How driving an F430 changed how I view all cars

Do you know what, EVERY time i go to get into that car, from the small blip form the alarm, to when you open the door and you hear the F1 pump prime, sit in that seat, turn the key, ge the 3/4 beeps and the dash tells you all is OK, to hitting that magical button, THEN flipping the switch onto 'Race' with those beeps as you got through them, then holding it at the CST off position for a few secs, then BAM, hit the accelerator and the noise, feelings, smells, all your senses liven 10 fold, the car doing that vibrating, pushing, egging you on feeling thing it does....
I know the exact feeling you have about the car, (the Enzo is a further yard stick though), my friends 06 E-Gear Gallardo is pathetic in comparison, Audi Head unit, your arse scraping on the floor, Audi Flip key, the feeling nothing is bespoke! The Ferrari feels, looks, acts special, the driving position of the F430 (and 360 alike) is spot on.
Great post, do evrything you can to have a Ferrari without struggling!

(just a question, but whenever I get into the 430, if the steeringwheel is slightly on the piss, I have to correct it before start the engine, does anyone else or am I a lunatic?)

 

How true it all is!

Ferrari creates a more lasting effect than a woman and with a whole hell of a lot less aggrivation!

Save your pennies and get a Ferrari.

What Ferrari has forgotten the other makers should learn!

 

Oh how can that be?

After all the magazines say..............

 

very nice write up Joe...hope you get one soon

 

I would agreee, I'll always have one in my garage...always.

Try the BMW M6...helluva ride, I've had mine about 2 weeks and loooove it.

 

Wow, great write-up. Great description of thoughts and feelings. The best I have ever read.

 

After a back to back ride in 430, 911Turbo and 911GT3, the 430 was the one that blew me away, the combination of style,feel,drama,sound and performance makes the others seem so boring and staid

 

I feel the same every time I get in our F430. You have that feeling inside you that you know that is something special. I've sat in a lot of supercars to see what they are like (you cant always have your way and test drive them), including a CCR, Gallardos, CLK DTM, GT3s, 997s, Enzo, Zonda F, 599 etc... And the F430/ 599GTB still beats most of them (the Zonda F is close, followed by the Enzo). Although, I like most supercars, so not one to complain!

 

Joe what a thoughtful write up, great job! I own a F430 F1 & a Ford GT plus some other cars. I love the F430 but I find the Ford GT great also. You never mentioned the drive in the FGT, how did it compare.

I must admit I did not like the Z06. It has numb steering. I have not driven a Bentley or an Aston Martin. I love the look of the cars but I am into sport cars at least at this stage of my life.

I recently drove the Gallardo & the Murci. I was interested in adding a Murci to my stable because it was a niche I do not have. I think both cars are beautiful in appearance. I did not like the Murci. While not stiff it is not agile and the E-gear is slow at least compared to the F1 on my F430. The ride is harsh, not a refined car in my humble view. I walked away thinking the Murci was not a drivers car but only a car for show.

The Gallardo was different. This was a 6 speed and it, while not as agile as the ferrari or the FGT it was not a bad car. It could be an alternative for the F430. The Gallardo was a 2007 and the Murci was a new 2006 roadster. The dealership says they will call me when they get in a LP640 roadster. They say it is a much better car.

One suggestion on what you might want to look at is the Lotus elise or Esprit. I have the Elise Sport which is the racing version and it is a supercar in everything other than price. it is very quick but not up the a F430. Handling I think is a better feel than the F430. It is dirt cheap on gas yet is as much or more fun than most anything else. The engine and drive train is Toyota so it should be very reliable. great cars for a toy, better than a Boxter. The older 911 say 1999-2001 are in the $29-$32k range and they while not being a Ferrari are very damn good cars and easy to live with and go on trips.

Good luck on whatever you do, and thank you for the insight on your experience.

Lee

 

I agree - once you own an F430, you ARE ruined on all other cars - I am still trying to find a satisfying daily driver and nothing - NOTHING - is remotely acceptable - all because of the F430s - guess that is why I needed to have a spider and coupe!

 

Though I have not been in a 430, I have driven a 328, 360, have owned a 355, and now have a 512 TR. I cannot explain it, but the same genes are clearly apparent in all of these cars. The 328 cannot touch the speed of my RS4. But it has sooo much more spirit, it's not a comparison. Right now I am fortunate enough to enjoy the TR, but if the tables turn, I will try to find the rattiest old 308 on death's door just to feed my addiction. There simply is no substitute.

 

Ok, guys, my turn to attempt to wax poetic:

Today I took my 430 spider to the Ferrari Challenge races at Infineon raceway in California. I was not going to be able to track the car but was motivated to go see (and listen to and smell) the Ferrari historic disc race cars (e.g., 3 512BB LM's, 2 250 GTO's, a Daytona Competizione), get my chest thumped and ears mangled by 6 or 7 FXX's going at each other, see the drum brake racers sliding around every corner - it was a treat, for sure.

