Ferrari F430 vs. Ford GT

Speedster25 · 12-16-04, 12:42 AM

A good one. Not much in price differential, the GT is 3.3, the F430 is 3.5s to 60 mph. The top speed 196-200 mph for the F430 and 200-205 mph for the GT. 1.4 mile times 11.7 s for the GT and 11.7s for the F430. Pretty much identical, but the GT has the edge. But the F430 has the best engine ever in my opinion. Even if it has 483bhp compared to 500-550bhp, and 343 ft. lbs. of torque compared to 500 ft. lbs. The F430 is naturally aspirated while the GT is supercharged. And the F430 is smaller in displacement. Both are V8's.

I don't think I can pick either one as the better, in performance.

In looks I definitely take the F430, so much more curvy, yet still aggresive, kind of like the Porsche Carrera GT, another amazing supercar.

bleh · 12-16-04, 04:44 AM

im curious now. since they both do an 11.7 in the quarter do you know the trap speed? the fact that there is a .3s difference in 0-60 shows that either one can launch better or one has eliminated a shift in getting to 60. knowing which traps higher might help understand each cars strongs zones as far as highway pulls go.

zit · 12-16-04, 12:23 PM

the ford is a quick car around a track with a lot of twists the f430 would be quicker but on the straights the gt would have the legs i'm hoping to get a drive in a f430 soon and i will probably never drive a ford gt mainly because of the rarity values , in my opinion i believe the cars from what i have heard both have even performance so it will be like the good old days a epic battle between ferrari and ford be great if ford went into gt racing with the GT and ferrari with the f430

bleh · 12-16-04, 07:08 PM

the gt may not be the top dog in the straights. it seems like it has the advantage in lower level acceleration but the f430 probably has the upper hand in the higher speeds. the trap speeds will show how much of an advantage though

LateNightCable · 12-16-04, 10:22 PM

The F430 lacks the elegant lines of previous V8 Ferrari's like the 308, 355, or 360, but it has proven to be an amazing car, especially for an "entry level" model. The second fastest production Ferrari behind the Enzo, faster to 60 than an F40 or F50. And the trick suspension - adjustable with a knob on the steering wheel is pretty cool. For what it is, the price is not bad, but the Ford GT remains the run away bargain of the two. $170-190,000 vs. $140,000. The GT has the bang for the buck advantage, plus in my eyes it's a lot better looking, which is natural since the GT design is based heavily upon a classic.

According to Car&Driver tests, the GT hits the quarter mile in 11.8 @ 123, and the F430 does the same in 11.7 @ 123. Practically identical! The GT gets better gas mileage 12/21 vs. 11/16 for the 430.

The GT was designed to knock horns with the 360, but it remains very competitive with it's successor, the 430. I say, this one comes down to driver skill, and his ability to exploit each car's greatest strengths. And also personal preference.

The GT is ultimately faster though, with a top speed of 205 mph. That's V12 territory.

Speedster25 · 12-16-04, 11:14 PM

I think the F430 is better looking. And to correct you bleh the GT is .2s quicker. And I like NA cars except the Koenigsegg CCR, which is also one of the fastest. A thing that goes to the F430's credit, is that there will be many more produced than the GT, and will be updated each year. That engine in the F430 is the best engine I've seen, naturally aspirated that is. Even though the rarity part goes to the GT, it means so much more to have that many more cars with that kind of performance. It is quite odd, because Road and Track had the GT doing 3.8s 0-60, which is significantly off 3.3s. But its 3.3s. I still take the F430. Ferrari makes the best engines, naturally aspirated. V-8 with 483 bhp and 343 ft. lbs. of torque and only 4.308 liters, incredible.

wEstSide · 12-17-04, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Ferrari makes the best engines, naturally aspirated. V-8 with 483 bhp and 343 ft. lbs. of torque and only 4.308 liters, incredible.

http://home.mira.net/~iwd/index.html

Those guys at Drysdale are doing something pretty special too.

LateNightCable · 12-17-04, 01:59 AM

Which is better looking is never an absolute, but a matter of personal opinion. And rarity is a bi-product of low production, not a performance trait. But for the record, both the GT and 430 are reletively rare. $100,000+ cars ussually are.

As for Ferrari building the best naturally asperated engines, well considering that they are probably some of the most costly, they should at least be up there.

That V8 bike is pretty cool.

Speedster25 · 12-17-04, 02:27 AM

I agree with the personal opinion. I like cars that are curvy yet still aggressive, like the F430, its beautiful.

bleh · 12-17-04, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedster25

bleh the GT is .2s quicker

my bad. mustve been after a rough day to make such mistake on a mundane detail.

its amazing that the performance figures are so similar. despite the power differences and fi. it is very interesting. i guess if i were to choose one or the other i would have to test drive each back to back a few times.

there is a very very large factor that holds a lot of weight with me though and its pretty easy to guess, knowing what i drive:

reliability. its strange cus i would never consider a ford to be more reliable than anything....