I appear to have one foot in the Dark Side

[Yeti]

So I land back from the States a couple of weeks ago, and get a call from Graypaul in Nottingham "suggesting" I have a look at a 458 they've just had in. Seems my missus isn't too keen on the McLaren 720 I have on order and has been very active in trying to "dissuade" me from committing to it when it comes time to spec the car. So to cut a long story short, I head down to GP and the car is indeed a little beauty, Rosso Corsa - not everyone's choice, but nicely specced with carbon race seats, LED steering wheel and a little bit of carbon in the cabin.

Cut to the next day and I take the missus along to see the car and within an hour we've committed and bought the thing. The GOOD thing is that I got a really good deal that allows me to keep both the Stradale and Red Shed. Costing me a fortune in insurance but fun doesn't always come cheap.

GP threw in a few extra's such and I paid them to apply a Gtechniq quartz coating all over, and the car goes in next week for PPF on the front. I am also thinking of having a satin black roof wrap just to tone down the red a little, maybe make the car a little less obvious.

Opinions about the car; phenomenal, the only word to describe it. Insane acceleration, and feels utterly plated on the road. Think about a corner and it's in there nose right on the apex every time. It's also very obvious that Ferrari designed the car for those who brake with their left foot - as I do, the pedal is perfectly placed for this. I thought the race seats might be a bit on the hard side, but they hug you so perfectly that they feel really comfortable and supported. It probably won't compare to the 720 when I eventually get round to driving one, but in truth will I ever be able to exploit even a fraction of what the 720 has to offer? Probably not, so my quandary is do I keep the 458, the Stradale and the 4200, or sell them all to move up to a 720? At the moment, I rather like the idea of having a prancing horse alongside the Tridente

 

[GeoffCapes]

Very nice John.

 

[StuartW]

Well done, they're a special car for sure. And yes, I would go for the black roof
Good to hear that you can keep the others too

 

[MrMickS]

Looks great and definitely worth keeping it and the two tridents as opposed to the 720.

 

[bigbob]

More is always more.

 

[Corranga]

3 beautiful Italians or a generic looking British supercar with blackeyes. That's some choice

 

[m1980k]

I've only read the Evo review of the 720 but John Barker was a little underwhelmed...

 

[conaero]

We all do love a 458, well done fella!

 

[Rwc13]

That is a gorgeous looking 458, interior is perfect too. I'd keep all three over having one Mclaren anyday

 

[2b1ask1]

Lovely...

 

[FF1078]

Beautiful
McLaren dont do it for me so I'd keep what you have now.
458 is the dogs danglys

 

[zagatoes30]

Never been a fan of the looks of a 458 but that one does look nice. Everyone who has driven one rates the performance though.

 

[iainw]

That is a gorgeous looking 458, interior is perfect too. I'd keep all three over having one Mclaren anyday

Totally agree with above statement. Stunning car - exterior and interior. Fantastic combination with a strad- would be interested to know
Your thoughts re: a comparison between the two.

Not sure wrapping the roof is going to make
It more understated... but you don't get a 458 to go under the radar!

 

[Yeti]

Not entirely surprising but it seems you all like the Fezza. Have to admit I've absolutely fallen in love with it. Someone asked what I thought of the differences between the Stradale and the 458, so although I've only had the Fezza couple of weeks I'll try to outline the key differences.

LOOKS:, in the looks department, they are two different cars, if asked which I think is the prettier car, I would have to say the Stradale. It's just so damned elegant but with just enough aggression from the bonnet scoops. Still a beautiful car and a future classic without a doubt. I would lay bets that in 50 years’ time it will be declared the most beautify Maserati ever.

NOISE: Again, the Stradale wins hands down, utterly visceral and glorious from the outside. The Ferrari is quite a bit quieter and a lot of the noise in the cabin is induction roar. That said it sounds like a thoroughbred race car from the outside as it climbs the revs. Given this, although I have an option for a January 488 build, I can't believe the noise will be better than the 458, and way down on the Strad.

COMFORT: With the race seats the 458 is surprisingly comfortable and the wheel and pedals are perfectly placed for me - I left foot brake. That said, if I had to go to Zurich on business tomorrow, I would take the Strad. Nothing comes close to covering huge distances in superb comfort, especially as the Fezza doesn’t have cruise control – an expensive option that few buyers specified.

PERFORMANCE: With 100 odd BHP, and half a ton of weight, the Strad will never be a match for a 458 in raw performance, however on any given day on UK roads, I've never had a problem keeping up with 458's even a Speciale. On track would be a completely different story, the Strad wouldn't even know which way the Fezza went, it will blow it into the weeds.

HANDLING: I had a decent run in the 458 on Saturday and then took SWMBO out for lunch in the Strad on Sunday and it was scary how different it felt. The term "Royal barge" crept" into my vocabulary at one point, but I think it's more of a comment on how light, nimble and focused the 458 is. The Stradale is very sure footed, especially now I'm running Pilot Sports, but to hustle quickly you have to think ahead and be very smooth on the steering and throttle inputs. The 458 just laughs at my pitiful attempts to define the limits. Think about a corner and the nose is on the apex almost without conscious movement of the wheel, start feeding in the power into the apex and it tightens the line and allows you to be ******* the power the moment the road opens out.

CONCLUSION: Hard to come to a firm conclusion as to which is best. Both cars are very good at what they do and what they give the driver, but they are so different that it’s unfair to compare. I summed it up this way when talking to a mate; the Ferrari is the car I would choose for a Sunday drive out with likeminded mates, but if I had to go any distance it would be the Stradale. If it’s wet, red Shed comes into her own, and is still the best sounding car out of the three now I’ve done the exhausts. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have such a stable, and something tells me there won’t be a McLaren joining it any time soon.

 

[azapa]

The 458 is just about my dream car, but the Maca's are pulling hard of late with nice 12C spyders coming on my radar. The 650's should take a huge hit now, so they will become attactive.

If I ever manage to get any work done and earn money 2018 will see one or the other entering my garage.

The 458 is a visceral drive that is quite taxing and requires full attention IMHO. Of course, it is huge fun. There are fewer 458's on the road here (in Chile) every day. The super car community is quite small here, and we are "loosing" about one every 2 months to over-eager drivers. Keep in mind that conditions here are perfect Southern California type; dry, open roads. They just seem to be dropping like flies. We have lost 3 this year, and a speciale last year... Be careful out there!

I love that colour, inside and out. I would just leave it as it is and let the rest suck it up!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Great write up, John, and lovely car as well. I'd go for the satin black roof on that for sure. It's only a few hundred quid and if you don't like it you can take it off.

As for keeping it and the Strad and the 4200 or getting a 720, I'd keep the three, personally. I really like the Macas but your holy trinity of Italians gives you something for every occasion, whereas the Maca, whilst exceptional, gives you no chance of being even a bit subtle.

Regarding the 650 Spiders plunging in value, agreed. They're already only a shade over a 570 and I know which I'd rather have. That said, the costs and hassle of running a Maca are a big factor. No indie service network, no after-market parts and eye-watering parts prices would scare the cr4p out of me unless it had a lovely shiny warranty.

 

[Contigo]

Well done John, driven a 458 and it is a stunning machine, one of the best Ferrari ever made imo.

 

[Ianed0]

A thing of beauty, nice choice to have, but nobody builds super cars like the italians

 

[MarkMas]

Definitely good use of £180k