Ferrari F430 Coupé (05-10) - Review

Although designed and built with performance firmly in mind, the F430 is no stripped out racer – try the more hardcore 430 Scuderia if that's what you're after. Instead there's enough sound insulation to ensure motorway journeys are never a chore. You sit with legs outstretched and there is enough room to accommodate drivers taller and wider than the average, although the optional sports seats might not suit the stouter driver. However, the standard seats are supportive enough, fully adjustable and surprisingly comfortable. Full racing style harnesses are an optional extra but they can make it difficult to reach some controls such as the electric window switches located on the centre console.

Buy a mid-engined supercar and you can expect to need access to something more sensible now and again. There are only two seats and while the boot in the front is a reasonable size for this sort of car, its cube-like shape won't swallow big loads. Longer, slender items can be slotted behind the seats where there's also an oddments cubby and netted pocket. In its favour the F430 is at least reasonably compact for a supercar and although the poor rear visibility makes parking difficult, the view forward is actually very good. Rear parking sensors are an expensive option at more than £700.

In an age of wraparound dashboards and centre consoles, the F430's open layout feels unusual. There's no huge transmission tunnel to separate driver from passenger and the dashboard floats in mid air like that of a 1970's supercar, rather than connecting to the centre of the floor. The perfectly shaped steering wheel is spoiled only by the positioning of the horn buttons within its rim which makes it too easy to blast the horn accidentally. Some of the switchgear is 1990s Fiat parts bin stuff and so not as attractive as the Audi-derived kit in a Gallardo, but everything feels fairly sturdy.