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Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
Nick,
I've only driven a 430 coupe which my dealer loaned me for 4 days a couple of months ago so my experience thus far is fairly limited. What I can say is that it is a much improved car over the 360 Modena that I previously owned and the F1 shift is definately better than e-gear. The Lamborghini box requires a little more effort from the driver if you want to enjoy smooth upshifts. In sport mode the changes are positively violent
Downshifts with e-gear are fantastic though with an incredible accompanying soundtrack (on 06 model year cars onwards). Both cars are quite different to drive to be honest as the Gallardo feels more planted on the road, the benefit of it's 4WD system giving it more mechanical grip. It has more torque lower down the rev range and makes a more ferocious noise that builds up to a wail at high revs. It's also a far newer car in design terms with better ergonomics in the cabin and better quality of finish to the interior by which I mean things like door seals, the use of leather throughout the cabin including door sills, a glass rear screen that can be retracted to let in fresh air and hear the engine when the top is up etc and it has more modern equipment - TFT screen for nav/infotainment, front lifting system, dual zone climate control, 3 blink indicator setting for highway lane changes, rain sensing wipers etc. Non owners often ridicule comments like these and say they are sports cars that shouldn't have them but when you take the car on longer trips they become more important. A stripped out pure sportscar to me is an Ariel Atom or an Ultima not a Ferrari. It will be fairer to compare the F142 to the Gallardo in these areas as I suspect that model will be far better equipped.
The Spyder is noticeably slower than the Gallardo Coupe I had before it though which somehow seemed a rawer driving experience and I believe the F430 is similar in this respect from what I've read. A few tenths of a second doesn't sound like much but is enough to make a perceptible difference.
I had a close look around a new LP560 at my dealer on Tuesday and heard it running. My only previous viewing was at the Geneva show in March. The new car looks far more aggressive with it's shorter headlights and pronounced flaired nostril air intakes in the redesigned front bumper. The sound of the new V10 is astonishing on start up... you almost need earplugs for the first few seconds The Spyder version should look sensational.
I'll report back with more informed comparisons after my trip to France in the 430.
I've only driven a 430 coupe which my dealer loaned me for 4 days a couple of months ago so my experience thus far is fairly limited. What I can say is that it is a much improved car over the 360 Modena that I previously owned and the F1 shift is definately better than e-gear. The Lamborghini box requires a little more effort from the driver if you want to enjoy smooth upshifts. In sport mode the changes are positively violent
Downshifts with e-gear are fantastic though with an incredible accompanying soundtrack (on 06 model year cars onwards). Both cars are quite different to drive to be honest as the Gallardo feels more planted on the road, the benefit of it's 4WD system giving it more mechanical grip. It has more torque lower down the rev range and makes a more ferocious noise that builds up to a wail at high revs. It's also a far newer car in design terms with better ergonomics in the cabin and better quality of finish to the interior by which I mean things like door seals, the use of leather throughout the cabin including door sills, a glass rear screen that can be retracted to let in fresh air and hear the engine when the top is up etc and it has more modern equipment - TFT screen for nav/infotainment, front lifting system, dual zone climate control, 3 blink indicator setting for highway lane changes, rain sensing wipers etc. Non owners often ridicule comments like these and say they are sports cars that shouldn't have them but when you take the car on longer trips they become more important. A stripped out pure sportscar to me is an Ariel Atom or an Ultima not a Ferrari. It will be fairer to compare the F142 to the Gallardo in these areas as I suspect that model will be far better equipped. The Spyder is noticeably slower than the Gallardo Coupe I had before it though which somehow seemed a rawer driving experience and I believe the F430 is similar in this respect from what I've read. A few tenths of a second doesn't sound like much but is enough to make a perceptible difference.
I had a close look around a new LP560 at my dealer on Tuesday and heard it running. My only previous viewing was at the Geneva show in March. The new car looks far more aggressive with it's shorter headlights and pronounced flaired nostril air intakes in the redesigned front bumper. The sound of the new V10 is astonishing on start up... you almost need earplugs for the first few seconds
The Spyder version should look sensational.I'll report back with more informed comparisons after my trip to France in the 430.
