F430 Spider outside

[SpyderMatt]

I'm seriously toying with one of these. However I don't have a garage. I would use a tonneau/full cover depending on the cleanliness of the car, with CTEK connected as I have outside power Would this be Ok or is it dumb to consider buying one of these and leaving outside ?

[anonymous-user]

A Carcoon is the way to go.

[bordseye]

Mine was watertight but Ferrari resale is all about condition and I cant imagine that a life spent outside in the UK climate will leave the car as shiny and unmarked as is needed for a decent price.

Dont forget, there were much larger numbers of 360/430 made than what preceeded them and so choice is greater and values poorer

[jtremlett]

There are plenty of Ferraris that live outside under covers in London so I can't see it can be an issue. That said, I think quite a lot of those then disappear into storage of one form or another over the winter.

[fluffekins]

Personally, I wouldn't dream of leaving it outside to the elements.

[mwstewart]

These cars are not hardy things. They aren't especially water tight and certainly aren't well-protected (a lot of parts don't even have primer underneath the paint).

I would not want to leave it outside nor in an un-insulated garage. It'll be OK for a few years but end up quite tatty.

[NicoG]

bordseye said:

Mine was watertight but Ferrari resale is all about condition

To think the many hundreds of times I'd read that it was all about (adjusted) mileage was all bullst.....

[footsoldier]

It's a car...

Unless you're planning leaving it uncovered under a seagull flightpath for next 10 years, it will be absolutely fine.

[turboman786]

NicoG said:

To think the many hundreds of times I'd read that it was all about (adjusted) mileage was all bullst.....

Excellent and very real observation

From a HIGH mileage F430 owner !!

[GG33]

I would not even want to keep one in a garage that didn't have a dehumidifier, but hey - it's 'not my monkey - not my circus'..!

Gg33

[Larry5.2]

If you're driving it most days, then garage will have almost no influence. If you're going to use it on the odd weekend, then leaving it outside will have an influence on:

1) corrosion of metal parts due to consistent humidity,
2) perishing of rubber and plastic parts due to uv exposure,
3) oxidation and contamination of paintwork due to uv exposure, impurities in rainwater, insect- and bird-deposits,
4) target for vandalism

But it is only a car...

[Mits]

I had mine outside for a year before I moved house and now have a garage.
Problems were when windy the cover would move around so car had to be spotless every time I put the cover on.
In the winter you would get condensation under the cover making the car damp. Now sits in a dehumidified garage over winter.

[davek_964]

My 360 lives in an un-insulated garage that lets plenty of the outside air in. It's managed to survive that for the past 5.5 years, and has shown no signs of corrosion at all - it's still in excellent condition.

I've never really understood the idea that they will turn into a heap of rusty metal the first time you they get damp.