Ferrari 488 Pista Spider Review: This is NOT What I Expected

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Today I drive what might be the most desirable and beautiful Ferrari of the last decade -the 488 Pista, which in convertible spider form is all things to all people - but what is it actually like?
#Ferrari #Pista #V8
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

[@vibingwithvinyl]

Nine(!) porn scam bots already in the comments. Maybe you should consider banning them.

[@ctr289]

The 12 cilindri looks way better than F12.

[@alancrisp1582]

Please remove the porn scammers from your channel. Because it just makes it look cheap !.sad 😔 really....

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Hopefully Ferrari do better - it's a bit sad that a car manufacturer can't compete with a n energy drinks company in the worlds most prestigious car racing championship.

[@alancrisp1582]

@@vibingwithvinyl 🤔 He could remove the porn Bots, like many other channels do. But sadly he just leaves them ! ⚠..

[@waxmax117]

This thing looks like a road going Navy Blue Angel. Absolutely gorgeous spec.

[@joshuasterling2144]

I have always been a sucker for the blue and yellow combo, always visually welcome in my eyes.

[@hellatightdude]

Haha perfect analogy, it really does

[@thomashall7035]

the 488 Pista is one of the few cars I really want. They look the absolute business- especially in darker shades.

[@lucaswilkinson7382]

The best looking modern Ferrari

[@DevKumar-bi2ld]

Definitely one of the best with f12 tdf ,812 comp and sp3

[@yebzy]

I raise you the Daytona Monza SP3

[@jkliao6486]

Agree wholeheartedly

[@Jay-xr3sb]

LaFerrari

[@zzhughesd]

It just is something isn’t it. And the colour. Before the sound. And the stripe. Hmmmmmmmm. Unsure how you could crab ( dislike one ) unless a hater. Of course. They could. A hater would hate a free car. A free lunch.

[@renaissancechambara]

Ferrari also turbo charged the 308 GTB in Italy as a 2.0 litre V8 due to Italian tax laws. (Early models also had fibre glass composite panels. The 288 GTO was turbocharged as well. So there is much more heritage there than people give them credit for.

[@CarsLDN]

308 GTB turbo version is known as the the 208 GTB Turbo.

[@ireneparker5226]

If you have the money and really want a Pista, then great. If not a 488 GTB is literally 95% or so of a Pista. Seems like Jay indirectly alluded to that as well.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

On the road it feels that way

[@huzcer]

Hint : the clue is in the name 😂

[@DRUGMONEYMILLIONAIR1]

No way. Not true

[@DRUGMONEYMILLIONAIR1]

The pista is so firm, responsive and a phenomenal drive

[@mikeelliott886]

I mean, obviously? That's literally the entire MO of the special edition mid engined V8 Ferraris. The second hand prices are simply a reflection of rarity.

[@LurchLures]

On British roads with speed cameras, horses, high hedges, blind bends, tractors, potholes, cyclists, geese etc etc you are rarely going to be able to red line cars like this in anything above second gear, third at most. And with power like that the fun will be over in very very few seconds. So for non track cars things like sound, feedback, balance and beauty become more important than sheer performance.

[@eastbaystreet1242]

Yes - the dangers you describe make your comment true in the States as well. For most of us, it is about the overall aesthetic, which as you say is "sound, feedback, balance and beauty". My AMG S63 Cab is the same - from time to time it is possible to open it up, but mostly it is about cruising in a phat ride.

[@kmacca-qldaus]

For half the money you could buy Lamborghini 3 litre Urraco. No lousy cam belt that needs to be regularly changed, wonderful timing chains, a magnificent soundtrack revving to 7500rpm sublime handling and a lot more storage space for weekend trips away with the wife/ girlfriend or both The editor of 'Octane' magazine reckoned it was the best 'sports' car he'd ever driven.

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

Totally agree. 488 is gorgeous but more fun to be had in a Elise 250, on UK roads. Mainly because a Elise fits on a B road.

[@nickrichardson1317]

Owners take them into Europe. Join SCD Club to access events for fast cars.

[@nickrichardson1317]

Yes. My Ferrari is 36 years old. 270 bhp manual. I’ve renewed the suspension. It’s fast enough and handles nicely. It’s inexpensive to run. It cost £31k and it now worth £38k. It’s wonderful on country lanes as it’s narrow. Chris Harris has one. It’s a 1988 Mondial 3.2QV Coupe. Chris has the Cabriolet version. You don’t need to spend big money to have a wonderful Ferrari that work well on UK roads.

