981 Spyder to F430?

981 Spyder to F430?

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Discussion

MannyLon

Original Poster:

1,812 posts

213 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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Considering switching from the 981 Spyder to F430, anyone done this?
Not sure which gearbox to go for.

gotoPzero

18,177 posts

196 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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Test drive both and see which you like. Obviously the F1 is going to be quite a bit cheaper.
They are older cars now and you will feel the difference in refinement between the Porsche and the Ferrari. 2 different cars really.

MannyLon

Original Poster:

1,812 posts

213 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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gotoPzero said:
Test drive both and see which you like. Obviously the F1 is going to be quite a bit cheaper.
They are older cars now and you will feel the difference in refinement between the Porsche and the Ferrari. 2 different cars really.
thanks. Have the Spyder already, but fancy a change. Would look at a manual F430.

MDL111

7,171 posts

184 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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I think I would look at a 360 - from memory a manual one of those was much cheaper than a manual 430. Possibly even cheap enough to keep the Spyder as well for the same money as a 430 manual (or have they dropped from fantasy levels again?)

MannyLon

Original Poster:

1,812 posts

213 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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MDL111 said:
I think I would look at a 360 - from memory a manual one of those was much cheaper than a manual 430. Possibly even cheap enough to keep the Spyder as well for the same money as a 430 manual (or have they dropped from fantasy levels again?)
good points..

Spleen

5,453 posts

128 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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Manual F430s are still into six figures so you'd need a few extra pennies on top of the Spyder. You soon learn to live with the F1 box, it's not as refined as your Doppeluberschadenfreude thingy but it does what it needs to do quite well.

gotoPzero

18,177 posts

196 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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430 F1 £80-£110k
430 Manual £120-140k.

360s are not as sensitive and prices start around 50k for both manual and F1 cars.
I have a feeling the 360 is going to be a bit of an unloved Ferrari the next few years. I dont know why I think they are really nice.
But that makes them a pretty good buy at the moment.

I also think the FF is a good buy. Similar money. California T also in range. Thats a LOT of car for the money.







Spleen

5,453 posts

128 months

Sunday 24th April 2022
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FF is a big car though and the California really doesn't get an awful lot of love. Not sure why really, I mean it's not for me but it's hardly a complete pig. Of the two I think I'd go for the FF but I've read a few tales of some hideous bills so not sure if I'd be brave enough. Mind you, my F430 ownership hasn't been exactly cheap either.

Singh911

957 posts

248 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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I went from a 981 Spyder to an F1 box 430 spider.

The 981 was a lot more useable, the manual gearbox is one of the very best imo, albeit gearing was too long. Had a brilliant road trip around Europe in it. Still miss it.

The 430 - I tried a manual box and It was not worth the premium over the F1 for me. The car was designed around the f1 box. Its clunky at low speeds but I really enjoyed it - you can still heel and toe by blipping the throttle between downshifts etc. A lot of drama, guttural noise. It has that classic Ferrari feel, love the window to the engine cover, its a quick car too. An event to drive for sure. Drove it around the NC500, was brilliant.

I have since moved to a 458 spider. Its brilliant. But there are things I still miss about the 430 and the 981.

With Ferrari, I would buy from a main dealer, my experience has been really good with them, the car prep has been excellent as has the after sales service.

All great cars, you can't go wrong with any of them as long as you go in with your eyes open.

MannyLon

Original Poster:

1,812 posts

213 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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Singh911 said:
I went from a 981 Spyder to an F1 box 430 spider.

The 981 was a lot more useable, the manual gearbox is one of the very best imo, albeit gearing was too long. Had a brilliant road trip around Europe in it. Still miss it.

The 430 - I tried a manual box and It was not worth the premium over the F1 for me. The car was designed around the f1 box. Its clunky at low speeds but I really enjoyed it - you can still heel and toe by blipping the throttle between downshifts etc. A lot of drama, guttural noise. It has that classic Ferrari feel, love the window to the engine cover, its a quick car too. An event to drive for sure. Drove it around the NC500, was brilliant.

