Turbo S gone but never forgotten....now an Italian alternative

[dereksharpuk]

Well that certainly has mega WOW factor. But I hope the wow factor does not fade, because like the Italian Mistress it resembles, when the wow goes..................................... Interestingly. 458 Spiders are now dropping in price, some £30K in the last 6 months. Still, if you wed the lovely thing and don't sell, what does that matter?

 

[grover]

Guilty that was me! what a great event and we were at RAF Wroughton before we all drove to Wilton

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: grover Guilty that was me! what a great event and we were at RAF Wroughton before we all drove to Wilton

I had a great day at the airfield, some lovely cars running down there []

 

[grover]

It's very interesting in people's opinions on more exotic cars, I have already had comments at fuel stations like how many mpg, what's the storage space like etc, no good for taking the family out, all valid comments in their own right but not if it doesn't matter. I am a Porsche fan and always will be, they remain the best all round sports car, everyday use etc but currently I don't need that. It may well loose lots of money but you can't take it with you. I think you can enjoy a variety of cars at the same time without concern. Interesting that after ten loyal years with Porsche and lots of money spent at my local dealer, they haven't contacted me the new turbo or S, somewhat disappointed by that but sums up lack of interest in their customer base, too many cars I guess. D

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: grover Interesting that after ten loyal years with Porsche and lots of money spent at my local dealer, they haven't contacted me the new turbo or S, somewhat disappointed by that but sums up lack of interest in their customer base, too many cars I guess.

I had the very same concerns with the local OPC, however this week they did chase me for the deposit on a new TurboS, I've explained my situation and that this time round, I'd need to drive/see the car as visually (unlike the 997 did) the new car hasn't tickled my bits...[:-] Oddly, I've had no negative reaction at petrol stations and the likes... On a recent charity day though it was interesting to mote that nearly all my passengers were male, where the Lambo and Ferrari were much more female orientated...! My wife thinks its because no one actually knows what mine is unless you're a bit of a petrolhead.[&:]

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: garyw [On a recent charity day though it was interesting to mote that nearly all my passengers were male, where the Lambo and Ferrari were much more female orientated...! My wife thinks its because no one actually knows what mine is unless you're a bit of a petrolhead.[&:]

It may be that, but then again...............[8|]

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Lancerlot

ORIGINAL: garyw [On a recent charity day though it was interesting to mote that nearly all my passengers were male, where the Lambo and Ferrari were much more female orientated...! My wife thinks its because no one actually knows what mine is unless you're a bit of a petrolhead.[&:]

It may be that, but then again...............[8|]

True [][]

 

[Lancerlot]

The Ferrari 458 Speciale to debut at Frankfurt

It’s called the 458 Speciale: it’s Ferrari’s new sportscar, the fruits of the innovation and extreme technological research that have gone into a car as outstanding as the 458 Italia.The aerodynamic efficiency (an E index of 1.5), a more powerful aspirated V8 engine (605bhp) and the highest power density (135 bhp/l) in the history of Ferrari road cars, an extraordinary power-to-weight ratio (2.13bhp/kg), electronic control of the slip angle (SSC): these are some – but not all – of the characteristics that make this car truly Speciale and that are destined to become standard for the Ferraris of the future. The aptness of the car’s name is easily shown by its performance figures: accelerating from 0-100km/h in 3s (or 9.1s for 0-200km/h) and a best lap time round Fiorano of 1m 23.5s. The new 8-cylinder mid-engine berlinetta, which will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10, was designed with the target of raising performance and driving emotion to the highest levels, while still guaranteeing ease of control in every situation. The 458 Speciale is the latest product of Ferrari’s core philosophy of extreme technological innovation and research which, in this instance, has yielded powertrain, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics advances that transform the already exceptional 458 Italia into a car genuinely worthy of the “Speciale” moniker. The result is a completely new, uncompromising, streamlined sports car concept. Having lavished meticulous attention on the power unit that was named “Best Performance Engine” at the International Engine of the Year Awards for two consecutive years, Ferrari has now built its most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever (605 cv) with an extraordinary specific power output of 135 cv/l , the highest ever achieved by a road-going naturally aspirated engine. Thanks to an equally exceptional weight/power ratio of just 2.13 kg/cv, the 458 Speciale can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.0” (0-200 km/h in 9.1”) and also clocked a lap time of just 1’23”5 at the Fiorano Circuit. Aerodynamic requirements guided the work of the Ferrari Styling Centre, which led the project in cooperation with Pininfarina, to sculpt the car’s forms to ensure they were more performance-oriented than ever. The most notable features in this sense are the front and rear movable aerodynamics which balance downforce and cut drag, thus helping make the 458 Speciale the most aerodynamically efficient range production car in Ferrari history (E Index of 1.5) The technology used in the vehicle dynamics subsystems which gives the driver instant confidence and control at high speeds, natural power oversteer management and precise response to commands are further advances in an area in which Ferrari is already a well-established leader. One of the most innovative content of the 458 Speciale is the Side Slip angle Control system (SSC) which makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions. Thanks to the development of an accurate new algorithm SSC performs instant-to-instant analysis of the car’s side slip, comparing it with the target value and then optimising both torque management (via integration with F1-Trac traction control) and torque distribution between the two wheels (via integration with the E-Diff electronic differential). Part and parcel of the car’s development included Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres which were specifically honed for it in an intensive collaboration programme involving, amongst other factors, numerous track test and simulator sessions. Conceived for the 458 Speciale, they boost performance over a single lap in the dry as well as improving performance consistency in subsequent laps. They also allow the car to avail of maximum available grip in the wet. The abovementioned technical content has improved the 458 Speciale’s single lap time and also delivers repeatability of that performance on subsequent laps that is absolutely unprecedented for a car not designed exclusively for track use. The result is that the 458 Speciale has the fastest response time (0.060 s) and highest lateral acceleration (1.33 g) ever achieved by a car in the Prancing Horse range. The 458 Speciale will receive its public world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September. Mmmmmm. This or the 991 GT2? Tough choice! [8D][8D][8D] Regards, Clive.

