430 from a 360 perspective

Driving to work this morning, I was thinking that a 430 must just be soo off the charts, I would prematurely *#)# by just driving it. You see, It was early and I had a very twisty road all to myself in my 360 Spider. Normally I complain about the 360 off the line, with wheel spin and the clunky F1 tranistion from 1st-2nd-3rd. Once in 3rd though, that car can really hustle. This morning I got to find that out. I drive my 360 every Friday to work and put around on weekends, but the only time I can "open it up" as it were, is on Friday summer mornings as I come in early enough to have no traffic on that twisty road with just enough tarmac warmth to not be ice scating. Today, not a soul on the road the entire journey and a warm morning. A perfect storm for some um "testing."

I won't disclsose the speed, but lets just say, topped out in 4th with stints deep into 5th, and feeling intimate with my Daytona buckets. The car turns nicely and acclerates well between sweepers with hard braking not always predictable, but effective. I have owned a lot of fast cars, but this thing is much quicker through corners than most I have driven. In short, i was smitten by the time I got to work today. I think, save for trips on my Yamaha R1, it was the fastest ever I have made journey, a journey previously made in an RS4, S54 M Roadster, and 552 hp GT.

That brings me to the 430. Although I have driven one, but not hard enough to tell it from my 360, I know it is a much faster car and all around better performer. I can not imagine going faster than I did today, but I realize that car would. That, must be truly amazing indeed. I have driven a V10 R8 on the track and that is the only car that has ever felt as balanced and planted in the corners as my 360 spider (well it was more planted, but it was not as exciting to drive, so I am looking for a V8 version of that car). To think the 430 is more than just a step above, makes me bow out of respect.

Now this is not going to make me go out and pay a $50k premium for a 430 spider, but I have a lot more respect for the 430 now . . . from driving my 360 near "my" limit.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. PROFESSIONAL DRIVER ON A CLOSED COURSE.*

*for the purposes of this disclaimer, professional is measured when comnpared to a spouse and closed is defined as "if there are no other drivers on the road, it must be closed."

 

If driving is your thing try either a 16M, 430 Scuderia or a Challenge Stradale. They are on an altogether higher level.

 

Or a 458 Italia. The 458 is to the 430 what the 430 is to the 360. Ferrari seems to have bumped up the power in about 80+ bhp increments, and that's just the engine. Each chassis/engine seems a clear step above its predecessor. But I would dare venture that on public roads, it would be difficult to actually use the excess over the 360 much of the time.

 

True, actually would rather see them keep power the same but just bump down the weight

 

Problem is, I don't have the driving skills to find out. A few track schools does not fast me make. Everything is relative though. When I had my RS4, I had a friend with an moded B7 S4 who thought nothing similar and legal could beat it. Then he drove my RS4 and said OMG, I drive a Prius. I know CS an Scuds are dedicated beasts, but probably harder to drive fast for someone of my pedestrian skills. In other words I would probably lap faster in a Porsche 911 turbo tiptronic than in a GT2 or GT3, cuz the electronics would mask lack of skill out of AI self respect.

Not fond of the new replacement of the 430 as to looks, so I stop the comparison there.

 

Thanks, I really enjoyed the write up.

As road cars, I really think the 360 and F430 are just perfectly balanced. CS, Scuderia are lighter and quicker on the track, but you lose the creature comforts for normal street driving. Unless you go to the tracks, it kills the purpose of having racing harness, CCB and bucket seats etc.

 

As an Fcar newbie with my 360, I can't imagine a better car. Knowing that there cars which are faster, quicker and handle better is just amazing to me. No reason for me to drive a 430 because i do want want to catch the upgrade bug. In all seriousness, for everyday road driving how can anything more than a 360 be needed? Now a spider is a different story...

 

I race a Formula Atlantic on the weekends. I know what real speed and driving at the absolute limit feels like. Unfortunately I also know what hitting a tire wall at 80 mph feels like too. Having said all of this I find my 360 (with Hyperflows and Xost) to have plenty of power and have more than enough speed and handling to satisfy my needs on non racing weekends. In my mind it's the perfect car and I honestly have no interest in upgrading. My racer buddy said my 360 is the baddest, most insane car he's driven short of his own Atlantic.

 

For those of us who limit our Ferrari driving experience to the street, the 360 is quite a ride. The superior performance of the 430 or 458 would rarely be demonstrated on the street due to the obvious limitations on high performance driving there. So, taking the 360 to the limits of street driving leaves little room for the additional thrill afforded by the 430 or 458.

However, the satisfaction of possesing power is almost as good as exercising it.
"Faster cars, older whiskey, younger women, and more money."

 

save the money from going to a 430 from your 360. INSTEAD, upgrade your exhaust and install a Stradale TCU. You will thank me later. I just got home from a nice sprint to and from the office, banging through the gears and Blip, Blip, blip damnnnnn.

I have a tubi ngt with hyper flow cats / 02 360 spider, lowered, wheels, blah blah blah

I dont think there is much of a difference going from the 360 to the 430 as going from a 430 to a scud or a 458. Huge difference between those cars IMHO.

 

even if you do go to the track there is nothing wrong with a 360 in that respect either.. it may not be as hardened as the CS but it's definitely apt enough to be a track car.. it is a ferrari after all..

 

There is a large difference between the 360 & the 430 - I have had both as well as a cs and Scud

 

honestly the OP confused the **** out of me with that story...