430 Ferrari F430 vs F8 Tributo Comparison Test

Ferrari of Toronto gave me an invite to drive the new F8 Tributo. Interested to see how the game has changed after 3 whole generations of mid-engined V8’s, I drove my F430 down to the dealership. Oddly enough I find them a bit difficult to compare because the F430 has moved into modern classic territory and no longer has to be the bestest, fastest or have to keep up with the latest offerings. It can represent itself on with own driving experience without having to compete. The F430 represents peak analog while the F8 represents the peak modern technology and engineering.

Not sure how Pinafarina does it, but walking away from my parked F430 I can’t help but look back. It has an aggressive stance with wide bulging air intakes; those wide hips and tall backlid slip down and focus onto a sloping and wide hood. The lines all flow correctly and there is a cohesion in the design language. There isn’t an angle that doesn’t look right. I spent some time inside filling out paperwork and perusing the Bianco Fuji Portofino and Rossa Corsa 488 GTB they had in the showroom before I’m told the car is ready. I walk out and see the Rosso Corsa F8 sitting in the sun. The design is striking. The S duct makes a big difference to the front end and it looks stunning and modern. I wasn’t a fan of some design elements of the 458 and 488 but from a design point to me everything on this car makes sense and really elevates it above the previous two models. This looks like a special car.

Getting into the F8 the first thing you notice is the jump in interior quality. I’m OCD and my cars have to be perfect. In the F430 my carbon was polished, sticky no more done, my leather was properly cleaned to get away the shiny and bespoke leathering dye applied to any bolster/seat wear. The interior is as good now as it came from the factory. However you can tell that the F430 looks more handbuilt with how the stitching waves ever so slightly, the sun visor fitment and other slight imperfections most probably wouldn’t notice. The F8 is perfect, not a single thing out of place. Interior design is much more modern as expected and feels more expensive. It is well appointed with carbon and alcantara everywhere.

The scuttle on the F8 is much higher, you feel a bit more cocooned into the cockpit. On the F430 the scuttle is low and placing the front end is a little easier. At 6’1” and my hair often brushes the rooflining on the F430, but everything was clear on the F8. Rear visibility is also reduced, the rear window seems both farther away and smaller. Side mirrors are good in F8 so you never feel nervous changing lanes in traffic and the car quickly shrinks around you.

Maneuvering in tight parking at slow speeds is a breeze in the F8. The dual clutch making no fuss of precise movement. In the F430 it is basically like trying to maneuver with a manual but you have a hand tied behind your back not being able to modulate clutch and gas precisely and independently. My car also wasn’t spec’d with parking sensors so that doesn’t help either.

First impressions out on the road is that the steering is much lighter in F8. It is very easy to turn but precise. Doesn’t give as much feedback as F430 but at the same time I wouldn’t say it was numb or anything. You never feel like you’re playing a computer game which can be a criticism of some EPAS systems. Damping is much better in F8. The car is not bothered by undulations and bumps however you don’t feel as much of the road surface being transmitted into your seat. You could possibly get similar levels of damping on F430 by switching over to slippery road mode but then you’d lose the throttle and steering response. While I didn’t get the chance to hustle the F8 down a bumpy back road, I get the feeling this car wouldn’t be hitting bump stops or bottoming out as the F430 often does.

Opening up the F8 it’s amazing at how fast this machine is. You’re pushed hard into the back of your seat and your stomach gets light like you’re on a roller coaster. The car pulls hard to the redline and keeps pulling but it’s all very smooth, easy and it never feels like it’s getting out from under you. The F430 feels raw and violent, like a stripped out racecar. You accelerate hard and you can feel the engine like it’s bolted to your spine. The front end lifts significantly under acceleration and your senses are on high alert as everything feels like it’s been turned up to 11.

Throttle response is pretty good on F8, you can tell there is a tiny bit of lag if you are looking for it but in general I think most wouldn’t notice. The F430 on race mode is next level, you can literally just flex your toe and the car is moving forward instantly.

Part of the reason I liked the F1 in the F430 was because of the satisfaction during shifting. The little kicks gave me more interaction with the car then say a PDK where sometimes I wasn’t even sure if I changed gears it was so smooth. Oddly enough the F8 also has a satisfying kick –not from the shifts but how the car accelerates hard after the next gear is selected.

Brakes are easier to modulate on the F8. There is more travel to work with vs the CCB on the F430 that require more precision pedal work to get exactly what you want out of it. They also squeak a bit but that’s normal I’m told for 1st gen CCB.

The F8 sounds good, the hot tube allows you to hear the V8 soundtrack and makes you a part of the experience. They didn’t engineer in fake pops and gurgles that a lot of other brands have done which makes it sound more authentic. I wouldn’t say it is a loud car and opening the windows didn’t seem to make much difference to volume. The F430 sounds like a race car. It is very raw but is also multi-layered and complex. It makes very different sounds depending on where you are on rev range and how hard the engine in working.

Overall I think the F8 is an amazing accomplishment. An excellent piece of engineering that allows for literally all of the bases to be covered. Looks, speed, ease of use, comfort, sound, feel, this car has everything and really goes to show how far things have come in the past 15 years of development. The F430 was released 3 years before the first iphone came out yet somehow still feels relevant and timeless. This car nowadays represents a more singular and focused raw driving experience, an intoxicating and addictive analog connection that is tough to match. Strangely these cars are different enough that one could have both in the collection and not feel like there is too much overlap.

Special thanks to Ferrari of Toronto and Louie for the drive. It was a pleasure to take the F8 out, they are friendly, knowledgeable and I would highly recommend anyone in the market in Toronto to get in touch.











F8 Review:
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/ferrari-f8-tributo-review.627293/

 

That's interesting but I think you're right! The large air intakes on the F430 does make it have a strong presence, but the F8 definitely looks like more of a successor then the 458 and 488

 

Interesting, thank-you!

Sadly not a lot of modern content on the F430. AutotopNL did some nice videos recently though I'd recommend

 

The F430 definitely has cleaner and more defined lines, they have better purpose and flow. While I like the design of the F8 over 458 & 488, in my opinion it is overstyled in comparison to F430