Hey guys

So I'm considering adding an F car to my stable in the near future.
I went to my Ferrari dealership and build up an F458 (Tour De France Blue and Crema interior).
They gave me a test drive in the spyder version where I really got to kick it. (around 200km/h)
While it was quite an enjoyable experience, to me, it didn't justify the 450,000$ price tag attached to it (cars are super expensive here). It wasn't as involved as I imagined it to be. I loved the car, but the price was too steep for my liking. (It used to be 330k$ which was more fair). I told them I'd think about it, but honestly, I was already inclined on a "no".

Fast forward three weeks (last week) and my friend who works at Ferrari told me there was a Yellow Scuderia available if I am at all interested. Black & CF interior apparently. I haven't seen it yet at ~175k$.

I listed the Pros & Cons from my end, and any input would be most welcome. I don't want to bother the dealership with another test drive as I am not yet sure of my decision.

F430 Scuderia Pros:
- Scuderia
- Gorgeous car
- more intense experience (raw)
- better price
- Scuderia
- More options

F430 Cons:
- Older
- Not my first color choice
- No iPod or Bluetooth? Not very sure

F458 Pros:
- Much prettier car, in my opinion, the nicest Ferrari thus far (Enzo excluded)
- Color coded to my design
- iPod / Bluetooth
- I've driven it so I know what to expect
- I'll actually be a real Ferrari customer
- Sexy headlights and tail pipes

F458 Cons:
- Price is triple
- Not involved enough
- Not a Scuderia
- The price tag includes close to no options. Only CF rear bumper thingy (the one on top of the diffusers where the logo goes on)


With all that in mind, I was hoping if you guys could give me some insight on the F430 Scuderia/F458 and help me make a decision.

In either case, it won't be purchased anytime soon as I just took delivery of 3 cars in the last 3 months. I just felt it was time to grab a real supercar and join the big boy leagues. I am in no hurry to do so however.

Thanks in advance for any tips as I am new to the Ferrari scene

 

Decisions decisions... Naturally both are excellent directions. I would recommend taking that test drive of the F430 Scuderia, I believe that you could potentially have your answer once returning from a good test drive.

 

Man, how does someone who is 28 get to make choices like this? I would love to be in that position..........

 

Is it ironic that you are choosing between two F-cars that don't have an F in their designation?

430 Scuderia and 458 Italia.

However, your problem is an entertaining one, yet somehow practical. I like that cost is playing a factor. There is no doubt that both cars are phenomenal machines. I'd speculate that the 458 will have better technology (as in engineering) that may lend itself to longevity, whereas the the 430 Scud may be more enjoyable for the drives that happen less often.

I'll play the devil's advocate here... have you test driven an MP4-12C?

Might screw everything up. You get the insane performance, great looks, drivability, etc... with a smaller price tag.

 

first world problems...

 

one major thing to take into consideration is maintence. I know on new 458s you get 7 years of free maintenance(unless that was just for my father?) When you own a ferrari if you can get that much money off every maintenance that would play a HUGE factor in my choice of used or new.

Another thing is the 458 has more power to! I love driving the car such a incredible car to drive, that being said never drove a SCUD but just fromt looks alone go for the 458!!!

 

I know people my age who don't make that choice and just buy both....

F430 is what I always call it, don't know why I put the f infront of the 458, good point...
The mp4 is what I would love, but no dealership here

Hahaha
I would think anything on this board is first world problem territory

They offered me the same warranty for the 458, not too sure about the scuderia. Is maintenance really that bad on such cars? (Besides clutch)

Thanks for the reply guys

 

Ahhh... dealership proximity is quite important to me too, regarding total ownership experience (actually why I'm currently seeking an Alfa, - I've got a Fiat dealership right down the street).

There is an F430 (and is right now my Ferrari of choice), and then the 430 Scuderia. I'm not sure why the 'F' was dropped. You didn't have to acknowledge that, I may be in minority when it comes to terminology.

