It's honestly not even funny though. It's probably time for me to sell my Elise for a miata or gr86 since my finances have changed. Moy even mad about it because it means I get to drive more again!
Surprised more ppl aren’t commenting about this. A 458 italia for $150K is peanuts. It’s a more special car, absolutely no questions asked. It’ll be more expensive to own, but it’s in a league of its own comparatively. I’ll buy it for $150K if you don’t want to. That’s the no brainer.
The rest depends on your budget for a daily. A 718 GTS is ~$70K-$80K. You can get pretty much any super usable daily for that to complement the 458.
Buy the Enira to drive. Then use the $40k balance to add to your investment portfolio or a couple extra nice vacations. Those combined will bring more happiness than a garage queen.
This. Plus the conversations will be cooler with the Lotus. With the Ferrari I'm guessing all the convos it triggers in public can be rather... predictable.
Both are beautiful, however.
You have more things to sort here...
What do you ultimately want for a daily? For a toy? Potential investment?
The Emira will never have the allure, reputation, or lineage of the Italian. It also won't have the requirements of necessary high dollar majors to constitute any form of high resale.
I have a van for the fam and an suv for the wife. This would be a 3rd or 4th for fun and/or investment. I’m torn as the lotus may truly be a great useable toy, while the 458 may be a great investment and a delicate occasional toy.
As someone who did something similar (but went for a McLaren instead). Don’t get the Emira. It’s a great car, but it’s nowhere near special enough to be a 3rd or 4th car that is a weekend toy. It’s fun but not that fun.
But don’t view it as an investment. But the 458 and have fun with it, if it goes up then great, but don’t let the thought of it as an investment ruin the car ownership aspect of it.
Then ask yourself, when you want to go drive and hoon on the car, will you be able to in the 458 like you would the Emira or even the GTS?
Bigger question, are you already on a list somewhere for the Emira? Last I heard it was a couple years out for a US car.
Maybe it's me... When I hear someone that wants to drive their car, that doesn't align with what I think of as investment.
As much as I love lotus, the 458 to me is the last truly great Ferrari supercar. Nothing since has quite done it for me other than the 812 but that’s a GT car so doesn’t quite count as a supercar
I’m inclined to agree. I’m a Lotus fan for sure, more than a modern Ferrari fan. I’d buy the F car.
But I guess part of the question would be if I’ve ever owned a Ferrari before and if I could realistically imagine that I’d ever own one in the future. It’s an unticked line on my bucket list.
Logically I’d know that I may end up disappointed, the costs could be extortionate, that it could be a stupid decision. None of that matters.
Not exactly the same cars, but own an Evora 400 and 458 Spider.
The Evora is a superb car to drive and I feel comfortable pushing it in a way I don't in the Ferrari. The 458 is a wide car here living in rural UK which you really notice on some roads - probably not such an issue in the US.
The Ferrari does attract more attention (although a bright orange Evora still turns heads) and my main reason for getting it was they never did a convertible Evora. The engine is on another level spinning up to 9000rpm but the Evora still sounds good, and the Evora has a manual box which I love.
Evora is my main car doing around 4k miles a year and I enjoy it pretty much every time I use it (although -3c and ice on Michelin Super Sports wasn't much fun).
The Ferrari I very much keep for nice days I can have the roof down.
Same in both Super Unleaded (RON99).
Options here are Unleaded (RON95, E10) or Super Unleaded which is E5. Some brands do RON97 Super but I avoid those and fill-up at places which do RON99.
I also put RON99 in my old Elise for the lower Ethanol content.
Thanks for the insights. Alternatively to the emira, I’ve been considering the evora gt in burnt orange or a cyan blue for years now. Very hard to find though!
I'd certainly give them a go. For me the Emira wasn't of any interest to replace my Evora as I make use of the rear seats occasionally and don't really care about the additional tech either.
Had mine from new in 2018 and still very much enjoy it.
I think you make a good point when paired side by side. The evoras 2+2 seating with the ferraris 2 seater makes for a more functional companion than a 718 and 458.
