2011 Ferrari F430 Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

The 2011 Ferrari F430 possesses perfect handling and dynamics so good that it makes all other cars on the road seem flavourless. Not to mention the sonorous V8 soundtrack and glamorous looks.

2011 Ferrari F430 quick specs

Body Style	Coupe
Class	Sports/GT
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	2

2011 Ferrari F430 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

Unlike the previous Ferraris, the F430's styling took the dramatic path, oozing aggression and character from every angle. With little carried over from the previous 360 Modena, the Ferrari F430 features new styling cues along with its muscular stance. From the two distinctive air intakes and spoiler at the front, flared wheel arches, wing mirrors, to multiple exhausts and rear diffuser, all these details add to the sleek body design for aesthetic purposes as well as for optimum aerodynamics.

Handling

Ferrari and pure handling are synonymous. And the 2011 Ferrari F430 is no different. With sharp, full-of-feel steering, the Ferrari F430 corners with extreme precision, holding on with astonishing amounts of grip. Body control is similarly superb, allowing maximum agility. As the first road car fitted with Grand Prix traction aids such as the electronic differential, the 2011 Ferrari F430 allows drivers to have F1-style fun while keeping everything safe. To think that driving a supercar can be as unintimidating as in the Ferrari F430 is another plus. In short, fabulous to drive, on-track or on-road.

Comfort

The new-era supercars are no longer just great to drive yet offer little else comfort-wise. Indeed, the 2011 Ferrari F430's interior carries the same sense of occasion as the exterior. All sorts of adjustments make finding that ideal driving position easy. Coupled with supportive seats and good view out, the cabin is a brilliant place to be in. Ride comfort is surprisingly good, while refinement takes a beating by the loud engine note—something we can get used to. The 2011 Ferrari F430 rumbles at idle, but step on the throttle, and that is when the Italian orchestra starts playing.

Quality + Reliability

The classy cabin showcases beautiful craftsmanship that is in line with the Ferrari performance. Nothing short of first-rate materials are used, with impressive fit-and-finish. An area to improve would be some controls' placement, such as placing the window switches on the doors instead of on the dashboard. Considering the tremendous amount of work in building this car, we have little doubts that the Ferrari F430 will be reliable with the proper maintenance.

Performance

First-class performance from Ferrari's 4.3-litre V8. Capable of 483 bhp at 8500 rpm and 465 Nm at 5250 rpm, of which 80 percent of torque is made available at 3500 rpm. The performance is as electric as the figures suggest: the 2011 Ferrari F430 takes 4.0 seconds flat to complete the century sprint. With maximum power at 8500 rpm rev-limit, the V8 must be worked, hard, to get the best from it. A six-speed F1 paddle-shift gearbox is standard.

Roominess

Having only two seats does little for practicality, but at least the driver and passenger enjoy comfortable amounts of head-, shoulder- and leg-room. The boot, at the front, is small by any standards, but small luggage can be placed in the cabin. Roominess is understandably not the 2011 Ferrari F430's strong suit, and we are perfectly fine with that as long as Ferrari keeps up their excellent work performance-wise.

Running Costs

Whether for the fuel consumption, road tax, insurance, servicing or depreciation, the numbers are large. To maintain peak performance, servicing will be regular and expensive. The desirable Ferrari brand, and the two-to-three-year wait for a new Ferrari F430 will help mitigate depreciation, but mileage and condition will determine the residual value to a large extent. With the sky-high price, a small depreciation still represents a lot of money (for non-Ferrari owners).

Value for Money

Judging the value for so much money in the conventional sense is next to impossible. But there is a reason why buyers have to wait two to three years for a F430, or any Ferrari for that matter. Ferraris are pieces of Italian artwork, constructed with flair and craftsmanship. On the roads, the prancing horse comes alive with such mind-blowing performance that makes every penny worthwhile.

Equipment

Getting a Ferrari means plenty of personalisation—carbon or aluminium dashboard trim, rev-counter background colour, and racing seats are some of the many available options. Only the leather interior, electronic safety aids, and dual front airbags are standard. Why only two airbags for a supercar? Ferrari claims that the F430's strong structure negates the need for side airbags. We sure hope they are right.

Environment

The 2011 Ferrari F430 emits 345 g/km of carbon dioxide, which is a large number like the price and horsepower. Churning out so much power invariably consumes lots of fuel, and emits lots of global-warming gas. And if you constantly drive the car to its potential (near the rev-limit 8500 rpm), the emission level is going to rise.

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2011 Ferrari F430 Review

2011 Ferrari F430 at a glance