Used 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB

The 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB and Spider are brilliantly quick, beautifully styled and offer a racing pedigree and heritage rivaled by few automakers. Yes, there are drawbacks. But these are typical of most supercars. The luggage space is tight, everyday comfort is traded for deft handling moves, and the price tag is closer to a family home than a sports car. Oh, and you will attract attention everywhere you drive. But that last one could be a net positive, depending on your personality.

However, if you are considering one of these two machines — why not go big. The more expensive, more exclusive and more rewarding 2019 488 Pista is the best sports car in this lineup. It’s speedier in every performance measurement thanks to over 700 horsepower. It’s also much more engaging to drive and looks devastatingly serious dressed in carbon-fiber aero enhancements.

These three Ferrari 488 supercars are all thrillingly speedy, blessed with incredible grip and deliver immediate responses. Floor the throttle at any speed and the outside world morphs into a smear of particles. Yet they will also surprise the driver by making all that excitement so readily accessible. Yes, you could drive any one of the 2019 488 models more sedately, thanks to the adaptive suspension and the smooth-shifting dual-clutch (essentially an automatic) transmission.

But for serious speed, choose the new-for-2019 488 Pista. Half the engine parts on the Pista are new, shaving weight and allowing the little V8 to rev like a race car. It delivers a full 710 horsepower all the way to 8,000 rpm. Ferrari says it will go from 0-124 mph in just 7.8 seconds. Wow.

Like all 488s, the 2019 Pista’s engine is turbocharged, which dulls some of the engine music Ferraris are known for. So, it doesn’t shriek like the best Ferraris from a few years back. There’s still a satisfyingly deep growl to this machine. Dig deep into the throttle and find a set of switchbacks because the stiffer suspension and stickier Michelins make for a more capable chassis. The package is also livable in the real world. But to really extract the most — hit the racetrack.

Strap into shoulder belts in the supportive race-like bucket seats of the 2019 488 Pista and if you’re used to a more pedestrian sports car, the experience will be almost otherworldly. That F1-style steering wheel makes this car feel very special and the view through the spokes is almost entirely taken up by that giant tachometer — which suggests the purity of this car’s mission.

And despite the Ferrari supercar theater, the 488 doesn’t require the contortions often associated with supercars to get comfortable. The dash is relatively simple, but is awash in expensive-looking carbon fiber. The main trunk area is up front, offering eight cubic feet of space — enough for a couple of weekend bags.

The 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista is quite simply a traffic-stopper. The optional racing stripes that run the length of the car from the hood to the rear deck let everyone know this isn’t a regular 488. The carbon-fiber aero bits that are tastefully placed around the body aren’t just there to make the Pista look tough (which it does) but to help direct air in a way that sucks the chassis to the Earth to help build grip and stability.

Even someone who doesn’t know or care about cars could look at any 2019 488 and realize it’s both a Ferrari and undeniably beautiful. The flair is evident in those classic proportions enjoyed by mid-engine supercars. Those who prefer the option of alfresco frolics will gravitate to the 488 Spider with its power-retractable top.

THE ENGINE
Ferrari bodies are often works of automotive art, but so are the engines. That’s why they’re under transparent covers. This mid-mounted titan has a pair of red cylinder heads bearing the Ferrari name. And although the sound at high revs might not be such a full-throated wail as a naturally aspirated engine, it’s still goose-bump-inducing.

MULTIFUNCTION STEERING WHEEL
Ferrari took a cue from its Formula 1 race cars with its steering wheel, incorporating numerous functions on its spokes, including wipers, engine start, high beams, turn signals and the all-important manettino drive-mode selector. Despite the complexity, it soon becomes as intuitive as a Toyota’s controls.

Most of the equipment in the 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB, 488 Spider and 488 Pista is focused on extracting and exploiting the capabilities lying within the engine and chassis. For example, the drive modes (affecting suspension, steering, throttle and transmission settings) don’t include a “Normal” setting, but go from Sport to Race. Those carbon-ceramic brakes are included.

The 488 also comes with an infotainment system but weirdly, Apple CarPlay is an option. The leather-covered sport seats are well-shaped, comfy and supportive. And for this year, a rear parking cam comes standard. And that’s a welcome addition considering mid-engine supercars are not known for their rearward visibility and the 488 family is no exception.

The base price of a 488 Pista is just over $350,000. That’s nuts. But for a typical Ferrari buyer, money really is no object. But those stripes that look oh-so-right? Yeah, those are a touch over $15,000. We’d certainly spec the carbon-fiber wheels. Downside? They cost almost $25,000.

The prices for Ferrari options are nauseatingly expensive. Buyers of the 2019 Ferrari 488 may also select a titanium sport exhaust, track-telemetry system, carbon-fiber trim pieces and aerodynamic additions, various paintwork and interior colors, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and diamond-patterned seat stitching.

The standard Ferrari 488 GTB and Spider use an all-aluminum, twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 making a mighty 661 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque. This is linked to what feels like a quantum-speed 7-ratio dual-clutch transmission with F1-style shift paddles, and only the rear wheels are driven.

The new 2019 488 Pista uses an equally sized all-aluminum 3.9-liter V8 fed by twin turbochargers. But half of the Pista’s engine parts are new. The compression ratio receives a bump, and there are more aggressive camshafts on board. New exhaust manifolds crafted from Inconel, a metal specifically designed for extreme heat applications, offer less back pressure. It all results in a healthy boost in horsepower to 710.

3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (488 & 488 Spider)
661 horsepower @ 8,000 rpm
561 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (16/22 mpg with stop/start option)

3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (488 Pista & Pista Spider)
710 horsepower @ 8,000 rpm
568 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg, 15/19 mpg (Spider)