Driving the Ferrari F430.

POSTED BY , 18 May 2007

-Gene Sanchez

Ferrari F430:

Gene's Verdict: ok...so maybe it's not that bad.

The first thing that hit me with this car was the brakes. I felt like I had to learn how to brake all over again. At no point did I stand on the brakes…luckily I didn’t have the need. But I could tell the thing had fantastic brakes even for it’s increased weight. The peddle feel was perfect even through my Doc Martins. Speaking of Doc Martins…don’t wear boots or heavy shoes while driving it. While the brakes and gas were alright I found I kept hitting the dead peddle by accident. That was annoying but I’m sure it’s something I’d adjust to after driving it for a bit or wearing proper shoes.

I’ve got mixed feelings on the interior. I feel there’s just too much going on with it. Of course I’m going to think that as I believe the CS has the best interior ever. I’m up in the air about the stitching…in a friend's old 360 I really liked it. The silver on black was less in your face. In this I don’t know. It may have been because the yellow on black contrast was too great or that there was just more stitching all over the place. I also found the stitching reflecting on the windshield to be a bit annoying as well. I’m sure they could have come up with some kind of antiglare that would avoid that. The windshields are 3 grand as it is…..so is some antiglare asking too much? The steering wheel feel was awesome. When I’m buried in the ground I wish to have my hardened hands wrapped around that steering wheel. The tactile feel of the wheel itself and the sensation of the road was perfect. And while I say it’s perfect, I don’t think it’s any better than that of the 360. The seats were a little big for me which caused me to sit low in the car. The seats themselves are awesome though. Held me in pretty well and the carbon fiber on the back was sick. I detest the grey plastic controls of the climate control. It literally made it look like a child’s toy….like something that was ripped out of a GM car. Other than those things the interior is all around awesome. Everything was clearly thought out well and put together very nicely. Love the big yellow tach in the center. I did find that the outward view through the rear wasn’t as good as the 360 but this is very possibly the result of my sitting so low in the sport seats. I was shocked the thing has Bluetooth built in. While that’s nice and all I just don’t think it’s something that’s meant to be in a Ferrari. Maybe if they kept true to only what was needed the thing wouldn’t be so overweight.

As overweight as it may be it sure doesn’t feel it. The car feels as nimble and tossable as the 360. I did find you didn’t have to be in the right gear at all times as with the 360. It’s got more torque than the Modena for sure but the gearing makes it feel like a lot more torque. The tach didn’t need to be hovering around 6000 rpm to feel like it had any power. There were a few times where I got on it in 4th where I’d usually downshift to third. The thing just powered through…shift up to 5th….let off at around 140. Thing thing doesn’t slow down. It feels as powerful as my car does under 100. But this thing felt like it did 100-140 as fast as it went 60-100. And it did it all with a hint of 550 in that it was almost too refined. Going 140 should be somewhat exciting…it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong…the whole drive put a smile on my face like you wouldn’t believe. But going 140 should be more exciting than going 70..and it wasn’t. While I’m sure most would see that as a good thing..I don’t. The 360 doesn’t scare you at those speeds but it does in some magical Ferrari like way feel more exciting. The throttle is very sensitive. So sensitive that if your foot is not kept in exactly the same position the car feels as if you completely lifted off.

The sound of the car is incredible. From the inside it’s rather quiet till the revs get up there. No problem holding a conversation. If you don’t pay attention you may mistake it for a luxury car for a second. The exhaust is much louder from the outside. Sounds like a mix of the 360 and an Enzo. I’m assuming they used a lot of sound deadening material to make it so quite on the inside which also added to the weight. Maybe that would be fine on the 600 Imola but on the V8 I’d always prefer lighter and louder.