I'm in full support of what Modificata did to this car. The more modern sports cars I experience, the more I feel duped by how easy they are to drive. I once held on for dear life in a TVR Cerbera in the rain, and I couldn't help but just adore the sense that it demanded respect and skill to operate. This Speciale reminds me of it, and perhaps we need more cars that are a challenge to drive well.
facts lol. The first lambo I ever drove was an lp-610 huracan and I was disappointed in how normal it felt, how easy it was to drive, and how un-lambo like it was(or at least how I expected a lamborghini to be)
To be fair, the video kinda makes abstraction of the fact that a normal 458 is ALSO an experience. That manual box doesn't change the way the chassis behaves etc. The 458, while not being famous for being hard to drive, isn't notoriously easy either. It's precise but twitchy and the Speciale amplified those traits. The manual just doesn't really allow you to mess up a shift while driving fast, which is true for any manual.
The definition of a true American aka a Westerner Sh!t for taste, sh!t for coffee.☕🤢☕🤮 Literally every other country in the world drinks far superior coffee. No Starbucks no Pete's no Dunkin donuts no McDonald's Americans are so far behind in coffee it's a disgrace. Vietnam, France, Italy, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Thailand, Mexico yaddy yaddy yaddy ☕😋🤤
Halfway through the video I realized the sun outside and paused to go for a drive in my manual mustang bullitt. Nothing like driving a maual. Simply engaging. Excellent video.
Looovveeee me a green car! Miss my old 98 TT6 Supra in Imperial Jade Mica! I got a manual IS300 about a year after getting rid of the Supra....loved the IJM color so much that I had my IS300 painted the same color haha
You’re definitely right about the more modern any car is the more the ECU’s all contribute to making them far more drivable without the driver having to be of racer levels car control, be it a hot hatch or a supercar. By the way you’ve just been given a mention on Harry’s Garage👍
I love this, in my eyes this is what a supercar should be- extremely challenging and equally rewarding when you get it right. Props to the owner for building the dream!
I’ve been fortunate enough to drive this car and there is a learning curve in the beginning but man is it rewarding when you get it right in the end! It is similar to a CGT in a way where it punishes you for not being perfect. It makes you work for it, you have to adapt to it in a way and I think that’s the whole point. You will not be texting and driving this car!! Once you get dialed in and then realize you are driving a 458 Speciale of all things it’s quite a nice feeling! Cars like this should exist in this world. Bravo MODIFICATA and Jeff Segal.
To say that this car is “by the author” dynamically better than a Carrera GT is pushing it a bit?! Judging by the car reviewers, to put it politely. But otherwise in my opinion taking shite.
Sam it’s been my pleasure to watch you over the years you have really evolved into one of the greats on TH-cam and in media in general!!! Love from South Carolina USA!!!
Thank you Sam, brilliant and unique car and a great STG travel vlog video. 'Off-the-cuff' and still ticking all boxes of a cinematic STG report, up there with the STG greats for 2023. I reckon Tony might be reinterested in the 458, maybe he is the one to first get a manually converted car in Europe? Cheers, American East Coast and you mix very well indeed✌
I look forward to Sam’s videos more than any other TH-camr now. They’re so well filmed and interesting. The others just don’t get what we want. They just keep on buying, modifying and selling the same cars. Sam quickly realised that isn’t what we want. Road trips and interesting reviews are great. Keep up the good work Sam 👍🏻
I think it’s amazing that it exists. The execution based on what we can see and your experience is OEM quality. I do feel however with how frantic and immediate the stock car can be a DCT makes perfect sense. Epic car, not for me. Great video👍🏻
I've seen videos of this manual Speciale before but you knocked it out of the park. I wasn't entirely convinced before (given how good the gearbox is in the 458, normally I'm 100% manual all the way but for certain cars like you say it just fits better), but now I am. It works extraordinarily well. Hats off!
I think it is really a shame that the modern supercars do not come out with a manual gearbox option... Makes it so much more special and more funny to drive.
I can only compliment those who did the conversion and the owner for performing such a task. It's without a doubt a unique experience that you're almost driving a highly strung race car on the road, or rather just the controls. Giving you a Ferrari feeling that I don't even think Ferrari planned in any of their road cars. Enzo would be proud.
Wow, a short trip is right. I know European Auto Group ( EAG ) does a lot of the Ferrari auto to manual conversions. It's great to see that owners have options if they want to convert to manual. Awesome episode, thanks for sharing! ❤👊
WOW 😍😍😍, this is the most beautiful Ferrari I've ever seen. Not only from the outside, but from the inside too - my dream-cockpit. And the manual gear box makes this car even more special. What a joy to watch. Thank you !!! The owner of this beauty knows the essence of driving with passion and joy.
I loved that you were savage about the coffee. As an Aussie who loves their coffee, when you get a bad one, you have to let others know it's no good haha.
