Driver Review
When driving the F430 Spider, I’d concluded that it was almost perfect. Well I think this car, the Coupe version, might actually be even more almost perfect. I’d said the 430 Spider doesn’t have the smooth lines of the older 355 - well the 430 Coupe fixes that - it is a stunningly good-looking car. Even in grey (yes I know, all Ferraris are meant to be red).
Although it was a dark rainy night when I got to take this car for a bit of exercise, it was fabulous to drive. The driving experience is everything you’d expect from a top-of-the-line Ferrari. Immense torque from the beautifully-tuned V8, a deep roll of thunder climbing to a football-crowd scream as you climb the rev range, and an exquisitely balanced ride from the taut light chassis (no extra strength needed to accommodate a soft-top in this model). This particular specimen was fitted with carbon-fibre race seats and a partial roll cage, adding to the track-ready feel and increasing the excitement of the experience. I could imagine doing thousands of very happy miles in a car like this. Because of the conditions, I didn’t get to try it in anything but default suspension mode - too easy to spin the rear wheels in the rain! - but I can imagine this car will do everything you ask of it, whatever the conditions.
Niggles? Very few - it’s hard to pick holes in a masterpiece … but if you must know: The seats are a little uncomfortable, since the carbon-fibre sides hold you in-place a little bit too tight, and, despite the massively clever technology that engages the correct gears almost instantly as you change up and down gear using the paddles, I still prefer a good old-fashioned gear lever marked 1-6! And the noise, although mightily manly and impressive, means that this car still doesn’t quite sing like the 355.
I asked the question when reviewing the 430 Spider which I’d choose - that or my 355 - and the answer was slightly in favour of the 355. However, with this car, I think the 430 Coupe wins … as long as I can have it in red with a manual gearbox please!
Paul Williams
DRIVER RATINGS: Exterior: 10/10 Interior: 9/10 Cool Factor: 8/10 Driveability: 10/10 Fear Factor: 3/10 TOTAL: 34 (Fear Factor Scores are subtracted)
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Passenger Review
Arrrggghhhh! This is the only noise I made whilst in this car. It is so scary! The accelerating really pushes the limits of how stretchy your face is and even now, 10 minutes after riding in it my cheeks still feel like I’ve been skydiving. But after a while you do feel comfortable in this car so it became less of a monster for me.
The interior is typical Ferrari. Leather and carbon fibre (which due to my shortness kept smashing into the back of my head on acceleration) gives it a stylish but racey feel. The exterior is, in my mind, nicer than the F430 Spider because it has smoother lines due to the hard-top roof.
The noise is simply fantastic. It screams as you climb the revs and then repeats after you’ve changed gear. This then is a very crazy but nice car.
Ryan Williams
PASSENGER RATINGS: Exterior: 10/10 Interior: 10/10 Cool Factor: 10/10 Passenger Experience: 10/10 Fear Factor: 3/10 TOTAL: 37 (Fear Factor Scores are subtracted)
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