OK, it's time to sell the 360

when in doubt, check with the ultimate source of automotive truth.

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2007/01/stories/06/1.html
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article824076.ece

 

The 430 is a hell of a car, if you like anything that makes your 360 a Ferrari, then you won't be happy in any of the alternatives listed.

I'd bag a 430, or possibly a CS.

 

if you get the GT i say go for yellow with black stripes ... one of the less common and imo better looking color combos. good luck!

 

There is a 90 avialable at Ferr. ari of SF. Medium mileage (under 10k). Could be had for less than 400k

Art

 

Friend Of Repair Department!

 

Where? I was just there today and didn't see a F40. I did however see a Dino upstairs. Evan didn't mention anything about one either.

 

Go for the Ford GT, I know multiple owners and they love this car. I post on FGT forums where some members have 2 FGT's and a couple even have 3. I think that alone proves these cars are very enjoyable. The FGT can be modded extremly easily to produce 600+rwhp which will even beat an Enzo. The FGT is one of a kind and its the first and last of its kind which cannot be said for the 430 and debatly the G-Car as well. The Ford GT IMO is the car that showed the world that America still knowns how to make a good looking car that actually goes as good as it looks and not just in a straight line.

Get the Ford you wont regreat it!

 

Never touch anything other than '92.

--Dan

 

wcdriving.com

 

Well you know I would suggest Ford GT. Lots of bang for your buck, durable too. 30,000 miles on mine and so far no problems at all. Tires last 24k miles front, 8k miles rear. Oil changes and other work is cheap. 3 year warranty. Best of all, the market is at rock bottom now...now is the time because they are drying up and I think there's a possibility that the prices will go up.

I've never driven a Gallardo, but I can say the 430 doesn't pull as hard as the GT (but it's close). Plus, the actual sensation of the speed is more powerful in the Ford. For handling the 430 is more refined of course. A lot easier to be a champion driver in the 430...kind of a distant feel in the corners in the Ford (but TONS of grip). Lots of easy mods for the Ford available. Interior of the Ford is cheapo compared to the 430 (the Ford is stark, race-car like, vinyl/leather, etc.) It is however amazingly comfortable, even long trips. Lousy luggae space. Doors need to be open pretty wide to get in, but no one parks their exotic close to another car anyway (I guess it's an exotic?)

It's a totally different animal than the 430. Around town the Ford is VERY docile. Super-easy to drive (I used it to teach my wife how to drive a stick). Long, easy clutch, smooth gears. The Ferrari on the other hand just begs to be driven fast. The Ford has an outrageous power band, from low end (2500) up to 6500 it pulls incredibly hard, and the power is always right there ready to go (high revs not needed!) Launch is not as good as the 430 so 0-60 times only slightly in GT's favor, but 60-100 the Ford always wins handliy. Handling is "different' but I know of some real good drivers who really like the handling (I'm no pro, so that may be why I'm not 100% confident flying through turns, yet). Ride in the 430 is much more bumpy..the Ford is amazingly smooth. But on a super-smooth road, I would rather have the 430 in this respect because you get the superior road feel. But in everyday driving on California's third-world roads, the Ford is preferable I think.

Exclusivity is about equal I think...there are 6 430's in my small town now (5 are red), and 4 Ford GT's. You don't see many of either car around.

Cops seem to love the car. I've had 2 different cops tell me they would never pull this car over for speeding (not that I ever speed). Cops wave to me all the time. So maybe that is a small bonus.

Ford For: Power, serious head-turner (if you get one of the good colors), bargain price, may increase in value, easy maint, easy mods, will probably run forever, cops-friendly, serious torque, $100k cheaper (if you include tax, etc), maybe cheaper insurance?

Ford Against: F-chatters may laugh at you, no traction control or any other software assists (be careful!), peak handling not quite as good as Gallardo or 430, not much room, weighs about 300 lbs more, and when someone asks you if that's a Lambo you have to tell them it's a Ford.

As for track, my personal opinion: if the track was windy I would take the 430 if I wanted to win and I would take the Ford if I wanted a more wild/raw driving experience. A track with straights I think they would be real close, but with turns the 430 would generally do better.

Both cars are incredible, but certainly different. 430 has hundreds of millions of $ in research and refinement behind it, Ford was put together in less than 2 years (but they did a great job I think).

No disrespect to 430 owners intended (I'd love to have one myself!)

Give me a PM if you want to drive up here (Sac) and I'll give you the test ride.
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Ernie,

great review. Thanks!

 

61 replies...oops 62 with this one....you buy anything yet? Saw some really nice Yaris' yesterday =)

 

Dan and I met today and I gave him a quick ride in the GT. Dan, I would be curious to read your opinion on the positives and negatives on the GT (be honest, you don't have to be nice!)