Hi Sam, I enjoyed this video a lot. As you know (from when we did the Mille Miglia together) my background is in combat aircraft design and engineering. We reached this point with the jump from Tornado to Eurofighter. We had seen the increasing mental load on pilots and even their superhuman abilities to manage everything that was going on in a modern high performance machine. The same became true in modern supercars (and their pilots) right at the point of F430/458 / 599. As all of the various systems in play: Mannetino, Stability Control, Engine Management, E-Diff, Double Clutch, Traction Control, Active Suspension etc. etc. became more integrated the limiting factor becomes the drivers cognitive loads vs. their ability. I myself, went from a manual 456GTM to an F1 599GTB. In period I test drove a manual car and F1 back to back, that experience convinced me that we had gone beyond the limit for general public drivers and manual cars with such levels of performance. As you say in the video the crazy 1,000hp manual F1 cars in quali-boost mode are unimaginable but also look at the death and carnage they brought to even superhuman talent. Remembering the 599 manual it was obvious that the clutch pack was optimised and lightened for the F1 transmission so it kept dropping out of its power / torque curves on up changes and the systems definitely didn't like down shifts even if 'well-executed' in movement and rev-matching. The factory manual car felt like it was not really developed to be a thing and I suspect it was only offered in period to reduce the MRSP. I don't doubt why this car took so long to get remotely drive-able and kudos to modificata for having the motivation to do it. I suspect however that they will never recoup those development hours so as an expensive experiment is doesn't really give us anything we didn't already know. Purists will sneer as always but if you had the urge to find out "what if" and had the means then I suspect no rationale or logic would have stopped the owner. Technical Cul-de-Sac or not, I think it will be a niche of niche.
I do not fully agree... First of all, regarding the "power drop off" on a manual 599 between gear changes, this is common on any lightweight flywheel / lightweight internals performance car. you just need to time your shifts better, shift faster and/or blip between shifts (yes, even on upshifts) 2. I do not think 430/599/458 levels of performance are "limitation" for manual gearbox. I would say that number is about 750hp... There are plenty manual 996TT,997TT,C6 and C7 Corvette,Mustangs,Cadillac CTS/CT5 supercharged V8,Audi R8/Lamborghini Gallardo with up to 900hp that are otherwise very fast, easy to control and easy to drive. But sure, lets say 750 and higher = approaching too much HP for manual control
@@chriscooper3384 i have also driven Ferraris, manual & single-clutch semi-auto & double-clutch semi-auto & even a torque converter automatic (400i and 456GTA...). manuals have included 308, 328, 348, 355, 360, 430, 456, 550, 599, 612. yes the engine internals are lightweight compared to normal car, combined with lightweight flywheel makes the RPMs "dip" very quickly. it does not make the car undriveable if you use it correctly. so my previous statement still stands.
Sam I’ve been following you for the past 3 1/2 years and just love your boyish enthusiasm, honesty and genuine love for what you’re doing, it really comes across in everything you produce. Add to that superb cinematography and you’ve become one of the very best automotive TH-camrs. I was particularly chuffed for you this week to see you and your 360 referenced on “Harry’s Garage” with his testarossa update. In my humble opinion he is the Master and you are his very accomplished Apprentice. Thank you Sam
The thing is , you can get this type of experience on a 430 manual , you really have to love the 458 platform to do something like this. Its cool and unique but obtainable in other ferraris of similar age , in the other hand i think converting a 599 makes alot of sense because the v12 of the 599 feels way different than the 575's
Drove both the 430 and 458 back to back last year, as the 430 Scuderia was my poster car. It was a huge disappointment. Felt like it try to kill you. While the 458 felt like it wants you to have fun. I hope I can afford a 458 some point. Really amazing car, with NA Ferrari V8.
Great job explaining your thoughts while being polite to the talented people who created it. I feel like I truly get what it would be like to drive having listened to your commentary. Thanks
I haven’t even watched the video yet but have to say that I’m not surprised that of all the TH-camrs you got this car on your channel first. Your manual 360 is such a pure Ferrari experience but this is mind boggling.
Looks absolutely stunning in white and the manual conversion just elevates the car to a new level. The 458 speciale;s engine represents peak Ferrari N/A V8 engine development!
it’s fabulous that this thing exists as an engineering exercise and a sort of ‘what if’. but i don’t think i’d find myself yearning to do this conversion if i ever had a Speciale. still a fabulous thing though and huge kudos to the team who made it
I think the point about “would you be having more fun in a standard car” is really pertinent. It’s, of course, such a fantastic creation but, aside from that, what does it offer over and above how Ferrari intended it. Great car, super fun for a day but, I think I’d rather have the standard Speciale.
What it offers is the engagement of a manual box, pretty obviously. How enjoyable it is depends on how well it's done / works. Not clear from this video quite how good it is and what the shortcomings are.
You were only a short drive from me! Too bad you weren't able to stay around longer and come to a car show or host another meetup. Awesome to see you showcasing the Manual 458 Speciale!
I admire your honesty Sam! 👌In the comments at the end you state clearly that although it is a very nice achievement to build the 458 Speciale as a manual, the manual transmission does not suit the car.
