Driving Impressions: F430 vs Corvette C6 vs Jag E-Type

Yesterday, I briefly got the opportunity to drive a 2006 Chevy Corvete C6 Targa and a 1969 Jaguar E-Type Convertible. About two months ago, I fulfilled my dream of driving a Ferrari; a 2007 Ferrari F430 F1. These three cars are dream cars for some; to others, they're just another way of getting from point A to point B. After driving all three, I've had many people ask me to compare them all. Quite frankly, they're all in very seperate classes. All three cars come from different backgrounds; the Jaguar from Britain, the Corvette from U.S.A., and the Ferrari from Italy.

Let's start off with the Jaguar. Now, the Jaguar is the oddball in the group; close over 40 years old, no power steering, stiff clutch, etc. It was the oldest car I've driven and the first car I've driven that didn't have power steering. It was a chore, that's for sure. It took a while to get used to the clutch, and the steering was only difficult at low speeds; at speed over 30 mph, the car seemed to steer easier. Almost no gas was required when letting off the clutch, a rarity in manual cars. It had an inline 6 cylinder and had a suprising amount of torque. The Jaguar was a convertible, so the exhaust note was clearly audible...and it sounded great.

Now let's go on to the Corvette. When I got into the Corvette, I instantly noticed how spacious it was for a sports car; very roomy inside the cabin. The fit and finish of everything was very good. I particularly liked the push button start; the key just sat in the cup-holder. My favorite part about the Corvette was the Speedometer. Like every car, it has the traditional analog speedometer, tachometer, etc. BUT, it also had a DIGITAL speedometer that reflected off the windshield. The speedometer also measured outside temperature, what gear the car was in, as well as a meter showing how many G Forces the car was undertaking. The result of this gadget...brilliance. It made it a lot easier to keep your eye on the road rather than looking at the analog instruments. The Corvette was an Automatic, but it had the capability to have paddle-shift transmission. This, however, could get confusing at times. Normally, on cars that have a paddle-shift transmission, there is one paddle for upshifting and one paddle for down shifting (up on the right, down on the left) This, however, was different on the Corvette. Both could be used either way. Push forward to upshift, pull back to down shift. It was fun once I got the hang of it. I also liked how the exhaust opened up and got louder past 4,000 rpm. It was a fun car to drive and had great torque coming from it's front-mounted V8, but the "seat of your pants excitement" factor was a bit lacking.

And then there's the Ferrari F430. Unlike the Corvette and the Jaguar, the Ferrari F430 is a mid-engine sports car; the engine sits about 8 inches from the back of the driver's seat. The Ferrari F430 boasts a mid-engine V8 producing 490 horsepower. This particular F430 was equpped with Ferrari's F1 transmission, which is a paddleshift transmission. This was easier to understand than the Corvette's transmission. The Ferrari was simple; downshift on the left, upshift on the right. When sitting in the Ferrari, you look around and realize that this isn't your every-day sports car. You realize the craftsmanship that has gone into making this $250,000 exotic car; and once you get this feeling, your heart begins to pound. Then, there's the big red start button on the bottom left of the steering wheel; push it, and the car purrs to a start. The vibration is outstanding and a bit overwhelming at times. Flick the right paddle and you engage 1st gear. Take off and prepare to indulge in an experience like no other. The seats of the F430 almost seem to hug you; they lock you in place. Past 4,000 rpm, the noise is deafening; take it all the way up to it's 8,500 rpm redline, and it's like you've got front row seats to the best symphony on earth. The car is very low to the ground and it gives you that "seat of the pants excitement" factor that very few cars can produce. Driving a Ferrari can sort of compare to dating a supermodel; treat her with respect, and you will get nothing but pleasure and excitement, but pull on her reins a bit, and she'll be sure to throw you around. After a while, you don't even feel as if you're drivng, but rather in a whole different euphoric state. And just as soon as it begins, it ends. The moments past seem like a blur, and your hands are shaking with excitement. This is the stuff that dreams are made of.

These are three different animals from three different pedigrees. They can't really be compared because they are all unique in their own way. All three experiences were unfogettable, and I am am blessed to be so fortunate. And for owners of such cars to trust an 18 year old like myself to drive these fantastic machines, I am honored to know such kind individuals.

 

+1. The Corvette and F430 are in totally different classes.

-G.B.