Used Ferrari 488 GTB 2015-2020 review review

How do you follow up a masterpiece? That’s the question Ferrari found itself asking when it came to creating the 488 GTB – the successor to the 458 Italia. It turns out the answer involves turning the dial to 11 – in other words, heavily revising the model with a faster, crazier and sharper personality. It may not be as beautifully pure as what came before it, but the 488 is even more thrilling. It’s certainly an excellent (albeit pricey) used buy.

Everything in the 488 screams supercar. Its engine – a 661bhp 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 – is mid-mounted, so it sits right behind the driver. Power is sent to the rear wheels only via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that's capable of incredibly quick shifts.

This all aids some truly astonishing performance. With a 0-62mph time of only 3.0sec and a top speed of 205mph, the 488 will push you back into your seat in any gear. Is it too much for UK roads? Of course, but the model is enthralling nonetheless.

However, these thrills aren't unmanageable. No, in order to avoid feeling overtly turbocharged, the 488's V8 slowly and progressively builds the torque output, meaning there’s actually more amenable, low-down pulling power available in the higher gears than there is in the first few.

This helps to retain the character of a proper hard-driving and high-revving Ferrari engine, as well as making the 488 surprisingly easy to drive. It will, for example, accelerate (very briskly) from 30mph in sixth gear, and doesn’t require the gearbox to downshift from seventh on the motorway to execute very prompt outside-lane overtaking. Okay, the 488 doesn’t sound quite as glorious as Ferraris of yesteryear, but it still makes a hell of a noise.

To hear more of this noise, it may be worth opting for the 488 Spider variant. Its retractable hard-top allows for an even more visceral experience than the coupé – although, speaking of which, the hardcore 710bhp 488 Pista reigns supreme in the thrills department.

Much of the car’s cutting-edge tech – including the latest E-Diff and F1-Trac traction control system – is dedicated to the business of making the 488 manageable without strangling the involving and very lively handling you'd expect of a Ferrari. In this respect, the Italian manufacturer is second to none. The 488 even rides remarkably comfortably for a supercar – especially if you press the aptly named ‘bumpy road’ button on the steering wheel to soften the suspension.

Inside, the function-festooned steering wheel – as with all current Ferraris – is initially daunting, but once you’ve got used to what everything does (the indicators are buttons, for example), it’s a pleasure to use. Likewise the huge gearshift paddles mounted behind it.

The seats, pedals and view out of the car (in other words, everything to do with the business of driving) are also beyond reproach. Many of the other items dotted around the interior, however, such as the air-con controls and the digital information and function screens on either side of the main instrument display, are a bit too fiddly and have too many varying knobs and buttons.

The 488's infotainment system is certainly packed with features, with sat-nav, Bluetooth and even smartphone-mirroring Apple CarPlay featuring as standard. However, usability isn’t as impressive, due to the clunky interface and the relatively small display behind the steering wheel. The list of standard equipment includes sat-nav, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a tracker (in case the car is stolen).

There are only two seats in the 488, but there’s enough head and leg room for a couple of adults well over six feet tall, and they won’t be clashing elbows. Oddment storage is decent, too; Ferrari has provided a glovebox, cupholders and a handy central tray, while a shelf behind the seats gives you somewhere to stow a handbag or laptop case.

There’s not much luggage space behind where you sit, because that space is entirely taken up by the turbocharged V8 engine, but the 'boot' in the nose of the car is capable of swallowing a couple of overnight bags. Your golf clubs will need to take the place of your passenger, though.

If you're interested in finding a used 488 GTB, or any of the other sports cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

A used Ferrari 488 GTB is likely to set you back around £150,000 at the least. That'll get you a 2015 car with low mileage. For a newer example – say, from 2018 – expect to pay around £165,000. And finally, late models from 2019 onwards can often attract prices upwards of £200,000. So yes, you'd be right in saying the 488 isn't cheap.

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MPG

The 488 GTB has an average fuel economy figure of 24.8mpg, so expect to stop off at a fair few petrol stations if you plan on driving it often.

Road tax

For examples registered before April 2017, road tax will be determined by CO2 emissions. Cars registered after that date will attract a flat rate fee of £155 per year under current regulations. That is plus a £335-per-year luxury tax for years two to six after the car has been registered.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups are high and servicing won't be cheap. With this in mind – as well as all its running costs – it's best to have plenty of funds available to spend on general maintenance. This is no Dacia Sandero.

While the 488 Spider is available, as well as the 488 Pista, the title of GTB refers to the coupé version. And without specific trim levels or varying engines, there isn't really much choice here. Despite this, many optional extras were available from new – so it's worth looking out to see which 488 GTB has what – and who needs much choice when it's such a cracking car from the get-go?

Our favourite Ferrari 488 GTB: 488 GTB

Key rivals such as the Lamborghini Huracán and McLaren 720S are similarly expensive to buy and run. Cheaper but almost as rapid options include the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo, although they don’t have quite the same cachet.

Few drive as fantastically as the 488 GTB, but the Huracán Performante – which begins at around £190,000 on the used market – comes close.

If you're interested in finding a used 488 GTB, or any of the other sports cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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