What IS a reasonable estimate of annual maintenance?

You will get a lot of information perusing the 430 and 458 sections here. Both cars can be extremely reliable, 458 would be a little more costly to maintain though.

Also, here are some buyers guides to look at in order to give you a baseline look.

https://www.forza-mag.com/issues/190/articles/all-star

https://www.forza-mag.com/issues/143/articles/sweet-spot

https://www.forza-mag.com/issues/151/articles/game-changer

 

I’ve had my 430 for 3.5 years now and I drive it about 1200 miles per year. It was in REALLY nice condition when I bought it but I’m OCD when it comes to my cars and work hard to keep them “like new”. It’s my hobby. I’ve spent about $5000 per year for maintenance, tools and some upgrades (like carbon fiber engine panels and Scud Ing Swiss LED taillights) and I have a spare set of wheels, side skirts, unopened car cover, and a stockpile of hardware. I probably do more servicing than required, but I’m okay with that.

Here’s a couple pics of the underside of my 10 year old Mini to show my “problem”. My 430 looks the same underneath.

The 430 is DIY friendly, so if you like working on cars you’ll have fun. I’ve thought about moving up to a 458 but the 430 hits the sweet spot for me and I plan to keep it as long as I’m vertical. You can’t go wrong with either.

Good luck in your search!

 

Kevin, if you can do the simple maintenance on your Lotus, you can do it on a 430. The 430 is a piece of cake too. There are a couple things to learn about the 430, but there’s plenty of help on this forum and YouTube. I didn’t know anything about my 430 before I bought it, but have spent a lot of time learning and asking questions.

You will lower your annual maintenance costs substantially if you do the engine oil changes, gearbox oil changes, power steering fluid, F1 fluid and antifreeze fluid changes yourself. For example, an Independent may charge $500 for an engine oil change, you can do it for less than $100. About $45 for the OEM filter from Amazon and $55 for two 5 qt jugs of Mobil 1 5w-40 oil from Walmart.

Don’t even think about taking it to a dealer for maintenance, their costs are ridiculous.


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I almost forgot about the brake fluid flush. That also can be done correctly using a Launch X431, also from Amazon. The Launch will be needed for the F1 fluid flush also. The brake fluid flush will cost you about $100 in good fluid. The Launch about $800, onetime, but then you’ll always have it and it can be used on other cars.


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Off the cuff: estimate $2,500-4,000 per year maintenance (oil/fluids, pads, tires, battery, occasional clutch on the F430, random bits and plastic pieces)...

and if your warranty is expired have $6-10k in reserve for F1 pump, convertible top mechanism or similar failure on the F430, or up to $14,000 for an indie rebuild of the DCT on a 458. $4-12k if your dash leather shrinks.

 

For a 430
Drive it and regularly exercise ALL of the systems every trip.
Follow fluid intervals.
5-10k min/max per year (but not every year!) on a sorted car is about right for a good ownership experience.

 

For what it's worth, I purchased a 2013 458 in 2016 with 2500 miles on the clock. It now has a little north of 14,000 miles. It had several
of the seven free services done in the first years of ownership, It missed one year of service in the middle of covid, although I didn't drive it hardly.
In eight years I had one electric window regulator fail which I replaced my self, and had paid for one service- a TOTAL of $2000.00.

I did recently install all new tires, which isn't any different than any other car, and I didn't include them. Maybe another couple of grand- I forget. The car is STILL using the original battery, that I religiously keep my battery tender on. It's ten years old!

Because of the distance and hassle of bringing the car to a Ferrari dealer, I'm going to do services myself. The car has been pretty bulletproof. I don't understand the concern of having extended warranties. Doing oil changes, and other fluid changes is certainly something an avid do it yourselfer can handle.

 

Depends on how ocd you are, i would allow say $2-5K usd per year depending on miles, that covers tires and un forseen things