I drove the F430
 

Hey guys.

As usual, I've been prettey busy for the las couple of weeks...

Last tuesday, on Valentine's day, I went to Maranello.
Took us about 4 hours to get there and we were suppost to get 2 cars for the day. The F430 spider and the 612. And Italians being italians, they messed up and didn't prepare the cars.

They appologised and said if we could move the date. And then they gave us a nice yellow F430 for the whole day. :lol:

I guess the whole trip wasn't a waste.

Ok, to the car. It's simply unbelivable. Untill I sat myself behind the wheel of the F430, I thought it would not be as easy to drive as let's say the Carrera. But boy was I wrong.

I felt like one with the car in less that 5 minutes behing the wheel. Everything is just perfect. The racing seats hugy you like your grandmother used to. The steering wheel fits superbley in the hand and then you push the little red button.

Chills down the spine are instant. Every hair on your body stands up. Your heart starts to beat faster and harder in anticipation. Push the right paddle into first and you're off.

The car gentley moves forward. The noise is rough yet subtle.....in a Ferrari kinda way. I put into second. The revs start to build up as does my heart rate.

And when I get past 3000 rpm the sound changes instantly. The growling becomes much louder. I floor it. When the car hits 5000 rpm the kick to the neck is just brutal. The engine noise goes trough me as I was made from nothing else but thin sheet of paper. It keeps on pulling and pulling untill I shift to 3rd gear at 8500 rpm. And then the whole thing repeats itself. It's like reaching an orgasm with every gear.

The speedo dial is raising fast and before I know it I'm looking at the number 220 on a narrow road just a few klicks away from Maranello. The city is sorounded with small hills which are blessed with one of the best twist roads I have ever seen. The surface is good. The tires grip well and so do the brakes. Not the "normal" ones on this Ferrari.

2nd and 3rd gear corners are coming and going and I'm only getting more excited with each of the passing by. After a few minutes of getting to know the car I start to push harder. After the first few minutes I brake early every time. I just refused to belive how good the brakes were. One of the guys trying to take a few shots is trying to convince me to drive behind the the car he is in for a while. I just smile and floor it. There will be time for taking pics later.

It's just me and the yellow beast. And it's february 14th. The Valentines day. This must be destiny. This is love at first sight.

As I sweep trough a series of lefr and right handers I start to focus on the brilliantly focused steering and the overflow of information I get trough the steering wheel. I feel every hole and every iregularity on the ground. The feed back is really something else. And the best part is that in spite of all this feel, the car still doesn't feel uncomfortable. Even thought I feel every little stone on the ground, I don't feel like my spine is going to crush.

A look back to the engine bay only makes me want to go faster and faster. The beast trapped in the rear is more than willing to oblige my every wish.

The car is sensational. The looks gorgeous. I didn't think for a second that the bright yellow is too much. It's just perfect.

And you know what the funny thing is. The damn people of Maranello don't blink twice when you drive by. It's like another world there.

I spotted 11 430's in a matter of hours. All taped up on their first ride. And I saw and heard the new 599 GTB. Also yellow. Much deeper sound.

It was a day to remember.

Enjoy the pics




The Ferrari store is located on the other side of the road from the factory.

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9659/img23371mf.th.jpg



the car

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7...23494zg.th.jpg http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4...23566ir.th.jpg http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9...23587cg.th.jpg http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5...23598yk.th.jpg


http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/3...23652pe.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2...23720cj.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7...23731tf.th.jpg http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/8...23809mo.th.jpg


http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3...23856lc.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2...23869ek.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5...24067ia.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3...24152ro.th.jpg


one of the the new ones

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6...24257zz.th.jpg http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3...24281jf.th.jpg



http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6...24326qn.th.jpg http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/5...24337jy.th.jpg http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1...24348tj.th.jpg http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1...24353iu.th.jpg



http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6...24382hn.th.jpg http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6/img24401ez.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1...24431xt.th.jpg http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9536/img24485rm.th.jpg



http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/7...24495zt.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6...24501ud.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3...24552oy.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5...24643tf.th.jpg



http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/4...24735qw.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/4...e0047uj.th.jpg http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7...e0087mo.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1...e0114iy.th.jpg



http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8...e0123mx.th.jpg http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7...e0166cn.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9...e0220uw.th.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9...e0265dy.th.jpg




http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8...e0278vc.th.jpg http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9...e0361vt.th.jpg http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/7...e0399tr.th.jpg http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3...e0428wy.th.jpg





