[James]

I test drove a manual F430 today...Phenomenal! I wasn't quite prepared for the acceleration that's available. You floor it and it just grows and grows. It was easy to drive though it was my first time in it. The sales man took it for the night the other night and couldn't stop driving it. He got home in the early hours of the morning. It felt so sure footed and was confidence inspiring though I never took it into race mode. Easy to understand why Ferrari are the king of supercars. This has to be the best road car available today. So glad I canceled my order for the Gallardo which a lot of people have sold on. Friend of mine bought one for the south of Ireland, had a breakdown and had to get it transported back to the UK to get fixed, ouch! Warranty package for Lamborghini's is non existant in Ireland north and south. My F430 is for September build and October delivery. I'm thinking F1 metallic black with black interior at the moment which I might break up with stitching. Roll on October

 

[Stradale]

Congratulations James.

 

[Andrew]

James,

Congrats on the new car! I'm also going to get some driving time behind the wheel of an F430 in May and plan to do a full review. I like your color choice too but if you are in a sunny climate I would get a white interior to reduce the heat in the cockpit.

 

[mchferrari]

The F430 is available in manual?
I thought they were all F1.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Manual cars will become available, but they started on F1s only for the first batch. James, why did you choose the F1 over the manual version?

 

[James]

I've been told and I'm sure that once I get used to the F1 gear shift and it becomes second nature it will prove to be vastly superior and quicker than the manual, also it will give me an automatic mode in the low manatino setting if I ever want to cruise (softer suspension in that mode as well).

Any thoughts on what colour and type of stitching would look well on the black interior to break it up a little? The car I test drove had a standard non coloured revometer which looked well. I'm going for the medium racing seats.

Ps I woke up the next day after the test drive with mild whiplash and that wasn't from the braking

 

[Andrew]

I've been told and I'm sure that once I get used to the F1 gear shift and it becomes second nature it will prove to be vastly superior and quicker than the manual, also it will give me an automatic mode in the low manatino setting if I ever want to cruise (softer suspension in that mode as well).

Any thoughts on what colour and type of stitching would look well on the black interior to break it up a little? The car I test drove had a standard non coloured revometer which looked well. I'm going for the medium racing seats.

Ps I woke up the next day after the test drive with mild whiplash and that wasn't from the braking

White or yellow, and I think white would look the best. Very classy white on black.

 

[GOJ7]

I've been told and I'm sure that once I get used to the F1 gear shift and it becomes second nature it will prove to be vastly superior and quicker than the manual, also it will give me an automatic mode in the low manatino setting if I ever want to cruise (softer suspension in that mode as well).

Any thoughts on what colour and type of stitching would look well on the black interior to break it up a little? The car I test drove had a standard non coloured revometer which looked well. I'm going for the medium racing seats.

Ps I woke up the next day after the test drive with mild whiplash and that wasn't from the braking

hey james thats awsome that you have one of these babies on order. a friend of my dads is thinking about getting one, and will let me test drive it when he does. i doubt my CL55 AMG even compares.
i think a nice tan interior with a metallic midnight blue or something would look amazing on a F430

 

[Dr. Bob]

I would choose grey stitching, I think white will become grey anyway after some use, I would only choose yellow if the car is painted yellow, red is too bright. What color is the car going to be?

 

[Andrew]

I would choose grey stitching, I think white will become grey anyway after some use, I would only choose yellow if the car is painted yellow, red is too bright. What color is the car going to be?

Nero

 

[250lm]

take your pick.

Niels

 

[James]

Metallic Black. The racing seats are not height adjustable so I'm going for the standard electric seats now which are very good anyhow. Grey stitching seems the better option in the long run.

 

[James]

Thanks Niels, for some reason that jpeg wouldn't load for me until now...

 

[James]

Am I on my own in thinking that these side SF badges take away from the classiness of the car? I'm considering not having then put on. Not sure if it might affect resale value but they can be put on by the next purchaser at a later stage but the difference being that they're slightly recessed if put on the car at the build stage. Now as for the F430 on the wing mirrors...Hummm :roll:

 

[Dj Dirk]

the F430 is standing standard on the mirrors isn't?
or can you choose to leave it off?

 

[Andrew]

I would go with the F430 on the mirrors, I think it will help on the resale.

 

[James]

F430 on wing mirrors is standard and doesn't really bother me, no option to leave it off anyhow

 

[AHG]

I believe it is stamped on the driver's side only.
It depends whether your car is LHD or RHD.

 

[mchferrari]

I believe it is stamped on the driver's side only.
It depends whether your car is LHD or RHD.

So then if it really is an issue you could find someone who has an F430 with opposite side drive than yours (LHD if yours is a RHD or vice versa...) and do a swap. He'll have it on both mirrors but you won't have it on either.

 

[308ROB]

Look on this mirrors, this was made original by the factory.308ROB