Used 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider for sale 

The 2017 Ferrari 488 Spider is available in only a single trim. The engine on duty is a 3.9L turbo V8 paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch auto shifter. The engine might have lost some of the charms of the naturally aspirated predecessor, but it still is largely fun to drive. The new and improved 7-speed dual-clutch transmission gives way for no criticism and is as good as any gearboxes you'll find on the best of the best sports cars.

There are a plethora of strikeout features on the 488 GTB. The convertible cover, being a hard top, still manages to perfectly integrate itself into the body lines of the vehicle. The new front wing crests in a way that improves the outward view even better than that of the predecessor. On the inside, the dashboard layout is mostly driver-centric. The sheer size of the rev counter dwarfs everything on the front interior. The dash is generously doused with a lot of carbon fiber elements that do the job of keeping the weight in check while giving an aesthetic oomph to the overall interior of the car.

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Not much to recommend here, since the final inlay of this handsome sports car is made-to-measure your personal demands. Almost all of the amenities are provided as a standard, and there is hardly anything to choose from in electronics. However, the range of customization options extends from color to interior insert materials, which can be bought to suit your style.

Lift the bonnet of the Ferrari 488 Spider, and you bear witness to the iconic 3.9L Turbo V8 unit that is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The motor produces 660 hp and 560 lb.-ft of torque. This exclusive setup produces linear power all the way from 2,000 rpm, and redlining the east all the way to the 8,000 rpm is a delight as always.

Turns out it's the same engine that is used in the standard 488 GTB, and as we have seen it already in the GTB, the engine is really a marvel. It does not feel turbocharged at all, and the instantaneous response time with a surge of power every time you put down your foot is simply breathtaking. The sound now features a lot of bass notes to it rather than the shrill whining of the outgoing naturally aspirated motor from the 458 Spider. 

As compared with the rivals, the 488 spider is both the most powerful and most expensive amongst them. While all the cars feature a turbo motor, the Aston Martin Vantage S Roadster is the only one to feature a 6.0L naturally aspirated V12 motor. Gear shifting duties in all the cars are taken care of by a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in the Ferrari is already much revered for its amazing response and thrilling gear shifts.

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider Acceleration

Ferrari 488 Spider is actually one of the easiest sports cars to drive especially due to how easily and effortlessly it accelerates. Unlike most supercars, the acceleration on the Ferrari does not take a hard physical toll on the driver. That being said, it still maintains one of the quickest line performances in the segment.

Then again, obviously, there is nothing that can constrain a Ferrari out on the roads, but this enthusiasm bears a pivotal cost. The returns made in the name of nature is quite aggravating, and not with the turbocharger in place, it is all the more prominent. The 9.8 Tons per year of CO2 emissions are plenty given the craze that one needs to be fulfilled. 

Although the Ferrari 488 is one the lightest in the segment, it's the 911 turbo S Cabriolet that beats the Ferrari by 2/10th of a second on a 0-60 mph run. While the McLaren 570s is only 1/10 of a second slower the Aston Martin Vantage is almost a second slower than the 488 Spider. While Ferrari stands close behind Porsche in 0-60 mph, it catches up in the quarter-mile race.

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider Ride and Handling

Chopping off the metal roof and adding that folding roof mechanism adds a penalty of over 100 lbs, but the chassis has been stiffened at certain points to not compromise on the drivability from the coupe. However, you can always tell the difference in the dynamics from the coupe as the car tends to be a little more wobbly now. Do not get us wrong, the car still handles like a dream. It's just not as good as the coupe. The springs have been carried on unchanged from the coupe. 

As with every modern Ferrari, you get a bumpy road mode, which makes the ride composed and comfortable when you need it. Put it in the sportier modes, and it always remains a driver's delight. Of course, it's not as good as the coupe but it's still very fun and the wind in your hair would just accentuate that feeling even more.

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider Braking

As fast as it goes, the Ferrari needs an incredible amount of force to bring it down to a stop. The brakes on the Ferrari 488 Spider feature a 15.7-inch rotor on the front and a 16.1-inch rotor on the rear. A light push on the brake pedal provides an instant response from the brakes. The brakes are not stingy at all and provide optimum braking efficiency.

On paper with rivals, the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is the only vehicle to marginally better the 60-0 mph distance of the Ferrari at 93 feet in comparison to 94 feet of the 488 Spider. Both the McLaren and the Aston Martin are some way off from the segment leaders, with Vantage standing last with 114 ft of braking distance.

Obviously, the fuel economy should be of little concern with this quarter of million-dollar sports cars. That being said, the inclusion of a turbocharger has bettered the fuel economy of the 488 Spider as compared to the outgoing model. But, it still remains as one the least fuel economic cars in the segment.

It is the 911 turbo S Cabriolet that leads the way here with a combined mileage of 21 mpg. Second in line is the McLaren 570s while being closely followed by the Ferrari 488 Spider. The gatekeeper of the segment is the Aston Martin Vantage with the least efficient motor, measuring a combined mileage of 14 mpg.

The Ferrari 488 Spider features a carbon fiber seat layout. The view from the inside is as flexible as one would desire. The lumbar support lump is bound to irk a few buyers but the overall layout of the interior allows vast spaces on the inside. The dashboard is fully driver-centric and most of the information is visible only to the driver with just an ac vent popping out for the passenger.

