Mike, Out of curiosity, was a full CF interior a factory option for the 360 or only available for the CS from the factory? Thanks, DL
Well let's look at the delta in price.... Avg 360 Spider say 100k and avg 430 Spider say 150k -> 50k difference Avg 360 Spider say 100k and 16M now is 300k -> 200k difference I too want the 16M, but it will not drop even below 250k for another two years....so a 430 Spider for one to two years with all of its gains over a 360 are well worth it for me. The 16M will be my next car, but not for a year or two at least. I had an Aston too, and agree - most elegant car out there. I just can't look at the R8, as an Audi, it can't compare to driving experience of a 430. Audi's and lambo's have a completely driving experience than Ferrari (you already know this with your 360). It's all about road feel....(not "numbified" by electronics like a GTR) Living in Socal.....ABSOLUTLEY a must for a convertible.
The 430 has a much nicer interior, IMO. this is where you'll be spending most of the time with the car, hopefully!
I like the curvy lines of the 360 vs. the more angular lines of the 430, and I really don't like the 430 nose at all (the 16M/Scud is a different story). They both are still beautiful cars however, and the 430 is the better/newer/more expensive car. I'm not sure the 16M is $300K- there are ones that look clean for much less than that...(low-mid $200's). Still a big jump, and I think the 16M will still move down before bottoming out (and maybe then moving up in price several years out for mint examples...although not enough to buy the car thinking it's an "investment"!)
I am really starting to like the 430 more and more. Im biased, but the interior is a step up as well as the performance. But this is a never ending chase....
Sorry, but after owning a Maserati GT and trading it on a California they are worlds apart. Yes the Maserati has great lines, but in regards to performance the GT isn't in the same league. If you have driven a California you would't say it's not a Ferrari. If you don't like the lines, fine, but it runs circles around the Maserati. On the other hand if you get the 430 you will love the car!
I think the 360 is one of the most beautiful cars on the road. I true Ferrari in spirit, experience, to the senses and on. I considered one and eventually settled on a F430. I just feel it is everything the 360 is but better in every way. Just one thing to consider, everyone who has a 430 could have gotten a 360, not everyone with a 360 could have gotten a 430. It's a luxury to be in the position to choose the 430, it's worth every penny more.
But say you end up side by side with a 430 at a light and you're in the 360. You both nod to each other to say "Let's do this." You can't say, "Wait a few minutes so I can go home and get my R8." (Get the 430!)
I understand the Cali can run circles around the maserati....I was making the point that I'd recommend to the original poster keeping his 360 and adding a Maserati vs. selling the 360 for a Cali, so he'd have the mid engined/sports car thing mixed with a nice looking/performing/sounding GT.
+1; I have the exact same fear, only different Instead of fearing the "faster" car beside me, I fear a "car full of girls" not paying me any attention because I am in the Porsche, that is why I drive the 430 as much as possible. I wont be young and cute forever, actually I am not so young anymore... ...better take the 430 today.
Yea well even then, for my R8 to have a chance it would need to be a twisty road and throw in some rain for good measure. On dry in a straight line, I might as well just go for it with the 360. If I loose, I get a rear view shot of a very pretty car, albeit not as pretty as mine. So I can't loose really.
Don't think you would lose and remember, this is a manual with a driver who takes the record for the slowest gear shifting ever http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=xkm38E8VjXM
The R8 eight cylinder has zero chance of racing against a F430 and winning. I raced against an R8 and he was ridiculously slower. A first generation Porsche 997S years 2005-2008 without the power kit X51 are still faster than the R8. The R8 looks great specially in silver, the car is many things, but it debuted a little slow for the competition, something like what happened when the NSX came out.
Only the CS has full carbon parts from factory (as stock). The base 360 and spider have the aluminum parts on instrument cluster, stereo/climate control, center counsel, door sills and door panels. I think the aluminum parts look and feel quite nice in person, but they do look a little bit dated in photos.
Interesting, thanks for your feedback. I too was thinking that a Maserati GT (S) would be a fantastic substitute for a Cali at 1/3 the price. I'm sure there is a reason for the price delta, but the Maserati is a good looker and sounds fantastic for sure. Never driven either, so I was interested in your comparison.
The stats tell it all in a straight line. 3.5 vs. 4.1 or so (4.0 for mine is still 1/2 second slower) so the 430 is clearly faster. In the curves it is very very close and comes down to the driver. In the wet, the R8 leaves the 430 for dead (unless I am driving the R8, in which case the 430 might have a chance with a good driver).
The Cali definitely feels very fast, throws you back in the seat. And it makes a pretty decent noise, although oddly it sounds much better when you are in it than it does when it drives by IMO. The smooth-shifting 7 speed is amazing.
I guess you have the 10 cylinder R8, I thought you had the V8 version, but exactly in real life driving at the edge it's all about the driver. I had the first generation Gallardo and it surely was less scary in the wet, to me it felt as solid as a train. By the way, I was just at a hospital and a physician pulled up in an R8, that nice rear end surely does some tricks! I'm an ok driver as I'm a PCA instructor and surely I could push harder, but I have kids now and for some reason I don't enjoy bursts of adrenalin as I did before. In a track I drive at seventy percent if the car is too fast and I rather drive something slower and feel invincible than something fast to bore the car to death. Keep enjoying your cars, you have a good head over your shoulders.
