Ferrari switched its sports cars to turbo in 2015, and since then the debate has intensified over whether this was a good move or a bad move.
Everyone, from magazine testers to armchair critics who came no closer than a YouTube video of any of the cars, gave their opinion, but now it seems that the people who really matter have given us an answer.
These people are the ones who have enough money to choose between the two. And looking at the values of the Ferrari 458 and 488 it suggests that the naturally aspirated power is still highly valued.
If you look at the prices of the first 458s, of course, the Italia is much cheaper than a 488 because it is four or five years older. You can enter a 2011 458 for less than $ 155,000 in the US, or £ 120,000 in the UK, if you are happy to be without main dealer support, while the customer’s first 488s were 2016 models and cost $ 218,000 in the US and £ 140,000 in the UK.
But look at the prices of the 458s built closer to the model change and the situation is less clear. You would expect the newest and most powerful car to command a significant prize, but even official Ferrari dealers who sell approved used copies of both types of cars are asking for similar, and occasionally more, money for older, more slow, 458.
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For example, the Ferrari dealer in the UK Stratstone has a 2013 458 model used from 10,000 miles for £ 144,800. But a 2016 488 in the same garage with just 7,300 miles is set at £ 152,000. This looks like a small increase for a car that is significantly younger and has fewer miles. We contacted Stratstone for some tips, but we still haven’t received a response.
Meanwhile, three other Ferrari dealers in the UK are offering 488s for less than £ 150,000, and Dick Lovett Swindon wants £ 159,990 for a 6384 mile 458 registered in 2014. In addition, an independent dealer has told us that he is much more interested in customers looking for the older car.
In the USA, 458 Italians can cost around US $ 210,000, while the cheapest 488 cost just under US $ 220,000. It is worth mentioning, however, that the value of a car can vary depending on the options and the color chosen by the original owner.
Do you want to speak to Speciale? The harder, lighter and faster version of the 458 is an entirely different business. American dealers are asking for up to $ 380,000 for the coupe and a crazy $ 690,000 for the convertible version of Aperta.
The 458 first appeared in 2010 and in 2015 it evolved to the 488. There were some minor changes in style, but the big difference was the engine. Ferrari replaced the old naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 F136 with a new 3.9-liter F154 V8 using the turbo technology that it had already revealed in the California T the previous year.
On the positive side, the engine’s power had a big boost, jumping from 562 hp (570 hp) in the 458 Italia to 661 hp for its successor 488 GTB. Most notably, the torque has increased from 398 lb ft (540 Nm) to 561 lb ft (760 Nm). The 488 was faster with a traffic light and was also much faster in overtaking situations, while an expertly adjusted momentum curve meant that there was still pleasure in winding up to the red line.
But not so much pleasure, because the turbocharged engine didn’t seem nearly as exciting, and the red line was 1000 rpm lower. We drove both and definitely preferred the sound of the 458, although the Ferrari kick with turbocharger is seriously addictive and is a much easier car to live and enjoy on a daily basis.
We wouldn’t kick either of them out of bed, but which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments.
