tony2006:
Hi RC - how does the Performante Spyder compare to 458/488 and Mclaren 720S ?
Thanks !
I didn't have the chance to drive the 720S for a longer period, I can only comment on sound, interior and maybe acceleration. The 720S is a beast, (straight line) performance-wise probably the benchmark right now in this car category, no doubt. The interior is nice but it felt a bit cramped compared to the Huracan Performante Spyder but the comparison may not be fair since the Spyder had no top and it really feels very "airy". The Coupe is a different story. I also liked the Alcantara and Forged Carbon stuff in the Huracan Performante a lot but this is a matter of personal taste I guess. A friend who saw the interior said it looked cheap. He drives a Bentley Continental sedan (Flying Spur I think), so I guess he has different priorities. Sound-wise, the Performante Spyder wins hands down, no doubt but this shouldn't come as a surprise. Throttle response is also much better, McLaren still has a turbo lag, even if many owners don't seem to be able to relate to this. I also like the looks of the Huracan better but this, again, is a matter of personal taste.
488? Best sounding V8 Biturbo in my opinion. Very nice car, performance-wise definitely at top level (maybe not at 720S level), I hated it when it came out but like it more and more, the more often I see it live. Probably the car with the least turbo lag of all Biturbos I drove, very good setup. Seems to be also very reliable, a friend has the Spider and already has over 60000 km in it without a single issue. I still like the Huracan Performante interior better though but the Ferrari interior is, like most Ferrari interiors, top notch.
458? Well, difficult now. Very nice n/a engine, no doubt, very good throttle response (of course), sound is great as well but the gearbox is, in my opinion, not at par with the latest systems (especially the improved Graziano gearbox in the Huracan Performante).
Getting one of these cars is a very emotional thing, I think you shouldn't trust a word I'm writing, you should choose yourself based on what you like most. Drive them (if possible) and then make your decision. You will know which car you like most.
In the past, I was a sucker for "most power" and "best performance" but I changed. I enjoy the emotional part of a car much more, especially the sound and how the car feels at lower(!) speeds as well. If a car is only fun when driven hard and fast, you can't fully enjoy it in my opinion. Sad but true. I learned my lesson with my former 991.1 Turbo S.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991.2 Carrera GTS Cabriolet (2018), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mercedes E63 S AMG Edition 1 (2018), Mini JCW (2015)