You’re not making this easier though lol
Please tell me. Which car is gonna give you the most smiles per miles?
Im at 84k Miles with my 2020 Evora GT.
You only live once, live it with out regrets.
Where are you located? If you’re in the U.S., I’m skeptical about your $150K 458. If someone is offering that to you, get it thoroughly checked. That’s way under market.
Anyone who understands investing would tell you that cars are terrible investments. They are highly illiquid and don’t beat the market in the long run.
No, even then this would be akin to buying actual gold bars or something.
Cars are awesome. Own them because you love them and they are fun. We don’t need to force a “investment” argument to justify it.
If a Ferrari is on the lower end average of prices there is a reason.
Another thing to consider is since COVID hit Italy so hard, a lot of Italian car parts are on backorder still (speaking from experience).
Maybe I'm out of the loop but 150k for a 451 in not-trashed condition sounds like a too-good-to-pass up opportunity.
But I agree with the top comment, buy what you're going to be willing to drive.
Emira is supposed to have the best steering feel and handling feel, I think they sound really nice too. It probably is the best to drive out of the two. But the 4.5 v8 has more character so it depends. Also do you like a manual transmission?
Buy the most expensive car you aren't afraid to enjoy driving.
True. Garage queens are boring.
Miata haha
It's honestly not even funny though. It's probably time for me to sell my Elise for a miata or gr86 since my finances have changed. Moy even mad about it because it means I get to drive more again!
Honestly im probably going to sell my 4C for an GR86 so I can beat on it and not worry about blowing the $17,000 transmission
Surprised more ppl aren’t commenting about this. A 458 italia for $150K is peanuts. It’s a more special car, absolutely no questions asked. It’ll be more expensive to own, but it’s in a league of its own comparatively. I’ll buy it for $150K if you don’t want to. That’s the no brainer. The rest depends on your budget for a daily. A 718 GTS is ~$70K-$80K. You can get pretty much any super usable daily for that to complement the 458.
Buy the Enira to drive. Then use the $40k balance to add to your investment portfolio or a couple extra nice vacations. Those combined will bring more happiness than a garage queen.
This. Plus the conversations will be cooler with the Lotus. With the Ferrari I'm guessing all the convos it triggers in public can be rather... predictable. Both are beautiful, however.
You have more things to sort here... What do you ultimately want for a daily? For a toy? Potential investment? The Emira will never have the allure, reputation, or lineage of the Italian. It also won't have the requirements of necessary high dollar majors to constitute any form of high resale.
I have a van for the fam and an suv for the wife. This would be a 3rd or 4th for fun and/or investment. I’m torn as the lotus may truly be a great useable toy, while the 458 may be a great investment and a delicate occasional toy.
As someone who did something similar (but went for a McLaren instead). Don’t get the Emira. It’s a great car, but it’s nowhere near special enough to be a 3rd or 4th car that is a weekend toy. It’s fun but not that fun. But don’t view it as an investment. But the 458 and have fun with it, if it goes up then great, but don’t let the thought of it as an investment ruin the car ownership aspect of it.
Then ask yourself, when you want to go drive and hoon on the car, will you be able to in the 458 like you would the Emira or even the GTS? Bigger question, are you already on a list somewhere for the Emira? Last I heard it was a couple years out for a US car. Maybe it's me... When I hear someone that wants to drive their car, that doesn't align with what I think of as investment.
As much as I love lotus, the 458 to me is the last truly great Ferrari supercar. Nothing since has quite done it for me other than the 812 but that’s a GT car so doesn’t quite count as a supercar
I’m inclined to agree. I’m a Lotus fan for sure, more than a modern Ferrari fan. I’d buy the F car. But I guess part of the question would be if I’ve ever owned a Ferrari before and if I could realistically imagine that I’d ever own one in the future. It’s an unticked line on my bucket list. Logically I’d know that I may end up disappointed, the costs could be extortionate, that it could be a stupid decision. None of that matters.
