Can a car be too fast? Inquiring minds want to know. Local highway patrol types would tell you they certainly can, but those who know the thrill of putting a foot to the metal of an exotic sports car aren’t so sure. The Ferrari F430, which was introduced to the US market in 2005, is the third fastest Ferrari roadster ever, after the Enzo Ferrari supercar and the 599. It tests at zero-to-60 in 3.9 seconds thanks to a feature borrowed from Ferrari’s Formula-1 racing technology (”Launch Control,” which was designed for standing starts at high RPM) but was not available in the US because of liability issues. Car And Driver tested the US version with 483 horsepower with an eye-popping 3.5 seconds. Which should answer the aforementioned question: very possibly, yes. The F430 comes with one of Ferrari’s most aerodynamic and stylish designs. Its predecessor was the Ferrari 360, and it offers trademarked Ferrari styling features, such as the Enzo’s taillights and interior vents, and the large front-end vents from Ferrari’s racing designs of the 1950s. The engine dawns a new day for V-8 Ferraris, rendering the 50-year legacy of the Dino racing engine obsolete in favor of a new 4.3 litre architecture based on a combined Ferrari-Maserati design. The braking system is also new, with heat-resistant ceramics and alloys that make them safer and more cost-effective to maintain. The international auto press has labeled the the F430 as an “absolutely brilliant” car to handle, which if you’ve ever driven a Ferrari roadster should come as no surprise. Like many of its namesake cousins, the F430 is seen on movie and television screens with regularity, most lately with a starring role in the Pixar smash hit, Cars, and a featured role in the Miami Vice movie, among others. If the F430 isn’t quite fast enough, consider the F430 Challenge Stradale. Some sources have already spied the 2008 version of this car on the streets of Maranello. The cars look very similar, but are in fact quite different. The Stradale weighs 220 lbs. less than the F430 and has 30 more “prancing horses” under it’s rear-end hood. Carbon fiber door panels, magnesium wheels, and a power-to-weight ratio of 6 means just one thing, “deep pockets may not be the only thing you need to buy this car. They’re expected to be long gone before their debut..” The F430 will set you back $200,000+ for the coupe and well over the mid $300,000 mark for a Spider. As far as the Stradale, starting at $250,000 but expected to be $20k-$30,000, which means you can park it anywhere you want, usually with the help of salivating valet. Tim Broder, www.autobandits.com/ Tags: Bentely, ferrari, Ferrari F430, Ferrari Modena, Ferrari Spider, luxury sport car, sport cars, used Related PostsPost a comment
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