 

I was going to comment on the Ford GT too but your review was good and since you already took a drive... ah what the hell, I'll comment anyway.

The GT is fast as hell. Maybe it just feels like it but I'm guessing not. Unlike other cars I've driven, and as stated before, the torque is there pretty much at all RPM levels because of the supercharger. I really don't need a car faster than the GT. I don't use it anyway. If you want it even faster, you can go for the pulley change for a quick gain in HP or an aftermarket supercharger.

There is no traction control or anything like that but the car doesn't need it. It grips on the turns like crazy. The car also feels and is very light and well centered.

This says the 430 is lighter than the FordGT

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0506_exotic_coupe_comparison/specs_price.html

I find that really hard to believe but I guess it could be. Taking those numbers, they both seem to weigh similar to my Diablo and the Diablo feels like an oil tanker in comparison.

The doors are a giant pain in the ass. There is only one car I know that is more painful to get in and out of, its the Elise, and it is a close call with that. And I don't know what the hell they were thinking you were supposed to do if it is raining. If it is raining and you open the door, it will rain right in the car.

There is no storage space at all in the GT. No glove compartment or anything. You get some little baggies and that's it.

And the "upgraded" 4K McIntosh stereo. My favorite part. I'm sure audiophiles love the sound. It's probably reproduces great "timbre" or whatever.

But I f'ing hate it. Actually, f'ing hate it isn't strong enough words. Most annoying piece of **** ever made. NO FAST FORWARD OR REWIND. So, if you have a song with a long intro you are going to listen to the whole intro whether you like it or not.

And they put it behind the stick shift where you have to reach around the stick shift to get at it.

And no SCAN or SEEK or anything, you have to turn the knob to the right click by click to move to the next station. You can't even skip to a specific track on a CD. You have to move ahead or back 1 track at a time. I really don't have words to describe how much I dislike it.

But I'm sure it does great "timbre".

People just love the car. Many people think its a Ferrari even though it has "Ford GT" in giant letters on the side. You still get "What kind of car is that?" And you get "Ford makes a car like that?". If you tell people who haven't seen it that you have a Ford GT, they all seem to think its a GT500. But they all love the car.

I haven't had any trouble with ground clearance. And the rear visibility isn't too bad. And one thing that is huge is that I can go to the local Ford service dealership that is about 5 miles away and the head mechanic there is the only one who works on the Ford GTs and he's really good.

Getting going in first gear its best to rev from 500 (idle) to 1000 RPM and then clutch off quickly/smoothly while the engine drops back down near 500. That's a nice smooth start. I was trying to go from 500 when I originally got it because the Diablo can just go off 1st from idle.

Unlike the Diablo, the GT is a race car. It feels like it would really be at home on a race track. I use it as a daily driver off and on but I don't drive very much.

In comparison, the Diablo is a brutal drive. Heavy clutch, heavy steering, accelerates like a freight train. It feels like you have a machine gun going off behind you while you're driving. The gated shifter requires a gorilla arm, CLUNK, SHIFT, CLUNK. Once you are in gear, YOU ARE IN GEAR.

The GT accelerates like a jet with that supercharger whine. It feels fast, light and quick. Shifts easily. Light clutch. With the GT, you feel like you could accelerate to any speed at any moment. And it is just stuck to the road.

I love the Diablo more but its a personal taste. When you're done driving the Diablo, you feel like you've been in a boxing match and you lost.

But there's nothing like it. Sometimes, for me, easier isn't better.

Except when it comes to stereos

 

Dan,

Go test drive a murcielago. I gaurantee your decision will be very easy afterwards.

 

I concur that the Ford GT doors are a 'pain', when it takes off some hair as you close the door. Having spikey hair doesn't help the cause. I had to duck my head into the passenger side when I closed the door. I had the experience of driving it in the rain and yes it felt like taking a shower when I opened the door; just get in/out quick! Just try not to park on a slope where water will run as you open the door ;-)

As for getting in and out the Ford GT vs Elise... I find that I needed to fold myself up just to get out of an Elise. With the Ford GT in/out wasn't an issue except for a foot getting caught on the doorsill as I exited.

Personally, I don't like cars with a long clutch pedal; this the case with the Ford GT (and a Z06 I had driven a while ago). I felt uncomfortable in the Ford GT. Comparing a Gallardo 6spd or 911 GT3, I felt right at home in the first few seconds.

 

The big difference to me is how they each make their power. The FGT does it with forced induction and low revs, the F430 with natural aspiration and screaming revs. Personally I'd take the latter every time. Just my opinion.

Gary

 

What color?

 

Here's a few sample colors to check out...
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