The interior of the F430 stands up well to wear and tear, with only the usual caveat about the driver's seat outer bolster succumbing to scuffing as you get in and out.
There were three seat options from new, covered by the standard offering, Daytona with a different trim pattern and a Carbon Fibre Racing seat. The latter offers more side support and is slightly lighter, as well as being rare and a highly prized optional extra among used buyers. The standard and Daytona seats have either manual or electric adjustment and they could be ordered with heated elements too.
Some cars will have four-point harnesses in place of standard triple-point belts. For track days, these are ideal but can be a hassle to use in more mundane conditions.
An uprated stereo will be fitted from the factory in some cars as this was an option. It comes with a bass box and amplifier, though most owners we've spoken to are not particularly bothered about having this as part of the specification of their car.
Ferrari fitted the Manettino button on the steering wheel with the F430 and it allows the driver to choose from different settings for the suspension, traction control and gearbox response in F1-equipped cars. It's easy to get at when you want to swap between functions. Also on the wheel is the ignition button.
All of the cabin electrics should operate properly in any car that's been cared for. If something doesn't work, it could be the battery has been allowed to drain and the car has not been attached to a trickle charger. The battery is designed to cope with long periods of inactivity, but it has a recommended lifespan of three years, so check how old it is and either ask for a new one as part of the deal or budget to replace it.
PHer's view:
"The windscreen seems very prone to chipping and I'm on the third in seven years. It's more annoying than any great fault of the car."
John Steele
