My favorite owned cars. 1) 296 GTB. Handles & accelerates like nothing else. Fit/finish perfect, beautiful design, electric power integrated seamlessly. 2) Porsche GT3 991.2 manual trans. Pure fun, feedback and handling precise, a bit under powered. Looks like all 911s 3) Hurucan Performante. Tremendous handling and excellent acceleration due in part to AWD. Great sound. Harsh ride 4) Porsche 997 Turbo. Great acceleration and fun at first but gets a bit boring even though does every well. Looks like all 911s 5) C8 Corvette Z06. Incredible grip, solid all around performance. fit/finish average. Not a fan of design. Lots of car for the money
good shout in the 997 turbo, at the time I was just like "this is absurdly fast and you'd never want anything faster as it's such a risk of losing your licence on the streets" crazy how slow it is in comparison to modern cars
Of the two guys I know who bought a 296, both sold/traded after <6 months. They both liked how the car drove, liked its looks, and liked it's sound. But they both loathed the haptic screens and inability to easily, while driving, make certain adjustments that were in some cases multiple screen layers deep.
They should have held on for the upgraded wheel replacement. Or did they sell before it was announced?
I have the same #1 and 2. GT3 I added Dundon exhaust, air box and plenum. Car is incredible. 296 still my favorite.
IMO- They just needed more time with it. Or they are too old or cannot adapt well to change. IMO. It’s actually not very complicated and well laid out in spite of the haptic issues.
Totally agree. It took me a day to get accustomed to the haptics. I'm not sure what people are doing while they are driving, but it's never been an issue for me. I think you're right; they're probably just used to the simplicity of previous models and didn't want to take the time to adapt.
Awkwardly designed? The response to the design has been favorable for most. Overpriced? You mean like all modern Ferraris? Wait til you hear about the 12C pricing. Hybrid? Like LaF and F80 (also V6)? Let's see what the future holds. Right now, the 296 is a relative bargain, especially considering what you get in this car.
If anyone has rights to be bitter and talk **** about the 296 is you given your prior experience. The fact that you’re here and waiting on your second 296 speaks volumes. I wonder how many of the critics have actually given the car a fair shake? Haptics, hybrid, V6 blah blah
i’m sorry, but these people that are annoyed for something as small as the buttons to me is beyond my comprehension and I’m glad to hear someone like you say that you got accustomed to it within a day or two I mean what’s the big deal and like you say who’s gonna be fidgeting with buttons while you’re driving and if you wanna make a change or something to it at the stoplight
I’ve got 20k km in my car, work in tech, am “not old” and the tech/ui does frustrates me. The buttons/haptics are fine, but it’s the lack of central screen, needing to switch between maps and the tach. My speedometer shows both mph and kph with mph as the larger number even though I selected kph in the settings, then I constantly have to convert to kph in my mind when driving the track. No way to have just kph for some reason, but my other car can. It detracts from the otherwise great experience, even though I have no problems navigating the systems.
To switch from map/ Appleplay in one motion just press and hold the back key. Why is that hard? Yes- the lack of a separate screen for the Apple CarPlay was a mistake. I have not played with the MPH/ KPH. The rest of the dashboard experience is pretty spectacular and the car is off the charts. Net/ net- not a deal killer by any means. IMO.
If I’m on a nice bit of road that requires making turns every few km, I have to have the maps open. And I can’t see the tach. Or expend mental effort to estimate the distance already travelled and switch back to the maps in time or to memorise the foreign road names. the only time I keep the tach open in such scenarios is the next turn being a roundabout. Then I switch back to maps after roundabout to repeat the process. It’s excess mental effort on something unnecessary that I dislike. And I have to switch a dozen times or more on a drive. The 2 clicks to switch between them is not the issue. It’s not a failure of the buttons/haptics, it’s a failure of the UI/lack of centre screen. Someday I’ll figure out how to mount an ipad in the middle,
In my opinion people think that worst already happen and 296 replacement can be only better. Ferrari can't cut any more cylinders or maybe they put V4 from Porsche Boxster? No one belive that. Next 296 still will have hybrid system be will be better because it will have electric turbos so if replacment will be only better then current 296 it's not worth keeping
With the green mandate crushed of late {the Biden's 2030 EO is gone} & the EPA's recent loss of power with the never ending crushing encapulation, hopefully the auto industries in a short time period will not only bring the auto loving clients reliable, well designed products at much lower prices. Personally I find the 296 a strickenly beautiful well designed Ferrari, but with too many electrical features! Electrical issues esp. post warranty =. ???.
Theoretically- If you can afford the car you can afford the repairs. You can always buy an extended warranty at ~ $3500 per year and cap your downside. High performance comes with a price- always has- as everything is being pushed to the limits.
Imagine how the 296.2 will be priced.....it will also have the tech (motor etc) from the Speciale. 296.1 are a very safe place to be spending your supercar money. Heck, even a new ZR1 X is going to be in the 300s....the Porsche GT2RS is going to be a 7 figure car!
As we have decided to keep our GTS....where do you suggest I research the $3500 per year warranty (before I ask my dealer)
Yesterday whilst on a drive, I needed to use Waze. The refresh on the 296 screen was very laggy for the first 10 minutes. Not sure why that is. It's like the 296 computer is busy running a lot of processes. (Perhaps I am occupying its traction and stability control systems ) ... anyway, a physical button steering wheel wouldn't help, what would help is faster response, and frankly, locating the CarPlay to a central screen, like they've done with the Dodici Cilindri. It's not the end of the world, it's not a reason for me to change out of the car, but it is a little annoying. In an otherwise great car.
I totally get this. My dad literally couldn’t use the car. I think for anyone under 45 it’s a non event. But theres no way most over 50 are going to ever gel with the haptics.
