Convertible 360 manual or convertible F430 F1?

[Kettmark]

As above. Contemplating purchasing a convertible to add to existing 5 car stable. Ferrari would be long term purchase, not looking for a quick flip.
What would you guys recommend?
I have an equal mix of manual and "auto' cars currently. This would be used for high days and holidays.
Thanks in advance.

[HardtopManual]

I think you need to drive good examples of each.

FWIW I think the 360 is the better looking and sounding car and the manual the more rewarding drive.

The 430 is much quicker. Ferrari were really making huge leaps in performance between generations at this time.

[ratrod 2]

Kettmark said:

As above. Contemplating purchasing a convertible to add to existing 5 car stable. Ferrari would be long term purchase, not looking for a quick flip.
What would you guys recommend?
I have an equal mix of manual and "auto' cars currently. This would be used for high days and holidays.
Thanks in advance.

Same dilemma only on a coupe,was very excited about buying a huge spec 360 manual but the seller let me down,

sudden change of heart so he told me,after that particular car all the other 360's looked a bit Plain Jane so ended up buying

a similar spec F430 , In my opinion a much superior car in many ways apart from the exhaust note where the 360 wins hands down,

Why couldn't Ferrari make the 430 sound as good as the Maserati Grand Turismo after all it's the same lump as good as

Edited by ratrod 2 on Sunday 10th September 20:41

[Kettmark]

I've got a Granturismo so know what you mean about the sound! As advised above, I think I need to drive a good example of the 360. I've driven an F430 F1 and did like that.

[Spleen]

ratrod 2 said:

Why couldn't Ferrari make the 460 sound as good as the Maserati Grand Turismo after all it's the same lump as good as

Apparently the MGT is a cross plane crank whereas the F430 is a flat plane. I learnt this the other day! I agree the exhaust note can be an acquired taste but since changing mine to Challenge headers the sound is much better, more presence and not so weedy at idle but a little deeper.

[ZeroH]

Spleen said:

Apparently the MGT is a cross plane crank whereas the F430 is a flat plane. I learnt this the other day! I agree the exhaust note can be an acquired taste but since changing mine to Challenge headers the sound is much better, more presence and not so weedy at idle but a little deeper.

I found that challenge headers don't change the tone of noise at all.... exactly same as stock, just louder !

[Spleen]

ZeroH said:

Spleen said:

Apparently the MGT is a cross plane crank whereas the F430 is a flat plane. I learnt this the other day! I agree the exhaust note can be an acquired taste but since changing mine to Challenge headers the sound is much better, more presence and not so weedy at idle but a little deeper.

I found that challenge headers don't change the tone of noise at all.... exactly same as stock, just louder !

No, I agree that the change is marginal but it does sound a little different at idle. Have a listen, you might have to have a couple of goes:

[Mark_Blanchard]

It's difficult to beat the sound of a 360, especially if it has a Capristo stage 3. The F430 doesn't really come close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moIlIvD2HJY&t=...

Don't know what's going on in this 360 N/GT, but it sounds rather good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjB-4ZnWiZQ

[AmoCS]

with the challenge stradale ecu and exhaust the 360 can sound like this.

https://clubstradale.com/ferrari-challenge-stradal...

A F430 can sound this good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py61rRTNZkw

Edited by AmoCS on Monday 11th September 17:22

[Mark_Blanchard]

AmoCS said:

with the challenge stradale ecu and exhaust the 360 can sound like this.

https://clubstradale.com/ferrari-challenge-stradal...

A F430 can sound this good:

That 360 sound is quite incredible. Thanks for sharing.

The F430 doesn't sound too bad either, slightly more muffled in comparison, but still good.

[AmoCS]

no problem, and if you decat it or put sports cats, will sound like this.

https://clubstradale.com/challenge-stradale-valves...

[WCZ]

the 360 takes a few bits and bobs to make perfect imo, lowering + different wheels + exhaust mods (ideally cs bumpers too)

430 is better to drive imo but 360 still super nice

[Kettmark]

So where would you be putting your money guys?

[Spleen]

Inevitably you have to drive both to help you decide but for me I wanted the most recent one I could afford at the time which was the F430. I also wasn't a fan of the blobby headlights on the 360 and the dials on the inside, I like my big yellow tacho right in front of my face. Superficial stuff I know but they mattered to me.

I seriously doubt you'll be unhappy with either choice really but I would go for the one that sets your pulse racing and for me, it was the F430.

[Kettmark]

A good summary thankyou!

[jwdh1]

We have both of the Spiders you are looking at in manual guise. The 430 is the faster, better car (as it should be!) but one thing I would consider is; these cars are fabulous as manuals. Both cars are fast enough for a lot of fun on road but not so time warping that you can’t enjoy 3 pedals and slotting the gear stick through that double H gate. Sound is also a very personal thing, I like the noise the 430 makes, also like the 360 - roof down, sun shining they both sound lovely! Whatever you buy, after some test drives, you won’t have made a mistake choosing either…

[Plainview23]

The 430 is a fair bit more reliable than the 360 - spend some time on the specialist forums and I think you'll learn same ( yes headers is a weak point on 430 but easily replaced but 360 has more gremlins)

For me that was important and I went for a Scud over a manual 360 - so far faultless

[blueg33]

Plainview23 said:

The 430 is a fair bit more reliable than the 360 - spend some time on the specialist forums and I think you'll learn same ( yes headers is a weak point on 430 but easily replaced but 360 has more gremlins)

For me that was important and I went for a Scud over a manual 360 - so far faultless

Be interesting to understand where the gremlin differences lie as engine aside they are much the same car?

[Mark_Blanchard]

Plainview23 said:

The 430 is a fair bit more reliable than the 360

Really? What issue's did you have? If you are referring to the engine, from what I've heard the 360 engine is a reliable unit. There was the cam variator issue on early cars, but most cars have been sorted long ago.

My 360 has been good as gold.

[AmoCS]

plus point on 430 is its chain driven, so no 3yr cambelt belt changes.