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

The M3 DCT box which is similar has a manual level to put in Neutral as you can’t put in neutral unless the engine is running.

You lift the gear gaiter on the selector and can manually put the box in neutral

Maybe a manual override on the Ferrari too ?


Ignition on, both paddles held and a few seconds later will select neutral problem is, the battery needs power to do so, if there is a manual release I am not aware and there probably is so will check manual, but problem is diverted and new battery on way so all well. :)

The Clio is making a fun little backup car in the meantime as I don't wanna risk being stranded anywhere other than home, though Ferrari would recover me I'd rather now be trusting someone to load and offload the car correctly or the down time of having it transported to and from dealer when its easier for me to not use for a day or two and then spend an hour changing battery.
 
Congratulations Gibbo!

Weird question, what's the stereo like?


Good enough for me, its got 6 disc changer, HDD and Ipod connection, all three work fine, the girlfriend has thrown her old ipod in the glovebox and filled it with music, works fine.
Audio quality for me is fine, for how I listen to music (low volume) it is fine, a reasonable amount of bass, good clarity, but of course its a very basic system and if you listen to music at higher volumes then of course its poor/average at best, but for my use it is ideal, as its only ever on at low volume or medium if I am just cruising on the motorway at which point I put car in wet mode and use cruise control and then set the stereo to medium volume, I never have it loud, any other use I listen to the engine and downshifts are glorious.
 
https://youtu.be/dbg7bjPnFc4?t=50

Edit: Did the Seat you ran with have a twisted chassis? Looked like it was crabbing lol.
Actually, just looks like the camera angle.


Really no idea, the day was just about trying to learn the car best settings, for best times etc. and have some fun, shame only got three runs in as think I need another 5-6 runs before I can figure out what equals the best times.
 
Some more awesome pictures from weekend, of course none taken by myself, hence them being epic. :D


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And a video of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat making a run, epic sounding thing!




Very happy with an 11.3, absolutely believe car can run a high 10 second pass. :)
 
Arrived 8am yesterday in Swindon and Inwas greeted immediately and given a full tour.

They informed me a passenger air bag recall was on the car and had to also do it that day so they started work promptly.

So they started at 08:30am to do:
- Annual service & health check, free of charge
- Fit supplied spark plugs which took 2-3hrs at £273
- Change our passenger air bag which is dash trim out so not small job. FOC!
- Re-fit Pininfarina badges, FOC!
- Fix rattle on passenger seat. FOC!
- Fix loose dash trim, no doubt done on air bag exchange but done.
- Wash and detail, FOC.


Car was ready at 18:05 in short a solid 9 plus hours work and nothing to pay except the spark plugs as requested and health check was all clean.

They also requested if I am ever wanting to see or get a 488 they want the car back as they now value it at 165k retail due to some increases in price due to spec and seasonal.

Of course a 488 does not interest me though they are now down to around 170k as they are still falling in price and 458’s are holding and some moving up.

But again incredible service, an endless supply of drinks, snacks and they got me lunch too and showed me around the other showrooms and service area. Plenty of pictures on my Instagram and videos so check those on there. :)
 
Well today I got my first ride out in the banana :D (Yea I know, weird! But we just havent had our schedules line up / always been going places in 2 cars etc etc).

But jesus that thing is absolutely mental, you would not believe it is a RWD car the way it grips, I could see why if you dont know/trust the drivers ability you might be nervous, but I just loved every moment as I know Gibbo can peddle so just enjoyed how well it takes the corners. That high revving v8 is an absolute masterpiece and you can just feel the power it wants to put out. The noises as well, addictive as hell it has a real low toned growl and ive not heard another car like it before, really is something special.

The launch control was likewise really special, it just feathers it off the line and then BAM, smashes the power in so hard it warps your face.

And the seating! So COMFY. Makes me want to buy a set of your seats Gibbo and fit them in mine!

Epic car dude :D But you already knew that :D


Cheers man, the tunnel run. :D

 
What a sound! :cool:

Be careful mate the scamera operators have a new tactic around the A50 - including the tunnel - they stand on one of the foot or road bridges with a hand held camera now.

Got quite a few over the last few weeks - I think they’ll hear you coming..... ;)


Cheers man, I've seen the camera van on A50 bridge, but I shall bear this in mind, no more tunnel runs.

I am off to Kendrew Barracks Sunday, to do some top speed runs, shall see if I can top 190mph if weather is dry. :)
 
That does sound lovely.

Yep so happy with the noise, yes it could be louder with an exhaust system, but in all honesty I am happy with it and I always put it in wet mode on longer journeys so I can enjoy total silence, must be a sign of getting older.

gotta love the shift lights on the wheel :D


They are superb, you never need to take your eyes of the road. I noticed auto upshift in LC mode which uses inertia shifting actually is shifting around 8750rpm, hence only 4 lights illuminating, but there is a 5th one around 9000rpm. :)
 
Hi there

Just timed some of the acceleration runs as the speedo is within 1mph of GPS:

0-60 = 3.3s
0-100 = 7.0s
30-130mph = 9.5s
60-130mph = 8s


For a RWD NA stock car I am so impressed with how quick this thing is, from a dig it is on par with the SVR but once rolling particular above 60 it certainly as the edge. :)
 
Hi there

Well I am stoked!
Ferrari sent me an invite to have a brand new Portofino or the new Lusso for two days and to stay in a 5 star hotel in St. Andrews.

My reply was yes, but who covers accommodation and food/drink.
Their reply was we cover accommodation, food, drink and fuel.

So I cheekily reply, can I bring my Mrs, so I need a double room, and her food/drink covering, response yes that is fine.

So I am now doing NC500, shall drive to St. Andrews in the 458 with Mrs, then take their Portofino from 14:00 until 18:00 on day one, then on day two I get it from 09:00 until 12:30, they fill it, I drive it on roads they say I can unleash its true potential and me and my Mrs can thoroughly enjoy it. Then I shall take the 458 further north and do some NC500 and book a hotel for friday and saturday nights, then drive back down on the Sunday.

Gotta say the Ferrari experience is more than just owning the car, excited we are. :)
 
well that's just out of this world .. good on ya .. but WE WANT PIC'S

Yeah we will get some pics of the cars together and hoping they give me a red one.

I looked up the Portofino and never realised their entry level convertible packs 600HP and 560lb/ft which is pretty insane. Went for it over the Lusso as it makes sense to have a convertible as I don’t own a convertible and hopefully we will get to enjoy two days of roof top down action and sun.
 
Tough choice though! Assuming the Lusso was the V12 variant I think I’d have to go for that. Have you driven a convertible in anger before? be interesting what you make of it, I hear even the Speciale Aperta suffers a bit with scuttle just like my lowly Z4.

Yes, driven Mustang convertible, absolutely had scuttle issues and just generally feeling floppy. :D
Owned an S2000, had no such issues really!

Also driven other stuff like M4 convertible, but never liked M4's full stop.

Just want some roof top down action, I am sure I can maybe even blag a go in a Lusso anyway whilst I am there. :)
 
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