[@craigdellapenna7103]

288 GTO most beautiful car of all time imo

[@zubairhaffejee1707]

I'd go with that

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Yeah I can see the argument

[@OneWayToPeaceOrthodoxy]

300sl Roadster.

[@jonathanstamp]

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33!

[@pouyarusian-wl4sn]

F355

[@peteromara642]

Best thing about this car..it makes my 7k nc mx5 look great value for money 😊

[@jonaohana3376]

Own one of these for the last few years … it’s the ONLY car and I own em all, that has ZERO lag, I call it the only NA turbo engine

[@GT380man]

JayEmm, I wanted to say how very highly I rate your channel. Thank you for your continuing enthusiasm for your subject. I particularly enjoy your review of quirky, sometimes almost classic cars which cost very little, reminding us how much fun hustling a car of modest performance along a quiet, rural road.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks. I enjoy a great variety

[@brentcowan8077]

The sound of ICE can never be replaced!!!!!

[@Tracertme]

I think the software mapping is less to do with giving you a NA experience and more to do with keeping traction in each gear on rear wheel drive only. 😊

[@AntoniusTyas]

That spec with the painted shield looks fantastic. So far I have never seen a badly-specced Pista, and the styling suits Spider form really rather well. And this thing is devastatingly fast. Terrifyingly so.

[@ukpitts]

I have driven 458 & F8 spiders & they are as stiff as jello with the roof down. Not my thing at all, but I am glad they exist.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

981 S/GTS boxster is plenty stiff

[@EliPerlman]

Love your videos man, they really inspire me.

[@TexasRiverRat31254]

That new Ferrari looks as if i was designed by the same group that did the C-8 corvette debacle. Drew everything with a straight edge.

[@roystrandberg2091]

Been watching your channel for a while. Thanks for doing the work and posting it for us to enjoy!

[@geraint8989]

Start with very fast car. Pay extra for lightweight, track-focused version. Then pay even more to add back weight and lose rigidity. It’s a looks-only thing.

[@cnvdh3514]

The 488 was built on the same chassis as the 458 so Ferrari didnt have redo all the crash testing. The upgraded the suspension and replaced the N/A V8 with a turbo V8, changed the styling a bit and called it a day. The 488 is life cycle refresh (as some would call it)

[@Calilasseia]

My first thought ... You see SO many Ferraris in Rosso Corsa. An endless sea of them, with possibly the odd black one thrown in for good measure. This blue one I think is GORGEOUS, and I now REALLY want to know what other Ferrari models would look like in this shade of blue. (Tangential diversion: there's an iridescent blue butterfly from Peru that REALLY got me hooked on metallic blue things - I digress). I would have mine without the yellow bits if possible (and if that Euro Millions win put me in the realm of actually buying one of course), but otherwise, yes, this to me is UTTERLY GLORIOUS. That it puts a smile on your face when you drive it is, for me, more of a bonus than the primary attraction - in this shade of blue, it's Scarlett Johansson on wheels. I wouldn't even need it to be an especially fast part of the Ferrari lineup, to me it's gorgeous enough even without the excellent dynamics. It's a rare and stupendous piece of art in this colour to my eyes! By the way ... than new 12 cylinder with the funny name ... I look at it and think that they've tried to revive the old Daytona lines for the modern era, but how well they've succeeded, hmm, have to think about that. Will have to wait to see one in the hands of a (presumably extremely rich) paying customer before being sure, as opposed to a pre production one. Back to the Pista Spider ... if I couldn't have a blue one, I'd want to see other colour options before being forced down the Rosso Corsa route. Somehow suspect red would be a let down for me after this one! But as for the fun, noisy bits ... probably more fun and noise than I'd be capable of using if I'm honest, but nice to have anyway. Though my next question would be repair bills ... this one looks pricey in that department even by Ferrari standards. This would be my mad indulgence if Euro Millions blessed me with a fat jackpot, but for now, I'll content myself gazing at that beautiful blue ...

[@rorzf1butler781]

I have to disagree with the new 12 cylinder. It’s absolutely stunning.

[@timmietz]

Best looking sub $1MM modern Ferrari. SP 1/2 are even more special but that a very different price bracket:

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

A mate brought one of these over and I took it for a rip on my favourite road. Was frankly a bit too fast to really enjoy in my first drive, made a GT3 feel completely pedestrian. But was it more fun? No way.

[@KC-lg8qf]

Jay em.....we need to see you on some new roads!

[@Driffttt]

The 12 cylinder purosangue and Daytona sp3 are ugly af

[@sportzntouring]

Love these! One of my favourite modern Ferraris. And, as you say, the styling fixes the few things that are wrong with the 488's looks. The Pista is one of my dream cars.

