A return to form: Say hello to Banana MK2, the Italian Prancing Horse (Ferrari 458 Italia)

I know I'm in the minority but I just think Ferrari's look so much better in any colour other than red.
I mean that pearl yellow with contrasting black looks nothing short of incredible.

Congratulations on the purchase Gibbo!
 
I must have watched every video before my purchase:


But this is one I missed and I can't wait to gel more with the car as I don't have the balls or skills to drive like that in Winter conditions, but he is at least on Michelins. :D
 
Hi there

Nothing to exciting but even though the Pzero have improved, no doubt from being re-scrubbed in I pulled the trigger on a set of PS4S tyres from Camskill at £790 all round as it just makes sense to me, car feels a little nervous on Pzero even though they are gripping better, so all being well will arrive in a day or two and be fitted this week or next, so urgent rush.

Also nothing too exciting but a few bits arrived today:

thumbnail_IMG_0266.jpg


- Two rods to help wheel removal and remove any risk of damaging ceramic brakes
- Special socket to prevent damage to both wheels and the wheel nuts
- Forza valve controller so default is stock (ECU control) or I the fob allows permantly full open (very loud) or full closed (silent).

Stock exhaust is nice, but after hearing a Novitec Rosso, its a pure F1 scream so that may happen in future, exhaust and cats is 10k, but can get it done and fitted by Ferrari for 7k should I decide to pull trigger.
 
I have just one question, when you are sat at home with your epic M3, fun Renault and a 458 sat outside, just how nice a feeling is it?

Or, is it actually not that different a feeling from say the SVR sitting there?

Ok, that’s not one question, but I’m interested none the less.....
 
I have just one question, when you are sat at home with your epic M3, fun Renault and a 458 sat outside, just how nice a feeling is it?

Or, is it actually not that different a feeling from say the SVR sitting there?

Ok, that’s not one question, but I’m interested none the less.....


The Ferrari in many ways is lacking compared to the SVR, no crazy insane off line instant acceleration, no remote start, no heated wheel, but the Ferrari has some over powering feeling, I keep just driving it, I keeping driving the long way home or go pass home, I am having such a huge smile and half the time I am not even going fast, the car just evokes such insane emotion and is sheer pleasure to drive. Unfortunately the M3 or Clio have not moved since getting it.

The Ferrari has some niggles, they are either Ferrari niggles, for example for some reason when I get in it after work the first 10-20s of driving the car is hesitant like is miss firing or its gearbox warming up, but oddly first thing in morning it seems fine. So its either fouled spark plugs or just because Ferrari, I've mailed Ferrari for their response, if they say its normal I shall just change the spark plugs as good practice, if they feel its not I shall badger them to change plugs. Once you've driven for a minute, its spot on so its minor and I put it down to just being well a Ferrari with essentially a full on race engine in it.

Just odd how first thing in morning it does not do it, yet 8hr later it does, but the car also for first minute or so also is very slow to change gears, you pull paddle at 2500-3000rpm and its changed at 4000rpm, but owners say this is normal, I've learnt this now and just pull paddle at 2000rpm or put it in auto/wet mode which helps.

The car is simply insane to drive, I've never had a car that is such an event, you can drive at 20mph or 60mph and its just grin inducing, the noise it makes is out of this world. I am just as happy to change up full bore at 5-6k and the DCT is so damn sharp and quick, or leave it to rev out to around 9000rpm, I do need to weigh the car, but it feels super light. I was gonna fit my Lithium ION battery, but decided to not bother and sold it on for £500.

Just gonna get tyres fitted, titanium wheel nuts and enjoy driving it. Maybe an F1 Novitec exhaust system down the line and maybe some carbon stuff, but and exhaust and some carbon on this car is 20k and between me and you the carbon has zero impact on driving experience, the exhaust unknown I think it sounds awesome now, but the F1 systems sound insane and to drive a car that sounds just like the pre turbo F1 cars would be probably even more grin factor.

In short its freaking epic and I've not really opened it up, I am less bothered about the performance on this car, it just gives you incredible feels when you drive it, you kind of don't give a rats arse about there being faster cars, because this is simply in another world of pleasure to drive and enjoy, its such a total event and the engine is a master piece, yes its a little lazy under 3000rpm, though it will accelerate surprisingly well from 1500rpm, but as soon as you pass 3000rpm it just goes wild and never stops, feels very torquey, light and powerful.
 
Just a question, when it’s parked up at home or at work. Isit parked differently in terms of incline/decline?

Both flat but at home it is shielded from wind, at work it is in an open plan car park that gets quite a side wind, has caused issues before on other cars with the brakes locking on the rear when pulling off even after just being parked for a few hours.
Maybe in the morning it runs a little longer too and I reverse before I drive forward, no idea if makes a difference. Supposed could try selecting reverse next time at work, like I say missfire but in fact its not it can just be jerky or the throttle does little to nothing when selecting second, but it did idle rough for all of 2-3s, so maybe its just cold engine/gearbox and it being a Ferrari. Not many owners use them as DD's and certainly not in such a cold wet climate.
 
Sounds like a characteristic of the car due to temperature like you say. Doesn’t sound worrying at all.

