I still have no better pics of the car, but here are some preliminary thoughts after the first 500 km:
This car is fast, fast, fast. I drove the 997.2 PDK a while ago and was rather impressed, but I don't find the 458 to be very much slower. For now I only reached speeds up to 220 kph, so I can't really comment on how quick it will be to 300 kph or above, but the way up to 200 kph is very impressive.
Maybe the best, but definitely one very important thing about the car is the new transmission. The DCT is fantastic, best of both worlds really. In the city it works like the best automatic trannies, yet in manual mode it is so quick, so involving, especially in Race mode, that you won't miss the old sequential F1 not even for one minute. At least I don't miss it at all, if I compare the DCT with the (very good) F1 in a 599 for instance, the DCT wins hands down.
The engine noise is intoxicating, especially in Race mode. The valves open already at around 1.000 revs here, so you have the sound from the very beginning. I you really want to let your neighbourhood know that you drive your Ferrari, just choose Race. On the other hand this is the first Ferrari I have driven, with which you can travel relatively silently, at least if you don't rev it too high. Just choose Sport and the valves won't open before 3.000 or so. Cruising in the city without going too wild is absolutely possible and I appreciate that very much. Sometimes you don't want everybody to look at you.
The electronics in the car are endless. So far everything works fine. The left TFT display with its VDA (vehicle dynamic assistance) and additional gauges is nice. The VDA is helpful if you are pushing the car really hard like on a racetrack, since you can see the temperatures of the brakes, tyres and engine. When driven on normal roads, you might get some difficulties to warm all parts up, especially the front tyres. VDA only works in Race by the way. If you choose the left TFT for the additional gauges, you get some information about oil and water temperature for example, but the most important information are the fuel gauge, the digital speedometer and the perhaps the cruising range. The third possible use of the left TFT is a trip computer and a lap timer, trip computer without the number for average fuel consumption by the way.
In fact the left display is nice to have, but the right one is much more important during normal driving (note: not racetrack). It either shows radio/media information, phone settings or the navigation system. The map function of the navi is very nice and the location of the map right in front of the driver is very helpful and just where such a map has to be. No matter if you use the infotainment system you can always choose the right screen for a virtual speedometer, either in an analog version or a second digital speedometer, but with very big numbers, which fill the whole of the screen. For now I find the digital version easier to read and for this reason more useful.
Build quality still seems to be very good. The car is very rigid, no rattles or squeaks in the cabin so far (something I wasn't used to until now). There may be some hidden areas, where you still can see "the Italian job", but at least you don't recognise these parts unless you really tear some carpets apart or crawl into the most hidden corners of the cabin.
I went with the standard seats and find them quite good. They are rather supporting, especially the backrest. They are relatively firm, but I think that will be of advantage on longer trips, at least no backache up to now. So far I don't regret not to have ordered the Super Racing seats, but then I have never been a friend of those tight sport buckets. I also don't regret not to have ordered the HiFi upgrade, the standard system does the job very well, at least for my expectations. Note: as picky as I am when it comes to HighEnd at home, as easy to please am I with car stereo. But the standard sound system does everything I want, it sounds nice when playing music and you can understand phone calls very clearly, so that is more than enough for me.
So one last word on the performance. Though I don't rev it too high, what means only up to around 6.000 rpm at the moment, the car goes like stink. You really have to control the speedo or your driving license will be in highest threat. Just tap the accelerator and you reach 150 kph like nothing, which is at least 50% percent too much if you are not driving on the autobahn. And I have to say it again, these gear changes are absolutely stunning, but I am also very pleased by the auto mode. So far I use perhaps 20% auto (mainly in the city) and 80% manual.
One last word concerning the indicators and the other controls located at the steering wheel: the indicators take some time to get used to, I would say it is about the same situation as getting used to the puddles of Porsche. But after a while you know where the button is and you get it right. Is it an improvement? I would say no, but it is no disadvantage either, just something to get used to. The button for high beam, just beneath the left indicator button is very easy to use though, I had no problem with that from the very beginning, but then you don't use it so much as you do with the indicators. Talking about the lights, high beam is very good and the optional AFS is highly recommended, it is very helpful in cornering. The button beneath the right indicator button is for the wipers, but this one was not used so far. And last but not least, the button for comfort damping is a very nice feature. It was first introduced in the Scuderia I think. This softer damping setting is very useful for example when travelling in Race on rural B-roads, which are there a lot over here.
All for now, hope you enjoyed reading.
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The secret of life is to admire without desiring.