Why does the 458 look bigger than the 430

What are you saying, title is opposite to the message.

 

I think the last part reads.... so why does the 430 look smaller. The Italia comes with bigger stock wheels for one and that sometimes has an effect. The air ducts are also hidden per say in the rear window making the car less "cut up" so to speak and that might make the body panels appear larger. I think its subjective actually; someone else might think the opposite from you so I doubt you will get a definitive answer.

 

It doesn't appear that way in real life. If you see one next to an F430, it's like someone carved material off of the F430 to make a 458.

 

Now if you compare to a 3X8/355...

 

Just don't try a head on or side crash in either of them.

The world has changed. The new Fiat 500 seems twice the size of the original -- as does the Mini. Yet, we think of the new 500 as incredibly tiny today.

I could make the same argument about the Dino vs the 308. The 308 is huge compared to the Dino. So, is the 308 "too big"? It's all relative.

 

Cars are getting bigger due to the safety and comfort features that clients and law makers require these days. Automobile makers like Enzo Ferrari and Ferdinand Porsche built their cars according to their personal philosophy and expected the driver to adapt to their cars and back then this worked out great. Business terms like Market-Orientation or Trend-Of-The-Market did not even exist!

Times change as well as human beings, nowadays cars have to be comfortable, fast, loud and quite at the same time, never mind the WiFi capabilities. A longer wheelbase brings less nervousness on a long highway stretch, exhaust valves will make your daily drive to your office more relaxing because it will keep your neighbors off your lawn at 6:00 AM, and etc . . .

Another great example would be the size and weight evolution of the BMW M Cars, from the Bad-A** BMW 2002 M Turbo through the Rowdy BMW E30 until the civilized and heavy Autobahn-Commuters' E92 BMW M3 - I would take the E46 M3 CSL, has the best of both eras

Greetz,


Joseph

 

Thats a great summary but he was asking the question between the 430 and 458. While it's true that cars are bigger to adhere to the safety requirements, the 430 and 458 are only a few years apart. Unlike the 3x8 and dinos which are quite small today, the newer F cars (360 to present) are all pretty similar in size. I doubt the Italia is bigger because of more safety equipment.

 

It's bigger by one inch over the 430. I wouldn't call that massive.

 

The Italia looks smaller to me. The lines flow better; not as chopped up as the 430 IMVHO.

 

I also think it looks smaller because of the cleaner lines. I was just commenting on how the previous post (above my original) was getting at how cars become bigger due to safety enhancements. It was almost irrelevant considering the OP was comparing the 430 and the 458.

 

I totally agree. Like I said, the 458 looks like they carved material off the F430 to make it. The rear 3/4 is far lighter looking and the hood slopes with less fat around the fenders.

 

I've always felt that the Italia appears smaller than the F430.

 

That's why it's so damn good looking. If you start with a gem and make it even sexier you end up with a design such as the 458.