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Often overshadowed by the 488 Pista and 296 GTB, the F8 is rarer than both, but what is it like to drive and how does it compare in today's market?
The Ferrari F8 Spider is often overshadowed by the hardcore 488 Pista, and has since been replaced by the 296 GTB, leaving it almost forgotten in Ferrari's mid-engined lineage. Paul's new video on the F8 Spider (complete with 830hp and Novitec exhaust) had us thinking about the rare F8 against the Pista and 296 on the used market. Despite more being produced, Pista values are hugely bolstered by its lightweight status, and you could be paying around 50% more than an F8 for one, despite much of its tech being passed down to the F8 in a more usable package.
On the flipside, 296 values have nosedived and thew newer, more technically advanced model can be had for the same money as an F8, but does all that power and tech come at the expense of real-world emotion and reliability? If you’re tempted by a mid-enginged Ferrari, check out our picks below, otherwise, watch the video, then come back to check them out once Paul has convinced you!
Ok, strictly speaking, the F8’s predecessor is the 488 GTB rather than the Pista, but given the Pista technology used in the F8 and its rarity, it’s not the most unfair comparison, especially given the price difference. The track-focused Pista is still a usable road car thanks to a fantastic suspension setup with Ferrari's famous 'Bumpy Road Mode', and it's 3.9-litre V8 puts out 710hp through the rear wheels, making it savagely fast with a kerb weight of 1,385kg. Despite the F8’s similar performance and extra rarity, for some, only a lightweight will do, and if that sounds like you, here’s a beautiful Pista in iconic Rosso Corsa.
The F8 takes some of the best bits of the Pista and implements them in a more road-biased car you could drive for hours on end or even every day. The engine is the same 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 with the same 710hp, and with a kerb weight of 1,435kg, it has just 50kg more than the Pista to move around, so a Pista carrying a well-fed Rottweiler would be just as heavy, despite the F8's added luxury. This Atelier F8’s first owner spent nearly £14,000 on exterior paint alone — £7,104 on the historic Grigio Ferro Metallic, £6720 for the two-tone colour scheme with the Nero DS roof. Looking at the list of carbon options as well, the options spend on this car will have been eye-watering.
The new kid on the block is a controversial one, dropping the V8 for a V6 hybrid drivetrain, but I’ve hardly heard a bad word whispered about the way the 296 drives, some hailing it as the best driver’s Ferrari in years, although we have heard tales of the batteries being a little temperamental. Whilst the F8 can be tuned easy enough to 830bhp, this has nearly that out of the box, it revs to 8,500rpm, and weight isn't too negatively impacted by all the hybrid trickery, with a kerb weight of 14,70kg. Oh, and it's actually cheaper than the F8 above, so it all comes down to preference.
If you want to know what it's like to drive and live with an F8, and hear one with a fire-breathing, ear-shattering Novitec exhaust system, be sure to check out Paul's video below.