Sounds like it is a reincarnation of a terrifying old school analogue car that has modern finesse and power. While it was never meant to have a manual, I think the more it scares you, the more you chase perfection in it. Props to the owner for being able to experience divine danger lol.
Great job to the bloke actually doing the swap, but even from the video I can see how long it takes for the engine to blip enough when my civic type r responds nearly half a second quicker lol. I guess thats the charm of supercars where they're hilariously imperfect
Great review - Sam please keep your boyish joy which you share with us until 100 years old ok? That makes everything you produce so good. The Speciale in manual? Well...I guess not everything what is possible in theory need to be done. I would not de-auto it, that its natural character - don't disturb "Luigi!". There are so many classic manual Ferraris available - I would take one of those or the Speciale like the creator intended.
What an interesting car. Would love to see a follow up video, perhaps by another reviewer with some more depth on technical details on how it was done, and some detail on how it changes the driving experience beyond the the additional coordination required to manually change gears.
Bravo to the owner!!! Your take seems spot on. Auto makes it safer and way faster. Personally, I will only buy a gas manual car. When that isn't an option, I will keep what I have and continue to smile ear to ear on every drive. I am sticking to my principles and will not budge.
Oh, this is the stuff of dreams man 🥰 If only this was an official product, this is peak Ferrari, you know why? Because more power doesn't make a better car, a better experience does! And this, is manual one is of the best things I have seen. ❤️ Also, you mention "F1s in the 90's were manual with 1000 hp" yes, but they were driven by Formula 1 Drivers, give that to the average Joe and you have just killed 80% of your clients 😂 And as you found out later, it IS exhausting! Most people would prefer a slightly more relaxed car 🤔
I’m a car and watch guy. What a lovely omega speedmaster looks like an older 90s model 1861 movement based on the bracelet. I love it I own a 2022 3861 movement on a bracelet.
This is very cool Sam, and though I appreciate that you did heel and toe downshift; isn't that more for race tracks going 10 tenths into corners, so not to lock up the rear tires when trying to extract every ounce out of it? Sorry I just find it a bit comical or slightly absurd when people rev-match off track is all. It's possible there is something I am missing; probably that its a frigging blast to do because you are rev-matching a freaking 458 Speciale with a race pedal box! That thing is freaking awesome...super jelly doesn't even scratch the surface man! Another awesome video Sam!
It's pitiful that ALL Ferraris are not offered in a manual. It isn't always about how fast you can shift and get a lap time. Often times its about the connection between the driver and a car. There is absolutely no better way than with a 3rd pedal and the requirement for you to choose your own gear physically by a metal shifter.
honestly, modern supercars are so fast i think you can benefit greatly (and still enjoy) being able to have two hands firmly on the wheel at all times.
@@11BscoutNG yeah forsure i think ferrari were a bit too quick to ditch the gorgeous gated manual box, but in some of these modern supercars i actually think having the paddles would be more fun just because of how capable they are. its past the point of going for a nice sunday drive and rowing through the gears..just get a different car for that.
Diner coffee isn’t the only thing available in the states. You make it seem like it’s the only option as if it’s plumbed right next to the hot and cold next to every sink.
What a car, I can understand why Ferrari did not put a manual in from the factory, but this conversion is still pretty cool. The Carrera GT analogy was good and i think lets the viewer understand a bit more of what this car is about. This specific conversion with the use of parts from the race car really seems to fit the rawness of the Speciale, I think on a normal, softer 458 this conversion would not be as good as it is on here.
It says a lot that as a car enthusiast, manual swapped 10 year old Ferrari excites me more then any kind of brand new stuff. Brands are making cars for only non-car people nowadays. On the opposite, in the 90s, even cars for non-car people were brilliant to drive.
Quite simply one of, if not my favourite video of yours. Great videography, script & that line.. ‘this coffees crap btw’ 🤣 My verdict, youd only really do this is A: you have alot of money so its a ‘i want to do this for myself’ B: its a cat c car and its a ‘while we’re fixing it, why not?’
given all the effort involved here i am pretty surprised they didn't revise the throttle mapping, it looks like the stock calibration makes driving this difficult
Honest video and feedback. Seems like this is not the right conversion for drivers with average ability like Sam and most of the folk who watched this.
When the car moved I definitely felt that. Especially with the fact that he didn't go with a sequential, looks like a lot of fun. Definitely not something you see everyday
Great great video Sam. Waiting to see this car working properly quite some time. Thank you to owner and Modifacata guys. Great great job. Nowadays I am fed up to see cars like computer games. They are works great but they dont have soul. Ferrari has to produce manual options again. For keeping Enzo's spirit in their cars.
I can’t believe anyone would have this with a dual clutch if you could get a manual. He has made this car much better than it was. It was amazing before now it’s next level.
