360 vs F430

This post is silly, just another opinion!

 

Yup, agree with all points above.

I have had the 328>348>F355>Challenge Stradale>360>F430

And the F355 was the most engaging drive from my perspective.

I had the F355 GTS at same time as the Stradale and the only times I preferred the Stradale was when I was at the Race Track.

The current asking prices of F355 are not justified in my opinion which is why i wont get one over a 360 or F430.

Fun topic and nice we can share our thoughts without anyone getting to serious.

Happy Easter.

 

Nope, just a bunch of 430 owners in here who over paid for a glorified 360 that should have just bought a 360 in the first place
or bought a 458 if you wanted something more modern. I am not even a 458 fan and love the 430 but these posts acting like the 430 is so much better is goofy.

 

Except bigger/more powerful engine based off their F1 running gear, significantly updated/upgraded f1 system itself, crazy intelligent e-diff, etc. etc.

Kline on f430 negates the noise difference too.


For those who prefer the peak single-clutch era, and want something Schumi had a lot of personal seat time helping to develop....the f430 is where it's at.

I say this as a massive fan of both, but fully understanding the 430 represents the peak capabilities of the platform, and the 360 is a lot better looking and (when comparing stock vs stock everything) does certainly sound better.

but the DIY guy in me definitely loves that the F430 has fewer "regular" mx items.

 

I cross shopped the 360 and 430. Chose the 430 for the extra HP, improved F1 system, better looks (my opinion), better options, better gauge package, and no belts. I’ve done a 360 timing belt change so it’s not the primary reason. When you spend some time working on both models you can see the engineering and design advances. No regrets.

 

I personally never liked the 360 that much and really did not like the 430. Just my opinion of course. For some reason though to me the Challenge Stradale has always been the coolest car ever made so that's what I got. Funny, but for some reason those changes they made to the 360 for the CS apparently make a world of difference in my mind at least.

 

This is a silly post. Everyone tries to justify their purchase decision of one thing over another. We all do it.

For example, I wanted a 1985/86 mono speccio Testarossa, but justified my 2009 F430 as the last and most sorted version of a Ferrari before they became too digital. The cost for a 2010 458 wasn't that much more at the time vs an 09 F430. While I could afford the maintenance on a Testarossa, I didn't want to deal with it. There are guys here who buy the 360 over the 430 because they justify to themselves it is more analog than the 430, which is true. The e-diff and F1 are an in-between before you go real digital feel with the 458. Some people are even deleting their e-diff and converting to a manual to be more like a 360, but still have the maintenance reduction of the 430 engine. Some 360 buyers justify the 360 over the F355 because it has an access panel for doing the belts vs the 355. In the end everyone has their reasons. Would I have loved to buy a Scud? you bet, but I can't do techno fabric since I'm the opposite of Prince Andrew and all I do is sweat. That's my justification when I get asked why I didn't get a Scud. If I would have known that the scud had a leather option on the sport seats before I bought my F430, I may have gone that way, but only found out later that it was an option. I'm now emotionally committed to my F430.

As for looks, that is subjective and to be honest related to the person's life experiences and memories. I like the 360, but the looks don't do it for me. I think the 458 is ok, but love the 488 and F8, but hate that they drive too much like a simulator where you are disconnected from everything. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't kick a 488 or F8 "out of bed", but can't justify buying one and losing the opportunity cost of the extra 200 to 300k that I would lose for investing. In general, I do not finance cars.

 

It always makes me smile when I read the 360 is better looking than an F430, as in IMO its completely the opposite and I never lusted after a 360 at all because it looked to much like a Fiat Barchetta, and as for the headlights, well, a bit Porsche 996 going on there! All subjective though and I think the CS with all its little tweaks looks like a completely different car and much needed!

 

Man, this thread went from “this is my opinion” to “these are hard facts” real quick.

 

CoreyNJ, I have no idea how the 360 looks don’t do it for you when in it’s time it was an amazing seller for Ferrari and by far brought the brand to new heights in the retail street market. The 360 design in 1999 was way ahead of everyone else. I love both the 360 & 430 and will own both but I would not say one is better looking than the other. As electric cars gain momentum, I would buy these gas Ferraris fast. Nothing will ever sound like these cars again.

