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Rating 
SummaryHighly Recommended. One of the world's best sports cars and a candidate for the title 'best Ferrari ever'.
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ReviewEven with the unarguable talents of the 360 Modena there was no question that Ferrari had to up its game. There was the Lamborghini Gallardo to contend with as well as unexpected opposition from the 200mph Ford GT to even four-door rivals from BMW and Mercedes.
But react it did - with the new F430. Restyled, reshaped and improved in every direction the baby Ferrari is far better than its forebear. Better enough, in fact, to be considered the best sports car on the planet.
It's a fabulous supercar. Find the right piece of road to exploit its abilities and it's got the potential to leave you light-headed. Performance from the new 483bhp 4.3-litre V8 is stupendous serving up power and torque that a 360 owner could only dream about, complete with an ear-splitting soundtrack when you're nudging the 8500rpm red-line The completely reworked chassis and new electronic diff can make the best of it too. Even those new to the supercar experience won't feel daunted by driving it fast and the suspension remains incredibly composed over the harshest of surfaces. This is a Ferrari anyone could drive everyday.It's just as civilised inside the cabin. Once ensconced in the tight-fitting sports seat you're struck by the quality of the fixtures and fittings but also by the comfort and space on offer for both passengers. There is limited luggage accommodation, granted, and some of the switches and controls aren't ideally placed. But it looks and feels the part and in keeping with the six-figure price tag. Something you could say about every aspect of the F430.
Breakdown
Styling  It's hardly a beauty like Ferraris of old. But you can't argue with the drama that the F430 serves up. It looks much more aggressive and purposeful than its 360M predecessor too. |
Handling Pretty fantastic in almost every way. The steering has genuine feel, a rare commodity these days, and it generates massive levels of grip, while all the time demonstrating top-drawer agility. It never ever feels like an edgy mid-engined car. |
Comfort  Like all Ferraris the cabin summons the same sense of occasion as the exterior but it's also surprisingly comfortable. Seats are supportive and you no longer have to put up with a grim driving position in a Ferrari. |
Quality & reliability Two big Ferrari gains in the past few years. From the beautifully crafted interior to fit and finish it shows craftsmanship that reflects the price. |
Performance Absolutely top notch. Unlike, say a Porsche 911 you need to work the F430's V8 hard to really deliver the full arsenal of its intoxicating performance. But once you've got it shrieking it's one of the quickest supercars on the planet. |
Roominess Naturally luggage space is extremely limited but cabin space is commendable. Both occupants have plenty of head and leg space, and crucially, there's enough width for you not to be rubbing shoulders either. |
Running costs  The huge list price is just the start of it. There's a lusty appetite for fuel, insurance will be in four figures for even the cleanest postcodes and servicing is both extremely regular and extremely expensive. |
Value for money The F430 is almost beyond any normal value judgements. After all for most people it could be an alternative to a new speed boat or a work of art. But against its road going peers it is good value and should keep plenty of that price if you look after it. |
Stereo / Sat nav The best sound system, as the cliché goes, is under the bonnet. But the standard stereo is pretty weedy. We'd recommend paying extra for the better system and a CD autochanger but together they cost around £2000. The £1500 satnav option is worth it, too. |
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