F430 and California, the two last naturally aspirated V8 Ferraris, both offered with manual gearbox. F430 was less than 30% take rate, the California like 1%. People had the choice. And they chose flappy paddles
We need to address the elephant in the room now you have mentioned it... Clearly its time to make a call and get the next installment in the, "My friend Phil bought..." series booked in. We all know its his Tuthill 911k and it will be absolute TH-cam Gold! We need a dose of that iconic laugh of Phil's. Especially if you dragged "Ol Scrooge McDuck" aka Tony with you! 🤣
Sounds to me that this coversion allows the car to be more engaging and emotional to drive - at lower speeds, i.e nearer to speed limits, than the 'normal' Speciale. I think that could be a good thing.
Comparing this to the 911K probably doesn't do the Porsche justice, but it does seem like a manual Speciale might be the closest thing one could experience for significantly less!
1 The clutch pedal has a short travel and the biting point is towards the end of it. 2 Brakes are very hard to depress. 3 It's very difficult to blip and rev match because the ECU doesn't cooperate. That sounds like an exceptionally hard to drive manual
" I can't work out whether I'd be having a better time in a standard car " Pretty much sums it up. That looked like hard work 🥵 unnecessarily so... All this " Last NA v8 ferrari now has a manual box business... is a pretty small minded approach... people get all moist over an idea when in reality they would come out with a bigger smile having driven the standard car. If you particularly like the 458 speciale then get one and leave it as it is and if you also happen to like the - as Sam described it " Slower paced feel" of rowing your own gears then there's also plenty of other great cars to choose from to fill the void. Having said all that it's a super sick idea props to anyone with the passion and knowledge to create such a thing. I'd love to have the experience and may change my mind if I did but probably not a car for me.
![FLAT OUT In The NEW 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 [992.2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rRjWi4ocoNk/mqdefault.jpg)
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.83[1/2] เปิดแคมป์หลอนต้อนรับ 2 ตัวพ่อแห่งวงการผี!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2uPuHYHgwiI/mqdefault.jpg)
Can we appreciate how beautiful the spec of this particular car is. The contrast of the tricolore stripe over the white paint is sublime.
We already do without you saying anything
Yeah, completely
@SwiftGainzz Thanks for that, James, very insightful
No, we can't.
💯
I'm in full support of what Modificata did to this car. The more modern sports cars I experience, the more I feel duped by how easy they are to drive. I once held on for dear life in a TVR Cerbera in the rain, and I couldn't help but just adore the sense that it demanded respect and skill to operate. This Speciale reminds me of it, and perhaps we need more cars that are a challenge to drive well.
facts lol. The first lambo I ever drove was an lp-610 huracan and I was disappointed in how normal it felt, how easy it was to drive, and how un-lambo like it was(or at least how I expected a lamborghini to be)
100%. Not really that fun riding a bike with training wheels.
Turn off driving aids. They become death machines real quick
Agreed
To be fair, the video kinda makes abstraction of the fact that a normal 458 is ALSO an experience. That manual box doesn't change the way the chassis behaves etc. The 458, while not being famous for being hard to drive, isn't notoriously easy either. It's precise but twitchy and the Speciale amplified those traits. The manual just doesn't really allow you to mess up a shift while driving fast, which is true for any manual.
A manual Ferrari is a proper Ferrari and for that matter a proper car. Bravo for the owner of this beautiful machine.
458, especially the Speciale version, is in my opinion the best-looking car ever made.
Nah for me personally its the italia. But the speaciale is up there
@@janithperera8913Speciale looks way more special.
Not a massive Ferrari fan, but at a local Italian car meet last weekend the 'speciale' was the best looking, of the Ferrari's.
The Pista is the best looking Ferrari ever made.
For me it's the 430 Scuderia. There's just something special about four round tail lights.
" This coffee is disgusting by the way " - Loved this, definitely something I can concur with my recent NY trip with Diners
The definition of a true American aka a Westerner
Sh!t for taste, sh!t for coffee.☕🤢☕🤮
Literally every other country in the world drinks far superior coffee. No Starbucks no Pete's
no Dunkin donuts no McDonald's
Americans are so far behind in coffee it's a disgrace.
Vietnam, France, Italy, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Thailand, Mexico
yaddy yaddy yaddy ☕😋🤤
Halfway through the video I realized the sun outside and paused to go for a drive in my manual mustang bullitt. Nothing like driving a maual. Simply engaging. Excellent video.
Mustang Bullitt ! Nice. Not enough American Muscle in the U.K where I'm from, kindest regards, Richard
Looovveeee me a green car! Miss my old 98 TT6 Supra in Imperial Jade Mica! I got a manual IS300 about a year after getting rid of the Supra....loved the IJM color so much that I had my IS300 painted the same color haha
Great job on the quick turn around! Couldn’t wait to see what this thing was like since behind the glass.
Haha “this coffee is disgusting.” I was waiting for that 😂
The owner a proper driver 💯, props
yeah he's actually a race driver
Any videos of him driving this flatout other than his short video?
