How much does a F430 suffer from hitting bumps or valleys on highway?

Sadly, our infrastructure is in need of repair. Whatever "bumps" you spare your car, will be insignificant compared to your first few weeks of driving in the City of Brotherly Love. The car doesn't mind bumps at all, but the wheels certainly do. Only one of my Challenge wheels is truly round--- the rest have divots. This is par for the course. The best preventive medicine is to be sure your tires are at the recommended pressures. Otherwise, enjoy yourself, You'll never want to drive a Toyota again in a few weeks. I'd recommend 80 in a 70 zone--- perhaps faster if you have political influence. Gasoline? Premium, without ethanol if you can find it. Sport mode until you've learned your car on a track. The clutch doesn't care what gear you're in, only if it's slipping... minimize that!

 

You have to chill.... You are not buying a piece of crystal. Avoid potholes if you can. Try to avoid burying the front end on steep driveways. Other than that enjoy your car. maybe you don't realize how much abuse these cars are built for on the racetrack. City driving or cross country driving is a piece of cake compared to motorsport. Enjoy! 😊

 

This is going to be a fun ownership experience to read about. If you're going to be afraid of driving the car then why are you even buying it? It going to do fine. Drive it like you would any other car you have. Gasoline, just buy the highest grade you can. I like putting ethanol free in mine but regular should be fine.

As far as

"But that is another story so please congratulate me later in the upcoming thread. Rather, please stay focused on the matter at hand: hitting bumps/valleys at high speed."

Sounding a little ah.. bossy and Into ourselves aren't we?

 

You mean the bumps and valley off i95 north of downtown philly? I drove my lowered aston martin through there multiple times, you should be okay flying through there even at 80+ mph. You will never bottom out in a modern car unless you are on some back roads, going way too fast, and suddenly cresting a massive hill.

 

It's a car... It's a nice car, but a car. Drive it as a car and use it as a car. It was made for just that and mechanically it will be much happier being driven than parked. No car likes to sit, especially not these.

There's nothing fun about having a Ferrari in your garage you won't drive or park because you worry. If your wheel gets bent - fix it. If you get a scratch or a dent - fix it. Stone chips - part of life.

If these things bother you too much, get the car wrapped in SunTek film all over after having a full paint correction done and of course, insurance.

 

As above. I'd think the only thing to (mildly) worry about are the front 430 wheels. There's not a lot of rubber between the road and wheel and the wheels have been known to get bent. OTOH, Ive hit pot holes and managed to not damage anything.

 

+1 on the Avalon mine just ran over 300k miles

 

Nowadays I am more wary of roadway debris than ruts and pot holes. I avoid them when I can but....

I don't know what it is but in the eight months I have had my 360 Spider, which I don't drive very often, I have nearly hit a doe (YIKES!!!), a hand truck that toppled out of a pickup and its wheel which snapped off, and a shovel laying in the road.

Thank goodness for massive brakes and responsive steering!

 

Soop,

One of the first things I did to my 430 was to repaint the bottom of the front bumper and both rocker panels because of the scrapes on all three. Then I made and installed full skid plates for the front bumper.

I have removed the first plates (I made four sets) after about 2500 miles. The right plate had some very minor scraping on it. The left one had some serious scrapes on it, some I don’t think I realized when they happened. See below.

The car has only about 5” clearance so scrapes are going to happen. Your rule should be: If it looks like it might scrape, it will: stop, turn around and go another way, or go very slowly until clear. Always be vigilant for potential scraping and wheel bending situations. Avoid the obvious: dirt and gravel roads and roads in poor condition.

I get gas at Valero which has alcohol-free premium.

Tom
2007 F430F1 Coupé (Izzy)
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

What's that supposed to mean? I didn't attack you personally in any way, so why take it to a personal level?
I simply stated that the best thing to do is to drive and enjoy the car for what it is and was built for.

 

+1. I thought you gave good advice there.

 

I seriously think you're going to be fine. My 360 scrapes occasionally when I back out the driveway, I repaint it black. This is to be expected given the low height of the car. As far as valuations, if it bothers the next buyer that much.. they're going to buy an example that was never driven. If scraping under the front bumper or on the underpants is a concern you can always get it fixed, filled and resprayed.

If you're worried about slamming the bottom of the car into the pavement.. I've never experienced that in 6+ years of ownership. It would take exceeding stupidity to drive a Ferrari or any car that recklessly on public roads. I don't even think rentals would be beat on that badly. If the pot holes are THAT bad, pick another road. If its the standard road rut, don't worry the suspension is designed to handle it. The aluminum body is designed well and won't crack or deform any worse than a steel body IMHO. If it won't trash a regular car... it's not going to break an aluminum bodied Ferrari.

 

If his post was bossy, then yours was over the top pompous.

 

You are buying the best year for 430's - good choice. Regarding bad roads, just be careful. Always look ahead and do what you can to avoid the big holes or bumps. I have driven over some in my other cars that I swear would tear the suspension out of any sports car so you cant be careful enough. Also, if you don't have a film on the car be careful who you drive behind and keep your distance. Finally, people will cut you off, stare at you, try to race, etc just smile and move along. Congratulations!