430 tin top or spyder?
Discussion
steelej said:
Tintop for me, it just looks better 
John.
Definitely agree most tintops do look slightly better than soft tops when the roof is up, but its a different story when the roof is down which should be 100% of the time you drive the car John.
Edited by UH-Matt on Thursday 11th November 21:12
I was thinking more about the drive than the looks.
I recently drove a 996 cab and a 997 cab and couldnt believe how much worse they feel than a tintop. I also live in a place where its over 38 dec C for 70% of the year and so a convertible is all but useless for 7 months as its acutally too hot to have the roof off.
However, if the 430 is still a great drive (in the same way a Carerra GT is becuase it was intended to be a convertible) then I would have no issues..
I recently drove a 996 cab and a 997 cab and couldnt believe how much worse they feel than a tintop. I also live in a place where its over 38 dec C for 70% of the year and so a convertible is all but useless for 7 months as its acutally too hot to have the roof off.
However, if the 430 is still a great drive (in the same way a Carerra GT is becuase it was intended to be a convertible) then I would have no issues..
Just spent the weekend test driving a F430 spider - I have also driven the hard top version - spider all the way I am afraid.
My dad was a die hard Porsche man, but he has just bought an F430 spider and now is looking for a cancelled F458.. which is the only thing stopping me from buying one as I am hoping he will give me a good price on his when he finds one (may be a while though admittedly!!)
Incidentally he paid about £90k for an 08(57 plate)spider (tour de france blue with crema /blue stitching) - a lot of the advertised prices seem a bit strong in my view.
According to Top gear there was absolutely nothing in it unless you are intending to "track" it on a daily basis. For normal day to day driving normal people simply won't notice the difference so its simply down to looks and preference.
Both have pluses and minuses. C pillar is always important cosmetically and titop wins there compared to roof up on a spider but with the roof down there is a different look and sensation to drive. TBH I can't decide either and would toss a coin between them.
If either came up in my ultimate spec I would take them. Believe it or not some other spec items are bigger deal brakers for me.
Agree about 911 turbo cabs though they just don't look right, roof up or down but F430 roof is okay. Personally I didn't like F355 spyder either so its not a ferrari porsche thing, it just has to look right.
Sorry I can't help you anymore but I could always lend you the coin to toss
Both have pluses and minuses. C pillar is always important cosmetically and titop wins there compared to roof up on a spider but with the roof down there is a different look and sensation to drive. TBH I can't decide either and would toss a coin between them.
If either came up in my ultimate spec I would take them. Believe it or not some other spec items are bigger deal brakers for me.
Agree about 911 turbo cabs though they just don't look right, roof up or down but F430 roof is okay. Personally I didn't like F355 spyder either so its not a ferrari porsche thing, it just has to look right.
Sorry I can't help you anymore but I could always lend you the coin to toss
MaxAndRuby said:
gbrownlow said:
For normal day to day driving normal people simply won't notice the difference
It's 70KG heavier. Anyone who can't tell the difference with that extra weight probably doesn't drive their car very hard.I guess you don't take your girlfriend out for a drive then lol
Come on 70 Kg in normal driving conditions is going to make very little difference unless you are trying to be Lewis Hamilton. How much does a full tank of petrol weigh ?
gbrownlow said:
MaxAndRuby said:
gbrownlow said:
For normal day to day driving normal people simply won't notice the difference
It's 70KG heavier. Anyone who can't tell the difference with that extra weight probably doesn't drive their car very hard.I guess you don't take your girlfriend out for a drive then lol
Come on 70 Kg in normal driving conditions is going to make very little difference unless you are trying to be Lewis Hamilton. How much does a full tank of petrol weigh ?
I'm not trying to be Lewis Hamilton, it's not about driver skill. It doesn't take skill to exit a corner, floor the throttle, and hold it to 8500. You'll get to the next bend quicker if you're 70kg lighter. Surely this is what being a performance car enthusiast is all about?
Do you ever use 'Race' mode?
Isn't the main issue for keen drivers structural rigidity? The flex that you get in even the best softtops is too big a negative in a performance car. On the right day (or balmy evening) it's tempting to consider a convertible but for the other 95% of the time, the hardtop is more satisfying IMO.
mhh said:
Isn't the main issue for keen drivers structural rigidity? The flex that you get in even the best softtops is too big a negative in a performance car. On the right day (or balmy evening) it's tempting to consider a convertible but for the other 95% of the time, the hardtop is more satisfying IMO.
IMHO a soft top car can still be set up well which makes it handle sufficiently well for 99% of UK drivers........ And the pleasure gained from a drop top far outweighs any minor structural imperfections IMHO.... I am not sure where you get 95% of the time from but I use the convertible a lot, it doesn't have to be low wind and 25C - I've had the roof down in light snow and rain before, and a cold November night (but that was a f***ng stupid idea!).
Pretty sure one gallan of petrol = 4.5kg's
so your average lady friend at approx 8-9st would need you to be carrying 50-55l less of fuel to be on par with mr lonesome in his fezza.
Not sure what fuel tank takes but cabrio weight penalty = 70l of fuel
not sure what moral of this is other than try to be a jockey in a tin top with hardly any fuel if you want to be sure your fastest round track...simples.
No flaming please - post was just for fun
so your average lady friend at approx 8-9st would need you to be carrying 50-55l less of fuel to be on par with mr lonesome in his fezza.
Not sure what fuel tank takes but cabrio weight penalty = 70l of fuel
not sure what moral of this is other than try to be a jockey in a tin top with hardly any fuel if you want to be sure your fastest round track...simples.
No flaming please - post was just for fun
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