My wife gave me the green light and I might be in the market for a F430.(05-08) Would you consider this a smart thing to upgrade to? My 996 4S hasn't given me any problems and mechanical problems are really easy. Is the Ferrari just a bigger beast to deal with? Thanks for your input!

 

I just upgraded from a 996 TT to a 08 F430 - This is what I have experienced.

1. Ferrari sounds very exotic - the sound @ 8500 is ridiculous and far superior over my 996 TT. (IMO)

2. Although I have only about 500 miles on the Ferrari - Its hard for me to tell any maintainable issues, have had none yet - keep in mind if you can afford the car, you ought to be able to afford the service. Overall I found the Porsche's engine to be practically bullet proof - I have changed the plugs once and change oil regularly on the Porsche for 4 years and it still runs like its brand new! The Porsche's reliability is A++

3. Any Ferrari will draw just as much if not more attention when you are driving it. Everyone wants to race and you are in the spotlight - Be prepared to be center of attention, some like this while it may bother others. I often find people hiding in my blind spot driving just behind me to check out the car - They sit there... you speed up, they speed up... you slow down, they slow down..

4. I think my TT might be slightly faster than my Ferrari - Although the brakes on the Ferrari rock -

5. The F430 Ferrari sits quite a bit lower than my Porsche - Its very easy to scrape the the bottom left and right front spoiler. No matter what angle, even at extremely slow speeds its very easy to scrape.

 

That's quite an upgrade from a Porsche C4S to a Ferrari F430. Just expect to drop a lot of money in future services and the F430 is much less of a daily driver than the C4S. Enjoy the new car and welcome to the world of Ferrari's!

 

How's the Tubi? Would love to hear one.

 

Tubi's are music to my ears!

 

just make sure you can afford the Service and Random Overpriced Parts...

 

I did the exact trade you are looking to do. I went from a 04 C4S to a 05 430. They are both great but two different cars. You won't regret it!

 

what kind of money are you looking at for service for the F430?

 

Call up the Dealer and ask them...

 

f430's are one (if not) the easiest maintenance Ferrari made. On that note as stated above be prepared for MUCH larger repair bills and maint. than the C4. Porsche's are bullet proof in comparison. A $300 part at Porsche is $1200 at Ferrari. It's the nature of the beast. 6k cars a year vs 90k cars a year made and Ferrari has to keep those F1's spinning around the GPrix's somehow.

Daily driver the Porsche wins hands down. It's a different beast all together. Weekend driver the F430 is so superior it's not a close match. The biggest problem I have with my f430's is the attention. Constant pictures and as said above tailgaters are a pain in the ars. Guys in f150's that will do 100mph to drive next to you etc etc. It's a different world altogether over the Porsche world. That just doesn't happen.

You'll be very happy with the change but don't be shocked if you buy a non warranty F430 the first time your service tech tells you it will be 4k to repair.

MHO keep the Porsche and add the 430. That's the best of both worlds.

 

I say yes to the 430

 

^^^that's funny. That's why I said yes to f430.
One of my 430's

 

I just upgraded to this 07 F430 and I am very happy I did. Its not my daily driver, but I am planning on doing 5k per year. good luck

 

Sorry to Party Poop here, but have you Considered a "Gallardo"?

 

Yes I have considered it, but I think if I saw an F-430 drive by I would kick myself for not going with the F430. I hear the Gallardo is a little less expensive to operate/maintained, but the F430 is well--words cannot describe. Attention wouldn't be a problem because it would probably sit in the garage the majority of the time. Thanks for all the sound advice! Figure 5K/year for service should keep her running..