Who doesn’t love a good exotic car or two? That’s the focus of this edition of Auction Dilemma as we explore a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia on Cars & Bids and a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C on eBay.
2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
Preceded by the F430 and 360 Modena models, the 458 Italia incorporated many details from Ferrari’s Formula 1 racing experience. Computer-aided design helped bring this Ferrari into modernity, too. Interestingly, unlike its F430 and 360 ancestors, the 458 uses a timing chain (the others used a belt), making for a more reliable and less maintenance-intense machine. While the car only has 23,600 miles and a few blemishes, it’s important to be aware of the salvage/rebuilt title status. Other than being caused by a non-collision incident in 2016 and a seller comment about the damage being to a since-repaired suspension issue, no further details are disclosed about the issue.
Behind the cabin is a 4.5-liter V-8 factory rated for 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters controls the rear wheels. Car and Driver recorded a 3.3-second time for a 0-60 run, making the 458 among the fastest production cars in 2010. In fact, only the Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini Murcielago were quicker.
The black interior (with a handful of imperfections) includes leather upholstery, power Daytona-style seats, carbon fiber trim, and navigation.
2012 McLaren MP4-12C
McLaren launched the MP4-12C in 2011 as the company’s first street-legal car since production stopped on the legendary F1 after 1998. Its carbon fiber chassis has served as the basis for future McLaren supercars. With 30,000 miles on the clock, this black 2012 McLaren appears clean in the photos (the seller hasn’t disclosed condition details). Unlike its Auction Dilemma counterpart, there are no reported accidents or title issues.
A twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 powers this rear-engined car with output (when new) at 592 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Despite more horsepower and torque than the 458 Italia, Autoweek reported a similar 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission handles the back wheels.
Inside, the black interior is accented with leather and microfiber seating, carbon fiber accents, automatic climate control, and navigation.
How Exotic Are You Willing To Go?
The Ferrari’s history will undoubtedly help keep pricing low so that this car could be ideal for a bargain-hunting enthusiast. Contrast this to the McLaren with no apparent issues and a price tag to match. The Ferrari 458 auction ends in four days and has a current $80,000 high bid. The McLaren Mp4-12C has a $102,900 asking price.
Sources: carsandbids.com, ebay.com, Ferrari, classicdriver.com