http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7...e0441oa.th.jpg http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/9...e0490du.th.jpg http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/4...e0535ty.th.jpg http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/2...e0570gu.th.jpg



http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/7...e0640uc.th.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4...e0681kq.th.jpg http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/1...e0838hf.th.jpg http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/9...e0865jj.th.jpg





http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/4...e0940om.th.jpg http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/3...e0985xv.th.jpg http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/5...e1006ex.th.jpg http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8...e1282mq.th.jpg



http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/2...e1326hb.th.jpg http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8...e1346vn.th.jpg

fooling around, lol

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5...e1358fi.th.jpg http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/7...e1363wy.th.jpg http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/4...e1505wu.th.jpg http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/4...e1523ts.th.jpg




another one

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/1...e1810ay.th.jpg



http://img419.imageshack.us/img419/5...e1820hx.th.jpg http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/4...e1839hc.th.jpg



http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/1...e1853bh.th.jpg http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/6...e1868zj.th.jpg


http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/3...e1905vs.th.jpg http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/6...e1911nz.th.jpg http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/3...e2133nw.th.jpg http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/318...e2179vx.th.jpg



http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/3...e2198ch.th.jpg http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/7...e2202qj.th.jpg http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3...e2225ru.th.jpg http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2...e2245pn.th.jpg




A few detailed shots


http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/7...e0057ko.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/4...e0187ud.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/8...23509an.th.jpg http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9...e0219ko.th.jpg



http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1...e1663mu.th.jpg http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5...e1675ux.th.jpg http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8...e1682fa.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/8...e1707vl.th.jpg



http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/2...e1710cz.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/8...e1725jh.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/3...e1733nv.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/4...e1748qz.th.jpg


http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7...e1792yd.th.jpg http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/1...e1948fk.th.jpg http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/3...e1955cw.th.jpg http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/9...e1986xh.th.jpg


http://img350.imageshack.us/img350/8...e1996mh.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/1...e2027ki.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/3...e2054fb.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/2...e2065cc.th.jpg


http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/1...e2085sd.th.jpg http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/2...e2096vp.th.jpg

Very cool! Congratulations :)

I absolutely love the looks of the 360 and 430. The most beautiful Ferrari's in my opinion, and probably the most beautiful cars ever *thumbsup*

If my 360 doesn't become a reality in the next 12-18 months, perhaps I'll wait off for a second hand 430. Should be down to the same prices as the 360 24 months from now :D

lucky bastard !!

nice report komo, nice valentine's day, did you miss having any girls ??? i guess not !!!

You lucky SOB :D

Very nice pics as always too. Looks excellent in yellow. Too bad you didn't film it..

who said I didn't :twisted:

nice pics and write up

how did u manage to get a test drive of the car for the whole day?

Amazing pictures! Thanks man.

called up Ferrari, presented them with our mag and mentioned that the mag was there 3 years ago to test the 575....

nothing special I guess. :wink:

Awesome write up and pics!!!!!!! thanks

The pics ate just mindblownig, espedially the one in your sig :P

I like the "story" and the review of the CAR 8)

And for me this pics, is the best one from the moving ones, hehe
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/2...e0570gu.th.jpg

thanks 8)

Yeah, most people seem to forget that it's not all that difficult to go up to a dealer and ask for a test drive.

Granted, it's harder in some countries, and it helps if you come at the spot in a decent car, but still. Never hurts to ask. It's what I did and landed several hours behind the wheel of a 360 and 550.

Where do you work and do they have any vacancies? :twisted: :lol:

Congrats mate, it's a nice experience :D And it's kind of you to share it with us with all the details that are often missing in magazines :wink:

Yours one damn lucky guy!And a great read as well as superb photos! :fadein:

maaan lucky you... thx, great story, some incredible pics :D
at first i didnt really like this car's looks, but they're starting to grow on me now :) i'll probably faint if i see one for real :wink:

I'm a Systems Engineer/Enterprise Administrator for a joint venture company owned by Nestle and L'Oreal. One of only two people with the priviledges to modify the schema directory via LDAP.

Most companies even with hundreds of thousands of users only have a handful of people with this title, which kinda answers your second question. Sorry :(

in some countries you have to be 23 old :cry: ...for a honda...my schoolmate tried to get a test drive.

:shock:

You're such a lucky bastard!!!! 8)

Great write-up. It's nowhere near experiencing it, but right now second hand experience is all I have.

