Duane has basically a summed it all up. GTR is superior over all othes in terms of performance. It's a third of the price of an F430, so why are there still buyers for the latter? It all boils down to personal taste and perceived potentially projected self-image from the ownership of either. I love the GTR, but couldn't resist the charm of an F430. That's just me.
I own both a GTR and a F430. I use the GTR as my daily driver. I have the best of both worlds. Don't knock the GTR until you spend some time in it.
comparing a 430S and a GTR? It's not the same kind of car at all.... GTR: -4wd -4 seater - heavy -turbocharged -comfy interior -engine at the front -exaust note : not that great.. (my opinion) 430S: -race car for the road -No comfy interior , just pure race interior -no turbo -engine at the rear -2wd -exaust note: Just crazy Well I own a 599gtb , but I had the chance to drove the gtr twice and the scuderia many times.... Gtr is hell fast with the turbo , the feeling of speed is nice ... and well the price is preatty interesting ..but let's be honest did you really care that one car is doing 0 to 60 in 3.4s and the other 3.6 ...or what ever.......most of the people won't feel the difference inside... Sure it's a great car , but car are not only about numbers, you need to think about the emotion ...go take a ride in a gtr ...it's crazy fast ..... and than go take a ride in a 430S... it's crazy fast as well, it's hard, noisy,difficult to drive, it's not as easy to drive...but that's what people like.... When people buy a car they should look after pure emotion , because at the end , without talking about the price , the performance,or anything...it's what people want... maybe you can compare a 430S and a gtr about their performance numbers...... but don't compare their driving experience...... Because a GTR is a great car, with great performance for a good price and the 430S is a extraodinary car,with great performance...and mad design....and the most important with a SOUL... Ps: sorry for my english, it's not my native language...
Superior performance? Looking at acceleration numbers from reviews, the F430S beats the GTR in the 1/4 and with a faster trap speed. Even the F430 posts nearly identical time with slightly faster top end.
People buy Ferraris for many different reasons, the tradition, the beauty, the notariety, the exclusivity, the performance, etc. People by the GTR for one reason, the performance. Personally, I would rather buy a Lingenfelter Vette than drive the GTR. It's just butt ass ugly. ugghhhhh! As far as the GTR v the Scud on the track, Car and Driver did a comparo (Lightening Lap) with a bunch of cars and the GTR fared well, but not as well as the Scud. CAR LAP TIME HP TRANS Mosler MT900S 02:45.9 550 6-sp man Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe ACR 02:48.6 600 6-sp man Ferrari 430 Scuderia 02:54.6 503 6-sp auto man Nissan GT-R 02:55.6 480 6-sp auto man Dodge Viper SRT10 02:57.4 600 6-sp man Chevrolet Corvette Z06 02:58.2 505 6-sp man Nissan GT-R (all-season tires) 02:59.0 480 6-sp auto man Ford GT 03:00.7 550 6-sp man Chevrolet Corvette Z06 03:01.1 505 6-sp man Chevrolet Corvette Z51 03:01.2 436 6-sp man Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe 03:01.6 510 6-sp man Porsche 911 GT3 03:01.8 415 6-sp man Chevrolet Corvette Z51 03:03.6 400 6-sp man Cadillac CTS-V 03:04.0 556 6-sp man Lotus Exige S 03:04.5 220 6-sp man Audi R8 03:04.6 420 6-sp man BMW M3 03:05.6 414 7-sp auto man Porsche 911 Turbo 03:05.8 480 6-sp man Ford Shelby GT500 03:05.9 500 6-sp man Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG 03:06.5 451 7-sp auto Lotus Elise 03:09.2 190 6-sp man Chevrolet Corvette Z51 03:09.3 400 6-sp man Porsche Cayman S 03:09.5 295 6-sp man BMW M6 03:10.0 500 7-sp auto man BMW 335i Coupe 03:10.5 300 6-sp man Ford Shelby GT500 03:11.0 500 6-sp man Audi RS4 03:11.2 420 6-sp man BMW Z4 M Coupe 03:11.7 330 6-sp man Nissan 350Z Track 03:12.5 300 6-sp man Chevrolet Cobalt SS 03:13.0 260 5-sp man Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR 03:13.3 291 6-sp auto man Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR 03:13.5 286 6-sp man BMW 135i 03:13.5 300 6-sp man Lexus IS-F 03:14.0 416 8-sp auto Audi S5 03:14.5 354 6-sp man Honda S2000 CR 03:15.0 237 6-sp man Pontiac Solstice GXP 03:15.7 260 5-sp man Mazdaspeed 3 03:16.0 263 6-sp man Dodge Challenger SRT8 03:16.3 425 5-sp auto Lotus Elise SC 03:16.6 218 6-sp man Infiniti G37S 03:17.5 330 6-sp man Dodge Charger SRT8 03:18.2 425 5-sp auto Mazda RX-8 03:19.0 232 6-sp man Subaru Impreza WRX STI 03:19.0 305 6-sp man Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged 03:20.6 205 5-sp man Dodge Caliber SRT4 03:20.8 285 6-sp man Ford Mustang GT 03:20.9 300 5-sp man Volkswagen R32 03:21.8 250 6-sp auto man Mini Cooper S 03:22.9 172 6-sp man Honda Civic Si Mugen 03:24.8 197 6-sp man Volkswagen GTI 03:25.1 200 6-sp auto man Honda Civic Si 03:26.5 197 6-sp man Volvo C30 Version 2.0 03:26.6 227 6-sp man Mazda MX-5 03:29.3 170 6-sp man
There will always be something different to catch someone's eye. Kids over here still go gaa gaa whenever they see a Skyline. When I was in Japan (on business), we were driving around Nagano with our guide, Suzuki-San. I saw a Skyline and said, "Hey! Skyline! Cool!", to which he rolled his eyes and replied, "Skyline. Very common. Like American Mustang."
Suzuki-San...the chief test driver for Nissan, and the person who set the record with the GT-R on the 'ring was chaparoning you around? And he rolled his eyes at a Nissan? I own a GT-R and I can tell you the car is phenomenal. For those who say it doesn't have a soul have never driven one. My one complaint is the exhaust is quite. The stock turbo spool up is so fast. You can hardly tell the car is FI. Yes there are a ton of electronics at play with the car, but they have more to do with all the stuff it monitors, and how it operates the all wheel drive. The car is basically two wheel drive until the comuter sends power to the front. But you can completely turn traction control off, and you aren't hindered by anything. I think it is an amazing car. If anyone has the oppurtunity to drive one, escpecially on the track, please take it.
Well for the info , i don't own a gtr myself, But I had the chance to drive the car severals times (a lot, it's my brother ride....). I have a lot of respect for the great performance this car has , and for her "good" price, but when I say a 430S have a soul it doesn't mean the GTR don't ...it just mean that for me (that's personnal) , when I'm driving a scuderia with all those details that make a ferrari.. (good or bad) it gives the car way more personnality ....that's all ... It's the same reason why for exemple people still love the 360cs over some more modern cars that are faster....... Just make the test , on the morning , start a scuderia or a 599 or a 430 , and then start a nissan gtr....you'll see what i mean..
No doubt the GTR is a great car, but to me it not very attractive at all. They could have done a better design job on this car...
OP, in a few days I can tell you with an open mind if the F430S is the driver's car it's supposed to be. I'm skeptical this car will be even as good as my M3 V8, but personally considering sacrilege buying these cars in automatic, this was the time to buy best of the breed (it'll be my first and last). It pains me to say I agree with Jay Leno about most Ferrari owners just buy these cars for ego reasons, and that's why he doesn't own even one. And the fact Ferrari is now only making automatic cars seems to validate that. Oh, plus the many posts I've seen not only on this thread and some of mine, but a lot of others . Once I get the answers I need in the next few weeks, I'll be gone. I don't like attention, so I'll judge the car purely on its driving pleasure, and tell you what I think. And no, I've never driven a Ferrari before. If you have a chance to drive one (I didn't), you should do that to make sure it's what YOU expect. Good luck.
