430 F430 Spider owners, any regrets not getting the coupe?

No regrets here

 

I'll concede the coupe looks better than the spider with the top up. Looking at pictures is the only time an inkling of regret crosses my mind as the coupe lines are beautiful. However, I feel the top down lines on the convertible are equally nice and at the end of the day, if it's warm and sunny outside, the convertible experience has no match. I've had convertibles in the past with a removable hardtop and felt like leaving it on the side of the road if the sun came out and I wasn't prepared. Open air motoring on a beautiful day with nice scenery cannot be beat.

Plus it's been proven convertible owners are happier
https://www.media.stellantis.com/uk-en/fiat/press/scientific-proof-drivers-happiest-when-behind-the-wheel-of-a-convertible-new-study-finds

 

I have a 2009 Coupe and love it.

I also love the look of the Spider when the top is in good condition and stretched tight, or in the down position. I’ve seen so many Spiders with the top wrinkled and loose and it looks terrible. I didn’t want to take a chance on that, so I bought a Coupe.


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It can change with the Wind

This!

I have had both Coupe and Open Air Ferrari's a number of times over the last 20 years. I LOVE the look of the Coupe but I always miss the open Air experience in the Ferrari. So far I always end up back with a Spider more often then keeping a Coupe.

No regrets for me, its all part of the experience.

 

The Spider turns up the whole experience to 11 and this chassis rigidity is pretty close to the coupe - famously more so than the 458,488,F8 platform.

For me it was worth spending the extra to get the Spider.

 

My top was improperly maintained when I bought it and I had to replace the canvas and make some repairs which can be expensive depending on where you quote the job. Now one of the cylinders are leaking. However, I can send the cylinders to get rebuilt to a higher standard which should last the lifetime of the car and the top will last a really long time as long as I'm aware of how it suppose to fold/stow and raise. Uneducated owners that allow their top to fold incorrectly will eventually suffer damage and spend more in the long run. Yes, there are a few extra parts there that can/do wear over time and may need to be replaced, but it's like any other part of the car. I've owned convertibles my whole life and there is nothing scary there if you educate yourself on how the mechanism works.

 

I'm looking for a coupe and in doing research I've read the Spiders are more valuable. I find this odd as available spiders out number coupes available by 5 to 1 or better. In my younger days the spider would be a no brainer choice.

 

I have had everything fail on my spider top. Frame damage, all cylinders failed, canvas replaced. I started with having people do it but I ended with doing it all myself.

It’s not hard but it can absolutely get expensive if you just pay somebody to fix it especially when they don’t know what they are doing. I wish I knew three years ago when I bought my car the stuff I know now. It would have saved me so much aggravation.

I love top down motoring but if I did it all over again I’d get a sunroof car.


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Regrets? Far from it, quite the opposite.

IMHO, the only thing that would have stopped me from getting the F430 in a convertible is if it didn't come as one.

My dream car was a Ferrari, 6spd, convertible.

Driving it with the top down far exceeds all my expectations. Top down driving is so unbelievable it doesn't feel real.

I think I'd rather not have one if I couldn't have a convertible. It's just a completely different experience than the coupe (I did drive one). The sky, the engine, the stick and the road. Feels like freedom.

Forgive the gushing, but I genuinely feel like I'm just telling it like it is.

 

Im a coupe guy, but we got a spider, do i regret it, no and yes?

we bought the car together (my dad and i) and my dads main requirement was it had to be a convertable... so in that sense i didnt really have a choice, but my personal preferance would of been a coupe, when i think of Ferrari i think of race cars, and race cars tend to be coupes (except for formula cars) and not spiders, there comes my prefferance for a coupe from.

However, i will admit that i have maybe driven the car with its roof closed a maximum of 2 hours... i always drive it open, and i love the fact you hear the exhaust and engine louder than in a coupe, however i would love to experience the mid engined car with a fixed roof sound wise...ITs great fun on public roads with the roof down, i would have it any other way i think.

So go get that spider, you will enjoy it more on the open roads im guessing!

 

I have the spider - and have had zero issues with it over almost 5 years of ownership.

It has been a blast to drive with the top down. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

I'm a died in the wool coupe guy. I have found that I like the lines of almost any car more with a roof line than without one. Also I'm in Florida and realistically, top down driving is about a 10 days a year event. Too hot, too much of a risk of rain out of nowhere and of course it's all fun until a cable breaks, the cylinders need replaced, or adjustments need to be made.

As for the too hot here: I, for the most part, put my motorcycles away for 9 months out of the year. Road heat, surrounding cars, and the heat of the motorcycle engine at a stop light is just crazy and sucks the enjoyment out of it real fast.

Living in another more northern state may make sense to own a drop top.

 

We specifically look for a Spider. Not even slightly consider a coupe.
The only time I wish it was a coupe is driving in a downpour rain and have water droplets running down the seat belt onto my shoulder. That is like once a year or so. For the other hundreds of drives, nope not a single thought of the coupe.


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I have a 360 Spider, not the 430.
I lusted for a 6 sp (manual) convertible and that's what I bought.

Absolutely no regrets in almost 10 years of ownership

 

I have a coupe and often wish it was a spider just to I can hear the beautiful sound even more!

 

Regrets? I've had a few, but then again, to few to mention, however with the Spider, none at all, not even a consideration for a coupe. A Spider is two cars in one and better looking! The drive, the noise with the roof down and the wind in your hair is driving Nirvana!

 

Come to think of it, I even like the Spider looks over the coupe with the roof up!

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Cant stand the loop of soft top spiders
Sorry
Otherwise id have one

 

The loop ?

 

With the top up and side view its one sexy moma
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Works in way, and like boba says, you get two profiles in one car


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Ok, so I'm stealing this for use at a later time

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Im a coupe guy but love my spiders