Which would you pick and why?
Have both. Enjoying driving them back to back. Here is my 2 cents. Driving experience wise. When I first pick up the 296, I think the car is superior in many aspects. Smoother, faster, better response, easier to tame. But more I drive both car, more I realize there is a confident/connection I have with the Pista I’m yet to find in the 296. Look wise. 296 is gorgeous. But I think Pista (one of) the most beautiful car in the world. What would I wish I knew before I bought them. 296, potential battery/hybrid headaches. Pista, engine start/stop can’t be deactivated by oneself. The exhaust valve is tricky, also the car very loud when cruising 130km/h plus on highway. My suggestion, drive both first then make decision. Also there is no wrong answer here but if I have to sum it up short term go with 296, long term go with Pista. Cheers L Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Image Unavailable, Please Login Took a pic last time out. Cheers L Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Pony expressed my thoughts - if you’re looking for an occasional drive and collectibility, then Pista. It seems like everyone I know with Pistas either rarely drive them, or sell them. I agree it’s one of the best looking cars, period. If you want something to jump in and drive more and put some miles on, then 296. It’s obviously not a limited car, so production numbers will be high and they’re not likely to be museum pieces. I wish I could drive on those twisty, tree lined North Carolina roads!
Same answer as in the 458/488/F8 forum : 296 - because in terms of performance, the 296 is light years ahead of the Pista. And if performance is not what matters, there are (to me) proposals that are more compelling than a Pista.
I also agree with @Ponis458, I like his point about considering your time frame. For most people, most of the time, the 296 is a better choice in terms of to drive and to experience. The Pista is literally more of the track experience. The exhaust is louder, I think the 296 sounds better comparing the two cars in stock form. In the Pista, the lack of sound deadening is a feature, not a bug, as they say. But, will all the pings from little pebbles hitting the body as they come off the tires annoy you and/or your passenger? The 296 is just more friendly to drive most of the time. And the Pista exhaust is really not very good sounding. But, with a little tweaking, the Pista is a more involving car and a more trustworthy partner with whom to really push - if that is what you are going to do. It’s also the last of a certain kind of car from Ferrari. Not sure if that matters to you. Residual value, I think the Pista will hold better, but I also think the market is still figuring out the hybrid Ferraris and I think we will see residual values find a bottom at some point and then stabilize and perhaps even tick up. It is a new era, and there seem to be some teething problems, but those will get sorted out. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat
Cross-post from the 458/488/F8 forum ________________________________________________ I sort of had to make this decision a month ago. Currently own Pista. Had an allocation come my way for the 296. Passed on the 296, and kept the Pista. I'm not going to say which car is better, or worse. This is all so subjective. From design, style, looks, performance, design, etc. No right answer. One has to decide for themselves. I know what my answer was, and is. Good luck in your decision, OP.
I have both and I take Pista over 296 for one main reason, It's not Hybrid. It also has that raw feel which 296 does not have.
in terms of ordering a new 296 vs a pista then the pista every time as there's so much value in not taking that huge inital hit of depreciation used vs used is a difficult choice though!
As an investment for the new Ferrari customer target, the over hyped wannabe exclusive track car that is the Pista, is the obvious choice. On the other hand, a used 296 is almost a bargain in terms of value for money (for people interested in driving, a vanishing species among Ferrari buyers), but it will continue to depreciate - the real 296 bargain will be available one year from now.
Having both as well, I'd say you'll likely drive the Pista less. The 296 is such a great car that it's hard to ignore. It have different Ferrari gremlins than the Pista, but every Ferrari has something you know you'll face as you own the car over time (458 squeal, Pista lithium battery, 296 hybrid battery 'failure', FF/Lusso PTU, etc etc).
296 is an amazing every day car. Comfy and sporty at the same time. The Pista is a brutal an visceral car. Probably this generation's 360Stradale. it is much more hardcore then a TDF or 812C. You simply can not drive a Pista slowly. it's a 'stupid'car at slow speed, but push it and everything comes alive and everything makes sense. According to the majority here (myself included) the Pista is by far the better looking car. Fun fact is that I push both cars on the track. The 296 is a much, much faster car and easier to drive. The Pista feels 'wobbly' when changing direction. The 296 feels like it's on rails. So it's a choice between a "car that does everything" or a car that "amps up the experience"!
I never thought of the Pista as brutal, not even close. Beautiful car amd decent performance but if I kept mine it would have gotten an exhaust and likely a tune.
There's just something about Pistas though that makes people move on. I guess a lot of guys with CS and Scuds sold too. Speciales seem to be held longer but that might be my imagination. There's that blue Pista with stripes, grey alcantara. Was a local car, went through the dealer here twice and since last year I've seen it for sale again (twice?) at other dealers. IIRC FoLV said I could only get it for around $525-528k back then. I actually had them run the numbers and passed. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/dbea6a68-30a0-484d-8e1d-20ba382ec2ec/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
They flip often but are way overpriced imho. The 765 should move for a 20% premium over the Pista based on performance and limited production.
Small world. Thought I recognized that car. Took a pic of it in 2019 when it was delivered to Las Vegas Ferrari for a customer order while I was there looking around. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Brutal in the sense of lack of comfort, drive train and outside noise, agressive set up. It's agressive for a recent Ferrari. I feel the TDF and 812comp are docile compared to the Pista.
A to A car vs A to B car. A to A is a Pista. You drive it from your garage around town for a bit and then back to the garage. Its a toy used occasionally. The 296 is a A to B car. The B could be a short sprint around your favorite roads, over the Swiss alps or even to get groceries. A to B cars that can do the A to A thing are rare. That is why the 296 is so special. its a Super Car that can be a A to B.
