2006 Ferrari F430 Spider
By Jeff Voth
Date Posted: 1/16/2006
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Santa Barbara, California-- The brilliant red Ferrari F430 Spider attacked the sharp
right-hand corner in third gear, cresting the leeward side of the Santa Ynez
Mountains at full song. Neck muscles strained in anticipation of the next turn as the
harmonic resonance of pistons and camshafts reverberated off the rock face in
glorious accord.
A light touch of the F1 inspired paddle shifter and fourth gear engaged just prior to
redline. The glass encased V8 engine barked an obedient response, building once
again to a climactic crescendo as I held on for the ride of my life.
A quick left turn was followed by an even faster right and I had just enough time to
check the mirror for any signs of flashing lights as I reached for fifth gear on the
short uphill sprint to the top.
Reaching the summit, I briefly entertained the idea of selecting sixth gear, but all
thoughts were quickly dashed as I pushed hard on the brakes and came to an
immediate, "blood rushing to my brain", stop. It seems even in the mountainous
backroads around Santa Barbara, nothing stops the fun of driving an exotic sports
car faster than a good old California traffic jam.
Driving the F430 Spider, even in self-absorbed California, is unlike anything I had
experienced previously. Young men and women swoon at the sight, while other
drivers give a slight nod of the head or a hardy thumbs-up as it passes.
Front row parking at even the most lavish hotels and restaurants is guaranteed, with
valet's jockeying for the right to drive the F430 Spider, even if it is just for a few
minutes.
At the heart of every Ferrari is the longstanding tradition of domination in Formula
One racing. From Phil Hill to Gilles Villeneuve and most recently the incomparable
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari and winning go hand in hand. What Ferrari learns on
the track is sure to be incorporated into every new car they design and the F430
Spider is no exception.
The 2006 F430 Spider is propelled by a lightweight 90? DOHC V8 engine that
produces a lusty 490 hp.
To engage the engine, the driver is required to press a large "Engine Start" button
located on the left of the steering wheel. Pushing this button produces a smile
inducing 343 lb/ft of torque and an exhaust note to die for. The F430 Spider is
capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in a mere 4.1 seconds and achieves a top
speed rating of 193 mph.
F1 designed paddle shifters eliminate the need for the typical stick and clutch
arrangement found in most high performance sports cars. Mounted behind the
steering wheel on both the left and right sides of the column they provide what is in
my opinion, the best option for manually shifting gears.
A coordinated flip of both paddles places the F430 Spider in neutral. Engaging the
right paddle moves the transmission into 1st gear, with each successive gear
available by a simple flick of the finger.
Downshifts are achieved using the left paddle, while reverse can only be activated by
coming to a complete stop, placing the F430 Spider in neutral and then pressing a
button located on the center floor console.
On the rare occasion when automatic shifting is preferred, the F430 Spider easily
accommodates with an override button.
Ferrari's unique electronic differential, (E-diff) first introduced on the F430 last year,
offers the ultimate in performance and dynamic control with the straightforward twist
of a dial also located on the steering wheel. The cleverly designed "mannetino
system", governs vehicle dynamics through a series of seamless adjustments to
suspension settings, transmission shift speed and the F430 Spider's electronic
stability control system.
The F430 Spider stands a mere 48.3 in tall. Riding on 225/35ZR 19" tires in the front
and 285/35 ZR 19" tires in back, it provides the illusion of being at full speed even
when stopped at a red light.
Airflow around the F430 Spider is carefully channeled by means of superior
aerodynamics on both the upper and lower surfaces. The only downside is the need
to carefully crawl up driveway inclines and speedbumps in order to avoid hearing the
sacrilegious sounds of scraping metal coming from underneath.
Inside, power seats on both sides offer excellent body support and large circular
gauges provide instant feedback regardless of your speed. Climate control settings
are easily adjusted and even the AM/FM/CD player is simple to use, assuming of
course you have the proper security access code.
Dropping the top to let the sun shine in takes a mere 25 seconds. Be prepared,
however, to draw a crowd as the carefully choreographed movements of the canvas
roof reveal a mechanical ballet worthy of charging admission.
Trunk space is minimal at best, but I was amazed to find I could actually place a
medium sized suitcase along with my laptop computer bag completely inside and still
close the lid without incident.
Drool-inducing good looks and snob appeal aside, when all is said and done, the
estimated $217,000 price tag almost seems like a bargain. If my pockets were deep
enough to afford such a car, the magnificent sound of the Ferrari V8 and the
intoxicating sensory overload provided by the celebrity silhouette of the 2006 Ferrari
F430 Spider would be impossible to resist.
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| 2006 FERRARI F430 SPIDER VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Exotic Sports Car |
| Model Options: |
Exotic Sports Car |
| Wheelbase: |
102.4 in |
| Engine Size: |
DOHC V8 |
| Transmission: |
6-speed gearbox manual or F1 |
| Performance: |
490 hp @ 8500 rpm, Torque: 343 lb-ft @ 5250 rpm, Specific output: 114 hp/L |
| Gas Mileage: |
18.1 L/100 km |
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