[@robmowe8090]

Are you trying to one up Seen Through Glass? 🤣. Nice video

[@michaelh31]

Driven both & a Great & truthful review the 488 is Epic ! & the Pista is too but it simply isn’t worth double the money it’s worth 25% over the 488 at best

[@apb3251]

Even with my over 10 years no claims and in a low risk area this is still £8k a year insurance for sub 2k miles per year. Can get others with similar performance for half that insurance

[@youvegotwood]

The 12 Cilindri Coupe is ok, but the Spider is marvelous!

[@Marc-qp4br]

Great review and a great spec!

[@Lou-f]

The 12C looks amazing, especially with the non diamond cut wheels. Too me.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY J 🙏🙏

[@joshuasterling2144]

I think the Roma is the prettiest one of the bunch when it comes to pure elegance and design.

[@devd6373]

personally cant stand the roma

[@JStryker7]

Agreed, but the interior really lets it down. The screens and lack of buttons are huge misses

[@simonshaffer]

Further great work!

[@patrickj5731]

That is one extremely sexy automobile. There’s no way you can get out of it and not keep looking back at it. Thank you for sharing.👍👍👍

[@drumdone]

How is the driving position? I'm not sure if its the camera angle but looks like you could headbutt the top of the windscreen whilst braking?

[@shammaharaj810]

Great video

[@nathandepasquale9571]

Absolutely stunning machine. Great spec 👌

[@chiganuggoo9929]

Ikea Edition 488 Pista...what a beauty!

[@jai2256]

What a superb spec tantalizing me with an emotional outburst. I am lusting over this and I have a Pista coupe in Scuderia red...!

[@tastypymp1287]

'This is actually a very practical car....'

[@user-dc9pg1xz4f]

beautiful ride , love to see more of the personal collection , also buy a corvette

[@jamesmartinwyatt]

I really hope you do get your hands on a 458 Speciale - it seems like The One.

[@amospizzey1]

I owned a 16M Best drivers car I’ve had ( on both road and track )

[@robinchiang6252]

If this is a typo, then WOW: 166MM was the holy grail to me. That's a blood and guts car. If not, then I need to learn what a 16M is.

[@Stijn5]

@@robinchiang6252 16M.

[@Corvolet5]

​@@robinchiang6252 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider is my guess

[@amospizzey1]

@@robinchiang6252 scuderia spider stunning car

[@elwingy]

The main problem with the 12cilindri is the damn moustache in the front... who the hell thought this was a good idea i wonder....

[@alexandremacedo5737]

What is your opinion comparing it to the F8 Tributo?

[@taotoo2]

Would look great in the lidl carpark, or dropping you off for your ryanair flight

[@dj_zioneer5853]

Awesome spec

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

Brilliant!!!

[@sgtgrash]

That colour scheme is flippin' gorgeous... 👍

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

Love the way Italians love and support their Italian car makers. Germans will always support VW group or Merc engineering.

[@Finkjam]

If only it sounded as good as it looked.

[@InternetEntity]

But it seems to make a reversing beep very similar to my microwave finishing the countdown for a tin of baked beans.

[@chrisl2681]

Beautiful car - definitely one that does thrill me and I'm so glad you reviewed it. As for Hamilton? No. Ferrari made a mistake with the whole thing.

[@deanchur]

If things keep going the way they are then I think Lewis might be thinking that as well; Mercedes has made gains the last few races at Ferrari's expense.

[@sultanoftippoo3857]

Lewis is undoubtedly not at the peak he once was (certainly in qualifying) but I’ll reserve judgement until we’re a few races into the 2026 season.

[@vindevhunta4905]

good looking,Good sounding . V8 goodness…dying breed I don’t like the direction the automotive industry is heading !!

[@nonjajay2944]

Lovely

[@dcode1000]

am i the only one that thinks the 296 will go down as one of the most beautiful car ferrari made since the 458? yep seems like it

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Yea I think you are

[@DueGreg]

I am with you, and it sounds better

[@dworkin7110]

Even though I wasn't keen on the 296 at first I now think the 296 is stunning. It is more feminine/curvy than the Pista, far less aggressive but the sound is amazing and it is far quicker.

[@dworkin7110]

@@JayEmmOnCars Oh I don't think so Jay.

[@Corvolet5]

Nah, the 296 looks way too much like a McLaren. Switch the badges and you would barely notice a difference. As for the looks it's alright. Doesn't strike me. And it has the wrong engine. People only like it because of how fast it is, yet uncontrollable everywhere outside a highway.

