After a detour with Porsches (first Cayman S, then GT3), I'm glad to be back in a Ferrari: Image Unavailable, Please Login
I had a F430 spider last year that I sold because I ended up liking the Gallardo spider better and thought the two were too close. Then I first got a Cayman S, thinking it would be the practical, fun choice. While both, it wasn't the Porsche I really wanted. That was the GT3. So I should probably just have gotten that right away, but anyways. I drove the GT3 for 5 months, had a lot of fun with it, including some 4-5 times at the track. But in the end, the car just wasn't special enough on the street. When not driven at 8/10th+, it just wasn't giving enough back from what it took (loud, harsh, etc). And now I'm back with the F430 in coupe form, which will also be the primary track car as well as a sorta DD (yeah, I can hear the screams of a thousand garage queens crying NOOOOO ). Had it out on the track last Saturday. MUCH better than the spider. It also had ceramic brakes + sport seats. So it's probably at least a good 300 lbs lighter. Makes a ton of difference. While not yet as good as the GT3 on the track, I'm confident that some new tires (Corsa System) and a Scuderia-type alignment will close the gap. And it's a lot more of an occasion to drive every day as well as a lot more pleasant.
I too would love to have a photo shoot with that beauty! Congratulations! We don't have enough 430's at our meets.
The sport seats are fantastic! They hold you in so well for the track that a 5-point harness hardly seems necessary and are quite comfortable for the street as well. Real shame that you can't get them as a factory option in the US post-2006 models.