But the biggest treat was what would otherwise be a boring freeway drive of 75 miles each way. But in the spider, on a 70 degree sunny day, windows and top down of course, darting in around traffic with abandon during lane changes, cruising both ways over the Golden Gate Bridge, accelerating briskly through 1st and 2nd into 3rd gear from every stoplight in San Francisco---ahhh, that was heaven.

It was so good that after 3 hours of watching the race cars, what I most wanted to do was get back in mine but this time I headed for the twisties in the coastal mountains between Infineon and the pacific ocean. Sun lowering in the west, carving 100's of corners at 7/10th or 8/10th pace, again the sound, the killer brakes, just admiring the red stitching on the black dashboard and the assymetrical shape of the steering wheel - I was in love all over again with this car.

Now I've had a 550 Maranello, a Challenge Stradale, an 06 Gallardo, and an assortment of hot-rodded Porsches, BMW's, even a Mercedes or two. and they are all fine cars - but none of them, not a one, has the combination that tickles all the senses at once - physical, aural, olfactory, aesthetic, and with the racing provenance of Ferrari, the emotional as well.

Now I've currently got 7 other cars, and secretly (don't yell at me) I like my little white Elise almost as much as the Ferrari, but that red over black 430 just does it all for me and if any of you are into keeping yours primarily as a garage queen, what a shame. I've tracked the 430 a few times, and have 5 more track days booked between now and mid-June...yeeeehaaaah!!!!

 

I agree on both the 430 and the Elise. The 430 is awesome, it is my favorite car in every way. I can't believe what an experience driving that car is - whether just going down the highway or shuttling to work, or enjoying the twisties (OK the twisties are the best!) - can't wait to try it on the track. I'm amazed at how well it does on a tight mountain road, considering how powerful it is - not a handful at all, but incredibly communicative and lively with supremely accessible power and handling.

Purely for the driving experience, however, the Elise is a very close second, and at the price, for an enthusiast who loves driving, the Elise is superb! Whenever I get into my Elise I have to find some twisties, and since it isn't a very powerful car, you can actually nail the throttle more often and hold it down, and the handling and steering wheel feel is magnificent (the full throttle moments in an F430 on the street are somewhat rare and short lived...)

 

I own a 2004 1 spider with BMC air filters, Tubi exhaust, and CS cam timing, and just test drove a 2006 430 f1 spider yesterday. Wow!!! A huge difference from the 360, even with my extras. Now I will need to sell my 360 to get the 430. I was truly amazed.

It was also intersting to note that they improved the AC on the 430 and the stereo on the 430 is easier to see.

 

You and the other gentleman, pleton or something close to that handle, said it perfectly.

I am simply amazed at the Lotus Elise. It has a handling feel like none other and as you say, you can wind it out. They are also cheap to run, gas is nothing.

The cost to purchase the Elise is so low for the feeling the car gives you and in my view its supercar personality.

Love both,

Lee

 

Nice write up to the original poster.

How in the world can someone mention any BMW after this write up? Not bashing BMW, but come on really.

 

Thank you for all the write-ups as I can't add another thing!! Very well writen and very true indeed!!!

 

A friend of mine had a similar experience with a 430.

He previously drove the 348, 355, 360, CS, some 550's and a 575. He commented how good or great each one was to drive, then once he drove the 430 everything else was pretty much boring after that.

LOL.

 

Agree with all the above.
As a person who gets 6 car magazines per month, I have also noticed a distinct LACK of intrerest in al the other cars that are written up.

Ferrari guy for life!

 

Yes SIR .

 

How can they bring it up? Cause the M cars kick ass. My E46 M3 I can pound into the ground and through all the BMW's I have owned I have never replaced a clutch which is as replaceable as tires on a Ferrari.

I had a guy pull up next to me in one of those Dodge SRT huge-ass muscle cars wanting to race and off the line I smoked him from a dead start. He then tried at a start speed of 50 MP and it wasn't gonna happen. I smoked him again.

Another Dodge tried to race my F430 and this guy was trying every which way to make it look like he wan't getting trounced....but trounced he was.

But if my finances fell apart an M3 would make me quite happy. And it doesn't break. And the warranty rules. It handles that good. It is that fast. And it's got a cup holder.

 

My moded M6 coupe is putting out around 565hp, and yes it is a GT car, but it is a blast to drive.

 

When I first got my F430 in Oct 06, I also felt the F1 shifting was hard, especially the first upshift from 1st to 2nd under power. However, the more I drive it, the smoother it gets. The F1 shift points become second nature and I can now accelerate very quickly without the head-jerking drama.

.