296 track focused vs AF package

Huh? Are you talking about the 296VS? (Which hasn’t been officially announced yet, but soon) Lots of discussion here: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/296-vs.660547/

 

The VS will be (as has been the case for some iterations now) marginally about actual performance and more essentially about (at least claimed) exclusivity.
This comment is probably not going to make me many friends here, but I stand by it

 

In addition to that my guess is the VS will be anywhere between 5-25% improved in various areas:

Acceleration: more power and less weight
Handling: less weight, newer, more focused, revised suspension
Drama: new gearshift logic plus the extra boost
Styling: more aggressive
Aero: improved aero management
Braking: improved brake performance

Is it worth it? This is always diminishing returns, thus, it’s always a personal decision.

In the past, the special models end up being more rare, more desirable to collectors, thus, tend to hold value better. Should that matter? Again personality decision.

The one thing I will say is so far at least, Ferrari has always managed to make the special models feel more special.

 

I have a 2024 GTB AF and absolutely love it and don't have plans on swapping into a Speciale. I am not even sure I can secure an allocation, but the cost delta is pretty significant for some moderate performance upgrades offset with a high collectability and future value. I would estimate my cost would be around $300-350k to make the swap. That cost will be offset eventually as the price of acquiring a used Speciale will increase over time.
Chet

 

More going on here- IMO.

VS/ XX Subtle performance improvements with more aggressive style and less “road” car more hardcore (more visceral / stiffer ride).

If Ferrari made these special cars in the same numbers as the regular cars they would likely depreciate more- because the market is smaller/ more limited for the hardcore experience- cars that are not well suited for regular driving.

Ferrari has perfected the product, marketing and production.

Then they make their customers compete with each other buying (and keeping) more cars to get the more limited allocations. A flywheel that gets better with time.

Their business model further improves resale values which further drives demand. Ferrari’s current depreciation rates are better than their competitors (excluding the occasional exception).

The seven year free maintenance is also genius because it improves reliability. Yes- the cost is factored into the price. That’s not the point. The maintenance plan prevents some owners from being penny wise and saving money by not properly servicing their cars.

Compare Ferarri’s business model to Aston/ McClaren, Maserati, Lotus etc. Night and day.

I actually have to talk myself out of purchasing more cars.

 

One can only speculate the difference between a 296 AF vs 296 Speciale until actually driving both.

I presume the Speciale will be more raw and more visceral just less of a difference than from the regular version of the 296.

Or are you asking about the subtle differences between the 296 and 296 AF?

 

VS has other things like double the size of the pipe that pipes engine noise into the cabin so will sound more 'emotional' and feel more raw on the senses imo

I'd love to have one but will wait patiently for them to depreciate

 

Very well said

 

Since none of us has driven the 296 Speciale, my guess is the difference will be a bit more performance, which you could cynically put down to better tires, more power, and a bit more focused suspension, better aero, etc. However the overall package will offer a more dramatic experience: more engine sound inside the car, more exciting power delivery and gear shifts, maybe re-calibrated traction software. If the past is prologue, then it means you could hold on to your 296 AF and say, gee, the improvements were not really that many, why should I have spent that money, and you would not be wrong. But you could just as well make the move to the 296 Speciale and say, wow! The car feels almost like a new car, or certainly to another level, and I really appreciate those differences, thats why I love these cars in the first place, because I do appreciate the differences. And you wouldn’t be wrong either. A third scenario is you could keep your 296 AF spider and add a 296 Speciale, and you could justifiably say you enjoy each for its different experiences. To my mind, in this third scenario, I’d think you’d want to go with a coupe since you already have a spider, but maybe you end up with 2 spiders. My main point is as long as you enjoy these cars, then you are winning no matter which one(s) you have.

 

re: the engine sound in the car - it presumably would be a easy? task to fit the 296 spec engine to cabin to a standard car?

 

As always, you are a trusted voice of reason!

I love this dialogue, because I am late to the 296 party. My car arrives in a couple of weeks, just awaiting shipment from the port in Jersey. I'm very excited, and the announcement of the Speciale before I've even received my car is playing on me. I'm getting the SpecialeA, and my 296 coming in 2 weeks is a GTB with he AF pack. Though I have only driven a 296 with he AF pack in a test drive, I do have experience with it int he SF90 spider. I agree that the suspension is wonderful. It's bumpy (or should we say communicative) as a sports car is prone to be, but never jarring. I'd say my Pista in race mode without the bumpy road mode on was much more aggressive.

The changes/improvements in the Speciale seem to be all of the right ones. Ferrari has never let us down with a VS model, and this appears to be consistent with that. The aggressive styling changes, the shifts (THEY SOUND EPIC), the full carbon interior, which should resonate like never before, all lend itself to making this appear to be a very special car. Driving impressions should hopefully be out soon. I like the sound form what we have heard, and in spy videos. Fingers crossed it is what we want it to be!

 

Thank you for the kind words. I think the key thing here is knowing we love Ferrari and knowing they always deliver, it's important to give yourself options.

 

AF is tracked focused.

 

beside performance upgrades, usability is enhanced with the Speciale for some with a front suspension lifter which is/was not available with the AF from what I remember.

 

It still isnt on the speciale. If you get the lifter suspension it’s a retuned magnaride with bumpy road. If you get the non lifter then its the AF type multimatic, Im not sure if its retuned but I would imagine it is. I am also pretty sure they will advise most people to get the lifter.

 

I have no need for a Lifter.