Is a Ferrari for me?

Welcome - unless you are a very big gentleman there is a lot of space on the 430 as at least two large cases can go behind the seats too

Maybe take a cruise thro the 430 & California sections to see what others have felt

Did you start this thread ! Almost identical from last week https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/which-one-f430-calif-t-or-458.563498/#post-145654727

 

Eric...Lots of great choices. Just remember, with the top down, the amount of stuff you can jam into the boot of the Cali goes down precipitously. However, you still have the back seats. I would also suggest taking the wife along on any test drives, if sharing drive duties is important. My wife enjoys driving the Cali. For long distance highway cruising, put it in auto/comfort mode and it's great. A minor downside, the cruise control interface is unnecessarily complicated IMO.

If you do go 458, just get into habit of shipping your luggage ahead to your final destination. We did that a couple of times when we had cars with smaller capacity.

T

 

How much of a GT car versus sports car are you looking to have? I don't think a Bentley would satisfy what you are looking for. 458 is more refined than a F430, I would personally take a 458 coupe over a F430 spider. If you want a car that's a bit more comfortable the 599 is superb.

 

Considering your Corvette background the 599 seems like it would be a good fit. A front engine GT car with plenty of power and the full Ferrari V12 to boot. I'd recommend driving them all before buying and deciding for yourself though.

 

Fellow vette owner here.
Never owned a zr1, but is it safe to say depreciation is likely to be significant if you go that route?
Don't know how long you tend to hold on to your cars, but I'm guessing if you decide you don't like the Ferrari the depreciation will be much less of a hit than a new vette.
I could probably recover most of what I've spent on my 328, including repairs and maintenance.

 

Welcome!

How important is convertible form?

One thing I would note is just about every car will develop problem areas as it ages. So its no surprise some are now being discovered in the California. Its a wonderful car for sure.

If you can handle the slightly clunky (by todays standards) transmission, the 599 would be a great choice. Very "Ferrari". Two main reasons: 1- the classic Ferrari layout is front engine V12- check. And 2- the 599 has nearly the same engine as the Enzo. Its been slightly detuned, etc- but in essence you have a supercar engine in a GT body. And this comes back to point #1- this is the classic Ferrari layout.

Many people will say the mid engine cars are more "Ferrari" since they associate Ferrari with things like Magnum PI (driving a 308)- but what made the 308 even possible was those front engined V12 cars beginning with the 1947 125S.

599 has some problem areas (like all cars) and I think you have to be prepared for some rattles. But it is a solid car with a pretty good sized trunk and its also beautiful (purely subjective opinion). On the 599 you want to look out for leaky shocks and I'm sure there is more but that is where I would start.

Between the F430 and 458- they are both amazing cars- but the 458 is a leap ahead and if you can stretch for it, I would recommend it over the F430.

Another car to consider is an FF- more comfortable and modern than the 599, probably just as fast too. But no where as pretty.

Another thing to consider- I prefer the front engined V12s for a highway trip and the mid engined V8s for the back roads. This might be obvious, but the kind of driving you are most likely to do with the car is an important factor as well.

Good luck in your choice and let us know!

 

Hey Eric. I've been lucky enough to have all bar the ZR1 and C2 mentioned. For a blast around twisties, you'll struggle to beat a 458 coupe to be fair, mid engine balance, great gearbox and fantastic brakes and handling. However, for a road trip, taking in both twisties and long sweepers, the 599 is a fantastic option. The V12 is the real ferrari deal, plenty of room for your stuff, and plenty of shoes for her! The gearbox is the very best application of the F1 and gives you involvement at all times. Depreciation is over, appreciation is more likely if anything, and that engine is oh so sweet.

Suspension issues?, well, mainly rose joints in the front suspension in my experience, once upgraded, no issues! Get the HGTC pack version if you can, you won't regret it.

Either way, you would be happy with any of the options, but either 599 or 458 will make you happy-est!

 

Your post reminded me of one thing, wind buffeting in the Cali is, in my experience, significant in the cabin when the top is down. Not an issue for joy riding around town, but could get old fast on an extended road trip. There is, however, a wind deflector that can be put up...T

 

Ultimately only you can answer this question but for that you'll have to drive them. If I'm not mistaken the California trunk is quite small when the top is down but I guess you have room in the backseats.

If it was my money, I'd either get a 599 or a 458. The 458 will provide you with the mid-engine sports car feel that the ZR1 doesn't have BUT will be lacking in torque comparatively speaking. The 599 will have a more similar feel to the Vette and is the traditional Ferrari (front engined V12) BUT it has the F1 transmission. Granted it is the Superfast which is better than the regular F1.

The biggest horsepower car I had was a Gen 4 Viper with 600 hp which I guess is somewhat similar to your ZR1. Afterwards I got a 355 with 375 horsepower; I didn't miss the extra power at all honestly. I could write more why that is but ultimately for the street a 458 is more than fast.

Have you considered a spider 430 with a stick shift btw? Not sure if 175 will cut it but you might be close.

 

It depends on your priority. If you share the long trip drive with your wife and her cargo space are your top priority, then stick with the Cali. Otherwise, stick with F430 or 458 will out perform your corvette.


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One number and one word - 612 Scaglietti.

 

The trunk space is actually bigger in the 355 as there are no radiators up front to take up the room - the trunk is actually very large for a mid engined car. You can fit a shocking amount of luggage in there. There is less cabin space, though. It's not bad for two people - quite comfortable on long trips, actually, but you can't carry any luggage in the cabin, unlike the 360 and 430 which have some room behind the seats. I don't think the 355 is for you if you're worried about reliability. They're not bad but are 20 years old and the drivetrain is more race car than street car with all of the good, and bad, that entails. They're also less modern, with all of the good and bad that entails as well (no cruise, less cushy interior, italian driving position etc.).

As to the reliability issues you listed with the cali...Every single Ferrari has some suspect parts on them. That's the nature of the beast. Most aren't going to stop you in your tracks, but the cali issues you listed are fairly minor as far as these cars go. If you want the option of top-down motoring, the cali sounds perfect, especially if you already have a zr1 for track use.

 

The frunks would indeed be a bit small on a 430/458 if your wife really does like to bag plenty of bags for a trip. Having said that, you can also stow bags behind the seats (at least on the 430, haven't really checked on a 458). To me, a front-engined Ferrari like the 599 would suit you better, even if your wife doesn't think so. Do drive many more and take measurements so you have some raw data to work with and come to a conclusion you won't regret later

 

Both the 430 and 458 hold quite a bit of luggage.

My wife and I go on overnight trips in my 458, for example we spent 5 days on a trip to Ohio from Virginia for the FCA Annual Meet a few years ago.

The trick to packing luggage in a 458 is to use several soft-sided bags such as a duffel bag or flat carry-on bag.
The front trunk is a deep square-shaped space and there is room behind the seats.
The space is wider behind the seats the closer the bag is to the floor.
Also, one small soft-sided bag fits between the two seats toward the rear.

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unless you want the open-air aspect to driving, the 599 all day every day and twice on Sunday. Enzo-derived V12 in a GT, with a trunk.

they're also a darn good bargain right now, at the bottom of the depreciation curve.

 

If it were my money 458 or 599 IMHO. Only rub with the 599 is the F1 transmission, but if you're doing long hauls with it then on the highway I'd expect it to shine.
Good luck with your search!