It's useable and friendly at slow speeds, copes beautifully with motorways and serious mileage, and even the automatic function on the seven-speed DSG paddleshift is pretty darn good.
Performance
It's powered by a 4.5-litre V8 sitting just behind the head, and stumps up 570bhp and 398lb ft of torque, leading to quite extreme speed: 0-62mph takes just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. And despite the lopping of the roof, the Spider posts the same benchmark times. Positively sears on road, or track.
Cool
Yes.
Quality
There have been some concerns about electrics in early cars, but these should hopefully have been solved by now.
Handling
Although the 458 is the kind of pretty that can make people bump into things and fall off kerbs, the driving is where this car really scores. An engine that variously growls, screams, sings and howls, a chassis that rewards and excites, sublime steering - the baby Ferrari really does appear to have it all.
Practicality
The seats are extremely comfortable and supportive, there's a decent 230-litre luggage compartment up front, the fuel tank is a sufficient 86 litres and there's no reason not to do a big trip in one go.
Running costs
It costs £173,000 to start with, and with a 4.5-litre V8, fuel costs will be high. Insurance costs will be high. Servicing costs will be high. But you will pay them, because the 458 looks fantastic, sounds astonishing, drives brilliantly, is absurdly fast and, to sum, quite brilliant.