 

My opinion on the 360’s looks is first and foremost my opinion, everyone has their own. I can say the CS is the better looking of the two and I actually like it. The 360 painted headlights are one thing I don’t like and the intakes both front and side seem to small to me for the car. The side intakes do flow nicely from the door handles, but some of the exoticness is missing with the smaller ducts over the 430. The same for the front of the car. Btw. The overly large ducts on the 488 is what I love about that car, very exotic and why I, not a fan of the 458 where the intake ducts are hidden.

As for electric cars, Europe has already seen the light and realized it’s not happening so fast. They will be allowing new e-fuel ICE cars past 2035 which are net zero carbon no rare earth metals mining or child labor involved. Not to turn this into a P&R thread, but I can’t wait for the US to get some sense and understand efuel will be a very viable option as production ramps up in areas with cheap clean energy (wind, solar, hydro). People speculating by buying ICE exotic cars will be in for a rude awakening when we make that announcement here in the states. My rough guess is by 2027 or 2028 this will happen as reality sets in.


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This thread highlights the diff between the two very different cars.

arguably deserve their own forum section…

love my gated 360…. If I bought a newer na variant I would skip the 430 face lifted 360 for the 458.

 

I've had 360 manual, 355 GTS, F430 F1 (in that order)

It feels silly to rank them in any way since they each provided such a different experience.

360 manual was fantastic, could drive it right on the limit on sticky track tires with TC off and mine had a Capristo which sounded just fantastic. Had some unforgettable drives on the Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway

355 sound + GTS top + gated manual was really wonderful. Car wasn't particularly fast but had great steering feel and was physically much smaller than the newer stuff.

The 430 is again a totally different feel because it is F1. I also have a Gransport and find it amusing that people complain about the gearbox. It's quite good for a single clutch (nearly as good as the DCT in my old M4 GTS), especially compared to the Maserati. I've driven and owned a lot of quick cars and even though it is pushing 18 years old, the F430 is fast. It is hard to fathom needing much more performance on narrow mountain roads than what the F430 is capable of delivering.

 

I always wanted a CS. Time went by and the market has put them out of reach.

Now the F430 is making more sense and it has grown on me.

But I can’t get over the fact that back when I couldn’t afford a 360 or CS or an F430 they were all 1/2 to 1/4 price they are now. Which makes buying any of them today sting. And they are OLD.

Add on the fact my DD E63 Wagon is faster then 99% of all cars (including Ferraris) makes it even weirder to want an older slower car. But I do still want a mid v8 Ferrari and nothing newer appeals to me.

I can’t decide, flip flop every week between 360/430. This week it’s an F430 F1 with sport seats carbon and yellow tach. Last week a gated 360.

Maybe I’ll never decide!

 

There is no way an F430 is just a face lifted 360.

A facelift in nearly every other car brand is front and rear lights, a few trim pieces and some tech at best! The F430 is pretty my 80% completely different car!

 

I like pursuing these comments..well, I’m
biased b/c I absolutely loved my gated 360 Spider. I like the 430 too, but I skipped all and went with a Roma recently. Of course in every measurable way it is light years ahead of both cars in terms of performance. But…faster, newer isn’t always better. Miss the click clack of the gated shifter, the 8500 rpm shifts, the analog feel. Love the Roma, too, but you know…

 

So - I will provide an almost "objective" opinion since I do not own a 360 or an F430 (and never owned either)
This being said, I think it really depends on what one likes; coming from 12-cylinder cars I value torque more than high revving engines, so for me, the F430 is definitely better. But I understand others could have different tastes.

 

You might really like a diesel pickup, not sure if they're legal in France though.

 

The best high revving engines are two-stroke engines - which are, as everybody knows, particularly adequate for mopeds and Trabant.

 

The Rally 200 seemed to do pretty well with it, and that's neither a moped nor a trabant. /shrug

 

The f430 has to be an evolution and step forward in performance. It is what Ferrari does for each model.

but while based on similar basic chassis… they are diff enough to be in different forums… but these are just the rants of a distant keyboard cowboy…. Tap tap click.

 

That is because since you have seen them lower, so in your mind you are having trouble accepting the value has changed. I go through this alot too. I'm having trouble with the reality of a $300k Scuderia, when they spent a decade hovering just under $200k.

Then I walk into my poor car guy's garage, look at my cars and realize I couldn't afford to re-buy either of them.

 

They definately belong in the same forum......now I would like to see the CS and Scuderia split off into their forum.

 

Speak for yourself.

 

Yet they are much closer to the standard model, than the 360 is to the F430?