Exactly my thoughts.

If you're buying a car based on how other people are going to react to it, you're buying it for the wrong reasons...

 

if you're only going to drive the car for 2 years and then upgrade again, then maybe i'd go for the r8 first, get my taste of that, then upgrade later to a more recent 430. cuz if you get the 430 now...and upgrade in 2 years...what are you gonna get after???

 

It's a comment about his original post.

 

I'm a fan of Audi.

R8.

Just for the record, Porsche>Ferrari

 

"I'd like to consider Ferrari as a scaled down version of God" - Jeremy Clarkson

 

Let's be honest. There are a lot of Ferrari owners that are using that car to make a statement of some kind.

That statement usually is, "I have a lot of chest hair, a thick and luxurious moustache, and my accent is inscrutable."

 

Not that it matters to me, but if someone plans to drop $200k, even $100k on a car, or even $50k on a car, they usually want the brand to have the panache as well. Regardless of the car, people tend to be more impressed and may feel better about themselves when they say "I just spent $100,000 on a Porsche" vs. "I just spent $100,000 on a Corvette"

 

If I have learned anything from Swoosh, it's that s care about their image. Like others said, if you have an Audi, you could be a poor college student with a 2000 A4. If you have an Italian Stallion on your fob, well...

 

More than you can afford pal.. Ferrari.

 

Agreed

 

The car one drives always says a lot about the person.

 

I voted R8. But honestly, if this is SOLELY a weekend/track car, you'll probably pull more grins from the F430. Its only for 2 years, you can mature by then and get the next Aston Martin, Porsche, etc. Or another Ferrari...

 

f car maintenance is a killer. I don't think you can put as many miles on one unlike the others.

 

I drive a 99 accord with 159k on it and i like it.

 

I drive a nearly 14 years old Acura TL ('99) with 187,000 miles that is in better condition than most 5 year old cars.

 

 

VERY good point....but hopefully 458 prices will drop by that time

I am going to drive the R8 when the weather gets a little better and report back with my findings/decision....

fyi, asking my friends had similar results to the poll here as well. I guess theres something about that prancing horse that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside..

 

Definitely the r8

 

I love the R8... I feel like every time Ferrari comes out with a replacement, the previous model gets a little dated Around here, I see a lot of 458's and when I see a F430 now, it's just kinda meh'

one of the few past Ferrari models that still gets my attention is the Maranello

 

so in a matter of years you went from an acura to an aston. Job well done haha

My choice is ferrari, and also you should know this. If you ever want a new ferrari, unless you've owned one before or you're a high profile celebrity you will basically never get one.
You will be pushed back on a waiting list thats probably years long. So farther down the road when you can even afford new ferrari's, you wont really have the chance of getting one for that reason.

Get the ferrari!!

And those saying about owning an Audi rather than a Ferrari for being "that" guy. You own a super car, you're showing off no matter what the car is. Go big or go home in that case.

 

In two years you will get more for the ferrari than the audi

 

F car.

 

Hey OP, I was in the same predicament 1 year ago. I needed a paddle shifter since I wanted to use the car as a DD and was tired of driving a 6-speed Carrera S in traffic. I ended up getting a 2010 California since I desired a convertible and wanted a more "liveable" daily driving experience. After 1+ year, the Cali has been trouble free. I recently purchased a 2 year bumper to bumper power cube warranty which includes 2 years of annual servicing.

I might add that the costs of annual servicing (I had 2 performed so far) are on par with my Carrera S. My recent 3 year annual service was $546 for the Fcar. The 2 year service was around $1100. My annual porsche services were $800 or so.

I plan on moving to a 458 coupe/spider in the near future. I was offered the #2 slot for a 458 spider but the $325K for a decently equipped spider (CF racing package, CF seats, 20" diamond forged rims, deviated stitching, painted calipers, parking sensors, etc.) was more than I want to spend.

Keep in mind that the only way you're going to get new F-cars without waiting 2-3 years is by establishing a relationship with your local dealership, usually by buying a used Fcar through them. By FNA standards, one can only buy a new Fcar through the nearest dealership. This is why many buy an F430 or Cali to get on the list for a new 458. Others have been encouraged to buy an FF to get allocation for a 458 spider. I was lucky to get offered the spider slot since I bought the Cali from my boy through private sale. Perhaps, the economy of supply and demand is changing? Remember Ferrari is pumping out 7000 new cars a year.

Are you considering manual or paddle? The R-tronic R8 gets a lot of negative reviews, do a search on R8talk. There is a price premium to be paid for a manual R8?

Also, the new R8 is coming out soon so chances are R8 prices will depreciate pretty significantly in the near future.

One good thing about the F430 vs. the 360 is the timing chain vs. belt which is cheaper to replace.

One known issue with the F430 is that headers are prone to fail. MK1 headers are more prone to failures than MK2. Capristo brackets are a must with the stock system so double check to make sure this was performed.

Obviously PPI is a must.

BTW, I have no chest hair, don't wear track suits, and have 2 Rolex although neither are gold (Datejust and Explorer ii).



+1

See above. I can't assume maintenance on the F430 but from what I gather, the modern F-cars are less troublesome.

Scuds aren't good for daily driving. I've been in my boy's Challenge Stradale, a bone jarring experience to put it mildly. Weekend warrior or track beast and I would agree with the Scud.

Pretty much. Cali burns through fuel like it's going out of style but hearing the engine cascades on aggressive upshifts with the Manitteno in Sport is priceless.


Not necessarily true, see above. Also, new Fcars come with a 7 year maintenance plan included which obviously alleviates the fears of new buyers.

You pay for the prancing horse and storied history. My interior looks and smells like a LV handbag. The handcrafted build by Maranello artisans is certainly like few other marquees.

+1

I respectfully disagree. The new R8 is dropping soon and OP will stand to lose significantly in depreciation whereas the F430 has already depreciated with the advent of the 458. Get the F430 with CCB and switch up to 458 in 2 years. By then the 458 Monte Carlo (scuderia version) will have come out.

I disagree. Even an $85K 360 still turns heads, let alone the F430. The fact of the matter is many garage queen are driven so infrequently they still look brand new.

Well said. See above for my experience.

 

Eagerly waiting for this

 

Me too! With the DSG and V-10 it should be impressive at a fraction of the Gallardo's price.

Oh I take it you mean looking forward to the price drop of existing R-8s. I understand the gated manual shifter is sublime. I'm only familiar with the R-tronic.

 

OP, C'mon, are you Italian? If you are, don't be another one of those d'bags in an Audi. Represent pizano.