360 430 Reliability Questions

Reliability is high for both. BUT when they break it may take weeks or more to get parts and get the car back. This makes it a poor DD.

 

I daily drive mine, but i have a motorcycle and S2000 for backup

 

Annual maintenance for 430s: fluids, filters and inspections.

Dave

 

No timing belt on 430, so long term maintenance significantly less.

 

I think that depends on what you consider "significant". Many seem to offer the timing belt service for around $1800. That is then $600 per year (if you follow Ferrari's 3 year interval) - if you DD the car, you would likely be on something similar to 3 years due to miles. Over 10 years you would save $6000 on T-belt replacements with a 430... Now, how much more is a 430...? Find a 3-pedal 360 is a whole lot easier too (if that is important)... Anyway, the T-belt card isn't as significant IMO as many make it.
Jes

 

Some people daily drive theirs. My personal opinion is that these cars are not winning reliability awards for a reason. They are built with a lot of custom engineering and at low volume. Ferrari changes quite a bit with each new model evolution. Ferrari focuses on how to improve the driving performance with each new release, they mostly learn from what works and doesn't on the road and track. They don't learn a whole lot or care a whole lot about improving durability of anything and the cars aren't in production long enough for them to. So the cars drive better and better with each new model, but getting better reliability much more slowly and often through trial and error.

Porsche is where you look for reliability because they have done evolution rather than revolution with their new models.

Get one because you love the car, not because you need a car to commute in. You will at some point have to throw in a big amount of cash to fix something or other. If you love the car, you will do what it takes to maintain it and be rewarded by the drive. If you don't, then you will just hate the money the car eats.

 

I wouldn't daily driver mine though I could. As far as reliability, for the last year every Saturday I go and start her, drive her the weekend and then put away. Repeat every weekend with no issues. Just did oil and fluids two weeks ago.

Thinking of going from the Lambo to a 360 now? If you DD it.. Something big will break, and it will be spensive'. It's not if, but when.

 

This AND the 430 is just getting to an age where you will see problems. It takes some time & miles for them to show up. The 430 has more complicated electronics with the e-diff and similar. I submit that the jury is still out on the 430's long term reliability.

 

Really? Like GT3 Engine and IMS issues aside?

 

I daily drive my 360 but have a range rover as a back up if it should ever break down or if the weather gets too bad. Reliability is far worse with a range rover. And considering half the mass produced cheap as chips cars you see people driving on the road as their only car, the 360 is an ak47, touchwood. Only let me down once in 2 years and fixed itself half an hour later (resistance build up in the accelerator potentiometer), touchwood.

As long as they're serviced regularly, you don't rag the **** out of them and you have a nose for sensing any possible ongoing issues, you'll be fine. Enjoy the car and get breakdown cover with a courtesy car if its a big issue. 430's are better for the timing chain but that evolution compared to engine out for cams on a 355.

 

You'll be fine then, but if it were me I wouldn't consider owning both a gallardo and a 360 at the same time. Both are great but they are kinda two sides of the same coin. An achievement in itself to own either, they are both entry level supercars. Unless you are the collector, want one of each type guy, I would either change from one to another for a new buzz or sell them all and join the big boy league with a v12 murci,599, stradale etc or similar. I doubt I'll ever get there myself, even tho I'm 32 but just my 2 pence.

 

I have asked the same question many times myself. I just got a 360, and was afradi to drive it every day. I have another car as a backup. When I got it, I figured I'll drive it once a week, but since I've owned it, I catch myself driving it about every day to every other day. This has been my first super car, and by far the most fun car I have ever driven. Don't get me wrong, I think it's exhausting to drive the 360, but it's so much fun. Mechanics and enthusiast have told me DRIVE it, DRIVE it, and then DRIVE it some more. From the very little I know, and the feedback I have gotten, don't put it away in the garage, but fully enjoy it!!
Have a backup for the days the weather sucks, and you don't want to cause lots of attention driving a gorgeous beast around town

 

KC is right. I think you need a few more hobbies and if you get deep into each one there wont be time to go that many directions at once

I didn't think I would use mine as much either but it is soo very special to be in command of the craft that I take it whenever the weather allows...meaning no rain. We get a lot of rain here but still I have put 4K miles in the first year!

 

You make a good point. My manual 360 is complicated enough plus I think it looks better than the 430. I'd rather change cam belts once in a while than wait for an E-diff to fail. Time will tell I guess.

 

Ferrari now says every five years for belts....

 

My F430 never ever had issues or problems in 9 years ownership...Yesterday I was on the highway...car died...F1 sensor on gearbox broken...very embarassing...people laughing and taking pictures of my Ferrari stuck dead on the highway...

nothing bad in the end, sensor has been replaced and she is back fine

 

I just did the IMS on ours and it was out of fear of having it explode the engine... $2700. Now, compare that to an engine out on a Testarossa and you will fine it to be a bargain.

 

This has been discussed MANY times. Ferrari's position is 3 years. If you have a Ferrari service bulletin that says 5 year for the 360 please post it.

 

Autogallery in LA is a Ferrari Authorized dealer and says 5 years...do what you like...Brian Crall also says in the recent Forza that on the 575 they are recommending 5 years as well. I am not really sure why all the confusion with the dealers saying one thing and Ferrari still saying 3 years. Split the diff at 4 years?
\

 

IIRC, belts are made of Kevlar making them much stronger than previous ...5 years of non track use should be no issue.

 

According to Ferrari 575 is 5 years but 550 & 360 are 3 years. I don't know why the difference. Maybe it has something to do with the tensioners. I think Brian chimed in with some reasoning on one thread a few years ago but I can ask next time I take my car over there. I agree that there are a number of people who go 5 years on their 360 but you are definitely playing the odds.

 

$1800 every three years for a belt changes seems pretty cheap insurance to me. Ducati valves are belt driven, over the years the service interval has increased (2 yrs or 25k miles), belts have a kevlar component. I've always religiously done my belts on the ducs.

Thought RE: duc belt intervals which probably applies here. Lots of ducs are garage queens with low mileage, low mileage with the belts in one position, they take a "set" and it can lead to failure whereas a bike ridden regularly "setting" is not the issue.

I just can't imagine, with potentials costs involved going over what the factory recommends.

 

$1800 isn't a realistic figure because no one does just belt they do a major which is double the price.

Remember , Ferrari once upon a time had 5 year intervals. When was the last time some one reported their belts failed let alone the newer Kevlar belts vs how often people report the belts still look new when they change .