Looking good This last photo is much more reflective of the Grigio Titanio in real life than the previous ones which seem to have a bit of a greenish tinge. its a very interesting shade of silver as there are many different hues depending on the ambient light.
m4ever:
Beautiful ! Very classy color combination. Compared to your ex 997 how does it compare from the confort point of view ?(I guess it is not the highlight of the 458 but I am curious about this aspect).
Thank you.
458 has a much comfortable ride than my ex-997.1 Carrera S -20mm sports chassie if you choose to drive with "bumpy road" setting on. There is no comparison. My 997.1 was too stiff, rode too harsh, and bounces too much on our poor roads. 458 has a firm ride in "race-tc off and esc off" modes. But you can de-couple the suspension by "bumpy road" setting make it much softer. The auto mode of the DCT transmission is alsi very comfortable. If younchoose to drive in "wet or sport" mode, the exhaust valves are closed so the car becomes less noisy. All in all, it is a much better ride than my ex-997.1 that it cannot never dream off. You just sit even lower in 458 than 911. Everyother car is like a SUV aound you.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
crayphile:
Looking good This last photo is much more reflective of the Grigio Titanio in real life than the previous ones which seem to have a bit of a greenish tinge. its a very interesting shade of silver as there are many different hues depending on the ambient light.
In pictures, you can't see the glitters in the color if you don't know the color. Especially, in the little photoshoped last pictures, the color looks a bit dull but in real life there are many glitters İn the the color. I'm more than happy with my choice. Actually, even more so with the interior color. For me, it can't get any better.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
pride355:
m4ever:
Beautiful ! Very classy color combination. Compared to your ex 997 how does it compare from the confort point of view ?(I guess it is not the highlight of the 458 but I am curious about this aspect).
Thank you.
458 has a much comfortable ride than my ex-997.1 Carrera S -20mm sports chassie if you choose to drive with "bumpy road" setting on. There is no comparison. My 997.1 was too stiff, rode too harsh, and bounces too much on our poor roads. 458 has a firm ride in "race-tc off and esc off" modes. But you can de-couple the suspension by "bumpy road" setting make it much softer. The auto mode of the DCT transmission is alsi very comfortable. If younchoose to drive in "wet or sport" mode, the exhaust valves are closed so the car becomes less noisy. All in all, it is a much better ride than my ex-997.1 that it cannot never dream off. You just sit even lower in 458 than 911. Everyother car is like a SUV aound you.
Onur, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. With the 458 and for the first time I am tempted/attracted by a modern Ferrari ( so far I loved only the pre-70s models).
911 Club Coupe, 72' 911 Targa 2.4 S, 12' Audi S4 Avant
m4ever:
pride355:
m4ever:
Beautiful ! Very classy color combination. Compared to your ex 997 how does it compare from the confort point of view ?(I guess it is not the highlight of the 458 but I am curious about this aspect).
Thank you.
458 has a much comfortable ride than my ex-997.1 Carrera S -20mm sports chassie if you choose to drive with "bumpy road" setting on. There is no comparison. My 997.1 was too stiff, rode too harsh, and bounces too much on our poor roads. 458 has a firm ride in "race-tc off and esc off" modes. But you can de-couple the suspension by "bumpy road" setting make it much softer. The auto mode of the DCT transmission is alsi very comfortable. If younchoose to drive in "wet or sport" mode, the exhaust valves are closed so the car becomes less noisy. All in all, it is a much better ride than my ex-997.1 that it cannot never dream off. You just sit even lower in 458 than 911. Everyother car is like a SUV aound you.
Onur, thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. With the 458 and for the first time I am tempted/attracted by a modern Ferrari ( so far I loved only the pre-70s models).
Just do it. 458 is an awesome car. You will just love it. 911 next to it just another car from the lot.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
Competence without exhibition can be a virtue in automobiles as in individuals. I find that a Porsche 911 commands respect in all countries whereas a Ferrari most often sends the wrong signals.
I think what you like more is a matter of the owner's personality.
"Form follows function"
For the weekend toy, I like to have something special. For daily use, I use a VW CC.
Don't get me wrong. 991 is a very good car. I like it very much. But I really dislike my ex-997.1.
The only thing I don't like about 991 is the cheap plastic mid-tunnel (gear lever surround).
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
Porker:
Superb pictures! Glad you're so happy with your choice. It seems everyone who tries the 458 is hooked...
+1! You really made this 458 your own. instead of going with traditional combos you tailored it to your likes and it came out as something really special.
m4ever:
Wonderful photo! Btw are you allowed in Turkey not to have the front license plate ? Looks great without.
