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All have "8" in them I have realized. I am struggling, I loved the C8 and thus joined forum in Summer 2019 on the release month of July. Now, dreaming of it I still cannot decide between brand new C8 zo6 once out or a used R8 or 458 rari. I need help. Convince me to get a C8 or otherwise.
Pick the one with the 8 in it. (Although, technically the Corvette doesn't have an 8, as that's just a generational tag used by owners/enthusiasts. Everyone else in the world just calls it a Corvette.)
Not knowledgeable on used R8 pricing or 458. So help me out, you are comparing a potential 2022 or 23 C8 Z06 at $90k ish vs what year R8 at what cost and what year 458 at what cost. My guess is if you aren't on a C8 Z06 list currently, you won't get one until year 2 or 3 of the model run so if it starts in 2022, the earliest would be 2024. If you aren't willing to wait that long, the decision may be made for you.
We don't even have specs on the C8 Z06 yet. I would not make any type of decision until you have that. But honestly, if you can swing the 458 and maintenance it would be hard not to go that route. You could always sell it for a C8 Z06 later since it could be another year or more before its released.
How is the warranty on the R8 or the 458? The choice is simple- choose the C8. The repair expense for an Audi R8 or a Ferrari 458 is ridiculous and will make you wish you had bought a new C8 with a bumper to bumper 3 year warranty and a 5 year power train warranty.
There is a reason there are plenty of used supercars on the market- people get tired of fixing them! 😁
R8 sucks and is boring. Take it completely out of the running.
C8Z should be considered only for its performance bargain. It will very very likely absolutely decimate a 458 on track, of this I have little to no doubt, but C8 as a whole platform needs to be refined to eventually offer the “experience” that a 458 will give you.
imho, the 458 is still to this day one of the absolute best Ferraris that they have ever produced. If you can get your hands on a gently used CPO 458, I wouldn’t even give a second thought to the other two.
OP keep in mind the chance of getting a C8Z right now if you are not early in the wait list at a dealer is means you are either going to have to pay the $40-100K+ markups or you will be waiting multiple years from now. If you thought C8 Stingray wait times and dealer/owner markups was bad, that will be nothing
CPO isn't as necessary on the 458 as older ferraris. My dad's 458 has 11k miles and after 7 years no issues. Little interior trim stuff but really thats it. The CPO car's are way more money. 458 is a great car but I would take the c8 all day, all you miss in the c8 is sound.
To quote Ferris Bueller, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up" in referencing the 458. You're missing out on a couple years of sports car enjoyment if you're waiting on a C8 Z06. It will be the the lower cost choice, and may knock some wind out of the Ferrari assuming it has the flat plane crank V8. The sound of the engine is a big part of the ownership, and if the Z06 comes close, it will be hotter than the C8 already is.
They R8 is a good car with the V10, don't consider the V8 version as it has no torque. The current C8 beats the standard 458 at stoplight shenanigans so I wouldn't even consider it.
I am going to suggest this because it is often neglected. Why not get a Gallardo or other older v10 Lambo over the R8? There is a healthy debate between enthusiasts and owners as to which is the more reliable car. Which tells me the advantage of reliability and management of the R8 is not as great as many may think.
Just my .02.
BUT if your decision is between those 3. I would go for the R8. A Ferrari is a classic but the R8 will put more smiles on your face.
I like my C8 HTC. That said, I had deposits at two dealerships, and I did keep one of my deposits and move it to their z06 list about six or nine months ago. Time flies waiting for GM these days lol.
Buy the 458 or R8 v10 and sell it when or if you ever take delivery of the z06. It will be a while.
R8 and gallardo are both heavy and boring for me. I drove a 6 speed gallardo spyder and all I liked was the transmission. Its not a great supercar, it's a great showoff car to rev in miami/la traffic.
Have you looked at any used 458s? They really don't age well, and maintenance will cost way, way more than a C8.
Are you buying a car to drive on a regular basis, or to polish and show? I don't have a lot of familiarity with the Audi, but the C8 is a far, far better choice than the Ferrari if you actually plan to put miles on it. Note the 11,000 miles in 7 years post above. That's not a daily driver, but is pretty typical of Ferrari owners.
Last edited by Red Mist Rulz; May 4, 2021 at 12:42 PM.
For my personal usecase, daily is an important factor.
458 to me is not a daily. Due to the limited use-case and expensive repairs/maintenance, I personally won't consider it even if the cost of acquiring was attainable. Once you own an exotic, going back will be very difficult.
R8 V10 Plus might give you the visceral and exotic experience, but the tech will be outdated relative to a C8.
Therefore...
Put an order in for a base C8 now, nicely optioned, keep it under $90K. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that the base C8 is more than enough that anyone would ever need in a mid-engine car, at an affordable price that can be used as a daily. This is why I decided to pull the trigger on a base C8, vs. other high end cars or waiting for a C8 Z06.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
HELP: C8 vs R8 vs 458
If an actual quandary among the three, draw straws and move on. 
All the best, in any event. 
