F430 Driving Style

A while back I had the same concerns and asked in this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349925

I find this subject very interesting, I've spent 2 months now (1,500 miles) going out late at night (week days) trying to understand how Ferrari designed this F1 to work the way it should, I am no expert, however ....

I found the best shifts are achieved in Race mode at very high RPM (7K~8K RPM), pull the paddle and it instantly moves to the next gear in a blink and the drive terrain takes it flawlessly.

Also, Mode selection (Normal, Sport, Race, etc...) influences how the car shifts, when forced to drive in the city at low RPM (3K~4K) I got the best shifts in wet mode (backing up on the gas a little before the shift), in these occasions it feels like a 6 speed manual, if you were a passenger not knowing it is an F1 car you would think the driver pushed the clutch, changed gear, and gradually stepped on the gas again to accelerate further, there is some delay but I think it is very easy on the drive terrain.

I am still unable to get clean smooth shifts at mid range RPM (4.5K to 6K), although at this range I get that sweet Ferrari Exclusive tone: Poooooowwwwwwwwaaaaan, Poooooowwwwwwwwwaaaaaan

Still learning as I go, however one thing is for certain, these cars like to be revved and they like open streets with a lot of 2nd and 3rd gear shifting back and forth as you approach corners, once back home after a good hard drive it sounds relaxed and sleeps well at night.

Have not tried CST off mode, and do not intend to check it out without going with wider rear tires, if not easy on the gas the car goes side ways on all gears up 4th.

 

Much of what you ask is subjective. How high do you turn the volume up on your TV when watching the news versus an action movie?

Mechanical sympathy, fuel economy, noise output will influence people when driving leisurely also. Really, whatever works for you is probably fine once you don't labour the engine (which probably isn't possible on F1 anyway).

The system was designed for changing gear without relaxing the accelerator but people develop their own techniques and relax pressure somewhat during shifts at different RPMs. Again whatever works for them or you is perfectly fine for the system.

Suggest you have a good read of the owners manual and take it from there.

Relax and enjoy and vive la différence!

 

1) I shift at about 4000-5500rpms. Just seems to feel right for a leisurely drive. Sometimes I take the car up to 6500-7000 rpms just to hear the exhaust, even when going very slowly.(typically only in first gear because 7000 rpms in second is pretty fast.)

2) When driving hard/fast I believe I shift around 7000-8000, not quite at the red line but close enough. I have shifted at red line a few times. This 7000 rpm shift is much different than what I described in response to question number 1, it is a lightning quick shift when going at 3/4 to full throttle.

3) I never release my foot when accelerating. I have an 07 and the latest readout was 83% remaining. I bought the car in Oct. of 09 and it had 88% remaining. If you know how to avoid the stupid quirks you can preserve clutch life. i.e., don't use reverse uphill often, don't creep, etc.

There are a few good threads on this subject.

 

I assume we are talking F1 gearbox!

For leisure driving when changing between 3000-4000k (up the gears) I do a slight feather on the throttle when changing to better balance the revs - with practice you will achieve totally invisible changes.

For fast driving at higher revs then do not lift your foot, the car will adjust to do faster changes as the throttle position and revs get more extreme so definitely don't feather. You won't damage/wear the clutch in normal/fast/race driving. Slipping the clutch will cause premature wear, launch control starts, reversing up hill, constant traffic queues engaging and disengaging the clutch.

Revs rise pretty quick so I usually take 8000 as the point to change but of course the revs go higher before the actual change takes place.

Enjoy your car.

 

I meant no offence. As I say, it's an extremely subjective topic!

 

The computer cuts the flow of fuel during the shift in an F1. That's one of the many reasons why I'll never buy a paddle car.

 

On a F430, If you want to go the fastest, upshifts need to be done at 8500rpm with full gas, downshift as early as possible to keep the engine revving as high as possible.

If coasting, or using part throttle, no need to run high, adjust RPM down depending on engine loads, right foot determines proper shift points.

If in doubt, put the car on Race mode and AUTO and learn from the computer, although it is far from optimized.

 

To answer one of your questions, I was told numerous times to NEVER let off the gas when upshifting; no matter what type of driving you are doing. Also, shift speeds are quicker in race mode...therefore reducing the amount of clutch action, thus preserving your clutch that much more.

Hope that helps.

Enjoy yhe car and just relax!

-G.B.

 

Care to explain?

 

1. Upshift after the third bounce off of the rev limiter. JK, that is the risk of attempting a 8500 rpm shift. The redline/limiter in my 06 430 spider "seems" to change with mode, in sport its just over 8K, in race its closer to 8500. Hitting the rev limiter in low gears 1,2 is hard on everybody so trying to redline shift i not worth it IMO.

2. I am always in race and always shifting hard unless I am on a date. Shifting hard == under load. If you are at 50% or less load and in sport I agree you can feather the throttle for a smoother shift, but under full load I dont modulate the throttle.

3. I get the best backfire POP going from 1 -> 2 at 5K rpm (exhaust valves open). So in low gears I ring it out a bit for the music.

4. I drive the 430 for the smile not the transportation, and I just cant get a smile out of myself shifting at 2K.

5. On dates I close the exhaust flap (quiet), put it in sport, put the windows up, top down, and drive slow. Its changes it into a full blown GT, then you start to enjoy the leather, craftsmanship, company and maybe even some stan getz.

 

+1. First time I've heard this.

 

+1

I drive in Race or CST and always 8K+ shifts. I beleive the F1 will shift at redline in sport mode automatically.

Also, the car sounds best at WOT.. anyhting else just won't do.

 

I'm not sure what there is to explain.

 

Well, for a start in a 60ms SF2 gear change in a Scud there's not a lot of time for any fuel cut off to happen, even if there was it's impossible to feel. Moreover, when driving and changing gear at normal revs you can ruin a smooth gear change by applying or reducing throttle inappropriately, suggesting that no fuel cutoff is being applied by the car. Of course on downshift the car blips the throttle again to rev match.
But beyond all of the above, there is never any sense of fuel being cut either going up or down the box, I have no idea if there is a cut off occurring at some point but since you can't ever feel it then I would say it is of no consequence.
I had a 430 manual before the 16M and from the driving seat they are both the same as each other in the way throttle position affects the smoothness of a gear change, the driver makes the difference in both at lower revs. Obviously F1 needs less input by the driver at maximum attack where you keep your foot to the floor.

Perhaps you can explain what fuel cut off effect you are talking about and how it manifests itself in your experience.

 

When short shifting a 360, you flip the paddle and wait. And wait. And wait. And finally, the car shifts into gear and gives you the throttle back. If the computer did NOT cut the fuel flow, the car would be sitting there, engine screaming, bouncing off of the rev limiter, the entire time. The car feels like it has MAJOR turbo lag. Been there, done that.
The Scud and the 458 are the only two Ferraris that I cannot shift faster than. Given a couple of espresso's, that is. ;-)

 

LOL.

 

Then you have no idea how to drive a 360 F1.

 

+1

 

Redline for all gears. That's the whole point of getting an NA FCar.


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If your shifting at 6k or so after 3rd gear your going pretty fast. Are you just saying when you hit it you shift there, or all the time?

If you punch it and redline 2nd you should be able to hit ~70-72. There is a thread on what speeds each gear take you to.