I think likewise.

Many owners complain of jerky throttle as its cable like sensitive, so that is further exaggerated on a cold engine, hence just driving in wet/auto for first couple of minutes helps.
Still does no harm to let Ferrari know.

I also think I will change the spark plugs simply as good practice, a set of plugs is £240 though, NGK but can only be provided by Ferrari, then decide do I tackle myself or pay Ferrari or a specialist, most likely do latter, shall probably do brake pads myself as Brembo calipers so super easy, same as 911 was. :)
 
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It sounds like the 458 is more of an event, over the SVR, which you’d expect.

But...

Sounds like the SVR could be the faster car point to point?

Too early to tell, certain from stop light to stop light, the SVR never lost a race to put it short, took down tuned GTR's, 911 Turbo's, car was a monster.

The Ferrari is more fun, feels faster when your not going faster, feels super light, am sure on a track or down a b-road they are both very evenly matched and both a lot of fun, but the Ferrari just feels even more fun, feels more special and makes you feel like a hero to drive it as it feels so race car.
 
I've said it a million times, PZero are just useless in anything performance, and a lot of the time manufacturers will spec on availability. Ferrari will be no exception. The M5 was completely dire on PZero even when only a few months old. The MPS4S felt better a year in than the PZero did after a few weeks. It's a no brainer. The S6 has them too, but being new, there was no point in changing them until they die, but within a few weeks, turning on lock you could feel the shoulders graining. Pathetic grip even though 4wd unless dry. You've made the right choice and I suspect you won't be disappointed.
 
I've said it a million times, PZero are just useless in anything performance, and a lot of the time manufacturers will spec on availability. Ferrari will be no exception. The M5 was completely dire on PZero even when only a few months old. The MPS4S felt better a year in than the PZero did after a few weeks. It's a no brainer. The S6 has them too, but being new, there was no point in changing them until they die, but within a few weeks, turning on lock you could feel the shoulders graining. Pathetic grip even though 4wd unless dry. You've made the right choice and I suspect you won't be disappointed.

Many manufacturers now will fit Michelins for you if you want them. Pzeros just arent good in the English climate, in places where they live in constant 20+C degree temperatures they are fantastic, but they need so much heat that short of the hottest of hot days here they just never get upto their window unless its something like a Trofeo R.
 
The Ferrari in many ways is lacking compared to the SVR, no crazy insane off line instant acceleration, no remote start, no heated wheel, but the Ferrari has some over powering feeling, I keep just driving it, I keeping driving the long way home or go pass home, I am having such a huge smile and half the time I am not even going fast, the car just evokes such insane emotion and is sheer pleasure to drive. Unfortunately the M3 or Clio have not moved since getting it.

The Ferrari has some niggles, they are either Ferrari niggles, for example for some reason when I get in it after work the first 10-20s of driving the car is hesitant like is miss firing or its gearbox warming up, but oddly first thing in morning it seems fine. So its either fouled spark plugs or just because Ferrari, I've mailed Ferrari for their response, if they say its normal I shall just change the spark plugs as good practice, if they feel its not I shall badger them to change plugs. Once you've driven for a minute, its spot on so its minor and I put it down to just being well a Ferrari with essentially a full on race engine in it.

Just odd how first thing in morning it does not do it, yet 8hr later it does, but the car also for first minute or so also is very slow to change gears, you pull paddle at 2500-3000rpm and its changed at 4000rpm, but owners say this is normal, I've learnt this now and just pull paddle at 2000rpm or put it in auto/wet mode which helps.

The car is simply insane to drive, I've never had a car that is such an event, you can drive at 20mph or 60mph and its just grin inducing, the noise it makes is out of this world. I am just as happy to change up full bore at 5-6k and the DCT is so damn sharp and quick, or leave it to rev out to around 9000rpm, I do need to weigh the car, but it feels super light. I was gonna fit my Lithium ION battery, but decided to not bother and sold it on for £500.

Just gonna get tyres fitted, titanium wheel nuts and enjoy driving it. Maybe an F1 Novitec exhaust system down the line and maybe some carbon stuff, but and exhaust and some carbon on this car is 20k and between me and you the carbon has zero impact on driving experience, the exhaust unknown I think it sounds awesome now, but the F1 systems sound insane and to drive a car that sounds just like the pre turbo F1 cars would be probably even more grin factor.

In short its freaking epic and I've not really opened it up, I am less bothered about the performance on this car, it just gives you incredible feels when you drive it, you kind of don't give a rats arse about there being faster cars, because this is simply in another world of pleasure to drive and enjoy, its such a total event and the engine is a master piece, yes its a little lazy under 3000rpm, though it will accelerate surprisingly well from 1500rpm, but as soon as you pass 3000rpm it just goes wild and never stops, feels very torquey, light and powerful.
Fascinating insight, cheers for that. :)
 
With that valve bypass, does it throw up any error codes or "silent codes" that might cause Ferrari to throw up an excuse if it ever needed warranty work?

Likely it just sits between the vacuum system and the ECU and intercepts the signals to open or close, and sends it own ones, as far as the car can see, nothing is different.
 
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