Jun 26, 2008 8:03:45 PM
- JoeRockhead
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Jun 28, 2008 4:43:27 PM
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ISUK
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Jun 28, 2008 6:06:05 PM
- Alex_997TT
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Jun 28, 2008 6:14:46 PM
- Alex_997TT
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Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
Also, I am wondering if you have picked up on whether the F430 is noticeably wider on your travels?
This is one of the things that worries me about Ferraris... on uk back-roads, if you find something coming the other way then you are completely stuck. I have to seriously breath in at times in my TT.
Width comparisons (I know not a huge difference, but given how small our roads are here...)
997 Turbo = 1852 mm
Gallardo = 1900 mm
F430 = 1923 mm
This is one of the things that worries me about Ferraris... on uk back-roads, if you find something coming the other way then you are completely stuck. I have to seriously breath in at times in my TT.
Width comparisons (I know not a huge difference, but given how small our roads are here...)
997 Turbo = 1852 mm
Gallardo = 1900 mm
F430 = 1923 mm
Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
Alex,
I sold my turbo a few weeks back now. Great car and probably the best high speed car I've ever owned. I've got my name in for a 997 tt facelift and a 998 tt
I haven't really noticed the width issue too much to be honest. I'm quite lucky in that we don't have too many narrow roads in this or surrounding counties so I've never had any real heart stopping moments. I'm just usually paranoid about where I park/leave them
I sold my turbo a few weeks back now. Great car and probably the best high speed car I've ever owned. I've got my name in for a 997 tt facelift and a 998 tt
I haven't really noticed the width issue too much to be honest. I'm quite lucky in that we don't have too many narrow roads in this or surrounding counties so I've never had any real heart stopping moments. I'm just usually paranoid about where I park/leave them
Jun 30, 2008 3:08:46 AM
- cc08gt2
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Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
Amazing +1.
I had a red 430 for a year, and your blows it away. Sure wish we could walk in a US dealer and they had a new car. Never gonna happen. Won't let you have it and you won't get called to buy it unless you are in the club. Dealer in Dallas has an attitude the is out of line. No more business there.
What a beautiful car.
I had a red 430 for a year, and your blows it away. Sure wish we could walk in a US dealer and they had a new car. Never gonna happen. Won't let you have it and you won't get called to buy it unless you are in the club. Dealer in Dallas has an attitude the is out of line. No more business there.
What a beautiful car.
Jun 30, 2008 6:42:19 AM
- Moogle
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Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
How is the supply in the UK? Are cars sold at premiums like in the USA? It is "impossible" to get a new, unregistered/untitled F-car from a primary dealer?
Maybe I will get lucky here someday, because I refuse to play the Ferrari "buy-a-used-one-first-and-get-in-line" game.
Maybe I will get lucky here someday, because I refuse to play the Ferrari "buy-a-used-one-first-and-get-in-line" game.
Re: Impulse buy - F430 Spider
The dealer I bought it from has two more "unsold" new F430 coupes coming into stock shortly. This is a pretty new phenomenon here as previously it was similar to the US with long waiting lists and early delivery was only possible if someone ahead of you in the queue dropped out. There is no doubt that the credit crunch has taken hold in the UK and car sales are suffering across the board. A lot of cars of this type (especially used models) are taken on finance and with interest rates rising and banks/lenders scrutinising potential customers more closely the market has shrunk somewhat. I think the fact that the F430 is nearing the end of it's production life coupled with the publicity surrounding the forthcoming California is making buyers wait for the new car hoping that it will attract a premium on resale or at least hold it's value. F430 residuals have taken a bit of a knock here recently and the significant hike in the base MRSP this year due to the inclusion of carbon brakes and a four year warranty hasn't helped either as it has made the car now look fairly expensive for what is essentially an "old" model.
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