Challenge Stradale or F430?

As you may know I'm looking to become a Ferrari owner and I've recently been intrigued by the 360 CS, but I'm also very interested in an F430. I've driven an F430 and plan to test drive a CS in a few days and was hoping for your opinions of both cars. Any owners on here want to give me their opinion? In terms of driveability, maintenance, resale, owning one, etc? Thanks again for all your help, I know this is the right place to come.

 

It's entirely subjective of course but I've owned both and get far more enjoyment out of the CS. For me it looks better, sounds better and feels generally a bit more special. It feels at least as quick as my F430 on the roads also (perhaps partly due to the stripped out raw nature as I don't doubt the F430 is slightly quicker on paper). FWIW also I chose the CS over the 430 Scuderia - Scud is a fantastic car, significantly quicker, but in all other respects as above I preferred the Stradale.

The Strad is of course a raw "road racer" though - if you're looking to do very long journeys and/or transport the wife in luxury, the F430 is probably the better bet.

 

CS

 

Great page! thanks.

i would choose the f430.

 

Test drive both cars and see for yourself. I prefer the more advanced F430; and to me, it looks more stunning.

 

The CS is a bit clunky, you feel like you are in a real race car. The 430 if you like things a bit more refined.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. Can any CS owners tell me what it's like to own one? It will be my 'weekend' car, definitely not my daily driver.

 

The downside of the CS is that if you want another Ferrari in the future (new model) you are not going to want to trade the CS, so if it's the Ferrari experience you're after and you will likely trade the car for another model down the road, buy the F430, less guilt on the trade. And if you keep the CS -which you will want to keep- you'll spend another sum of $$$ on the new car, so the CS is, in effect, 2X or 3X the cost in terms of ownership should you want the next best thing.

 

+1 Well said.

I recommend you drive them both and determine what suits your weekend warrior appetite better. For me, it's the CS pho sho'.

 

This is a tough question as both cars are great! I originally wanted a CS and still love them today, but I bought the 430. I drive my cars alot and the 430 was just much more refined for the street, with a very infrequent trip to the track. It is a personal thing really, if you want race car feel and something that is quite rare the CS is the way to go, if you want performance and all the comforts go for the 430.

My 2 cent's!

 

warning: opening a can of worms here

the price of a CS is comparable to an early F430 right now but I think that the depreciation will be steeper for the F430 due to more F430 produced.
If you want to (reluctantly) sell your car in the future, resale/financial consideration may be a factor.

 

Hello Kitty TR?

Just kidding.

There have been a few discussions on this thread, pages and pages long, with no conclusive outcome.
It is a 996 GT3 versus 997S, Scuderia vs 458, Jennifer Aniston vs Megan Fox debate.

It all comes down to taste....the numbers are about the same, the experience is completely different - Raw and visceral vs (sort of) refined, and, well, a bit less visceral. Choose which one you like the best - you're lucky to be able to drive both beforehand.

For me, CS. Aniston. Call me crazy.

 

Gideon is this for you? Good for you. Anyways, I'd take a F430, and if you could find a stick...it's even better. (Love driving my fathers six speed F430.)

 

Stradale. That car is just so mean looking. And it's probably the best driver's Ferrari this side of the Super Ferraris.

 

I would have thought the CS was more akin to Megan Fox.... but I'm just speculating... unfortunately.

If your car is just going to be a weekend warrior, strongly consider the CS. I LOVE mine for that purpose. It's perfect for driving it every so often... daily driver? not so much.

 

On paper, you would think that... stiff racing seats, stiff suspension, loud, no insulation... too much raw for a long road trip. Right? And worse, I personally can't stand being in seats long unless they have good adjustable lumbar support... none of that in a lightweight racing seat... heck, no padding for that matter.

But then I took it on a long road trip. We came equipped... extra little pillows to pad our butts or use for lumbar support or whatever. NEVER used them.

In fact, the Stradale is the most comfortable long-road-trip car I've owned! The seat cradles me so, that I can just relax in it. No fatigue whatsoever. The only time I'd get sore is if I failed to take the wallet out of my pocket (the seat is too snug... wallet has to come out). The way it supports my sides and arms... awesome actually.

We could go near 500 miles on a tank of gas (20.5 mpg with a 25 gal tank)... so, we always needed to stop for food or restroom before we needed to stop for the car. (And 20.5mpg is with me driving 95-110mph.) So, it actually gets better gas mileage and is more comfortable than my SUV that's designed for long hauls.

I've driven from Texas to California in several cars... by far, the Stradale was the most comfortable. And that doesn't even factor in the fun factor... I've never driven any car that is as much raw fun as a Stradale... the sound... the feel... the raw exhilaration... and the sound... and the connection to the tires and road... and that sound!

 

Haha, you have to be slightly deluded I would take a cruiser for a journey like that. I have done a few 7 hours journeys in my ferrari and it is hard work the last couple of hours. The engine, the suspension is not really set up for crossing countries. My lambo was the same, it is like you have been sitting on concrete by the end of the journey.

BMW's and Merc's were invented for mashing up continents, not Ferraris

 

There is nothing quite like a Stradale this side of an F40. Spectacular Ferrari experience.

 

I would guess so too.....but I have different tastes in cars than women.


Back to the OP's question.....if you like the CS but don't want quite that raw, get a F430, drop it an inch, and put a loud exhaust on it and maybe an ecu tune.

 

With or without make up??

 

if ur going to drive it daily and go bang around etc...430

for that once every so often blast or for the track CS

if i had to choose one, id keep my CS

 

much more articulate than my response
+1

 

What about CS or Scud? Let's assume comparable pricing just for fun.

 

f40, CS, Scud

 

CS...I have had many of both and like said he CS is more of a drivers Ferrari. Nothing taking away from the 430 of course. The only problem with the CS is the power. If that car had 500hp it would be in a class of its own.