:shock: :o holy moly!... Komotar did it again! :twisted: Man this had to ba a brightest day of your life, would be mine for sure :P Thank you as Yann said for sharing with us with all those little details and feelings that are missing in mags :wink: Awsome set of pics too, in-the-city ones are gorgeous :drool:

This experience must have been unbelievable! Just reading your story gives me chills down my spine :D Thanks for the pictures komotar!

As for the test drives, Shinri_Shiogami is totally right. I've driven a E55, 645ci, Boxster S, Cayenne S, etc etc all just for showing up in my families S500. Keep in mind I was only 18 at the time. :twisted:

And I hope your goal of purchasing a F430 or 360 within the next year or two occurs Shinri!

Awesome! Usually when our memebers report a test drive there are few or no pictures (myself most definitely included in that)...but wow! You have a ton of really great pics! 8) Great write-up too. :D

Thanks for the picture overload Cyril :!: MUCH MUCH appreciated :!: I am happy it was yellow! Better than red to spot the car's lines! And well I already told you backchannel! You are lucky, I envy you badly but you deserve it and it's very nice from you to take the time to show us the pics :!:

:shock:

Nice review !! :D

I was waiting for this eagerly ever since your PM last week, and I'm not disappointed! :D

As I said I thought me getting a ride in an F430 was great, but you've well and truly outdone me - congrats mate.

The pictures are superb, so nice to see the F430 in its natural habitat (home country)....and although yellow isn't my fav colour its still cool. :D

Keep up the good work, can't wait for what awaits you.

Excellent.. Your work with the Maser/Slk vid was brilliant.

And once again you are one lucky...

Thx for the comments.

and @ ghostbat :

I'll probably have the vid up sometime soon, but I can't promise anything because I'm very busy all the time. So we'll see :D

No rush man. Propably worth waiting for..

I'm jealous. :cry:

wow! i cant imajine th thrill that musthave been! i envy u!!
great report, very professional, and the pics... well the same! awsome!
and i agree this car looks great in yellow! and the detail pics are great!
thanks!
and ur soo lucky! :P

wow, what a day! great pics, thx for sharing komotar

sheit, Id love to test drive that... and go ti Italy.

what a trip you lucky sod!!!!!

Nice!!!! Thanks for sharing

great article and really nice pics

Wow, what an experience you got there Cyril, driving this beautiful yellow F430. You are really lucky my friend and benefit from your cool situation of car journalist to the maximun. :wink:

Thanks for the report and pictures mate. :D

thx againg to everebody for the good comments :)

Makes all the uploading to imageshack when I really have no time at all, really worth it :wink:

Finally I had time to read your experiencies and save several pictures!

Congrats to the drive :shock: and thanks for the detailed description of your drive! Must be amazing to sit behind this car.
As you said, the 430 looks great in that color, the strong contrast to the black airintake is cool.

The pictures are great too, I like the ones where the car stand infront of the old italien houses and there are now people in the picture :good:
Where they all sleeping :wink:


Thanks for the report!

thx man....

Don't know about the people, but the small towns seemed really empty and sleepy...thank god :P

Amazing piece of machinery!! :D

Lol, I think could turn up in an f40 LM or an FXX and they still wouldn't care. :lol:

I feel bad I found out about this topic just now. I sadly couldn't visit JW during the week. Cyril, you lucky SOB :P I envy you, but you really deserve it considering the effort and time you put into your job.

Thanks a lot for the write up and the 50 megs of pics. The pics are stunning and I really loved the detailed shots, especially the one of the rev counter and oil cap. I hope you'll find some time to upload the vid. I'll be waiting for it ;)

I'll do my best with the vid 8)

how many megs is it? i *might* be able to help

well, I have all the stuff on a DVD right now, and it's huuuuge.

4 gig's and something....

So, I guess you won't be able to help me :wink:

I think I'll be seing the guy who will do this sometime next week...

^^^^^^
just rip the dvd to an AVI file with something like Autogk
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/g...2.exe?download
or
http://www.autogk.me.uk/modules.php?name=Downloads

auto GK is idiot proof, so dont worry ;)

then with a reasonable file size (600-700mb) i can host it for you :) i'm quite interested.

I for one would be willing to pay for the DVD-version and not an Avi-file..

ahhhhhhh komotar i havnt been up to date! you lucky bastard! oh how i envy you! i can only imagine what it must be like to be playing with that car in the hills above Maranello. thank you for the detailed pics tho