@@VerangaF430He's got a few on Instagram. I don't think it'll show the link if I post it here. TH-cam doesn't like it usually
@@VerangaF430There is a short video on their TH-cam channel.. th-cam.com/video/OQV4hJ1-3LY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=IzyVgCIT0sxW-ML8
You’re definitely right about the more modern any car is the more the ECU’s all contribute to making them far more drivable without the driver having to be of racer levels car control, be it a hot hatch or a supercar. By the way you’ve just been given a mention on Harry’s Garage👍
I love this, in my eyes this is what a supercar should be- extremely challenging and equally rewarding when you get it right. Props to the owner for building the dream!
17:48 that moment was so hilarious yet it proved your point so well!
Hello AI
I’ve been fortunate enough to drive this car and there is a learning curve in the beginning but man is it rewarding when you get it right in the end! It is similar to a CGT in a way where it punishes you for not being perfect. It makes you work for it, you have to adapt to it in a way and I think that’s the whole point. You will not be texting and driving this car!! Once you get dialed in and then realize you are driving a 458 Speciale of all things it’s quite a nice feeling! Cars like this should exist in this world. Bravo MODIFICATA and Jeff Segal.
You should not be texting and driving any car.
To say that this car is “by the author” dynamically better than a Carrera GT is pushing it a bit?! Judging by the car reviewers, to put it politely. But otherwise in my opinion taking shite.
Sam it’s been my pleasure to watch you over the years you have really evolved into one of the greats on TH-cam and in media in general!!! Love from South Carolina USA!!!
The first 3 seconds of this video said it all, without Sam saying a word. You can literally feel the insane driving emotions of this being a manual ❤
Amazed by how natural the gated shifter looks considering the car never had a center console for it
Thank you Sam, brilliant and unique car and a great STG travel vlog video. 'Off-the-cuff' and still ticking all boxes of a cinematic STG report, up there with the STG greats for 2023.
I reckon Tony might be reinterested in the 458, maybe he is the one to first get a manually converted car in Europe? Cheers, American East Coast and you mix very well indeed✌
I look forward to Sam’s videos more than any other TH-camr now. They’re so well filmed and interesting. The others just don’t get what we want. They just keep on buying, modifying and selling the same cars. Sam quickly realised that isn’t what we want. Road trips and interesting reviews are great. Keep up the good work Sam 👍🏻
I think it’s amazing that it exists. The execution based on what we can see and your experience is OEM quality. I do feel however with how frantic and immediate the stock car can be a DCT makes perfect sense. Epic car, not for me. Great video👍🏻
The POV at 16:00 is a great angle. Nice work :)
I've seen videos of this manual Speciale before but you knocked it out of the park. I wasn't entirely convinced before (given how good the gearbox is in the 458, normally I'm 100% manual all the way but for certain cars like you say it just fits better), but now I am. It works extraordinarily well. Hats off!
I think it is really a shame that the modern supercars do not come out with a manual gearbox option... Makes it so much more special and more funny to drive.
I can only compliment those who did the conversion and the owner for performing such a task. It's without a doubt a unique experience that you're almost driving a highly strung race car on the road, or rather just the controls. Giving you a Ferrari feeling that I don't even think Ferrari planned in any of their road cars. Enzo would be proud.
Wow, a short trip is right. I know European Auto Group ( EAG ) does a lot of the Ferrari auto to manual conversions. It's great to see that owners have options if they want to convert to manual. Awesome episode, thanks for sharing! ❤👊
That's one tough conversation!! Bravo to their hard work!!! This is what made them greater than everyone else!! Great video!!
WOW 😍😍😍, this is the most beautiful Ferrari I've ever seen. Not only from the outside, but from the inside too - my dream-cockpit. And the manual gear box makes this car even more special. What a joy to watch. Thank you !!! The owner of this beauty knows the essence of driving with passion and joy.
I loved that you were savage about the coffee. As an Aussie who loves their coffee, when you get a bad one, you have to let others know it's no good haha.
Hi Sam, I enjoyed this video a lot. As you know (from when we did the Mille Miglia together) my background is in combat aircraft design and engineering. We reached this point with the jump from Tornado to Eurofighter. We had seen the increasing mental load on pilots and even their superhuman abilities to manage everything that was going on in a modern high performance machine. The same became true in modern supercars (and their pilots) right at the point of F430/458 / 599.
As all of the various systems in play: Mannetino, Stability Control, Engine Management, E-Diff, Double Clutch, Traction Control, Active Suspension etc. etc. became more integrated the limiting factor becomes the drivers cognitive loads vs. their ability.