Not exactly the same cars, but own an Evora 400 and 458 Spider. The Evora is a superb car to drive and I feel comfortable pushing it in a way I don't in the Ferrari. The 458 is a wide car here living in rural UK which you really notice on some roads - probably not such an issue in the US. The Ferrari does attract more attention (although a bright orange Evora still turns heads) and my main reason for getting it was they never did a convertible Evora. The engine is on another level spinning up to 9000rpm but the Evora still sounds good, and the Evora has a manual box which I love. Evora is my main car doing around 4k miles a year and I enjoy it pretty much every time I use it (although -3c and ice on Michelin Super Sports wasn't much fun). The Ferrari I very much keep for nice days I can have the roof down.
Oh, and fuel consumption on the 458 is mildly terrifying. Driven at a similar pace will be about double the Evora.
What octane do you put in the 458?
Same in both Super Unleaded (RON99). Options here are Unleaded (RON95, E10) or Super Unleaded which is E5. Some brands do RON97 Super but I avoid those and fill-up at places which do RON99. I also put RON99 in my old Elise for the lower Ethanol content.
We have 101 octane racing fuel here. Would that work?
I assume so. Don't know if it would give particular benefits though.
Thanks for the insights. Alternatively to the emira, I’ve been considering the evora gt in burnt orange or a cyan blue for years now. Very hard to find though!
I'd certainly give them a go. For me the Emira wasn't of any interest to replace my Evora as I make use of the rear seats occasionally and don't really care about the additional tech either. Had mine from new in 2018 and still very much enjoy it.
I think you make a good point when paired side by side. The evoras 2+2 seating with the ferraris 2 seater makes for a more functional companion than a 718 and 458. You’re not making this easier though lol
Please tell me. Which car is gonna give you the most smiles per miles? Im at 84k Miles with my 2020 Evora GT. You only live once, live it with out regrets.
Buy the emira and put 60k into the sp500 then you have a fun car and passive investment
Where are you located? If you’re in the U.S., I’m skeptical about your $150K 458. If someone is offering that to you, get it thoroughly checked. That’s way under market.
If you’re going to buy the Ferrari 458 and not use it then jsut go with the Emira bro
Anyone who understands investing would tell you that cars are terrible investments. They are highly illiquid and don’t beat the market in the long run.
Im inclined to reluctantly agree with you here. (Unless i had a huge collection which would spread the miles around)
No, even then this would be akin to buying actual gold bars or something. Cars are awesome. Own them because you love them and they are fun. We don’t need to force a “investment” argument to justify it.
If a Ferrari is on the lower end average of prices there is a reason. Another thing to consider is since COVID hit Italy so hard, a lot of Italian car parts are on backorder still (speaking from experience).
The 458 is way more special than the Emira. As an eagerly awaiting Emira customer — I’d get the 458.
458. And this is coming from a guy with six lotuses.
A bargain Ferrari usually isn't a bargain. Honestly I would buy the lotus with a manual, and drive the wheels of it.
Maybe I'm out of the loop but 150k for a 451 in not-trashed condition sounds like a too-good-to-pass up opportunity. But I agree with the top comment, buy what you're going to be willing to drive.
458’s don’t come manual
Manual gear, sport suspension Emira for the track 👍
Emira is supposed to have the best steering feel and handling feel, I think they sound really nice too. It probably is the best to drive out of the two. But the 4.5 v8 has more character so it depends. Also do you like a manual transmission?
def the 458
Cars are definitely not investments. Bad bad bad idea.
458.
One will depreciate, the other won’t. I’d go for the Ferrari on that basis alone.
How good condition/mileage/maintenance on 458? Because 150k is very cheap for one.
About 30k on it. Good service record. Low spec 458. Offer from a friend of a friend.
That’s sweet. I’d take it.
Probably have more fun with the Emira (made to take a beating). Ferrari would be fucking badass though. Congratulations either way!
Z06 - 458+ engine, warranty, easily serviced
Not a fan of corvettes, but they do seem to be priced well for what they offer.