IMO isn't that an apples to oranges comparison? The 360 is pretty much the clubsport car while the '10 997TT is pretty much a very fast car that satisfies multiple roles.

In the long run the Challenge Stradale will be worth more and will be totally iconic. The choice is yours, but the 360 CS is less user friendly around town.

 

I have been reading and I really appreciate all of the comments...it is so much easier to ask the questions then to go purchase the cars only to find out you made the wrong decision. I guess I am looking for the most fun car...(exciting to drive) as a weekend/and couple nights a week car.
I have a land rover for daily...so it would be a fun car.
Thanks again for the comments ...anymore would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds like many of you like the GT3?
D

 

Then go w/ the CS or a 430; IMO.

 

I agree with Rob. You have to figure out what you want to do with the car before buying one. While I think the GT3 is more fun on a track then a CS the GT3 and 997TT aren't even close in that regards. I'm biased though I raced 997 Cups.

The CS isn't geared towards riding around in. The CS is geared towards raw driving experience.
The passenger will remember the ride in the passenger seat a number of ways. If it's your buddy and he's never been in a Ferrari he'll think it was insane fun raw power with excitment in every corner. If it's your girlfriend or wife which it will be most of the time. After 2 hours in the CS she'll wish you had the 997TT. The car isn't made to go out on a date in. Take for a weekend 5 hour drive. It will beat you up and your passenger. If you want a Ferrari for mostly date nights that outperforms the CS buy a 430.

I agree the 997tt for me was boring. I looked into one for my girlfriend. It didn't do much for me as well. It's damn fast and much better a daily then the CS. So we went to a California for her.

The difference between a 997tt and a 997C4S isn't night and day. It's Sun and Moon. They aren't even on the same planet.

The CS is much slower and as people have said later 60 more horsepower. 997TT are much quicker then my 430's. I don't care about what any book says. It's just the facts on pavement.

totally agree you need to decide what you are doing with it and compare the cars that are close. My gt3rs is the most fun I can have in a car on the street.

If you want fun without sacrificing some comforts the GT3 would be the only car you should consider. driving a N/A car that rev's to 8400 rpms will make you smile all day long. You'll do this and save yourself the 40-60k difference between it and the CS. 997tt's accelarate like a beast and you'll have fun for the first 20 times you do it. If you own a CS or a GT3 you'll smile around every high speed corner you do for the rest of your car ownership life.

So go for a gt3 or a CS but know the CS will in the end be a much more expensive car to own.

 

I agree with Rob. You have to figure out what you want to do with the car before buying one. While I think the GT3 is more fun on a track then a CS the GT3 and 997TT aren't even close in that regards. I'm biased though I raced 997 Cups.

The CS isn't geared towards riding around in. The CS is geared towards raw driving experience.
The passenger will remember the ride in the passenger seat a number of ways. If it's your buddy and he's never been in a Ferrari he'll think it was insane fun raw power with excitment in every corner. If it's your girlfriend or wife which it will be most of the time. After 2 hours in the CS she'll wish you had the 997TT. The car isn't made to go out on a date in. Take for a weekend 5 hour drive. It will beat you up and your passenger. If you want a Ferrari for mostly date nights that outperforms the CS buy a 430.

I agree the 997tt for me was boring. I looked into one for my girlfriend. It didn't do much for me as well. It's damn fast and a much better daily then the CS. So we went to a California for her.

The difference between a 997tt and a 997C4S isn't night and day. It's Sun and Moon. They aren't even on the same planet.

The CS is slower and as people have said 60 less horsepower. 997TT's are quicker then my 430's. I don't care about what any book says. It's just the facts on pavement.

totally agree you need to decide what you are doing with it and compare the cars that are close. My gt3rs is the most fun I can have in a car on the street.

If you want fun without sacrificing some comforts the GT3 would be the only car you should consider. driving a N/A car that rev's to 8400 rpms will make you smile all day long. You'll do this and save yourself the 40-60k difference between it and the CS. 997tt's accelarate like a beast and you'll have fun for the first 20 times you do it. If you own a CS or a GT3 you'll smile around every high speed corner you do for the rest of your car ownership life.

So go for a gt3 or a CS but know the CS will in the end be a much more expensive car to own.

 

Huh? The standard 430 does not outperform the CS! Look at lap times around Fiorano. From Fchat:

When the Challenge Stradale made its debut in North America in 2004 (2003 in Europe), Automobile magazine awarded it 2004 car of the year; CNN money.com called it a true investment vehicle; and it attracted a huge number of enthusiasts. And so, this post compiles various impressions, survey results, and test data as a tribute to the Challenge Stradale, with the full expectation that the CS is becoming a classic in its own time.

