Why did you choose a 360 over a 430 or vise-versa?

$1700 is belts. A major is similar on the 360 and the 430.

 

Timing chains.

 

I originally was looking at 360 since the price is reasonable. However in person the F430 is so much better looking to me. I push for it and I feel it justified the price difference given the performance. But more importantly it's what I like.

 

I got my F430 back in 2007. For me it was the horsepower difference. I just didn't feel 400hp was enough.

I'm happy with my choice.

 

Found the perfect 3 pedal car. Had I found an identical spec F430 the choice would have been really hard.


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My thoughts on the 360 vs 430 mirrors Sherpa23 up until the actual car I bought. I was/am still open to the 430 coupe MT if the right opportunity came up. However - I admit I broke the most basic rule of shopping for a cool depreciating liability; I got impatient last couple of months in my search through the shopping, PPI's and negotiations with 360's and 430's on FerrariApproved and Ebay, ect. I just wanted to get into a car - start having fun with the car and "stop the bleeding" (for me) with the new apparent demand side in the general market for the model I happened to want. Seemed that everytime I found a car I was interested in it was 4k-8k more than the last with less negotiation than the last one.

So, my decision largely fell on price as I was unable to get any decent car/dealer to sell me a 430 MT for anything south of 150k now. I am aware that I did not get a great deal on the price I just paid, however I hope that I got a very good example in the current market conditions (only time will really tell). Also, the spread in price I experienced between a 360 coupe MT and a 430 coup MT makes the belt change on the 360 every three years a non issue.

 

For me the difference in choosing the F-430 over the 360 was a function of a few things:

1. Personal preference for the interior and exterior styling of the 430 over 360
2. Perceived cost benefit to maintain 430 based on the 430 being an "evolved" 360.
3. Finding a car that PPI'd well with a set of specifications that spoke to me.

On the subject of number 2, only time will tell, and that question may be more relevant to the individual car on a case by case basis more so than one being a 430 versus a 360.

 

I prefer the exterior lines and interior simplicity of the 360 3 pedal. I'm owned 2 of them now and along with my 458 Italia its a perfect combination. The 3 pedal is so engaging, just so much fun to drive.

 

No mention of the MK I / MK II header issues on the 430. does the F360 have the same issue? Blowing an engine is not something I want to even think about.

 

+1000!

 

It's probably not mentioned because it would not be a reason to choose one or the other of the 360 or 430. But as far as I know, 360s don't have the same issue. On 430s, even if the headers crack, they don't usually result in a blown engine.

Now, what about the pre-cats lodged in the header collectors? 360s after 1999 have them in the U.S., but are they found on 430s, too? Deteriorating pre-cats can cause engine damage when pieces of it ride reversion waves back into the engine.

 

That is what I was referring two. It is my understanding that when the headers fail. The pre-cat stuff gets sucked back into the pistons and then you have to rebuild the engine, big dollar problem. This issue concerns me, as of today I don't own either a 360 or 430, but am researching the +'s and minus of both, as want want to moth ball/ time capsule my 308, and get a 360 or 430 and drive her hard. Would like a MT vs the F1 paddles, because I hear the F1 paddles I hear are clutch eaters. Currently own a 308qv, so I'm used to the changing of the belts. That is one reason why I was leaning towards a 430, do to the chain. But then the cracked header/ precat situation came up. So what I think I'm hearing is they both have the issue?

 

Post #13:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/446775-myth-fact-pre-cat-main-cat-failures.html

 

Because back in 06 a new MT 430 was way out of my budget.... I opted for an 02 mt 360! couldnt be happier .

 

I prefer the exterior lines of the 360, but the point you make on the interior is interesting. I guess along the lines of stating the simplicity of the 360 interior, I will say that the 360 has the BEST steering wheel of modern ferraris- a simple 3 spoke with no silly buttons on it. Easily my biggest (only?) complain on the 458 is how ridiculous the steering wheel is- maybe it makes sense on an F1 car, but for a street car the size and simplicity of the 360 steering wheel is great vs all those control buttons on the wheel!

