430 Please tell me if I'm being over the top... leather dash shrinkage

Just get a windshield sun shade and get your glass some ceramic tint. Not much else you can do besides moisturize monthly.

 

I'm in the same position about it being my only car and taking care of it

After four years I'm finding it's a balance of care and use

Sometimes I just don't want to take it out to expose it to anything (especially after deep cleaning) and so I don't maybe for a couple months at a time

I did take it to a show once, it was awesome, and recently took a few trips with it, it is such a joy to drive, i can't not drive it

Some never leave the bubble in the climate controlled garage, and some are year round daily drivers

Just have to find your balance, do what you can to protect it when you use it, and realize if you use it, it won't stay perfect

As for the dash specifically, do what goggles said

 

Drive it, enjoy it, care for it, not driving it and enjoying it will do more harm

 

We're a long time dead. Try to relax. It's a Ferrai, but at the end of the day a car. A car is built for driving.

 

Just drive and not worry about it, just get a sun shade for the windshield when you're parked outside all day. Dealers leave their customers' cars outside for weeks at a time, so they treat the cars even worse.

The way I think about it is that at worst, it costs like $6k - $8k to reupholster the dash. It is not going to break the bank for you, so just enjoy the car. It is no different than needing to the fix the pool, or replace the AC unit for your home, etc.

 

Not foolish worrying at all. I imagine you worked hard to afford your 430-- and I worked hard to get my 360. When I got my 360 I also wanted everything to be perfect, and it was without a doubt a very well kept cared for example.

One of the big pluses was that the leather dash had been already replaced and was like new. I still, after almost 7 years of ownership, sweat the details and find myself parking in the shade when possible, using the cardboard windshield shade (Covercraft makes a nice one) and using leather conditioner on it at least 2 to 3 times a year-- especially since I have an OEM blue leather dash which I can only imagine would be a tough get to find that leather color match nowadays.

But yes, as time went by I "loosened up" a bit. I still keep the car in top mechanical and cosmetic condition but I don't let that get in the way of driving it as Enzo intended. Even with only 29K miles on the clock, I accept that I will need to touch up or repaint the front bumper at some point. And I'm even considering recovering the seats as they get more and more "character lines". But I do enjoy the car and simply have made my peace with the idea that it is a car. It is a Ferrari. And I am going to enjoy it immensely while I'm still above ground!

Congrats and enjoy!

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OP we share your feelings and concerns and after 7 years of owning a 430 the feeling is still there..Enjoy that car.!!
I endorse the windshield shade and maintenance recommended by Goggles.

 

+1000

 

Not stupid and many of us have sorta felt like you. Hard not to "worship" your first Ferrari but that will prevent you from enjoying it unless you just want to keep it "perfect" for concours and that sort of stuff. It will not stay perfect, just like that watch did not stay perfect, and you will not enjoy owning it unless you can accept that it is "just a car". If it is an F1 Spider, you have more things to worry about other than the inevitable dash leather pulling. But, no need to worry about any of that either because you have no control over it.

You should definitely go to the Ferrari event and let the car play with the other Ferraris while you get to know the other Ferrari owners.

 

Thanks Op and Mark

I agree, it is after all A car

But...JUST a car?...

 

Fundamentally, it's just "a" car. For everyone here, it's "the" car. Aside from those that have a few to choose from However, you need to be at peace with putting wear on it and things going bad. You'll never fully appreciate it otherwise as you will be too afraid to have the best times with it.

Example: I dropped a wrench on my outside door sill when redoing my top. Absolute idiot mistake. I could easily replace it since they're cheap. Even bookmarked a perfect set on ebay a while ago for $100. Doesn't bother me. In fact, I keep it there on purpose so I know it's not perfect. Doesn't mean I won't get a pair of the scud carbon ones if I find a good deal, but that's for different reasons. I also drove mine on a dirt forest road to get to beautiful dam and take some nice pictures. The adventure was worth every second of rattling and bumping and cursing when the lip hit the ground. Ended up ripping the entire bumper off by mistake backing out of my driveway eventually anyway. I'm not saying to abuse your car, but if you don't enjoy it to the fullest, you're just leaving your dreams on the table. Just put maintenance above everything else and it will treat you well in return.

 

Yes, just a car. By treating it as this unobtainable holy shrine, you are robbing yourself of enjoying it.

One day we are all going to die. Should we be fortunate enough to have time to sit there and reflect upon our lives, none of us will think "gosh, I wish I spent less time driving and enjoying my Ferrari so the next guy could"

That does not mean to not take any precautions, but for the love of God, what is the point of owning it if you are too worried about it to enjoy it?

 

leather is going to crack and shrink and sag. My 430 had all of that. I didn't care. When I got my F12 it has shrinkage on the dash so bad you could see the foam. I believe it was $3k to fix and looks great. My 458 is starting to shrink as well. Its a bummer but don't let it stop you from driving it. sun shades do wonders. just replace it when it comes time.

 

I agree, what I simply meant was that it IS a car, so drive it, drive it, drive it!

But unlike most cars, it is a lot more, it is a heritage, an opportunity, a gorgeous machine, it is art, it is a place I find joy sitting in, even in the garage, it is a mindset.

I don't get that in/from my Kia

It is a car, and so much more. Enjoy it in every way.

 

totally understandable. i get it big time. I'm kinda silly that way too. you worked hard for the money to buy the car, so you SHOULD enjoy the car. driving it is unreal. enjoy it. a stone chip is gonna happen, but it's ok. the car, and you, will survive. i'm a lunatic with my cars, but i'm fine with enjoying them within reason. do i leave it unattended, ? NO. my buddies think i need mental health treatment. i do what i'm comfortable with. it's all good. get a dash mat or sun shade and don't look back. it can be fixed. i look at it this way, when i'm gone i don't want to have regrets on never enjoying the car but at the same time i don't want the car looking like it was unloved. all good. enjoy in good health.

 

The 360 owners manual says to treat the interior leather 3-4 times a year! Yes that is a lot...compared to most cars. I am not sure what the 430 OM says but it's a hobby to own these awesome machines.

 

Since reading this thread I've looked into good options for quality fitting sunshades, pls let us know how this one fits and your overall opinion.
I'm leaning towards weathertech and for the record covercraft does not offer one for the 430.
Thanks.

 

I bought this one which is the same brand Ed bought and it fits perfect: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DZUADW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Allow me to herald the merits..

The carboard/stiff ones are super nice and look really slick installed. However, from a practicality standpoint, these squishy metallic ones are really the best ones to get. There's a good bit of fiddling to get the shade to fit into the large screen and it's just a pain with the stiff board ones. This one you can squish and fold and bend to jam it in place. Plus, it fits nicely behind the seat and isn't ruined if the passenger backs up a bit too much. I've had luck with those which are two circles that fold together as for space savings, but the corners on those are flimsy and you have to manually push them out sometimes.

 

Joe: Thanks for the feedback.!