While we endeavour not to make every single story now about the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, it's interesting to note the similarities between it and a car like this Ferrari 430 Scuderia. Both are unashamedly track focused, with spectacular, high-revving atmospheric engines and race-inspired automatic gearboxes. Both make around 500hp at 8,500rpm or so, reach the best part of 200mph, and provide as thrilling a track day experience as you're likely to find on four wheels. However, it already seems very unlikely that you'll get a GT4 RS for the £185k this 430 Scuderia is for sale at, so let's take a closer look at the Ferrari...
Launched at the Frankfurt show in 2007, the 430 Scuderia (note the 'F' from 'F430' was dropped) picked up where the sensational 360 Challenge Stradale left off. Take one exceptional Ferrari V8 berlinetta, strip away all unnecessary flab, crank up the power, hand paint some stripes over the roof and watch the five-star verdicts come pouring in. Today we expect circuit focused roadgoing Ferraris to emerge, from Assetto Fiorano handling packs with carbon wheels to cars like the 812 Competizione, but fifteen years ago it was a less well established niche. The response to the Scuderia ensured it wasn't going to be the last of its kind.
Power from the 4.3-litre V8 was up just 20hp (remember it only went up 25hp for the Challenge Stradale), from 490hp to 510hp. But weight was reduced by a substantial 100kg, and tweaks to the F1 gearbox slashed gearshift times to 60 milliseconds - Ferrari claimed the Scud was as fast around Fiorano as an Enzo. For road users, the introduction of a 'bumpy road' setting, keeping the dampers supple even if you'd set the manettino to race, was a worthwhile advance. The F430 was very good indeed; the Scuderia made it sensational.
So Ferrari had no trouble shifting a few, even once 2008 hit and with a £172,500 asking price. A decade and a half later, the Scud looks more than a little intriguing. With the Challenge Stradale's status assured, a UK car with mileage comparable to this 430 costs more money. The later 458 Speciale remains a £300k car as the last non-turbo berlinetta - and one of the greatest Ferraris ever. The 430 is never going to be some kind of first Ferrari bargain, though it promises one heck of an experience for the outlay.
This one is especially interesting having actually been used over the years, with 28,000 miles recorded. Nevertheless, it's a Ferrari Approved used car, which will be reassuring when spending this much. Grigio Silverstone with a grey NART stripe is a reserved spec for such a thrilling car, but they may appeal to as many as it'll put off. The interior is gloriously spartan, without carpets or door cards and with little more than the bare basics. A big yellow tacho that reads to 10,000rpm will never fail to excite, either. With track days up and running for 2022, it's hard to think of much better to enjoy them with.
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