Astonishing Driver Quotes:

While car reviewers and journalists were generally smitten by the CS – just as they are by the Scuderia today – it’s the perceptions of experienced Ferrari owners that carries so much weight. Here are four rather astonishing quotes, most within the last year.

#1: “I have a CS and Enzo. I can drive the CS faster on very tight roads because of the shorter wheelbase, and its sound is more stimulating than the Enzo. I call the CS a "baby Enzo" because it was made at the same time, shares many parts, and does nearly everything the same except acceleration and it's a weaker people magnet. BTW, the people I know who collect Ferraris (i.e., 10 or more cars) MUST have a CS in their collection and the ones I've spoken to say it's one of their favorite Ferraris. It's a great car for the street. The Enzo is a little too powerful for the street as you can't really get into the power for more than a few seconds.” (posted by Bill S)

#2: “I do have some nice Ferraris and other nice cars.” (including F40, Enzo, CS, Maranello, 365GT4/BB, 512BBm). The CS is as far as I am concerned one of the most fun cars to drive. The European version has a sound that is beyond anything that you can imagine. The American version also has a great sound. Let me put it this way: the CS is more fun to drive than the Enzo and the F40, period, Go for the CS”.. I have driven both cars quite a few times, both on the street and on the race track.” (posted by Emena)

#3: “I have a CS, GT3 RS, Ruf Turbo R and CGT. I find myself faster in the CS on tight courses because of the paddle shifters, better visibility, and smaller lighter-feeling car. It's really hard work to drive a GT3 RS and CGT as fast, but you can if you want to sweat it. If I want to really show off on the turns, I'll usually choose the CS. It is a Challenge Car for the Street! “
#4: “I have quite alot of track time in 360 modena, F430, 599 and the CS. The CS wins hands down, it is as fast or faster than a 430 on most tracks and alot, I repeat that, ALOT more fun to drive. It feels much more like a race car and the experience is so much more intense and raw, and the sound...( posted by Jompen)

Striking Visuals:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but an uncanny number of people have commented the CS may be the best looking road going Ferrari of all time. Three polls reveal some striking results;

#1 Poll by Rob Lay: Percentage who said the following “looks best”: 430 (20%), Challenge Stradale (71.4%), about the same (8.6%)
#2 Poll by Vm3: Percentage who said the following were “best looking”: 430 (7.4%), 360 (11.4%), 355 (12.4%), Scuderia (20.6%), Challenge Stradale (48.2%).
#3 Poll by Britblaster: Percentage who said the following is “more beautiful”: Scuderia (33.3%), Challenge Stradale (66.7%).

Performance on Street & Track:

While the horsepower wars march on, the Challenge Stradale retains supercar performance largely due to its relatively high horsepower (425HP) to low weight ratio (2800lbs). As an article put it in, Evo 2009, ‘Ferrari’s engineers made the Stradale feel like a race-car for the road’. And it’s particularly well suited to short tracks with lots of tight turns.

Test data convey;

0-60 times, 4 seconds, as confirmed by Car & Driver, 2006
¼ mile time: 12.1 seconds with Launch Control activated, 12.4 without Launch Control
Lap times by Stig at Top Gear Track: 1.22.3 for CS, 122.9 for 430, and 1.19.7 Scuderia
Lap times at Hockenheim short track: 1.13 for CS, 1.127 for 430, 1.103 for Scuderia,
Ferrari tests at Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track;
-- Ferrari Scuderia, 123.9
-- Ferrari Enzo (2003), 1.24.9
-- Ferrari 599GTB, 126.5
-- Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale 1.26.5
-- Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M, 126.5
-- Ferrari F50, 127.0
-- Ferrari F430, 1.27.0
-- Ferrari F430 Spider, 127.0
-- Ferrari F40 1.29.6
-- Ferrari 360 Modena 1.31.0
-- Ferrari 575M Maranello 1.31.5
-- Ferrari 550 Maranello 1.32.5
-- Ferrari 355, 134.0


Differences Between the CS from the 360, as well as other Ferraris:

Three key features distinguish the Challenge Stradale. First, in the quest to improve performance, the car is about 200 lbs. lighter than the 360 Modena due to weight saving materials, such as carbon fibre, as well as removal of selected creature comforts. Second, the driving experience is rawer, due to less sound insulation, for example in the wheel wells, and stiffer suspension. Third, the Stradale’s unique exhaust system emits a “banshee wail” under wide open throttle that’s truly exhilarating. The CS sounds as close to F1 racing as one might imagine, especially if street-legal hyperflow cats are installed.

