Ferrari 488 Spider 2016 review

Craig Duff road tests and reviews of the Ferrari 488 Spider with performance, fuel consumption and verdict.

The supermodel supercar is for those with $600k and two years of waiting.

Wealthy hedonists don't like to stand in line, so the fact that they line up to wait two years for a Ferrari 488 Spider says a lot about the car.

The convertible successor to the famous supermodel 458 looks with supercar performance. It also costs $526,888 before you start the options list. When you part with so many coins, losing $22,000 for red metallic paint or $2700 for yellow brake calipers doesn't seem to be much of a concern.

Ferrari Australia boss Herbert Appleroth says customers spend an average of $67,000 to personalize their cars. I would add an $4990 reversing camera, invest $8900 in a suspension lift kit, and upgrade the audio for $10,450.

The interior is driver-focused to the point where the passenger can't even control the audio system.

The Spider's focal point at parties is the retractable hardtop. It's hard to tell if the rear of the coupe or convertible looks better.

In my opinion, the Spider's flying buttresses give it a more purposeful look...but it comes at the cost of a see-through coupe lid that reveals a midship twin-turbo V8. The volume of each cylinder is 488 cmXNUMX, hence the name.

The hardtop takes about 14 seconds to operate at speeds up to 45 km/h, although mechanical sympathy suggests it shouldn't be checked regularly.

The interior is driver-focused to the point where the passenger can't even control the audio system. It's not like there's much need for music when you can drop the roof or, if conditions rule it out, lower the glass air deflector behind the seats to enjoy the exhilarating V8 soundtrack.

The twin turbos boost power and torque over the outgoing model, but the extra boost comes from some of the sonic theatrics usually associated with the Prancing Horse brand.

Ferrari's biggest recent achievement is to expand the capabilities of cars for everyday use.

There's rarely any reason to whip a V8 Spider anywhere near the redline, where naturally aspirated Ferraris usually let out their most heart-rending wail.

It's a minor complaint that you won't even know about once Ferrari starts tracking corners.

On the way to

Ferrari's biggest recent achievement is to expand the capabilities of cars for everyday use.

In the Spider's case, the lack of turbo lag, even with the drive mode selector set to the softest wet setting and instant throttle response, means it can laze around the CBD or dive into the gap with equal aplomb.

Meanwhile, the "bumpy road" button on the steering wheel adjusts the dampers to cope with train or tram tracks and the bumps in city roads.

Ferrari accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds.

Left to its own devices, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic happily shifts into short gears in all but full throttle conditions. Peak torque is reached at 3000 rpm, and fifth gear is already engaged at 60 km/h.

Bend your right leg and the 488 drops gears as fast as it accelerates. At this point, the digital speedometer has problems with pulse matching.

No wonder, given that the Ferrari sprints from 100 to 3.0 km/h in just XNUMX seconds.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S convertible and the McLaren 650S convertible are two of the few cars that can keep up with the 488 Spider in full noise.

It's about as much fun as open-top driving can be. You pay for the privilege, and Ferrari guards the secret of its brand, ensuring that only a few will own it.

What car would you wait two years to get behind the wheel? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Click here for more pricing and spec information on the 2016 Ferrari 488 Spider.