Which one would you rather have if you could only have one?
I love the mid-engined car, but I think when we finally get our hands on the 599, it will be the better of the two right out of the box.
It never ceases to amaze me that people opt for 430's of any description over a V12 front engine sports car that will beat the 430 at whatever measurement you care to use. I'm even more amazed that some people will even pay $350K for a 430 spider when that kind of money buys a Carrera GT. I guess P.T. Barnum was right....
I certainly wouldn't complain about getting either one, but if I had to choose, ...V12, 620 HP, I'll take the 599.
599 and take a hit on it once the novelty wears off or 430 Spider and own it in the black for a long time. The 599 is a gentlemen's car. Pretty clear to me what route I'd go.
Definitely the 599GTB. I am not a spider type of guy. The 599GTB has everything I would want in a modern Ferrari. A V12 Engine, F1 transmission, available steering wheel with shift indicators, actual trunk space, and it is as fast as I would ever need. I will take mine in Grigio Silverstone with cuoio interior, challenge wheels etc.....
Agree on paying over sticker for the 430 but as far as the 599 beating the 430 in every category I would disagree. Looks, resale and the ability to go topless are enough to swing many right there. Performance will be so close I don't think that difference even comes into play.
It's all perception....nobody can have the 430, so everyone is clamoring and paying premiums for them, while the CGT is seen as being "overproduced and overpriced"...just because they made a few more than what people would pay premiums for. I'd take a 599 any day, and will (if my spot on the list ever comes up), over the 430 any day. 430 styling just doesn't quite do it for me.
Having driven both (599 and 430 coupe) I'd say even though I absolutely loved the 599, the 430 is more exciting at more realistic speeds. 599 just makes no sense outside of the autobahn or a diplomatic passport and on a track or mountain road, the 430 is more fun. Cheaper too.
The 599, IMO, is sex on wheels and the nicest PF design in years, no decades! I only hope that it suffers the dreaded "big coupe" depreciation so I can buy one in 5+ years for what I can afford.
Except when 8 (or four or six or ten) in the back will win the race. Enzo Ferrari cared only about one thing - winning races - and the quotes attibuted to him over the decades regarding front engine cars are almost always taken out of context. I still think that front engined V12's are the best representation of road Ferraris and the most beautiful of them is still the Daytona. The 599 is really the closest thing a Daytona yet.
I would like to see how many owners actually get anywhere near those speeds over the time they own the car.
A Daytona (especially the spyder) is an incredible car. The 599 doesn't have anywhere near the visual impact, IMO. I'd take the F430 as the better sports car, but agree that $350K for one is extreme. However, the OP didn't mention price. The F430 also has ghosts of the 246/308/328 in its bloodline -- screams 'Ferrari'. If one of the two was going to magically appear in my garage, and I wasn't allowed to resell it, an F430 Spider is it.