Buying F430

Author
Discussion

monet100

Original Poster:

89 posts

138 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
I usually frequent the 911 section but now I am considering buying an F430, and I have to make the decision today whether to pull the trigger or not, so I would like your advice please.

Now I have just sold my 2009 997.2 Carrera S PDK, with a great spec, guards red, the best colour lol, 12 month Porsche warranty still on the car. When I advertise my cars I think that I always realistic price them to sell. This has been on autotrader and still is, for nearly a week, and I have not had a single private inquiry. I have sold to a well known Porsche independent for £39k, and he is collecting it today. I was going to replace it with a 997.2 PDK turbo, but then I realised an f430 was within my grasp.

Makes me think that when I come to sell the F430 people don't want to buy privately so I will have to sell back to the trade at a reduced price.

The car is a really nice example, private sale, FFSH, 2008, 22,000 mls with Ferrari power warranty until May next year.

I would be looking to have it serviced at either GT cars Warrington, or JHM Automotive, Holmes Chapel. Which would you recommend, and would using an independent devalue the car a lot?

The things that concern me are the manifold problem which seems will still be a concern, unless you change to aftermarket ones. Maybe a 3 to 4k outlay after the warranty runs out.

At 22,000 miles there can't be much life left in the clutch so that is a large outlay. Anyone know how much an independent charges? I am waiting for him to let me know what the clutch wear is.

Now my driveway has a slope at the top and I would have to reverse up this each time (see pics). Would this kill the clutch?

Apart from buying a Ferrari for the obvious boyhood dream thing. I am also thinking that I won't lose my shirt on an F430, as long as I keep the miles down etc, which would be great for once, would you say that an F430 is a good place to put your money?

Is the auto mode OK to use or do you really have to use the paddles? Now and again I like to use auto when I am in traffic etc.

Sorry for the long post but it's an important decision to make.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s284/monet100/2...

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s284/monet100/2...

johnnyreggae

3,001 posts

167 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
Others will chime in but drive looks fine just don't dribble to ensure clutch fully engages

Clutch cost will depend if flywheel needs changing but % wear figure is only a hint of how close

Many threads mention & praise both indies and most cars of that age are maintained by specialist

My understanding is that it is an urban myth that auto use affects wear

Check out Voicey's 430 blog for other advice along with the many many other 430 threads here (several have discussed manifolds in the past month alone)

Just do it !

(But get it inspected first)


Edited by johnnyreggae on Thursday 7th August 08:48

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
This is the car, does anyone know it? Looks like there's a white scud in the garage too.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

With regard to servicing, my choice would be GT Autos. However that is only because I don't know JMH (or know anyone who uses them), not because they are bad or anything.

The clutch may have already been changed. My F430 is on 26k and has had a clutch in the past (wear is currently 18%). The PIS is auto adjusting on the F430 so it really is difficult to set these up wrongly (on a slightly related note I will be publishing an article on F1 clutch operation on my blog later today).

That driveway should be fine on the clutch, however to be ultra cautious I would reverse it down the drive. That way you'll be nosing out of the drive which will help you get a clean getaway at the crest. The clutch doesn't fully engage (from standstill) until 1,800 rpm so the less time you spend maneuvering below this speed the better.

You can drive it in Auto mode if you wish but I doubt you will (Auto tends to select a too high a gear for my liking). Once you get used to the paddles they become second nature, even in heavy traffic.


mike01606

531 posts

156 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
voicey said:
With regard to servicing, my choice would be GT Autos. However that is only because I don't know JMH (or know anyone who uses them), not because they are bad or anything.
I'd visit each to have a chat with them before deciding. See who gives you the warmest feeling!
GT cars come recommended by many off here. There is actually a meet on Monday evening at the GT cafe (see NW area to check it's still on). You could speak to John then.
JMH are local to me in Holmes Chapel and run a number of race cars. They carry out servicing for a number of marques but you don't here much about them either way. They will almost certainly be at Silverstone for the racing days supporting a Challenge car or two.

Another option is AE Performance at Knutsford. Adam is a perfectionist and I've never had cause to try anywhere else with mine.

If you're south of these places then Migliore Cars at Bromsgrove are worth a look.

For an inspection try Tim Walker (Walkersport), Adam from AE or John from GT.

I agree with the comments on the drive. It'll not destroy your clutch.

GRBF430F1

4,843 posts

177 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
voicey said:
This is the car, does anyone know it? Looks like there's a white scud in the garage too.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

With regard to servicing, my choice would be GT Autos. However that is only because I don't know JMH (or know anyone who uses them), not because they are bad or anything.

The clutch may have already been changed. My F430 is on 26k and has had a clutch in the past (wear is currently 18%). The PIS is auto adjusting on the F430 so it really is difficult to set these up wrongly (on a slightly related note I will be publishing an article on F1 clutch operation on my blog later today).

