Ferrari F430 Challenge 

Can you believe this is my first Ferrari model since March of last year?  I know I can't!

As you see, I've become very selective about the Ferraris that I buy, most likely due to previous disappointment in the areas of detail and quality found in older models.  However, with Hot Wheels' Elite line, Ferrari fans like myself are being told not to lose all faith.  To prove this, the F40 was released and it was a major success; a win-win situation where consumers, especially, came home with a smile at the end of the deal.

Sadly, not all Elite Ferraris have lived up to the name.  Some were just 'improved' versions of older molds which still needed updating badly, others were simply okay at best.  However, the SuperAmerica and the 599 GTB were huge improvements over the past releases because of the effort put on the interior and the fact these were new from the ground up.  I, however, ended up not buying them because I wasn't too crazy about the 1:1's to begin with.

It wasn’t long enough until the F430 Challenge would come out, and the big question was, “is it going to be good or not?”  Images from Little Bolide showed a lot of promise but were we just setting ourselves up for total disappointment (like the 288 GTO and Testarossa)?  Luckily, a lot of the US eBay sellers are great photographers, and as soon as they got their F430’s in stock, they started posting spectacular pictures.  Had our prayers finally been answered?  It sure looked like it!  I had to get my copy as soon as possible.
 

Now that it’s here, I have to say it wasn’t the easiest model to unpack.  As a matter of fact, it was a real pain in the neck!  HW decided to use these ultra-thick securing wires on both the front and rear of the car making life a living hell for several minutes.  Thank you, Mattel, for making sure the product arrives safe but please don’t beat us up for it!

With the most painful of processes finalized, it's time get into business.

One of the main reason why this relatively new line of Hot Wheels models are baptized as Elite is because of the added detail that can be found inside the models.  The roll caged F430 Challenge's interior is no exception.  Just open either door and you will find there are no dog-leg hinges, which is a huge improvement over the original F430.  Look a little further and you will be greeted by two of the most welcoming scarlet fabric bucket seats ever made accompanied by beautiful Sabelts.  If safety features looked this good in real life driving, more lives could be saved when accidents occur -- People would actually be motivated to buckle up.

 

 

Right, back to the little car...

The detail found on the dashboard, especially the center console, is nothing short of great.  Photo-etched pieces can be found, especially a nice F430 plaque sitting very handsomely.  A fire extinguisher lies nicely on top of photo-etched floor mats.

Moving onto the engine, HW also did a great job here by accentuating decent details previously obscure.  The business-like trunk can be accessed, as well.  Both front and rear compartments can be opened with the aid of discrete dog-leg hinges.

The multi-spoke rims, aren't the greatest as they feel too plasticky and the paint application is pretty weak, which makes the silver look cheap. While the brake discs rotate independently from the calipers, they remind me of those on the MC RSR as they're way too shiny.  I've been told by Gary (gundam40) they also needed to be darker because the real things are carbon-ceramic.  Wheel nuts should have also painted differently on one side.

Without a doubt, this was the F430's biggest area of weakness in my opinion.

 

Looking at the exterior, HW looks to have captured the appearance of the car quite well.  The lines, curves and stance will make you say this is the modern Ferrari model you've been waiting for! Bellissimo!

It's not perfect, but then again, which affordable diecast model really is?

As for details, I know you will appreciate almost every air intake is meshed, the tow hooks are separate pieces, there are side windows and the most of the livery is tampo-printed.  On the down side, each of the Ferrari insignias on the sides are decals that seem to have been awkwardly applied, the Shell and Sabelt logos are also decals and the locking pins for the hood and trunk, although photo-etched, look like they've been smashed in.  Need I say the headlights and exhaust tips are in serious need of charisma?

 

In the end, it may sound like the long-awaited Elite F430 Challenge wasn't worth the hype but I must say I am still in love with mine.  As a matter of fact, I've had it for well over a week and still refuse to put it back in its box.  To me, it's one of those models you can't wait to get and therefore deserve that kind of special attention.  It's not a bad model at all -- it just seems like for every good thing about it, there's always some kind of small flaw crawling to hunt you, like the fact there should only be one seat instead of the lovely two... 

Whatever the case is, Hot Wheels seems to be slowly improving and hopefully learning from mistakes.  In the mean time, I will continue to be very selective about my Ferrari purchases, but yeah, no regrets so far.

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!