 

First of all, I think anyone who is a petrolhead will have these car buying thoughts consume much of their thoughts.
I have driven both of these on the track, back to back, a couple times. I would not be comparing the spider 458 to the scud as the coupe 458 is 100k cheaper and would greatly reduce the price difference, and I think it looks much better in coupe.
Your pros and cons are correct but missing the single most important thing, your driving experience. But I fail to see the importance of the bluetooth, as it will be impossible to hear anyone on a phone call when these cars are moving. It sounds like you have a stable of cars and this would be more of a fun weekend car, so get what moves you not what is more practical and technical. These are cars that should be bought with passion and emotion that comes from how you feel when driving them. So bother them with a test drive.
I don't know which one I would take, and I have experienced both. It really is a tough choice.

 

Because some of us want our cake and eat it, too.

I can relate to the bluetooth (or heated seats, or sat/nav, etc...). Regardless of how much fun a car is, when a phone rings, I do not want to take my hands off the wheel..., or have my passenger answer my phone, etc... Embarrassing when driving anything over $100k (or anything period, not to mention unsafe).

Why can't we be comfortable in these cars and have fun simultaneously? Why must there be a choice?

Isn't that what the 458/MP4/Turbo S/etc... brings to the table? The most fun I've ever had in any Ferrari was the 360 CS. But I would never want to own one. Hard for me to quantify that. It is the little things that make the ownership experience more or less enjoyable (for example the dealership location, sometimes even the people that work the service dept).

If I'm out just cruising around (in the city, out of the city), I want to maintain a level of civility. We aren't talking about an Ariel Atom, or Ultima GTR, - this is a Ferrari.

Make it lightweight, strong, agile, comfortable, etc...

So what I think I just said was - OP, I'd suggest the 458.

*edit: True story - I actually forgot to turn off my bluetooth at VIR, and my wife called as I was entering Oak Tree ... I answered while on the straight, and talked her through a couple laps. It was amusing. She asked - "whatch'ya dooooin?" I said,"about 160mph".

 

If I understand correctly maintenance on the 458 is roughly 12k each time. Now that might vary per dealer or I could just be incorrect period. But if you own a car for 7 years that quickly adds up to the cost of the SCUD

 

I agree with what you are saying and wish that it would even be usable to utilize bluetooth in one of these cars. My experience in just my GT2 that has a very good bluetooth, heated seats, full wireless streaming music from my phone, sat radio, touch screen nav, and can even watch dvd's while driving. I really can only use the heated seats.
But because it is a 'race car', their is very little sound insulation, very good and firm suspension causing more tire noise, and a louder exhaust. With that, I can not hear anyone on the bluetooth if I am going faster than 30mph with the windows all closed. I can't hear the music from the stereo either and I have the upgraded Bose stereo which is quite good.
And in comparison to the scud or 458, my exhaust is very quiet. When I drove the scud on the track, I was trying to talk to the passenger and we were yelling back and fourth, "what, I can't hear you".

The MP4, fits the description of a supercar that you can actually use the amenities you speak of, and that makes sense that is the car you prefer.

 

If you purchase a 2012 or later the first 7 years of maintenance is free. This include basically oil changes and filters.

I've driven both the Scud and the 458 many times. I am not a serious track person, so would chose the 458. The ride is comfortable for long drives, almost so good it could be a daily driver, the Scud is more like a GT3 RS, some people can drive it every day, and others it is just too firm for excessive drives on the street. I suspect when the new 458 Scuds roll out the 430s will drop some in value.

If you haven't I would drive both. Good luck.

 

The Scuderia to me is one of the most enjoyable street cars that I've ever driven. It is raw but at the same time comfortable, it feels very much at the edge quickly - but will stay right there at the edge as long as you want. Just an absolute joy to drive.

The 458 is an awesome achievement and outperforms the Scud in most areas - except the "butt dyno". It is faster, but doesn't communicate that to you.

The Scud market is also tanking and you can get a car for short money right now. Yellow however is not a desirable color when it comes to resale - if that's a concern.

 

I would agree that like the GT3RS the Scud is the most visceral and thrilling driving experience. I do think that the SCUD has a harsher ride and much louder altogether. I felt beat up after driving the SCUD and I'm still sort of young and in good shape. But that would not discourage me from driving it, as the smile far outweighs the pain.
The only thing that deter's me from buying one is the excessive amount of unwanted attention that F-cars get.