I myself, went from a manual 456GTM to an F1 599GTB. In period I test drove a manual car and F1 back to back, that experience convinced me that we had gone beyond the limit for general public drivers and manual cars with such levels of performance. As you say in the video the crazy 1,000hp manual F1 cars in quali-boost mode are unimaginable but also look at the death and carnage they brought to even superhuman talent. Remembering the 599 manual it was obvious that the clutch pack was optimised and lightened for the F1 transmission so it kept dropping out of its power / torque curves on up changes and the systems definitely didn't like down shifts even if 'well-executed' in movement and rev-matching. The factory manual car felt like it was not really developed to be a thing and I suspect it was only offered in period to reduce the MRSP. I don't doubt why this car took so long to get remotely drive-able and kudos to modificata for having the motivation to do it. I suspect however that they will never recoup those development hours so as an expensive experiment is doesn't really give us anything we didn't already know. Purists will sneer as always but if you had the urge to find out "what if" and had the means then I suspect no rationale or logic would have stopped the owner. Technical Cul-de-Sac or not, I think it will be a niche of niche.
Well said. I think most underestimate just how big of an undertaking it is to develop a car w/both boxes. Especially w/600+hp
I do not fully agree...
First of all, regarding the "power drop off" on a manual 599 between gear changes, this is common on any lightweight flywheel / lightweight internals performance car. you just need to time your shifts better, shift faster and/or blip between shifts (yes, even on upshifts)
2. I do not think 430/599/458 levels of performance are "limitation" for manual gearbox. I would say that number is about 750hp... There are plenty manual 996TT,997TT,C6 and C7 Corvette,Mustangs,Cadillac CTS/CT5 supercharged V8,Audi R8/Lamborghini Gallardo with up to 900hp that are otherwise very fast, easy to control and easy to drive. But sure, lets say 750 and higher = approaching too much HP for manual control
@@sasazapadnik9335 I am talking from actual experience of the drivability of the actual cars in question. I still own an F430 and 599
@@chriscooper3384 i have also driven Ferraris, manual & single-clutch semi-auto & double-clutch semi-auto & even a torque converter automatic (400i and 456GTA...). manuals have included 308, 328, 348, 355, 360, 430, 456, 550, 599, 612. yes the engine internals are lightweight compared to normal car, combined with lightweight flywheel makes the RPMs "dip" very quickly. it does not make the car undriveable if you use it correctly. so my previous statement still stands.
Interior is very clean. Nice that they removed the paddles too. A lot of manual conversions leave the paddles on and don't integrate the shifter well
Sam I’ve been following you for the past 3 1/2 years and just love your boyish enthusiasm, honesty and genuine love for what you’re doing, it really comes across in everything you produce. Add to that superb cinematography and you’ve become one of the very best automotive TH-camrs. I was particularly chuffed for you this week to see you and your 360 referenced on “Harry’s Garage” with his testarossa update. In my humble opinion he is the Master and you are his very accomplished Apprentice. Thank you Sam
The thing is , you can get this type of experience on a 430 manual , you really have to love the 458 platform to do something like this.
Its cool and unique but obtainable in other ferraris of similar age , in the other hand i think converting a 599 makes alot of sense because the v12 of the 599 feels way different than the 575's
it has 150 more hp and is a modern Ferrari, unlike any of its predicessors.
F430 is around 490hp
458 speciale is 600hp.
@johnmitchell2269 I didn't realize it made 490! My apologies, it's 100 ish more hp and 250lb lighter.
Drove both the 430 and 458 back to back last year, as the 430 Scuderia was my poster car. It was a huge disappointment. Felt like it try to kill you. While the 458 felt like it wants you to have fun. I hope I can afford a 458 some point. Really amazing car, with NA Ferrari V8.
Great job explaining your thoughts while being polite to the talented people who created it. I feel like I truly get what it would be like to drive having listened to your commentary. Thanks
I haven’t even watched the video yet but have to say that I’m not surprised that of all the TH-camrs you got this car on your channel first. Your manual 360 is such a pure Ferrari experience but this is mind boggling.
Love the fact that the owner cared more about the driving experience than value of the car.....kudos to owner
Very nice build, shows that anything is possible. I'd love to see a LaFerrari with a gated manual conversion, or maybe a Daytona SP3.
Looks absolutely stunning in white and the manual conversion just elevates the car to a new level. The 458 speciale;s engine represents peak Ferrari N/A V8 engine development!
it’s fabulous that this thing exists as an engineering exercise and a sort of ‘what if’. but i don’t think i’d find myself yearning to do this conversion if i ever had a Speciale. still a fabulous thing though and huge kudos to the team who made it
I think the point about “would you be having more fun in a standard car” is really pertinent. It’s, of course, such a fantastic creation but, aside from that, what does it offer over and above how Ferrari intended it.
Great car, super fun for a day but, I think I’d rather have the standard Speciale.
What it offers is the engagement of a manual box, pretty obviously. How enjoyable it is depends on how well it's done / works. Not clear from this video quite how good it is and what the shortcomings are.
One of the best sounding Ferraris of all time. Bloody glorious sound
You were only a short drive from me! Too bad you weren't able to stay around longer and come to a car show or host another meetup.
Awesome to see you showcasing the Manual 458 Speciale!
Love the way you describe “ Luigi the Cyborg “. That really helps us to understand what that’s like at least to me
“This coffee is disgusting by the way” 😂😂😂 Welcome to the US Sam!