[@All_Together_Now]

Jay I feel like you’re fairly skeptical of a lot of new designs and with time I really think the 12 cilindri will grow on you. I think it’s absolutely beautiful, the black cladding is off putting at first but I think it will become its calling card over the years.

[@Mike-sg9tl]

What a lovely Ferrari ❤

[@n0cturnalgamer]

not sure on the IKEA spec personally but each to their own. These are fantastic, fantastic cars indeed, and I think there is hope for normal folk to eventuall own one. The same 20-30 pista coupe cars have been sloshing about on autotrader for the last 2 years, none of which have sold, which tells me that eventually the price will drop. Amari sold a very lovely black one recently and within 3 months it was back on the market again for the exact same price which is odd. It also appears that no one has actually driven one, given the milage average on AT being so bloody low. It such a shame, go out there and drive your ferraris people!

[@passivehouseaustralia4406]

Quickest turbo ever! Porsche 912.2 GTS with E-Turbo Hybrid...... HOLD MY BEER!

[@CaneBTC]

Yep. That's a proper car that. Does it start though, after it's 60s bootup

[@kyleholloway3470]

The turbos really do rob this thing of noise. It sounds so dull compared to the 458.

[@OdyTypeR]

That's a fair criticism. It's also a high bar. So it's the (arguably, obviously) _second_-best sounding V8 in the world? Ok. Wouldn't kick it out of bed. (Literally I would move my mattress to the garage to sleep with it. And by choice, not because the wife made me. 😂)

[@pierredebug17]

I understand the appeal of the NA, but for me the turbos whistle at full blast is great. Like noise? Buy a 355, the best sounding V8 Ferrari IMHO.

[@origami_vibez]

@@kyleholloway3470 they sound like a v4 or v6, what a shame

[@detaart]

@@OdyTypeR It really isn't. Anyone who's ACTUALLY heard them in real life knows they sound like a four cylinder.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@OdyTypeR the 458 sounds awful anyway. Just a harsh, ugly blare.

[@jkutv]

Nice spec 458 is the one all day. Looks "value" and performance. 458 is peak modern Ferrari style wise.

[@iphoie]

Wonderful car overall, no doubt!! But I don’t like how they designed the S duct. It looks fugly….😢

[@JStryker7]

The 458 looks better than the 488, but the Pista looks better than the 488 and Speciale. I’d still go for the Speciale

[@Bmontepeque11]

You know, that bit at the end with the "It's certainly a great car! But perhaps not so raw" or not so fun even, is my problem with modern supercars I love them of course, but all of them just give the feeling that, they are no longer driving machines, they are modern, insulated trophies for how wealthy you are, so you no longer buy a Ferrari, go to a mountain road and DESTROY the mountain road. You instead buy a Ferrari, and cruise arround towns running errands and take photos of it for your IG :) And the same happens with 911s now, I feel like Super Cars have become too capable and too good for the normal world, so unless you are at a race track, they aren't so fun. So to me, I have looked into Sports Cars for my PEAK driving experience. Namely, cars like the GR 86, Cayman and even though this crosses the line as a trophy: the 911 GT3s and S/T. Not to say I wouldn't want a Super Car, but they just aren't the same anymore 🤔

[@JK-fv9xk]

You compared the looks against the cilindre. But didn’t give your thoughts on the 296 looks

[@jamesengland7461]

PURPLE ❤❤❤

[@paulgart]

Get any McLaren spider if you don’t want scuttle shake 😉👍

[@stuartlloyd-jones9583]

Carbo fibre tub negates a majority of the usual soft top torsion rigidity issues, which this has). Mclaren did the same and their soft top variants perform just as well (675lt as an example)

[@Stijn5]

Maybe, but they're still just McLarens.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@Stijn5 still better looking than the Ferraris.

[@Stijn5]

@@richardharrold9736 Lol, McLarens look boring as f. Plus all look nearly identical.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@Stijn5 better boring but tasteful than trying too hard to be different and ending up with something eye-gougingly hideous, which is what happened with the 458.

[@Stijn5]

@@richardharrold9736 McLarens aren't tasteful and their quality and reliability are crap. Not for nothing McLarens depreciate so fast.

[@addj7093]

IKEA / Sweden 🇸🇪 spec 👌

[@shahzadrashid7178]

The owner needs to get the novitec exhaust if he wants a more aggressive sounding car like the lambos. It'll make it perfect 👌🏽

[@richardharrold9736]

@@shahzadrashid7178 you'll never make a turbo flat-plane V8 wail like a naturally-aspirated V10, best just keep it as quiet as possible.