Actually it is not allowed in Turkey not to have the front license plate BUT ... well it is a Ferrari, where can you put it in the front (knock on the wood)
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
Last weekend, I did my first Track Day with my car. Since we don't have many Race Tracks in Turkey, I was at Körfez Racetrack again in which I took my ex-E92 M3 three times. It is a short, mid-speed, 9-corner (2 chicanes), 2 km long Race circuit. Before my review of the day I first would like to post pictures of the day since Rennteamers like the pictures the most
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
There were 2 Ferraris (one of them is mine and the other one is a 599 GTB HGTE which I drove also for 3-4 laps), 3 E92 M3 Coupe, E46 M3 CSL, E46 M3 Cabrio, 2 E36 M3 (1 coupe-1 Cabrio), 3 997.1 Turbo (all of them were modified to at least 580 hp), 997.1 Carrera S, several Corvettes, 1 highly modified Nissan GT-R, F10 M5, E55 AMG, 2 modified Golf R and several other cars. All in all, there were 28 cars.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
When I got to the track, it was wet and it was still raining at 9 o'clock. My best time with my ex-E92 M3 on the very same circuit was 52,40 sec on dry track. You can read and the related videos on this threads:
http://www.rennteam.com/forum/thread/20291882/M3_Hot_Pursuit_Track_Video/page1.html
Especially, I had great time while filming the videos in which my friend follow me with an 1M and then later with another E92 M3. I had good fun while burning my worn Michelin Pilot Sports. With worn tires, my best time was 53.4 sec. After I switched to Michelin Pilot Super Sports, I did 52.40 sec as my personal best time.
Back to my first Track Day with the 458. Well, besides all sort of good things every magazine testers had said about the engine, transmission, brakes, the chassie of 458, the car behaves like a race car on the track. It is impeccable, so unforgiving, virtually no body roll, no fighting back. So let's get to the details:
Morning Session: The first session was soaking wet. I first try "sport" mode but after a lap, I switched to "race" mode. It was still intervaning too much. The track was very slippery. But I didn't want to risk the car so I lapped with "race" mode on.
This picture is from the morning session:
Around 11 o'clock, it stopped raining, and we saw the warm face of the sun The track started to dry out. The lap times got faster and I started driving in "TC Off" mode.
In the afternoon, most of the track dried out except the back straight and 2 corners at the back. I got used to the car, start pushing it more and lapped 51.43 sec as for my personal best time which was also the best time of the day by 2.2 sec.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
So handling of the 458:
It is so neutral, so easy to push, so confident inspiring. On several corners, evenif I brake late and came too fast, the brakes worked perfectly and just before I enter the corner, I just lift-off the brakes, put the throttle down and enter the right-left-right chicane with neutral feel. With the E92 M3, because of the longer wheelbase, higher center of gravity, more weight transfer, the back of the car wanted to step out at the exit. With the italia, even if you came too hot to the chicane, brake hard before you enter and didn't set the car properly for the 110 km/h right-left-right chicane, 458 just eat the corner. With so small steering inputs, and 1/3 throttle input, it just flied through the chicane. At the exit, you put the throttle down and it made a very easy 125-130 km/h exit oversteer. Because of the still damp track, I couldn't pass the next 2 corners flat out and had to lift off, but with a dry track, I can just keep my foot on the throttle which shaves a sec from the lap time, I guess.
Also the transmission was awesome. There is an approx. 75 degree wide right hand corner on which you came in 5th gear, brake hard, slowed down to 2nd gear (75 km/h), hit the apex and accelerate while still turning, you shift to 3rd gear before finishing 2nd gear fully (around 7500-8000 rpm) because the car lose traction on the damp track, but shifting in the middle of the corner while accelerating didn't unbalanced the car for a bit. It just shifted in to 3rd gear and flied. I did try the same thing with my friend's 599, and the car boggled, the nose dropped, acceleration was interrupted, and it shifted to 3rd gear. Actually 599 was a big disappointment to me. It behaved worse than my E92 M3 on the track. The steering was heavy, the feeling of the car was heavy with plenty of body-roll. It doesn't want to steer, the ceramic brakes weren't at the task as italia's, and the transmission was insufficient except the downshifts.You sit too high in the car, and you feel asif you carry the whole car on your shoulders. On the italia, you just sit in front and everything comes after you and where you want them to go.
On one lap, I took one the damp corners fast, the car slightly oversteered, I went on braked hard before the next corner (which is the second chicane but a softer one), the car shaked again because of the damp track, still everything was undercontrol, I donwshift to 3rd gear, put the throttle, zip through the chicane, put full power at the exit, the car oversteered but just went on. I had huge fun doing this but didn't want to risk it again for the next laps. Crushing a 458 on a track day event would make me the famous car enthusiast on Turkish Car forums
So there are still couple of seconds left on the table for fully dry track. But my 51.43 sec time was still good when you consider the regular trackers (my friends) were 1,5-2 sec were off from their best times.
--
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
I forgot to tell you that I put my 458 on a scale after the track event. One of my friend's factory is nearby so we went there with a few other cars to weight the cars. And the results:
- My car had 15-20 litre of fuel in the tank and tipp the scale by 1470 kg~3234 lbs.
- My friend's 599 weighted @ 1690 kg~3720 lbs with 1/2 fuel tank.
ONUR
THE BEST CAR EVER
11 E92 M3 CP - 09 Audi TTS Coupe - 07 997 Carrera S - 05 M3 Coupe - 03 M3 Coupe - 96 M3 Coupe EVO (PASS TIME HISTORY)
pride355:
I forgot to tell you that I put my 458 on a scale after the track event. One of my friend's factory is nearby so we went there with a few other cars to weight the cars. And the results:
- My car had 15-20 litre of fuel in the tank and tipp the scale by 1470 kg~3234 lbs.
- My friend's 599 weighted @ 1690 kg~3720 lbs with 1/2 fuel tank.
1.470 kg is not bad at all.
The secret of life is to admire without desiring.