F430 coupe vs spider

I have a spider but love the looks of the coupe. Never wanted a spider until I drove one with the top down. Driving the spider, I think, is more fun with the sun and wind and noise.

So I love the car, still hate the soft top and plastic window. But I don’t think about that when driving it.

The only other thing that detracts me from the spider is, sometimes, the red light conversations/statements.


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I love the looks of both, possibly the coupe most, I have had my spider from new in 2008, drive it everyday to work in the summer, have had a few small issues with the cables popping out on the rear hood arms but fixed retensioned them myself, why wouldnt you get a Spider ?

 

Rick - sorry for the late reply... I was making a 20 hour round trip to swap out my daily driver for a non-rust belt auto yesterday and didn't make it back until almost 6 a.m. today.

I'd be a little embarrassed to tell you how I went about becoming a F430 Spider owner (unintended auction win on eBay, no PPI, no first hand visual). All-in-all, I have no regrets and fortunately didn't wind up with a lemon. Our local indie mechanic sees lots of 360s and a few 430s and in discussing maintenance with him, there's no question that the evolution of the 430 resulted in a more durable and reliable design, so that's in your favor.

That said, the pictures the seller posted for the 430 I purchased really made the car look visually stunning and pristine (to me) when in fact there were a few cosmetic issues that I've probably spent around $2,000 - $2,500 so far, correcting after the fact. Not really a big deal in the end and to be honest I was so excited at the prospect of owning the car I'm sure it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. I just think it's always worthwhile seeing and driving any car you are buying if you can manage it (if you haven't already done so).

I can say, I get a lot of compliments on the color combination. In that vein, I don't think you will ever be disappointed. Good luck!

 

how cant you love the look ? Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

...Especially with the top down

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I think it is a personal choice out of the 5 360/430's I owned, only one (which is owned not by another forum member) was a spider. I happen to think most cars look better (except certain Porsche's) as coupes. Yes, I do now have a Calf T, which I think looks better with the top up (which is how it is almost always driven). I guess I am spoiled from the past owning cars like Spitfire, TR6 & MGB. Little lightweight convertibles that were a blast to drive at any speed. Though you did need to know how to fix them.

 

Can you share your experience with Algar? I have a 355 that is a manual top for now.

Thanks

Boaf

 

I have read a couple of threads where people had issues with the top going down/up. With a coupe you don't have that issue.

 

knock on wood... I never had an issue

 

go through a brush-less auto wash and you will experience a horde of little angels peeing from the heavens.
I wrote off a Lexus SC430 before jumping into the F430... that hard top was priceless incomparison.