Talk f430s to me....

[petrolpat]

Durzel said:

Could you send to me too please, got an itch I think I need to scratch.

You have mail

[mwstewart]

And me please, if you'd be so kind

[AMDB9]

petrolpat said:

As per lukeylikey plus...Had mine 2 years and love it to bits, so much so am thinking of going mad and getting a scud. Every relevant good or bad problem / detail / drive / petrol purchase etc etc in the last year I have logged so can PM you for a true year in the life experience of a F430 F1, if your interested !

Me too please

[RRLover]

I've been looking at one as well, have called about a couple but they are mostly sold or dont exist. Looking for something around the 85k mark thats not been abused.

[PhilboSE]

RRLover said:

I've been looking at one as well, have called about a couple but they are mostly sold or dont exist. Looking for something around the 85k mark thats not been abused.

I didn't have a budget in mind when looking for mine; the one I bought was actually quite a lot less than I thought I might pay, but I bought on colour & condition rather than specific year/price/mileage.

Just look at all the ones that fit your preferences, and buy the one that comes closest within budget. You may find an early but otherwise immaculate model that's better than a gazillion-owner 2010 model.

[TISPKJ]

TFC in Maidstone have a fair selection of flavours in stock currently.

[chillo]

Get one with race seats if you can! They really make the car!
I looked at quite a few since the beginning of the year and went from a nice to have option to a must have option after I had seen them.
I bought an 06 car which is in sooo much better condition than similar priced 08 cars! Patience and persistence will pay off.

[SussexCaz]

I've almost given up as so few come up privately - and 65 to 70k should get me a lovely red 430 manual spider

[TISPKJ]

Why the need for private sale ? Just bid them off at the dealers.

[GETINO]

hi all, i have just bought F430 red with cream race seats,first Ferrari fantastic engine note. i would like to get a battery conditioner for it as my prevoius porsche one doesnt work pluging into socket by ash try. any recomendation?
please.

[voicey]

GETINO said:

hi all, i have just bought F430 red with cream race seats,first Ferrari fantastic engine note. i would like to get a battery conditioner for it as my prevoius porsche one doesnt work pluging into socket by ash try. any recomendation?
please.

Top lurking - 3 posts in 100 months!

Any of the offering from Optimate or Accumate would be my recommendation. There is always CTek as well but I've not had any direct experience with their products.

My F430 is hooked up to an Optimate 4 and is no bother at all.

[Akajak]

GETINO said:

hi all, i have just bought F430 red with cream race seats,first Ferrari fantastic engine note. i would like to get a battery conditioner for it as my prevoius porsche one doesnt work pluging into socket by ash try. any recomendation?
please.

just check the obvious; front luggage compartment brown leather case with electronic battery charger
worth a look

[DavidCBevan]

I bought mine last year, privately from a friend of a friend. No regrets. F430 F1 Spider. Black with Sabia. 18k miles. 2005 (55) - cheap road tax!
Unbelievable car, had a Boxster 3.2S 2006 (06) before, very different experience.
Yes they're reliable, no I don't believe there's much more depreciating to be done. An experience you will not regret!

DO IT!!!

turboman786 said:

I've been dreaming a little lately and see that F430s are around £65k now which is an interesting prospect

In true Ph style would those in the know give a little overview of these cars and the ownership experience please

My main query is, are these cars fragile or are they reliable enough to enjoy regular driving?

Is the depreciation curve pretty flat on these now or will it lose significantly if I sold after say one year ?

[GETINO]

voicey said:

Top lurking - 3 posts in 100 months!

Any of the offering from Optimate or Accumate would be my recommendation. There is always CTek as well but I've not had any direct experience with their products.

My F430 is hooked up to an Optimate 4 and is no bother at all.

thanks for your advice Voicey, had a look at your web site very informative, sorry I am not great at posting/using stuff on forums, more of a reader.

[JPOnstwedder]

Sorry to spoil the Ferrari fan party, BUT - I bought an F430 coupe with the F1 gearbox last year from a main dealer. Car had 20k miles, still '70%' clutch life left, and came with an 18 month Ferrari warranty. Fast forward 10 months and 4,000 miles and a full clutch replacement and 'routine' annual service for a bill of, ouch, £6,500. Which was not covered by the warranty as it was deemed normal wear and tear.

Oh, and 1,500 miles later the clutch slips and the gearbox software freaks out (no more blipping on downshifts, hunting for a gear) after 20 minutes of driving up the Col du Aspin (of Tour de France fame) - a gentle mountain road with an average gradient of less than 5%. Second gear corners and third gear straights with half throttle and shifting at 6,000 rpm was too much for the poor thing.

I love driving the car and I will keep it, but mine has been much more fragile than other people's despite buying from a main dealer with FSH etc. So roll the dice but don't think it's a Porsche.

[X7LDA]

JPOnstwedder said:

...but don't think it's a Porsche.

Which from my personal experience are horrifically unreliable. Voted one of the worst actually in a recent Autocar poll IIRC.

Everyone has good and bad experiences and sometimes it just luck.

[JPOnstwedder]

It may just be luck, but...Ferrari consider a 25k mi life 'normal wear and tear' but they don't say that in their sales literature, owner's manual, or when you talk to their dealers. They can't have it both ways. Either be honest about what you should expect, or cover the costs under warranty.