Ferrari 488 Pista Spider 2019 first drive

A few months ago, I polled some car people on what their dream three-car garage would be. The answers were satisfyingly eclectic, but after a raft of spaces taken up by Range Rovers, Audi RS6 Avants (because we all need something like those) and Porsche 911s various (because ditto), there was a notable standout model: the Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta.

That's an exotic, mid-engined, low-volume V8 supercar with an open top and a naturally aspirated engine that revs to the heavens. This is its successor, the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider, which is a mid-engined, low-volume V8 supercar with an open top. But with turbochargers.

Mechanically, it’s all but the same as the 710bhp 488 Pista coupé, which I'd say is the best of today’s supercars, although with a 100kg weight penalty as a result of fitting a hardtop that electrically whizzes up and down, even when you’re driving at up to 30mph.

The 488 Pista coupé is up to 90kg lighter than a regular 488 GTB, depending on options, which the folding hardware then offsets. We weighed a fully fuelled 488 GTB at 1555kg, so think similar here (Ferrari's claim is 1485kg) – respectable for a car with a 3.9-litre twin-turbo engine, a dual-clutch automatic gearbox and a folding roof.

The 488 Pista coupé’s defining characteristic is none of those mechanical elements, though; rather, it’s the fact that it’s a mid-engined exotic that feels almost as docile as the Toyota GT86 at its limit. It’s an exceptionally capable car (211mph top speed, silly cornering speeds) but also a very approachable one.

Much the same is true here, only inevitably slightly blunted because of the weight gain, and it’s weight gained high of the car. So coming from the coupé, it feels like getting back on your bicycle having strapped a bag onto it: the cues and inherent character are still there, just with more muted reactions.

It’s only a few weeks since I drove a 488 Pista coupé, and I'd say the Spider steers with a touch more weight, but the rapid off-centre reaction and fast ratio is still there. The ride is good – easily comfortable enough for everyday driving, whether you’re in the firmer or softer of two (easily selected) damper modes. Enough to make you think this isn’t a hardcore car – until stones and grit start pinging loudly from the underbody due to the removal of soundproofing.