Ferrari says that nothing should be distracting the driver from the driving experience of this car, and we can indeed appreciate Ferrari for ditching a center screen when all other manufacturers are opting for larger and larger ones. The cabin is essentially carried forward unchanged from the GTB coupe, but now you are blessed with the absence of a roof to let some wind in your hair while you whiz down the road at great speeds.

Unfortunately, the official figures for interior dimensions are kept quite confidential by manufacturers like Ferrari and Mclaren. However, considering how the 458 fared in terms of space and comfort, we can certainly rely on its upgrade to be even more than that. Besides, looking at the dimensions of the puny Porsche 911 Turbo S, it is only valid if the Ferrari could do better. Few key features include-

• Multi-purpose steering wheel
• Carbon fiber seats
• Multi-display speedometer
• Dual-zone climate control
• Big round rev counter.

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider Infotainment

The multi-purpose steering wheel laden with all the buttons is what most owners will use to control most of the features on the car. The A/C controls and audio controls can also be controlled via the knobs that are placed in the center of the dashboard. There is no standalone screen as the instrument cluster houses two screens that double up to display the sat nav and other information. Some features that can be distinctly talked about are as follows:

• Alcantara Upholstery For Upper Zone
• Full Electric Seats
• Sport Front Seats
• Rev Counter In Red/Yellow/White
• Premium HI-FI Sound System
• Apple CarPlay
• Passenger Display
• Diamond Pattern Style Seats

2017 Ferrari 488 Spider Cargo Volume

The Ferrari 488 Spider is a hard-top convertible and is not expected to carry a lot of stuff in the boot. Truly speaking, it indeed does allow for a lot of stuff in the boot, but it still manages a modest 8.1 cube-feet of boot space. Ferrari stands at the top of the rivals in the department.

The Ferrari 488 Spider actually features the biggest boot amongst the rivals. The second best in the segment, the McLaren 570s features a boot space of only 5.3 cubic-feet which is far less than the segment leader.

Ferrari isn't known for making the most beautiful sports cars, but somehow they always manage to get their mid-engined V8 sports cars absolutely bang on. The 488 Spider looks essentially like the coupe except for the roof and engine cover. The shark fin-like extensions from the anti-roll bars look stunning and there are some air splits on the engine cover. It is also a delight to watch that hard-top folding roof go up and down in all its glory.

Being a mid-engine two-door sports car, the dimension and the weight of the car are wonderfully balanced. It only seems to pop out when the electronic aids are disabled. The aero package on the car deserves a special mention as well as it does a fantastic job of maintaining enough downforce when the car hits high speeds.

While Ferrari 488 Spider weighs in at 3362 lbs. even its drop-top guise, the McLaren 570s still takes the cake with a segment-best curb weight of 3303 lbs. The heaviest in the segment is the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet at 3682 lbs.Major exterior features include-

• Air intakes for the intercooler
• Convertible hardtop
• Rear fixed spoiler
• Front spoilers
• Dual rear exhausts

Although none of the safety agencies rate the Ferrari 488 Spider, but being a quarter of a million-dollar Ferrari Roadster, you can expect absolutely no compromise on the safety standard. The car features a carbon fiber build throughout, so there is no question of the stability of the structure of the car. There are a host of passive and active safety features as well that keep the vehicle in check. Few important features available with the convertible are-

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• F1-Trac ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Front and Rear Parking Sensors
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags w/Passenger Off Switch
• Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Door-Mounted Side Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety

Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet vs Ferrari 488 Spider

The 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is a car that has seen evolution throughout the decades and has finally evolved to its present age. The car features signature German styling, but there is no denying that is far off of what Porsche enthusiasts would consider a true Porsche. Neither hp nor the torque figures match that of the Ferrari 488 Spider. Overall, the Ferrari looks much more like a thoroughbred roadster than the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. All in all, if money is no constraint and practicality can take a back seat, the Ferrari 488 Spider seems to be the obvious choice.

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster vs Ferrari 488 Spider

The Aston Martin Vantage is one of the very few cars of the day that features a naturally aspirated V12 motor. But, it honestly can't get away from the fact that it is an aging machine as of now. Even after featuring the bigger engine, the power stats are far less than what other machines in the segment produce. Even when it comes to the interior, the age of the car shows. Although the materials used and overall layout is still top-notch but it still isn't as sharp as what one would expect out of a sports car.

McLaren 570s vs Ferrari 488 Spider

The McLaren 570s is a car that both looks good and drives even better. The dynamic nature of the car and its agility is unmatched even by more expensive sports cars. Not only is it a delight to drive on the race track, but it's equally comfortable on the road as well. It features a generous dose of carbon fiber and aluminum alloys throughout. Not only that, the car is much cheaper than the Ferrari while essentially offering equivalent performance to the 488 Spider. All in all, the Ferrari should be your choice if open-air thrills and a superior looking car is what you desire. Otherwise, the McLaren 570s is a car that simply can't be ignored while you go looking for a sports car.

Even after dumping its naturally aspirated motor, the Ferrari 488 Spider has managed to keep its charm. The engine is now more powerful, the car handles better than ever, and there is really not much to complain about at all. The hard-top puts it in a segment where very few cars exist as most of them comprise a soft top. The Ferrari 488 Spider is a perfect combination of beauty and power. There are not a lot of cars that match the pedigree of the mighty Ferrari 488 Spider.