When the Ferrari 458 Italia succeeded the F430, we said it set a new standard for supercars and that it was arguably Maranello’s greatest achievement.
It’s certainly one for nursery walls, and even now, more than a decade after the 458 was introduced, its 562-horsepower 4.5-liter Atmo V8 in the middle is a palatable proposition for a used toy – if you have one can afford.
Written by Pininfarina, the 458 was launched in 2010 with performance on par with the sacred F40, despite being touted as the “junior” Ferrari of the time and positioned just above the entry-level California at a meager £ 175,000.
As always, optional equipment added significantly to the cost, with some cars charging a premium of up to £ 40,000 for extras like racing seats, Alcantara headliners and a carbon fiber steering wheel.
Since then we’ve made slight progress in terms of point-to-point pace, but the 458 remains amazingly fast in the real-life sense, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.3 seconds and have a top speed of 210 km / h to reach.
It took advantage of Ferrari’s seamless seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and the accessibility of its reserves sets the car apart from its competitors, with its red line at 9000 rpm and 80% of its peak power already available at 3250 rpm.
So much was praise for the car’s release that customers who managed to get their hands on a 458 were quick to whip it (and often successfully) for £ 25,000 more than its original list price.
In 2013, the exclusive 458 Speciale came onto the market with the coveted central racing stripe and, even more exciting, an increase in performance to 597 hp. Technology upgrades included a carbon fiber pad, improved ceramic brakes, magnetic dampers, a new diffuser, and improved stabilizers. The Speciale was so tough it even made its windows thinner, but Ferrari’s Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) system gave it a level of accessibility for any driver brave enough to get behind the wheel.
As you would expect from a supercar, most of the examples of the 458 used have relatively low mileage, but are undoubtedly eagerly driven and possibly even on track. Color combinations, mileage and number of owners can all contribute to reduced prices, which now start at around £ 115,000 – no pocket money of course, but tempting for an old V8 Ferrari with new V12 Ferrari performance levels.