I have since moved to a 458 spider. Its brilliant. But there are things I still miss about the 430 and the 981.

With Ferrari, I would buy from a main dealer, my experience has been really good with them, the car prep has been excellent as has the after sales service.

All great cars, you can't go wrong with any of them as long as you go in with your eyes open.
Ahh, thanks.

JayK12

2,354 posts

209 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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A 2005 Red Manual Spider with 44K miles popped up on Autotrader, £89,000.

Bispal

1,713 posts

158 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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I went from a 981 Spyder to an Exige 430CUP. Not quite the same 430 but worth considering depending on what you want to use the car for.



WCZ

10,810 posts

201 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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430 every time, you'll love the power, engine, looks and drama imo vs the 981

Xfe

257 posts

83 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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I went from 718 GT4 to 360 (both manual). The GT4 was "perfect" but ultimately characterless and you really had to push it to get anything back. Positives were very impressive brakes, suspension and grip, and being a Porsche you could daily it with no issue.

The 360 in contrast is full of character at all speeds and makes a great noise unhindered by emissions nonsense or exhaust fakery. The interior is far more special. In gear acceleration feels similar to the GT4 but due to the comparatively ancient suspension and brake technology it wouldn't see which way the GT4 went on road or track.

For me personally I would take the Ferrari every time (and I plan to buy something track-appropriate alongside). The F430 is a bit more modern than the 360 but will still feel far more special than your 981 and quite a bit faster.

Bought mine from a Ferrari specialist and no major issues so far (famous last words).


MannyLon

Original Poster:

1,812 posts

213 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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The manual f430 seem to be commanding a premium, but some don't look cared for. Suppose some sellers are trying to cash in.

jwdh1

270 posts

116 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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Had a Boxster S in 2008 (with the 3.4 engine - no idea what Porsche nomenclature it was!) - was a great, fun car.

Have both a 360 spider and 430 spider in manual form and, as others have said, the Porsche (good as it was) doesn't come close to either.

Prefer the 430 personally, just makes me smile even when pottering about - just wish I got to use it/them more - have literally done 300 miles in both in 4 years :-(

keo

2,243 posts

177 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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Bispal said:
I went from a 981 Spyder to an Exige 430CUP. Not quite the same 430 but worth considering depending on what you want to use the car for.
Similar here I went from a 981 GT4 to a 410 Anniversary. Don’t miss the Porsche at all nice car but boring. It depends on what you want like Bispal says. Good luck what ever you do.

Gibbo205

3,572 posts

214 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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The 360 - 458 are just full of character and life.

The major advantages of the 360 and 430 is the specialist network and pattern parts is vastly better than the 458, as such servicing and consumables are far cheaper on the 360 and 430, mainly because brakes are steel and thus you can pretty much do all the disc and pads on a 360/430 for 2-3k for quality items.

The 458 is still more a dealer only car, Ferrari ceramics and pads will set you anywhere to 10-15k depending on how the dealer likes you, of course there are now some steel options for the 458 such as Tarox and will cost you around 3k all in, but I don't know anyone who has gone the steel route on a 458 road car.

The other option is Surface Transforms and those disc will set you back around 12k but worth every penny, they are far superior to the Brembo factory ceramic disc, pads just use factory or the Pagid RSC1/2 pads.

Back to the drive anyway, driven all three and the 360 to 458 are absolute gems, the 458 is the most useable car out of the bunch, easy to daily and very capable on track once the alignment is dialled in and ideally on surface transform disc.

I am fortunate to have a 458 and Spyder, the 458 is a true event, the Spyder a true joy, everything since the 458 I find has become numb apart from the 812, but the 488, F8 I just found boring to drive, they need to pedalled really fast to be enjoyed but driving 100mph plus on public roads is rather anti-social and too many cameras around, I find the 458 still a lot of fun to drive in the 30-80mph range and the really short gearing of the DCT helps a lot.

The Ferrari's are a sheer joy to drive, a real experience, but a Porsche is always that bit more useable even if less special.