Ferrari 488 (GTB, Spider and Pista) buying guide

The GTB is the coupe. The Spider adds a retractable hardtop that raises or lowers in 14 seconds and, according to Performance Car Intelligence, weighs around 50 kg more with performance essentially unchanged. The GTB and Spider cover 2015 to 2019, and the Pista and Pista Spider 2018 to 2020. You can browse used 488 GTBs for sale and used 488 Spiders for sale separately.

Within the GTB and Spider, CarsCounsel favors 2017 and 2018 and urges extra care with 2015 and 2016. NHTSA's records are a separate matter: they include a 2016 fuel line recall and a 2016 brake wear software recall. A campaign filed for a model year does not mean every car of that year was affected, so check the individual car.

The Pista is a different proposition. Supercars.net gives it 710 hp (Exotic Car Hacks says 711), and puts it about 200 pounds lighter than the GTB, and adds a front S-Duct and a bigger rear wing spoiler. It comes with carbon ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Performance Car Intelligence says its tire and steering character differ materially from a hot GTB, and that it is more likely to have seen track use. Start with used Pistas for sale or the used Pista Spiders, and ask hard questions about how the car was driven.

Options were extensive and individually priced, so two cars with the same mileage can differ greatly in specification and history. evo says cars with service plans will be the most desirable, and our 488 GTB price guide shows how the market treats them.

Turbos and brakes carry the biggest bills, and several faults come with recall campaigns attached.

Turbocharger failure

A faint fan-like flutter from a rear air intake, together with a loss of power, likely means a failed IHI turbocharger, says PistonHeads. It puts new turbos at around £10,000 each before fitting, a UK figure. Exotic Car Hacks reports failures after driving over potholes, with limited warning from the car.

Wastegate rattle and carbon

Turbo wastegate rattle and carbon buildup on the intake valves are both reported in the guides we read. Ask what a specialist found on the car you are looking at.

Brake wear and fluid leaks

On some cars the brake wear software did not warn correctly of worn carbon-ceramic discs, and that led to a recall. A separate recall covers a brake fluid leak that may cause loss of braking on 2016-2019 GTB and Spider models.

Automatic Vehicle Hold

A failed Automatic Vehicle Hold can mean replacing many parts, at a cost Performance Car Intelligence puts at approaching £15,000. Confirm that it works on every car you view.

Fuel system leaks

A fuel vapor separator that may crack and leak fuel prompted a recall covering 2018-2019 cars. An earlier 2016 recall concerned a fuel line connection whose coating was faulty from manufacturing, which could let vapor escape at engine start.

Battery and charging

Owners report starting problems, and the alternator may not fully charge the battery.

Spider seals and interior

Rear window seal leaks on Spiders are reported, along with a slow, dated infotainment system. Sagging headliners and a sticky interior coating also turn up in reports.

Automonitor puts an annual service at approximately $2,800 to $5,000 and a full set of carbon-ceramic discs at $12,000 to $20,000. It quotes Pirelli P Zero tires at $400 to $600 per tire. PistonHeads says services are usually annual, and that a seven-year main dealer servicing package was transferable on some cars.

The largest repair figures in the sources are in pounds, not dollars. PistonHeads puts new turbochargers at around £10,000 each, not including installation, and Performance Car Intelligence puts an Automatic Vehicle Hold repair at approaching £15,000. Those are UK figures, so expect US quotes to differ.

Buy a 2017 or 2018 GTB or Spider with a documented service history, ideally a service plan still in force, and with every recall closed. The sources we read rate the 488 dependable, and Performance Car Intelligence says the costly problems are specific, not common. That makes the turbos, the Automatic Vehicle Hold and the brake discs the items to settle before you buy.

Treat 2015 and 2016 cars with more suspicion. Buy a Pista only if you accept that it may have been tracked. Whichever you pick, have the specialist read the clutch wear, measure the carbon-ceramic discs and listen for the turbo flutter at the rear.