[@mosmarb]

The V8 Ferraris have been getting worse looking ever since the F430, this included. The F430 added some edges to the 360's curves and looks like a baby Enzo to a degree - after that, aero dominated style.

[@Birmingham_racing]

I would still pick the 458

[@_IMNNO]

Gotta love the IKEA spec.

[@PaulAndBiscuit]

Gotta take these cars to the weigh bridge to find out anything about weights. Italians always lie by several hundred kilos.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@PaulAndBiscuit they always quote dry weighs and it's always a base spec car with tyres filled with helium... and even then, I suspect they fudge the figures.

[@ricsu3462]

Thank you for the review. So pista is a pretty 488 it sounds like. It was never on my dream list of cars: naturally aspirated, high reving, somewhat raw and useable supercar. For the money there are many cars out there before i consider a pista, but i gotta say that's a thing of beauty: The only ferrari that I think is beautiful post-pininfarina, absolute no interest in anything that came out from maranello past 2016

[@Jay-xr3sb]

I can't even use the full performance of my 981S

[@techniqueswithtodd]

HELP!! Not seeing your videos on my feed anymore!!! Don't know why.

[@rogerreed905]

Maserati mc12 for me please . . (I get the price difference) . Its about as affordable for me as this one . .

[@Tiax776]

Why the hell does it beep while in reverse?

[@matthewlatter2727]

Pista is the best car I’ve owned. Feels mega special and I would say very engaging so disagree with your comments. Best looking Ferrari too. Basically you feel like the king.

[@resnonverba137]

Looks-wise I'd probably take this over the 458. Purosangue aside, I'd definitely take it over any of Ferrari's modern monstrosities.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@resnonverba137 not even the Purosangue is quite as hideous as the 458. It's close, but the 458 is still the fugliest Ferrari ever made.

[@MrRakaukolis]

And what to do for those of us who can't really afford a rear wheel of a 650S?

[@richardharrold9736]

@@MrRakaukolis MX-5? MR2? Maybe a Boxster/Cayman if you're feeling brave?

[@sB-te8hz]

Best looking modern Ferrari since 458

[@Jay-xr3sb]

LaFerrari

[@Corvolet5]

​@@Jay-xr3sb LaFerrari looks like it was designed by a 12 year old

[@Leonardo555ZZZZ]

At 13.15 ...changed hands ...

[@neiladam2832]

Going to have to disagree with you strongly on the looks of the 12 cylinder Jay. I thinks it’s beautiful. Elegant and simple. Free of stupid ducts and canards.

[@user-wp1fl5op1o]

Aesthetic is always a matter of taste. In my opinion, the 12 cilindri berlinetta is the ugliest Ferrari twelve cylinders ever. Pininfarina will be regretted for ever

[@neiladam2832]

@@user-wp1fl5op1o guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree 😊👍

[@dworkin7110]

12 Cylindri looks aweome, very pure design.

[@user-wp1fl5op1o]

Yess@@neiladam2832

[@S2000Y]

Vastly overvalued imho

[@F8Tributo]

Best looking Ferrari is the one you got!

[@blackjacket_]

I find F12 to be really messy in design. Front-end does not play with the design of the center, and back-end seems like they tucked on whatever they found and added that weird center design on rear bumper. 12 cilindri uses same design elements throughout the whole body.

[@stevenpike7530]

Pretty colour…

[@resnonverba137]

0:55 'Miles' an hour.

[@rae-catto]

Despite the lack of 2 cylinders i think the 296 is better than the 488 and F8. But neither come close to the 458.

[@richardharrold9736]

@@rae-catto none of them are as goppingly hideous as the 458, that's for sure. One of the fugliest cars ever made.

[@jongmans38]

Paint it in Rossi red and I am sold.

[@jamesford6578]

You mean Rossi blue?

[@brentpowell7889]

The Pista looks great, however having driven the Pista, they just aren’t as engaging to drive, they are very easy to drive fast, don’t agree checkout Chris Harris vs McLaren 600LT Top Gear, having owned a 600LT for 2.5 years, if it’s driving dynamics it’s the McLaren every-time 👍.

[@JEZ288]

I like these but for the life of me i cannot fathom why these are 1m AUD

[@cyuiyuwyguiyui8540]

The sound, or lack of sound should be taken care of..

[@nonick8490]

Completely disagree on the 12 Cilindri, I love that shape, it's SOOO "Daytona" 365 GTB!