 

[Ekona]

Ooh, those stripes really don't work on that front end where it ducks underneath the opening. And what's with the little gold horse right at the bottom of the nose, just above the splitter? Looks right out of place, especially with the 'normal' badge just a few inches up. That said, I'm sure it will be brilliant and the rest (especially the rear) looks great. I'm also sure I don't want one.

 

[Lancerlot]

Stripes are looking a little better from this angle. []

and it's nice to see those awful 3 pipes at the back end gone, making the rear view much cleaner.

[8D] [8D] [8D]​

Regards, Clive.

 

[grover]

Clive you are naughty I have already enquired!

 

[mnk303]

ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk I have driven the 458 Italia and the 458 Spider quite a lot. I have owned two 430 Spiders and one 360 Spider as well as other exotica. Great cars! But the 458 is a Sony Playstation and both 458 & 430 exist mainly on wow factor. When that wears off (& it will) the appeal fades. Both cars are too big, too fast (if that is possible), too thirsty and too expensive to run. I traded my 430 Spider for a bog standard 981 2.7 Boxster. Yes really! And guess what. I prefer the Boxster. Am I potty? True, there is at least one Ferrari in every petrolhead. But in our stable now is the following: A GT3 Clubsport.... HARDCORE A hairdresser's Boxster A Macan prototype. A BMW 3 Series And a SA Bulldog. That keeps us very happy.

Derek have to agree with you. Had 360 and 430 , my wife always joked I only needed a rolling road, as all I did was drive a circuit, up A24 round A264 and back , because it was too wide to park in a normal space, also I was too worried to park it in case it got a dent, it was a show piece, lovely, sound nice, looked good, went wrong , depreciated SOLD. I find Porsche are far more practical, My x GT3RS was as much fun but too low on lots of UK roads. The Boxster S fits the bill, 6 months old 3000 miles, I have never done that in any other sports car I have owned....says it all really. sounds great, looks great, goes well enough, depreciation on a new Ferrari will be more than my cars worth in the first year.

 

[Rotorhead]

I get to drive quite a lot of Ferraris and, over recent years, spent time with the Scuderia, California, FF.....and just had a 458 Spyder for a few days, doing 600 miles around all manner of Welsh roads. The 458 is indeed remarkably accomplished - taught, compliant, fabulous handling, well built, surprisingly practical, very theatrical (especially in red), lots of fun. But it is a car where you do need to find the right roads and occasion to use it. It's best on a 'road trip' The Turbo 'S' is dull by simple comparison, but much more of an everyday, any journey, any weather tool. And, new, was half the price of the 458 I was driving. What has impressed me recently is how good the 991 models are. I drove a well specd C4S that had much of the chassis composure and real world road performance of the 458 and was almost as enjoyable. The 991 GT3 and Turbo will be closer rivals to the 458, but whatever one's choice it is incredible how good the latest generation of performance cars have become.