296 Values and Used Market

That mirrors my experience: at 6’4” 280lbs, my 488 GTB was roomy and comfortable. The 296 is tight. But it’s fast enough for me to make it work. I can see how at 6’6” it just wouldn’t be possible.

 

We'll see. 12C looks less bad in person than I feared.

 

Another great review from Harry Metcalfe.

When a real, impartial, car guys says he wouldn’t buy the car, it’s a real problem for Ferrari. I hope they listen.

“Sorry too complicated for me, doesn’t add enough specialness for the tech”.

He says this is a “stunning, stunning car” but he wouldn’t buy one. The interface and needing to “manage the battery” are the top reasons he wouldn’t buy the car. He also mentioned the weight (1,740 kgs) and the “tiny” fuel tank of 65 liters. He said he’s constantly “battling the tech”.

He also says the depreciation is a “tough pill to swallow”.

 

pretty sure Harry isn't the target audience for the 296 GTS. Judging by the opinions of those who have purchased and are driving one, the target audience likes it just fine thank you. In fact, I would bet most who have ordered and purchased a 296 GTS have never heard of this guy. I certainly have not.

 

Me getting into the 296, collapsing like a thumb puppet
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Ok so you haven’t heard of him, but it’s an honest explanation that talks to why this car is suffering terrible depreciation. The “target buyers” have put their cars up for sale, as there are now over 300 296s for sale in the US, not counting the cars in the back the dealers don’t want to advertise. There is a reality here that can’t be ignored, this is a thread about 296 values and Harry eloquently and impartially explains exactly what the issues are.

 

I understand that for older people who have a hard time with technology. He is part of the past, not the future.

He’s right about the depreciation for purchase of the car new. On the flip side, it’s an amazing purchase pre-owned.

 

That’s not completely accurate. Many of these were ordered during the speculative excess during the pandemic where everything was trading for more than MSRP.

Simply supply and demand.

Of course, the market hasn’t YET accepted the hybrid and 6 cylinder as the advantage they are. So yes- that is part of it too.

 

Whats old? The tech is terrible in these cars, complete garbage. They failed and if they weren't so arrogant they wouldn't have relasesed such crap. How hard is it to put a decent touchscreen in with some knobs? My jeep wrangler has a better UI/UX.

 

He has a point about the UI, it's really terrible - even Ferrari is acknowledging that, they try to improve it but it's crazy they could not figure it out before negative customers feedback.
One may argue that added complexity is integral to progress, but it should be hidden as far as possible - the user should only get the benefits without needing to be aware of it, which is not really the case when one has to be cautious about the battery status.

 

If Harry isn't the "target buyer" for the 296, then I don't want to be a target buyer.

 

Living with the car is different. The touchscreen becomes more responsive with use. Also more familiar once adjusted. Really not a big deal after learning. Not crap- just not ideal.

 

I have heard the Maranello Atelier experince with Anna is exquisite

 

Yes, a trade off here. One must plug it in each night to avoid issues or make sure the car is topped off (driving in qualifying for the last 10 or so minutes). Living with it, not a big deal. For me the rewards the car provides are well worth it. For Harry not so. I have never had or driven a better sports car for the road.

 

It's terrible if you have to get used to it or read a manual.

 

I did not have to read the manual. It’s quite intuitive. I read these posts and are familiar with Ferraris- so maybe for others it’s necessary. Regardless, it’s worth the effort as the car is that good.

 

I like the car, good styling and performance and decent sound. The brakes in particular are impressive. Price tag is crazy new which is why we see huge depreciation and the entertainment system is poorly executed. At $250k I'm a buyer, at $350k to $400k there are too many options including SF90s.

 

No one can be ridiculed for not liking any particular car, 296 included.

But the reasons for not preferring a car needs to be, at a minimum, rational, if not at least reasonable.

If a person thinks the 296 is not a good Ferrari, or just a car period, because the UI is poorly executed that's sort of like disparaging a steakhouse because the seats are uncomfortable. Notable? Maybe. But critical to the enjoyment of steak? Hardly.

For example, the 750/765LT has probably a worse UI interface (in my opinion) than either the 296 or SF90, but almost no one says those Mclarens are bad cars because the IRIS native navigation system on the 750 makes the Thomas Guide (if you're old enough, you'll understand) seem like state of the art navigation.

 

OTOH, if you have the choice between two great steak houses, and you know you'll sit comfortably in one and not in the other, you may end up choosing the one with the good seats...
The 296 is almost never presented as a bad car, it's more like given the price (and the available competition) it has a few features that are considered annoying.

 

I will sit on folding chairs for the best steak. the tech might be a negative to seasoned veterans. again, not the target audience. I think the tech is a positive, not a negative. I love the interface and the screens.

 

when will 296 successor be released? it will be totally new car or facelift like F8?

 

Part reason is people have not own one on their own yet. Maybe less than 20k people in the world have tried hybrid super car so far, so opinion will come base on what they read on internet or videos they watched on youtube.

Also cars are going through a big transition period, a lot of cars are becoming last of its kind. For a while only hybrid super car available besides 918, Laferrari, P1 was NSX. I had 3, on paper it is weak, performance doesn't make sense as barely GTR level which I had 2 as well. However, reason of having 3 is because instant torque. The hybrid super cars came after NSX are light years better, even Arutura and 992.2 GTS is better.

Between the 3 NSXes I also went through a lot of non hybrid super cars (488, F8, Aventador SV, 992 Turbo S). Take 992 Turbo S for example, with launch control 2.2sec to 60mph, without 3.7sec if I am lucky. On street start NSX will feel so light and instant, and pull 1 to 1.5 car length 10 time out of 10 times over 992 Turbo S if both car just press gas pedal and go. On paper impossible, reality is different.

I spent this past weekend in my vacation home driving Urus. One of my favorite car, look and feels like million, I was so shocked by how sluggish it is, punch it in corsa mode really long delay before car gets moving. The SE fixed this issue.

 

How? By adding almost 800 pounds more weight compared to the Urus Performante. Lamborghini's website states the Performante is faster to 0-100 km/h over the SE. Urus S is only 1/10 of a second slower then the SE in 0-100 km/h. Not sure where you're getting sluggish from.

 

Thank goodness I’m all of 5’7.