by Pushkar Modi
posted on January 2, 2018
Sportscars can seem magical when they work well. Surprisingly, they don’t always stay in that zone — the sports suspension, all that horsepower, and over-engineering can be let down by a simple buzz, squeak, or rattle which can be distracting at high speeds. I’ve been having a particularly bad spell with every Porsche I have driven lately, a brand I generally adore. But then I remembered it was the holiday season, which made picking the car of the month that much easier. Because no other brand can turn on the magic quite like the ones who like to paint their F1 cars scarlet red with the world-famous logo of the prancing horse. Our car of the month for December is the Ferrari 488 GTB. Happy new year!
We have a lot of great cars on Turo but every now and then the car connoisseurs in our office share an example that makes the rest of us squeal in delight. I distinctly remember that fizzy sensation when I found one of the first Ferrari 488 GTBs listed on Turo. Car enthusiasts may remember this as being a successor to the amazing 458 Italia, which in turn succeeded the glorious 430 Scuderia. Ferrari has an uncanny ability to churn out hit after hit with an almost guaranteed place for each of them in the history books. Combined with their racing heritage and their fanatical attention to details, Ferraris are unquestionably “the dream” for most gearheads.
Adam’s Ferrari 488 GTB. Lomita, CA.
Adam’s Ferrari 488 GTB. Lomita, CA.
The 488 continues to utilize a lot of the 458’s winning recipe and isn’t a radical rewrite. In that sense, Ferrari has played it safe. But the folks in Maranello aren’t resting on their laurels; it’s just that the 458 was really that close to being perfect. With that said, they’ve definitely tinkered with the active aerodynamics and anointed the 488 with more F1 wizardry but I am not entirely convinced of those huge vents behind the doors. Many, including me, would argue that the 458 was prettier. Those vents however are much required with an additional 100 horsepower kicking you in the back every time you redline to a gear change. Driving is absolute bliss as you would expect.
Adam’s Ferrari 488 GTB. Lomita, CA.
Adam’s Ferrari 488 GTB. Lomita, CA.
It is hard to maintain perspective when you are writing about the latest Ferrari. It is even harder to not get carried away when you are driving one — a little dab of your right foot can trigger a symphony so powerful, your hair will stand on end and that is the magical territory in which you can feel most alive. If you have never driven a Ferrari or a 488, we hope you can rent one on Turo this 2018. It is the season to make new year resolutions, after all.
Pushkar Modi
Pushkar is Turo's Chief Auto Enthusiast and a bonafide, lifelong car guy. He loves a classic Porsche, an Audi R8, but his heart belongs to the Lamborghini Murciélago.
