The F430 Story

[Lion sleeps tonight]

Very enjoyable drive home Thursday night coming out of London, it was dark and not too much traffic around, wooll, past me goes a lovely grey f430, had a deposit on one of those, first chance to actually see one moving close up. We switch a few lanes and draw closer behind, the sound is fantastic. The road now opens up into motorway and we sit behind at approx 70/80 mph, after a mile he gets the message, rrrrrrrroooaarrr, take off, M button deployed and away we go, hud not switched on so full concentraion on the road. The first thing we notice is how loud the f430 is, ok the M5 sounds fabulous but this Ferrari is something else. Its quad pipes light up, not on overrun but as he accelerates, never seen anything like that before, they don't flame but glow really brightly. Had to slow it down a few times and then re-apply the throttle so I got to see how the M5 compares in acceleration. The 430 was on a 55 plate so very new, but I am pretty sure that he was not running it in. So who thinks we got trashed ?

[4rotor]

Would have been pretty close I would have thought.

[Ashok Arora]

Seen quite a few around town lately. There's a red F430 spider that lives on Connaught Square but I think the coupe is much nicer looking.

[m5floyd]

ok,,,,so,,,,i will pull teeth.....How did it compair when both were getting on it?


m5floyd

[Jayson]

Not even close the 430 is waaaaaaaay faster.

[Gustav]

About even in higher speeds. In lower the F430 was slighlty almost noticebly faster?

Correct?

[duaijiM5]

Originally Posted by Ashok Arora

Seen quite a few around town lately. There's a red F430 spider that lives on Connaught Square but I think the coupe is much nicer looking.

I was Visiting London 12-19 Nov.

I thought I saw it on Saturday 12 Nov at Oxford Str/Portman Str.

When did Ferrari release a spider F430??

[jkrutch]

Too soon to tell since I can't rev the M5 yet, but I think my Gallardo will walk away from the M5 especially at higher speeds...nearly idendtical power (hp/torque) with the Gallardo weighing over 850 lbs less. Simple physics here guys. The Gallardo has a very strong 3rd & 4th gear....(6 speed manual)

Just my .02 worth.

[cavemantrader]

According to Edmunds, the M5 is 4012 lbs. while the Gallardo is 3560. A difference of 452 lbs. I'm not convinced that the Gallardo and M5 will feel that different.

Curious to hear your comments once the M is broken in completely.

[jkrutch]

Edmunds is wrong. I believe that came from C&D originally. Look around and you'll see 3,153 everywhere else, but more importantly the Gallardo owner's manual also states 3,153.

Originally Posted by cavemantrader

According to Edmunds, the M5 is 4012 lbs. while the Gallardo is 3560. A difference of 452 lbs. I'm not convinced that the Gallardo and M5 will feel that different.

Curious to hear your comments once the M is broken in completely.

[abster]

Mr. Floyd,

I had the pleasure of driving an F430 without restrictions a month ago. Let me tell you, my M5 is something special but the F430 was something extra-ordinary!

The cornering, the accleration, the feel were all just incredible. Stability at 150mph was phenomenal!

More questions? I will post a full write-up if you are interested.

Originally Posted by m5floyd

ok,,,,so,,,,i will pull teeth.....How did it compair when both were getting on it?


m5floyd

[m5floyd]

Originally Posted by abster

Mr. Floyd,

I had the pleasure of driving an F430 without restrictions a month ago. Let me tell you, my M5 is something special but the F430 was something extra-ordinary!

The cornering, the accleration, the feel were all just incredible. Stability at 150mph was phenomenal!

More questions? I will post a full write-up if you are interested.

oh, gosh yes,,,I love reading about ALL FAST CARS!

thank you

floyd