That driveway should be fine on the clutch, however to be ultra cautious I would reverse it down the drive. That way you'll be nosing out of the drive which will help you get a clean getaway at the crest. The clutch doesn't fully engage (from standstill) until 1,800 rpm so the less time you spend maneuvering below this speed the better.

You can drive it in Auto mode if you wish but I doubt you will (Auto tends to select a too high a gear for my liking). Once you get used to the paddles they become second nature, even in heavy traffic.
Good spot. Looks like he may have upgraded to Scuderia then for twice the money. Sure that's the HR Owen car that sold for £165k a few weeks ago

martisracing

211 posts

196 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
One small point if you have the Ferrari power warranty you have to have it serviced at a Ferrari main dealer following the correct schedules otherwise it invalidates the warranty.
Running costs will be a lot higher than the Porsche.

gcpeters

988 posts

239 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
that drive will be fine, mine is about the same length and maybe a little steeper, you will want to reverse in, then put in neutral and let the car roll back into the garage.

and on that note, this is the most important how wide is your garage door? I had a single and had to have an electric door fitted as it would only just get through the opening with BOTH mirrors folded in!! with the new garage door and the wood frame removed of the old one I can now get it in without folding the mirrors. Only just though!

with regards to the clutch I bought mine on 20k and it was 50% worn, its now on 22k and its 54% worn, so don't write it off just yet ; )

GP

Mike Brown

585 posts

194 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
That's a nice looking car, but if one has to worry about reversing in etc etc to save on clutch wear what's the point, I have said before that it is absurd that these cars are produced with the equivalent of chocolate clutches.
If that car was manual and had standard seats, I would say that it would be worth every penny, I would certainly buy it, Mike

monet100

Original Poster:

89 posts

138 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
Looks like he's increased the price of it now, from 79,950 to 81,500.

W4NTED

730 posts

221 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
I had a check carried out on this car and it's not all as seems. Tread carefully!

Can't say no more but PM for more details...

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
W4NTED said:
I had a check carried out on this car and it's not all as seems. Tread carefully!

Can't say no more but PM for more details...
You don't take PM's. Can you PM me though PH or drop me a line though my website please? http://aldousvoice.com/contact/

Russell996

494 posts

136 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
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Mike Brown said:
That's a nice looking car, but if one has to worry about reversing in etc etc to save on clutch wear what's the point, I have said before that it is absurd that these cars are produced with the equivalent of chocolate clutches.
There are no issues (reversing or otherwise) causing excessive clutch wear in F1 430's (other than the driver), I've both manual and F1 430's and clutches can and do last equally well.

W4NTED

730 posts

221 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
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You have PM. Any idea why I can't recieve PMs!? Can't figure it out...

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
W4NTED said:
You have PM. Any idea why I can't recieve PMs!? Can't figure it out...
Thanks - I now have quite a bit of info on this car.

Russell996 said:
Mike Brown said:
That's a nice looking car, but if one has to worry about reversing in etc etc to save on clutch wear what's the point, I have said before that it is absurd that these cars are produced with the equivalent of chocolate clutches.
There are no issues (reversing or otherwise) causing excessive clutch wear in F1 430's (other than the driver), I've both manual and F1 430's and clutches can and do last equally well.
Agreed. I would just add that the clutch doesn't fully close until 1,800 rpm when pulling away from a standstill. Slow speed maneuvering below this engine speed will slip the clutch.

red_duke

800 posts

188 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
voicey said:
Can you PM me though PH or drop me a line though my website please? http://aldousvoice.com/contact/
As of 13:20 today your website seems to be down. Have you upset someone?

W4NTED

730 posts

221 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
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Works for me

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
red_duke said:
voicey said:
Can you PM me though PH or drop me a line though my website please? http://aldousvoice.com/contact/
As of 13:20 today your website seems to be down. Have you upset someone?
You probably have Sky broadband. For some reason they have blocked access to wordpress sites. A temp fix is to put an "S" after http in the address bar.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

red_duke

800 posts

188 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
voicey said:
You probably have Sky broadband.
Indeed I do.

voicey said:
For some reason they have blocked access to wordpress sites. A temp fix is to put an "S" after http in the address.
Yes that works initially but I can't be arsed suffixing all the links. This must be pretty annoying for Wordpress site authors!

Edited by red_duke on Saturday 9th August 14:30

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
quotequote all
red_duke said:
Yes that works initially but I can't be arsed suffixing all the links. This must be pretty annoying for Wordpress site authors!
Yeah - sorry 'bout that. Seems to be fixed now - let me know if you continue to get any more issues.

markst

243 posts

172 months

Sunday 10th August 2014
quotequote all
monet100 said:
Looks like he's increased the price of it now, from 79,950 to 81,500.
private seller increasing the price AND there appears to be a story behind the car......I wonder if the dealer refused to take it as part ex

shame really, as it does look really nice....