430/Spider Scud/16m handling

Very easy to drive fast. Doesn’t handle as well as the coupe, but that is expected. The best thing you can do for a 430’s handling is put good rubber under it. I have R spec (RE71R’s) on mine and it’s brilliant. On the track, of course you are going to think it’s a boat, but most of them feel that way compared to a track car, but the 16M will feel the best on track because of the upgraded suspension, not to mention the superfast 2 transmission.
Of course this is only my opinion, I’m sure others will have differing views.


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The short answer is- if you can afford the 16M buy it. You won't regret it.

Longer answer- do you want a car that is very easy to drive in any condition and situation that is still fun for those early morning "just because" drives or a car that's definitely less refined in normal driving but truly captivating when you open it up and drive it spiritedly? If the former is what you're seeking- buy the 458. For the latter- buy the 16M.

 

Came from a GT4 myself and I would never give up the F430 for another GT4. F is so much more of an experience even when just going slow. Never driven a 430 Spyder but the coupe is very tight. The F is a very capable car but goes about it in a completely different way then the Spyder. The Spyder feels almost like your on rails while the Ferrari dances around the track (this is not a slight). While the 3.8 sounds great uncorked it still doesn’t sound as good as the 4.3 in the Ferrari. If your thinking 16M it’s a no brained though your cost of entry about tripled from your Spyder. I’d recommend a standard F430 unless money is not an issue.

While the 458 is an amazing machine for me it lacks some of that raw character that the 430 has in spades. If your looking for a more liveable and more performance the 458 is hard to beat. At the end it really depends what you are looking for in the new car for the 458 or 430.

I do recommend the F1 over the manual too. The manual isn’t as good as the spyders and the F1 really adds an extra layer to the Ferrari experience. I know I may be in the minority here. F1 is just brutal in a good way especially the 16m/scud. The manual is just a manual and can be experienced in any other car in your fleet. Always got bored of PDK and DCT cars but after three years I still look forward to pulling that paddle in the F. A lot of that has to do with the brutal shifts and the fact you still have to treat it like a manual transmission unlike any of the dual clutch boxes.


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The 430 is pretty bullet proof - these cars are now 10+ years old remember. They have their weaknesses - mainly clutch, ball joints, headers - but these are all consumables. Do your homework carefully - there's lots out there. My tip would be get a car with a sensible mileage - not uber low- that's been sorted and had the issues dealt with. To me 2-3k a year is sensible .
Regarding the attention concern - there's not much you can do about that apart from just making point A to point A journeys. I used to over worry over leaving mine anywhere apart from in a friends driveway

 

For primarily back country roads I would recommend the 16M, but not if your plan is to track often. For the track I would go Scud.
I think the Scud and the 16M are among the greatest Ferrari V8s ever built, and unfortunately will remain so since the future doesn’t look hopeful (to me anyway).
I drove my friend’s Pista the other day...nowhere near the emotion of my 16M. So 16M is a little more “special” than a track tool to me.
For the price of a 16M you can buy a Scud and an Ariel Atom and a trailer.

 

All the Ferraris you list are more fun than the Porsches you list, though not necessarily more competent or better value. I have coupe and spider versions of the gated 430 and I prefer the spider for the feel and noise. The coupe is more competent. I like the idea of a 16M but as others point out it is at a different price point to a gated 430 Spider let alone a F1.
458 is a great combination of Ferrari purity and ease to drive. If you like manual cars, 430 Spider, pushed hard on country roads, roof down, is pretty much unbeatable, and 430s are more thrill per mile than 458, which are nonetheless better cars.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This. So right.


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