F430 Spider Speculation

I spoke with our local dealer a few days ago inquiring about the F430 Spider. I currently have a deposit on an F430 (made 2.5 years ago) and I defintiely plan to wait for the Spider. I was pushing him to see if he knew whether the Spider would be a hard-top of some sort. He honestly didn't seem to know any more than anyone else, but he specualted that it would be something different than the existing Spider soft-top mechanism. In his view, they could have very easily put the same (or a very similiar) mechanism as the current 360 Spider in the new F430 since the dimensions and structure of the car are so similar. In his view, if they planned to do that, they would have announced both cars at the same time (Coupe & Spider). Since they did not do this (and we have not seen any spy photos of chopped F430's running around) he guesses they have something planned that is not just the same 360 mechanism thrown into the 430. On the other hand, one could argue that they have such a good thing going with the current 360 Spider, that there really is no reason to change, and that to simply make another year of 360 Spiders before transitioning to a similiar soft-top 430 is just a natural pacing of the company. What do you think?

 

To Popzen,
Can you tell me which dealer you put the deposit down for the new 430?. I called FoSF, FoOC and FoSD all they want is taking names down for now., deposit doesn't start until end of the year. Enquiring mind want to know.

 

It's interesting. I was under the impression that most convertables are originally designed as such. Designing a coupe, then modifying it to become a convertable involves much more.

 

2.5 years ago you made a deposit for a car that didnt exist, wow thats amazing. Especially at the height of 360 production and popularity. Other than that it seems Ferrari always introduces there convertable models after a year or so of the Coupe. It also helps keep interest for the model going. Many manufacturers do this.

 

My dealer thinks it will be like my 360 spider top which I hope it will be-lightest and well proven. I have a deposit down and a MSRP order form. He says 2006.

I put money down in 1999 for my 360 spider well before its was announced or shown and got it 2/2002. Whats the risk? If for some reason you don't like or want the car you get your money back but your on the list. Without this your nowhere or forced to pay 40K+ over MSRP from a flipper.

 

I did too. Early, but not as early as those ahead of me on the list who put their orders in, and placed deposits, in 1999.

Incidentally, another explanation for the dearth of information on the 430 Spider is that there won't be one. Or a 430CS for that matter. A rumour going around some UK dealers is that the 430 is an interim car, with a completely new model in development from which Coupe, Spider and CS versions will be derived. Apologies if it's also going around FChat; I haven't looked. It could also be rubbish- I know no more than what I've written above. It matters to me because my Spider order can be flipped into a Coupe and I'm wondering whether or not to do that.

 

"Incidentally, another explanation for the dearth of information on the 430 Spider is that there won't be one. Or a 430CS for that matter. A rumour going around some UK dealers is that the 430 is an interim car, with a completely new model in development from which Coupe, Spider and CS versions will be derived. "

I doubt that. Ther supossedly is still a good waiting list for 360 Spiders and a 430 Spider would not be that huge a design or expensive production cost change. Exterior sheet metal, engine and interior/electronics maintaining the basic frame, top and tranny(beefed up).

 

Once the F430 arrives the waiting list for 360 spider's will shrink significantly.My Dealer say's there will be a F430 spider and he has given some commitment's for delivery.

 

Local dealer says Ferrari is considering a folding aluminum top for the 430 spider, but I haven't seen this in print, yet.

steve