F430 (Manual) - a celebration
Discussion
Anyone following the F-car market right now understands that manual cars of all vintage/model tyre are seeing incredible levels of interest.
Whilst in later models this reflects rarity (less so in the likes of 355), the irony is that they are rare because at the time (think 430/612/599/575) no-one really wanted them.... of course, time and tech moves on - DCT boxes make the older semi-auto seem clunky and slow, and for the buyer that wants the most accessible and the fastest option for their car, the future belongs to them.
But the past belongs to the buyer who wants to feel a more mechanical connection with their car, so the back catalogue of models is where they must look.... and the reward?....The V8's appreciative bark thanking you for a nicely done downshift - the sensation of lightly fondling that cold chrome ball (!) in anticipation of your next shift - and the simple pleasure derived from opening the door and seeing a small piece of iconic and timeless Ferrari design take centre stage in the cabin...
These are the reasons I bought an immaculate 430 manual recently (05/spider/18k miles)... a car that I feel quite celebratory about - in a way that I never have for any of my Porsches.
Some (not very good) pics below... and would love to see others from fellow owners who still have their cars or who have loved and lost...
Whilst in later models this reflects rarity (less so in the likes of 355), the irony is that they are rare because at the time (think 430/612/599/575) no-one really wanted them.... of course, time and tech moves on - DCT boxes make the older semi-auto seem clunky and slow, and for the buyer that wants the most accessible and the fastest option for their car, the future belongs to them.
But the past belongs to the buyer who wants to feel a more mechanical connection with their car, so the back catalogue of models is where they must look.... and the reward?....The V8's appreciative bark thanking you for a nicely done downshift - the sensation of lightly fondling that cold chrome ball (!) in anticipation of your next shift - and the simple pleasure derived from opening the door and seeing a small piece of iconic and timeless Ferrari design take centre stage in the cabin...
These are the reasons I bought an immaculate 430 manual recently (05/spider/18k miles)... a car that I feel quite celebratory about - in a way that I never have for any of my Porsches.
Some (not very good) pics below... and would love to see others from fellow owners who still have their cars or who have loved and lost...
Edited by ZeroH on Wednesday 27th January 15:21
ZeroH said:
mwstewart said:
Just a little bit 
Also, nice to see a Giallo F430. There don't seem to be many around.
Resize done Also, nice to see a Giallo F430. There don't seem to be many around.
Giallo was quite popular on 355s but not sure Ive ever seen one in the flesh on 430... very cool !
However when I bought my 355 (years and years ago) I really wanted Giallo but "ended" up with Red on Black
I'm not sure how many Giallo RHD 430 Spiders with a manual gearbox there are to be honest.
Is there some obscure website I can find out?
Here is my dad's, a 2005 bought on 5k miles in Jan 2012 for 75k, it's now done just over 20k.
It's got a tubi on which sounds lovely, and he recently had the carbon interior fitted to replace the silver. Before he had a 2008 F1 which he disliked the gear change on, I think he'd become too acustomed to the PDK in the 911.
It's got a tubi on which sounds lovely, and he recently had the carbon interior fitted to replace the silver. Before he had a 2008 F1 which he disliked the gear change on, I think he'd become too acustomed to the PDK in the 911.
I think whilst some of us brought up on manuals love them for what they offer the newer generations will see them less appealing in the future so whilst they are "hot" at the moment I can see a time and generation where they wont necessarily be as hot. I don't think the meteoric rise will go on relentlessly so make hay whilst the sun is shinning
RamboLambo said:
I think whilst some of us brought up on manuals love them for what they offer the newer generations will see them less appealing in the future so whilst they are "hot" at the moment I can see a time and generation where they wont necessarily be as hot. I don't think the meteoric rise will go on relentlessly so make hay whilst the sun is shinning
You may have noticed that this isnt a thread about values or investment 
Feel free to start your own thread about why manuals are overhyped and overvalued and I'll be happy to engage you about it there
From France With Love 
How to describe a manual F430 ? In one word : ASTONISHING !!!
The way this car drives is pure Heaven. With the mythic Ferrari gated shifter, you can enjoy that glorious N/A 4.3 V8 which develops almost 500 bhp.
One of the rarest Ferrari of modern era. Between 16 000 and 18 000 F430 have been built. The world-wide rate of manual ones is around 5% (in France it was only 1% !!!)... you can guess how few were built. For sure a rarer car than 360 CS.
Yes, the F430 is the last manual mid-engine Ferrari (with a N/A V8 !) but beyond that, it is the emotion that this car gives you. It is just Magical.
As other people said, those are so rare because back in 2004 when the F430 was launched, its F1 gearbox was a pretty big revolution, a really good gearbox and it was the new technology so most owners ordered their cars with the F1 gearbox, even though they had to pay a premium of £5000 (?). Now, look how much premium someone must pay to get a manual over an F1... in France/Germany/Italy the value of a manual F430 is almost the double of an F1.
Values have really increased a lot over the last year. In the US it is pure madness with most cars advertised at more than $200k. In Europe it is the same, but apart the advertised price, the price at which they really sell is really strong (I know several examples in France but especially in Germany, they don't stay for a long time, they sell very fast).
How to describe a manual F430 ? In one word : ASTONISHING !!!
The way this car drives is pure Heaven. With the mythic Ferrari gated shifter, you can enjoy that glorious N/A 4.3 V8 which develops almost 500 bhp.
One of the rarest Ferrari of modern era. Between 16 000 and 18 000 F430 have been built. The world-wide rate of manual ones is around 5% (in France it was only 1% !!!)... you can guess how few were built. For sure a rarer car than 360 CS.
Yes, the F430 is the last manual mid-engine Ferrari (with a N/A V8 !) but beyond that, it is the emotion that this car gives you. It is just Magical.
As other people said, those are so rare because back in 2004 when the F430 was launched, its F1 gearbox was a pretty big revolution, a really good gearbox and it was the new technology so most owners ordered their cars with the F1 gearbox, even though they had to pay a premium of £5000 (?). Now, look how much premium someone must pay to get a manual over an F1... in France/Germany/Italy the value of a manual F430 is almost the double of an F1.
Values have really increased a lot over the last year. In the US it is pure madness with most cars advertised at more than $200k. In Europe it is the same, but apart the advertised price, the price at which they really sell is really strong (I know several examples in France but especially in Germany, they don't stay for a long time, they sell very fast).
911F said:
I never appreciated how good it sounded until I heard a car with the standard set up, the ability to handle volume with clarity was exceptional!
For contrast though, the B&O in my V10+ Sounds considerably better still!
Perfect spec 430 you had there and indeed I concur that the Bose system really kicks ass.For contrast though, the B&O in my V10+ Sounds considerably better still!
Not quite my Cayenne's Burmester level tho
Edited by ZeroH on Thursday 28th January 00:07
Benjy911 said:
Here is my dad's, a 2005 bought on 5k miles in Jan 2012 for 75k, it's now done just over 20k.
It's got a tubi on which sounds lovely, and he recently had the carbon interior fitted to replace the silver. Before he had a 2008 F1 which he disliked the gear change on, I think he'd become too acustomed to the PDK in the 911.
Your father has fine taste !It's got a tubi on which sounds lovely, and he recently had the carbon interior fitted to replace the silver. Before he had a 2008 F1 which he disliked the gear change on, I think he'd become too acustomed to the PDK in the 911.
Thx for posting pics
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