Personally, I think the belts vs chains thing is overstated. I had the belts done on my 360 (mechanic recommended 5 year change intervals)- not that big of a deal as they belts are done from the access port inside the cabin- belts vs chains is not worthy of being a deciding factor to me for a 360 vs 430. Because both cars are now old, their maintenance costs can be equally painful (suspension, F1, exhaust manifolds, etc etc)- changing belts every 5 years isn't that big of an issue. A few years back there was lots of talk about belts vs. chains, but now that 430s are starting to have their fair share of 4 or 5 figure service visits less so.

The 430 is a more modern car though (with more performance)- I'm going to keep my old school 355 spider for a while, then maybe move to a 360 or 430 spider...I really like them all

 

I agree with you on the belt change issue. If we were discussing the F355 then yes. Big issue. Maintenance port makes all the diff.

One huge repair that 430 guys don't figure is the simple water pump replacement. A 360 water pump is about $500 and for the 430 in the $Ks because it is a combo with the oil pump.

 

mostly because I like the cleaner lines of the 360. I drive it on the street, I didn't need any extra power and I like the engine note of the 360. Plus the challenge rear grille just looks so classic Ferrari, I didn't like the tail end of the car on the 430 as much (and that's what most see on the street lol)

 

+1 That challenge grill is just classic!!

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I chose the 430 Spider last year because i love the looks, the interior and extra power compared to the 360.
The more modern headlights, the "little Enzo" look to the rear end are incredible in my opinion.
I also wanted to find a car with about 5k miles, a little easier to do with a 430.
The timing chains vs belts was a factor also, not so much for the expense, but in one more item I'd need to schedule.
It had the MKll headers when I bought it and I immediately swapped them out for Fabspeed ceramic headers with Agency Power Titanium exhaust. No more worries of pre-cats coming apart.
The 360 and 430 are both beautiful cars.

 

360 has belts. 430 has header issues. Those factors don't really matter to me - more important to find a good car, well maintained and serviced properly. I would advise you to focus on buying the specific CAR that stirs you regardless of model. I intended to buy a 430 but after driving several cars I fell in love with a showroom-quality 360 spider and it just put a bigger smile on my face than any 430 I had driven.

The 430 is certainly a lot faster. But I think the 360 is an overall more balanced and complete concept. When they created it to replace the 355 it was a total revolution. So many aspects of the car were completely new...aluminum body, aerodynamics, suspension, chassis (especially the spider), reliability and maintainability, build quality...all were leaps and bounds ahead of the 355. Yet they only increased HP a tiny bit. Why? Because it was the RIGHT power/torque/dynamics for THIS concept.

I remember when the Gallardo came out, car fanboys (most of whom will never drive an exotic) were saying, "why would you buy a weak 360 when you can have a Lambo with 2 more cylinders and 100+ more HP?!?" Lambo forced Ferrari (starting with the 430) into a HP arms race that is still being waged today. Of course Ferrari improves other aspects of the car with each new model, not just bigger engines, but with the 360 it was all about the WHOLE concept and how every piece fits into it.

Having now driven several more 430, 458, 488s they all get faster and faster, handle better, etc. But the absolute purity of vision and how everything fits perfectly into that vision is what makes the 360 timeless and special.

(I also drove a Scud this year for the first time - entirely different animal...I want one. But that's a discussion for another thread...)

 

+1, well said.

 

You should be a 360 salesman! I'm sold...and I've already got one

 

haha...the only one I'd sell is mine and I hope to never have to!

 

Ha! I am NOT selling my 360 spider stick! Well said. It's great fun to drive.

 

I had an 03' 360 manual but hands down the 430 blows it away in every way. I wouldn't mind picking up another 360 down the road but if you want the better car then 430 all the way.