Service time

V8time

Junior Member
Messages
75
Hi all my granturismo is due to be serviced in August but who knows anyway can anyone recommend anyone in essex thanks
 

rivarama

Member
Messages
1,102
He’s coming over my place in 2 weeks to look over the 430 and the 550 as there are a few small niggles that need sorting out.
Looking forward to meeting him. Feedback has been very good so far from what I heard.
 

V8time

Junior Member
Messages
75
I was thinking of av engineering in Kent or Grimaldi but I’ll give him a call near when it’s due
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
When I had my 4200 I had some problems with it, Aldous from AV Engineering was the most helpful chap, gave me a lot of advice and pointers ,if i'd been in kent I'd definitely have used him , I've only ever read good things about him and AV engineering
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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21,013
I was thinking of av engineering in Kent or Grimaldi but I’ll give him a call near when it’s due

Last I heard AV was fully booked. Grimaldi, last I used them, was more interested in longer-term restoration projects, mostly Ferrari. Some of the cars they had in were just wonderful. Two F40s, from memory. Anyway, I had them do a couple of things on my old GTS and they were perfectly good, but I've never used them for servicing.
 

marce

New Member
Messages
9
He’s coming over my place in 2 weeks to look over the 430 and the 550 as there are a few small niggles that need sorting out.
Looking forward to meeting him. Feedback has been very good so far from what I heard.

hi Riv,
I also have a 550, and I'm looking for a v8 ferrari to go with it.
I was thinking of a manual 360, Is your 430 f1 ?
If it is, is the 430 as much of a rewarding drive as the 550 ?

cheers
m
 

rivarama

Member
Messages
1,102
hi Riv,
I also have a 550, and I'm looking for a v8 ferrari to go with it.
I was thinking of a manual 360, Is your 430 f1 ?
If it is, is the 430 as much of a rewarding drive as the 550 ?

cheers
m

Sounds familiar - although I went at it the other way around as I bought the 430 first.

Comparing those 2 cars is like trying to compare a single malt Scotch to a gin and tonic. I absolutely love both but they are completely different.

As you know, the 550 is superb in terms of refined sportiness, pure class which will go as quick as you want but delivers that speed linearly and without so much drama. As you very well know, it’s effortless, incredible capable and so direct and connected for a GT.

The F430 - which I think shouldn’t bought in manual - is more raw fun. Incredibly fast and brutal, the sound is absolutely incredible above 5000RPM, especially if you upgrade the manifolds (a must on this car as I am sure you’ve read).
Its light and agile, so responsive and playful.
The 430 is a relatively cheap to maintain, and given the cost to get into one today, I’d say go for it.
I toyed with the idea of getting a manual 360 when I was looking for my first ferrari, but if you have a manual V12 w the 550 already, I’d skip the 360 manual box and go straight with the faster V8. The 360 although light and fun, lacks a bit of oomph imho.

It might be strange to a lot of people, but after trying a 458 too, I still prefer the rawer experience of the 430, and its single plate clutch - I prefer the brutal gear change at high RPM over the linear double clutch. Anything sub 4sec is quick enough for me.

If you can stretch to a 430 scud, then that’s a diff story, I’d go for that.
 

rivarama

Member
Messages
1,102
Oh and just to add, my hands are always shaking after a spirited drive In the F430 with the windows down and race mode... so I would say it is VERY rewarding.
The 550 is extremely rewarding but in a completely different way as you know full well !
 

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Oh and just to add, my hands are always shaking after a spirited drive In the F430 with the windows down and race mode... so I would say it is VERY rewarding.
The 550 is extremely rewarding but in a completely different way as you know full well !
Hmm, need to stop reading these posts...maybe this should be on the other one about old blokes in cabriolets, tried to buy one of these a year ago but the dealer wasn’t interested with the maser as a trade in...cash deal too...