I admire your honesty Sam! 👌In the comments at the end you state clearly that although it is a very nice achievement to build the 458 Speciale as a manual, the manual transmission does not suit the car.
Gotta love the muddy water at a diner😂
Sounds like it is a reincarnation of a terrifying old school analogue car that has modern finesse and power. While it was never meant to have a manual, I think the more it scares you, the more you chase perfection in it. Props to the owner for being able to experience divine danger lol.
Great job to the bloke actually doing the swap, but even from the video I can see how long it takes for the engine to blip enough when my civic type r responds nearly half a second quicker lol. I guess thats the charm of supercars where they're hilariously imperfect
Something is wrong, it shouldnt have difficuly blipping
Amazing video, Sam! Keep crushing it!! 🔥🔥🔥
Great review - Sam please keep your boyish joy which you share with us until 100 years old ok? That makes everything you produce so good. The Speciale in manual? Well...I guess not everything what is possible in theory need to be done. I would not de-auto it, that its natural character - don't disturb "Luigi!". There are so many classic manual Ferraris available - I would take one of those or the Speciale like the creator intended.
Interior is very clean.
What an interesting car. Would love to see a follow up video, perhaps by another reviewer with some more depth on technical details on how it was done, and some detail on how it changes the driving experience beyond the the additional coordination required to manually change gears.
Bravo to the owner!!! Your take seems spot on. Auto makes it safer and way faster. Personally, I will only buy a gas manual car. When that isn't an option, I will keep what I have and continue to smile ear to ear on every drive. I am sticking to my principles and will not budge.
You're driving on roads about 20 minutes from where I used to live and about 45 minutes from where I learned to drive. I miss that area so much.
A unique 1 of car in the world , built with 10 out of 10 craftsmanship, how many people achieve this , wonderful !!!
This car is perfection. Sam you're the best automotive journalist out there!
Oh, this is the stuff of dreams man 🥰 If only this was an official product, this is peak Ferrari, you know why? Because more power doesn't make a better car, a better experience does! And this, is manual one is of the best things I have seen. ❤️
Also, you mention "F1s in the 90's were manual with 1000 hp" yes, but they were driven by Formula 1 Drivers, give that to the average Joe and you have just killed 80% of your clients 😂 And as you found out later, it IS exhausting! Most people would prefer a slightly more relaxed car 🤔
I wish I knew you were in CT man would have been so awesome to meet you, we have some amazing cars out here
The Spec is phenomenal and having the manual is so cool.
Incredible Sam, I recently moved to New Hampshire. It was awesome to see you around New England! You should try to come in the fall sometime!
I lived in NH for 2 years, what amazing place, but cold as f*ck during the winter 😅
@@flavioc5389 Loving it so far, I'm from New York so the winters don't seem that much worse. Snowboarding is worth it!
I’m a car and watch guy. What a lovely omega speedmaster looks like an older 90s model 1861 movement based on the bracelet. I love it I own a 2022 3861 movement on a bracelet.
This is very cool Sam, and though I appreciate that you did heel and toe downshift; isn't that more for race tracks going 10 tenths into corners, so not to lock up the rear tires when trying to extract every ounce out of it? Sorry I just find it a bit comical or slightly absurd when people rev-match off track is all. It's possible there is something I am missing; probably that its a frigging blast to do because you are rev-matching a freaking 458 Speciale with a race pedal box! That thing is freaking awesome...super jelly doesn't even scratch the surface man!
Another awesome video Sam!
The One Car Garage I would happily own forever and ever!
It's pitiful that ALL Ferraris are not offered in a manual. It isn't always about how fast you can shift and get a lap time. Often times its about the connection between the driver and a car. There is absolutely no better way than with a 3rd pedal and the requirement for you to choose your own gear physically by a metal shifter.
honestly, modern supercars are so fast i think you can benefit greatly (and still enjoy) being able to have two hands firmly on the wheel at all times.
@@11BscoutNG yeah forsure i think ferrari were a bit too quick to ditch the gorgeous gated manual box, but in some of these modern supercars i actually think having the paddles would be more fun just because of how capable they are. its past the point of going for a nice sunday drive and rowing through the gears..just get a different car for that.
@@11BscoutNGalmost 600 bhp
@@AC-wl7ve nope. you don't get it.
@@AC-wl7ve who the hell wants to have to drive with two hands on the damn wheel??
😂 glad you acknowledged how terrible coffee is over there! Great video as always Sam.
Diner coffee isn’t the only thing available in the states. You make it seem like it’s the only option as if it’s plumbed right next to the hot and cold next to every sink.
Man, the last NA V8 Ferrari with a manual is just amazing
What a car, I can understand why Ferrari did not put a manual in from the factory, but this conversion is still pretty cool. The Carrera GT analogy was good and i think lets the viewer understand a bit more of what this car is about. This specific conversion with the use of parts from the race car really seems to fit the rawness of the Speciale, I think on a normal, softer 458 this conversion would not be as good as it is on here.
