancy that keeps all four wheels gripping. It’s astonishing how fast this thing will go around corners. It demands caution – and respect.
You do get massive communication through the chassis and hugely fast steering, so it gives you back what you put into it. If you think you can rise to the challenge, the outrageous hard-edged bark from the sports triple-exit exhaust on this model is the essential soundtrack.
How about the inside?
To be fair there’s plenty of kit, but the optional lightweight sports seats are hard and your backside won’t thank you for long days behind the wheel. Some of the stitching is well out of alignment, too. Ferrari buyers spec tens of thousands worth of options, though, so if you’re buying new you can make sure you’re not short of anything you want.
Will my mates rate it?
If they don’t, you should take their white sticks off them and whack them until they change their minds. Well, not really, but there aren’t many more desirable cars on the road and if your mates don’t love it more than they love their own wives/children/girlfriends then they’ve got something loose in their heads.
Can I afford it?
Almost certainly not. This one has been spec’d up to more than £260,000. Whichever way you look at it, that’s quite a lot. At minimum wage it’d take nearly 5500 eight-hour shifts to save enough, and that’s if you don’t eat, pay your rent or buy clothes. Good luck to you if you reckon the hermit lifestyle might be worth the sacrifice. You might just be right.
Show me three used alternatives
This is the only other place you can get your 9000rpm fix, and although the S2000 has half the 458’s cylinders it’s absolutely rammed to the teeth with advanced technology. Check the forged engine internals and the highest specific output of any normally aspirated engine ever – until the 458. You can pick up a very tidy 2005 model for £7499.
The beauty of the 911’s consistent styling is that if you really want any specific one you’ll probably still be happy with an older, cheaper one. The 996 generation was and still is a bit unloved – maybe it’s those headlights – but that means you can reel in a piece of highly-engineered German precision and performance for as little as £11,990. Bargain.
If it has to be a Ferrari, this is the pick of the last 20 years. Simply stunning from every angle, the 355 sounds epic at any revs and it’s going up in value, too. It might be a bit on the pricey side at nearly £33,000 but you can tell the Mrs that something like this is an investment for the future. If it works, let us know how you did it…
Comments
No comments found.