In addition, a whole range of specifics differentiate the CS from the 360, including;

Front bumper
Rear bumper
Rear diffuser
Side skirts
Underbody tray (50% lighter than Modena)
Lexan back window with Carbon Fiber grills
Lexan side windows optional outside US
Windshield (purportedly is different than Modena)
Titanium lugs on the wheels
Titanium springs
Carbon Fiber door panels, sills, center console
Carbon Fiber seat shells
Carbon Fiber intake filter boxes
Carbon Fiber mirrors
Carbon Fiber panels (water shields) in engine compartment
Gas lid with polished cavallino
CCM brakes
19" Challenge style wheels
Pirelli Corsa tires
Low back pressure exhaust
Launch Control
Mass air flow sensor
Valve spring positioning
Claimed special engine component selection, machining and polishing
New engine and F1 transmission mapping firmware
Extra 90 kg of down force at 295 km/h with the same Cd
Used to homologate the 360GT race car
Different steering wheel
No carpets, internal sound control, no wheel-well insulation

 

^^^^Scott you are missing my point. He's not buying this car for lap times. I don't think. He's never stated it. He's buying this car as a weekend beauty. The CS doesn't fit that. It's a fantastic collector and a fantastic car to drive. I'm waiting to add one to my stable for the correct price.

If he wants a happy wife or girlfriend she won't ride with him in it. She would rather the Porsche or a 430. It's just not that type of car.

CS owners almost all have other cars they can go places in. The CS is for tracking and fun.

Don't get me wrong. They are awesome. I just don't think it's what he is looking for

 

I agree with Mark that the 997TT may be better for the OP. Because once he drives a CS he will have a hard time going back to a boring "Date" car again.

 

hold the phone Vince. Just cause your dates now include your children as well You don't get to vote. They won't fit in your CS

 

Um, and the problem with her not riding with him is... I hear you. And yes, I have a few other options for dates.

 

You guys are great...this information is so useful.
I do get bored with cars very easily...unless they have something about them that I love. Can anyone tell me what a 2004 360 CS with about 8k miles that is certified pre owned show cost...also what is the reliability and how much in maintenance?
Thanks
D

 

^^^I've been looking for a year. Thought I had a deal last week even :')

8k mile cars are from 165-180k asking right now. Owners haven't softened as much as I'd like yet. If you want one now you'll pay 170k.

Check the cars out well. PPI is mandatory. Also you need to realize 90% or more of them have the $3k belt change + $1-2k 3 year maintenance due next year. With a CS if you have no problems figure 1k approx for yearly fluid changes. Always do them. You really want to find a car with all service history. Most do. I tend to tell people to figure 3-5k a year when owning a newer Ferrari so if it ends up being 1k for fluids only they are happy campers. Ferrari's are a completely different ownership then Porsches. new Porsches are virtually maintenance free. Very solid runners and the $350 oil changes are nothing.

If you buy a Ferrari You'll love the crap out of it. Just drive the thing. The guys sitting on them and not driving them should have their Ferrari keys taken away. For me just Ferrari last year 5k miles on my 430 Coupe and 5k miles on my 430 Spider. Those are two I don't drive as much as the others.

Get in em. Drive em and have some fun. The Maranello Engineers are hoping you will.

 

If you're easily bored with cars like I do than the CS is for you. Forget the "Date/Wife" car. Find one with lower mileage and drive it without reservation about resell value. Higher mileage CS just don't sell well. There 's a local CS still listed for sale after 2 years due to high mileage.
IMO these cars are cheaper to own than any Porsche 911. This is because they are perfect out of the box no need to mod anything. With any Porsche you would've to spend at least $15-20K to get decend exhaust sounds, better suspensions, better wheels etc.,etc...Plus all the headaches dealing with aftermarket shop. You'll loose all that when time comes to sell.
As far as maintenance, the cost is minimal if you only going to keep it for 1 or 2 years. It's only expensive when trying to collect them for your museum. My 2 cents.

 

Vincent you crack me up. Most people don't have the 993's at the MOD shop for two years my friend. 2010 Porsche Turbo he's asking about doesn't need a mod one to be perfect for daily driving. Just because you modded your last toaster when you got it doesn't mean everyone does


Also Vince when are you getting your CS in for the service it required 2 years ago????
This also kills resale on cars.

 

Did you not read that the OP gets bored with car very easily. If so , IMO 997TT will need at the very least exhaust, wheels and supensions to have any soul at all. In contrary, the CS needs nothing to get the hair on your neck stand up.
My car has been service on hands and knees since day one. Thank you Sultan.