Our round-up of flash motors opens with this Ferrari F430 F1 with a difference. It’s a left-hooker, which explains the ‘low’ price. Don’t worry about that, because where are you going to put a Ferrari through its paces in camera-filled Britain? And in any case, would you risk its suspension, tyres and steering at speed on our pockmarked roads?
Thought not. Better to save it for road trips abroad, where you’ll blend in nicely. And when you’re finished, you’ll have all of Europe to offer it to.
On that point, it helps that our find is resale red with a black leather and carbonfibre interior – although we’re concerned that it has ‘service history’ rather than ‘full service history’.
The F430’s rear-mounted 4.3-litre V8 produces 483bhp and uses chains rather than cambelts, which addresses that particular Ferrari bugbear. A steering-mounted dial called a manettino allows the driver to control the electronic differential as well as damper settings, gearshift speeds and throttle response.
From its launch in 2005, the F430 was a well-sorted car, but if we were serious about our particular car, we’d check the exhaust manifold and the engine mounts for cracks. Because it has a dry sump, we’d wait to dip the oil until the engine is piping hot. We’d hope that what service history this car has provides evidence of regular transmission fluid changes, and while we’re on the subject, look for leaks from the hydraulic actuator.
The F430 is heavy on brakes and suspension components, so we’d check those, as we would the windscreen, which is expensive and tricky to replace. And fingers crossed the dashboard leather hasn’t shrunk.
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Are Autocar readers stuck in the 70's?
You forgot to add that it will rust if a single water drop touches it (it's all alloy, so that's not going to happen), it will overheat in traffic (no they don't), the driving position is awful if you don't have long arms and short legs ( I'm 6'2", with a normal arm to leg ratio, and fit in them with no issues whatsoever), You can't get parts for them ( a complete non-issue), it will leak oil faster than you can put it in (no it won't), it will be completely unreliable (no it won't), the electrics won't work (yes they will), and it will be worthless when you try to sell it (tell you what, buy a 430 & a Jag F Type for @ £65k each, keep both for 5 years, and see which car loses the most money-I'll guarantee it's not the Ferrari!)
The car shown is a bargain LHD because someone bought it "cheap" on the Continent, hoping to sell it for a much higher price in the UK - And then discovered no one really wants LHD Ferrari in the UK (Don't believe me? - Check out how many LHD Ferrari's are for sale right now - Some have been for sale for over 2 years!)
In addition, you'll have no idea if the car has ever been in an accident, because HPI doesn't have access to insurance data bases abroad.
LP in Brighton: Do try to catch up with the rest of the World - It's 2020, not 1972!
Love in the Time of Corona
Doctors recommend ultra safe driving. Crashes make contact with cars, but also dangerously with people.Keep well and healthy
Not sure I agree that an R32
First car, a smart roadster? for introducing the driver to the pleasures of an awkward semi automatic, surely a new driver needs to hone their skills with a decent manual gearbox, something the fiesta has always been praised for, get a sporty looking low powered 3 door.