I think the 458 is just about the best looking Ferrari they've made. Great video - I could sense the fear 🤣
F12 TDF.
@@v4skunk739 F355
@@v4skunk739 not for me, too much aero. 458 is more of a pure shape.
@@robmowe8090 Too much aero? Never heard that before.
Sam, you never have to apologize for going to a dinner. Breakfast any time of day is awesome!
It says a lot that as a car enthusiast, manual swapped 10 year old Ferrari excites me more then any kind of brand new stuff. Brands are making cars for only non-car people nowadays. On the opposite, in the 90s, even cars for non-car people were brilliant to drive.
I imagine that getting all the electronics to work and speak to each other with the manual gearbox swap was quite an effort.
A little Forrest Gump moment. I’m moving, I’m moving haha. Good play Sam
Yeah it’s been pretty wet here in CT this summer. Great episode!
Man the 458 Speciale is looking better and better every day, especially in white with those stripes
Quite simply one of, if not my favourite video of yours.
Great videography, script & that line.. ‘this coffees crap btw’ 🤣
My verdict, youd only really do this is
A: you have alot of money so its a ‘i want to do this for myself’
B: its a cat c car and its a ‘while we’re fixing it, why not?’
given all the effort involved here i am pretty surprised they didn't revise the throttle mapping, it looks like the stock calibration makes driving this difficult
Exactly, i think its an easy fix
Honest video and feedback. Seems like this is not the right conversion for drivers with average ability like Sam and most of the folk who watched this.
When the car moved I definitely felt that. Especially with the fact that he didn't go with a sequential, looks like a lot of fun. Definitely not something you see everyday
Great great video Sam. Waiting to see this car working properly quite some time. Thank you to owner and Modifacata guys. Great great job. Nowadays I am fed up to see cars like computer games. They are works great but they dont have soul. Ferrari has to produce manual options again. For keeping Enzo's spirit in their cars.
I can’t believe anyone would have this with a dual clutch if you could get a manual. He has made this car much better than it was. It was amazing before now it’s next level.
F430 and California, the two last naturally aspirated V8 Ferraris, both offered with manual gearbox. F430 was less than 30% take rate, the California like 1%. People had the choice. And they chose flappy paddles
We need to address the elephant in the room now you have mentioned it... Clearly its time to make a call and get the next installment in the, "My friend Phil bought..." series booked in. We all know its his Tuthill 911k and it will be absolute TH-cam Gold! We need a dose of that iconic laugh of Phil's. Especially if you dragged "Ol Scrooge McDuck" aka Tony with you! 🤣
-How can I disturb my 458's computer?
-Hold my beer!
Been waiting a long time to see good content from you.
That beginning sounded like a Honda Kseries motor ❤
Sounds to me that this coversion allows the car to be more engaging and emotional to drive - at lower speeds, i.e nearer to speed limits, than the 'normal' Speciale. I think that could be a good thing.
Comparing this to the 911K probably doesn't do the Porsche justice, but it does seem like a manual Speciale might be the closest thing one could experience for significantly less!
Very nice 458! I would love to see a F12 manual! Omg
Love the 458... gave me such a headache watching this from inside the cockpit.. so may cross this off the Xmas list!
Love the 458 speciale, but auto from me Sam as it was a game changer then and I think still is
The coffee comment made me laugh, I've just got back from Rome, so I feel your pain 🤣
A late watch for me... Singapore F1 came first 😅
What a great creation!! Thank you for your video on this special car 🤘
1 The clutch pedal has a short travel and the biting point is towards the end of it.
2 Brakes are very hard to depress.
3 It's very difficult to blip and rev match because the ECU doesn't cooperate.
That sounds like an exceptionally hard to drive manual
It just needs to be fine-tuned IMO
10:48 example of the ECU not blipping the way you want it to
My F56 jcw was the first manual gearbox production model. 2015.
STG favourite posh bloke 😀👍👍👍
Another mint vid & review top job mate 👍👍
Wow! what a machiiiiine! a true automotive dream!
Now that's how cars should be Samuel!!!!😂😂❤❤
Speciale is one of my favorite cars along with a manual Scud
10:48 example of ECU not blipping the way you want it to
That's how it goes in diners: "This coffee is disgusting...it's perfect"
Sam, I love your channel. Your great. Keep it up!
Its wonderful to see a manual transmission in a modern Ferrari 😍
" I can't work out whether I'd be having a better time in a standard car " Pretty much sums it up. That looked like hard work 🥵 unnecessarily so...
All this " Last NA v8 ferrari now has a manual box business... is a pretty small minded approach... people get all moist over an idea when in reality they would come out with a bigger smile having driven the standard car. If you particularly like the 458 speciale then get one and leave it as it is and if you also happen to like the - as Sam described it " Slower paced feel" of rowing your own gears then there's also plenty of other great cars to choose from to fill the void.
Having said all that it's a super sick idea props to anyone with the passion and knowledge to create such a thing. I'd love to have the experience and may change my mind if I did but probably not a car for me.