Did you really drive the 296? It is so much more nimble, tighter, faster and fun. Sounds like you barely got on it?
I am agreeing- a manual transmission is always more engaging than any other transmission. That being said, some cars have too much power to be reliable with a manual and shifting reduces performance too greatly (in those cars). I love my 296 and wouldn’t want it with a manual. I have not driven the SRS. I would like to. I owned a 4RS which I sold because it was too harsh for the road, didn’t love the intake sound and thought it wasn’t special enough for the value (sold for $~260K). I would consider repurchasing at a much lower price point- because all in all- it’s still a great car.
I have an sf90 spider with the AF pack, and now also a 296GTB AF. The 296 is bumpier, and I’m assuming because of the shorter wheelbase, and especially the weight being much less. It’s not intolerable for me, but I appreciate newer asphalt. I find the car to be much more engaging than the SF90. The former is a little faster, but that’s all it offered to me. It’s missing any kind of sound, and the 296 truly delivers there. as far as seats, I’ve had them all. The race are fairly comfortable, and look killer. I went with full electric and ventilated for the gtb. Dressed them up a bit and they look great, so that way shorter passengers have a chance to see something.
I meant it as a sincere compliment to the 296. Yes, I drove it, and to me the Speciale has been the one. Now I’m not sure which I enjoy more.
The racing seats are beautiful- pure sex appeal. If you’re not overweight or just too big they are fine/ comfortable for me. I wouldn’t buy a car without them. When I sold my 458 spider I was told by my dealer that the car had much more buyers (paying more) because most cars did not have them. I have the 296 GTB AF pack. If you don’t live in a city or have crappy roads- it’s fine and worth getting (and a current bargain pre-owned). I have never bottomed. The ride is nowhere as harsh as my prior Porsche GT4RS. If you like to really drive- the trade off is more than worth it. It’s 2/3 of a 296 Speciale for half the price. At some point in the future it will be recognized for the great car it is- IMO.
Uhh, for those of you who love the Spyder RS, how does that work in reality? My limited understanding is that it's a manual roof that you have to struggle like 20 min to fold/install? So if you go out for a nice drive top down and the cloud starts drizzling, what do you do? For me, that negates any type of pluses the car might have. Flash back of 1980's MB SL convertibles.
But guys, the Daytona seats remind me of Dinos with "chairs & flares." I remember to this day, a silver Dino, low miles, circa 1996. It was $75,000 in the Dupont Registry, and as I was buying my first real sports car, I felt it was a stretch at the time. Instead bought a 1995 911C2 cab with 4,000 miles for $60,000. Sold it three years later with 10,000 miles for $59,900 and ordered a new 996 C2 cab at ~$85,000. Anyways, I digress. I still have that Dino in my dreams, and while it's affordable now, the reality is that I'd want to drive the wheels off it, and as most know, often the reality rarely lives up to the childhood dreams. That fact has kept me from getting a 993 C2 cab again...I know it just wouldn't be the same as when I'd take my wife and two kids to Gingerman to watch the races--the kids would fall asleep in the back with the top down as engine hummed on the highway and their hair blew frantically. Good times
The racing seats are Beautiful--fully agree, and it's one of the reasons I'm asking. Fitness and flexibility are not an issue...don't have any problems getting in an out of cars even with dihedral doors (Artura, MC20, etc.).
In my own naive hopes and dreams, the AF pack will become the happy medium and therefore a strong second hand seller. I agree with some of your thoughts here. On good roads, it’s a no brainer, but on bad roads, it is at least softer than a car in race mode WITHOUT bumpy road on. Bumpy, but never jarring. Having that button option on the Speciale will be nice again.
I had a manual Spyder and friend with the SRS. The top on the Spyder is a mild hassle. The SRS is a joke. It takes at least 20 min to put it up and take it down. Car would be drenched if caught in the rain. I helped him do it and can’t even believe Porsche made it that way. Great car if you live in So Cal though. Neither were for me in the end. Gearing in the regular Spyder is way too long to be fun.
SRS and original 987 Spyder roof really are not that bad - it's a 2-3 minute process up and down. You never quite lose the feeling that you're messing around with a literal tent, but it's only 20 minutes if you stop to get a coffee midway through the process.
Zero issue with the SRS top. Easily 2-3 minutes if that. We timed it under 3. Streamers had to pick on something and it became overblown and lazy reviewers just followed the lemming path messaging. They video their first time putting the top up…let’s video a child tying shoelaces for the first time while reading an instruction manual. It’s that stupid.
So you like the SRS but missing engagement...do you find 296 to have more engagement? And in what way? In my mind the 296 is more of a Turbo S competitor. Ridiculously fast and agile, but also engagement turned down a notch to be more of a daily driver with all the tech, softer suspension, etc...
Not in my experience. The regular Spyder top is 2 min. SRS might not be 20, but it took longer than 2 min.
I can remove and store the top in 3 mins...and then reinstall in the same amount of time. Loads of videos on YT how to do it properly.
I was also choosing between a 296 and 750s. I got the 296 because it's my first Ferrari and I already have a McLaren. I will get a chance to seriously track a 750s in month, looking forward to see how it compares. Hope I made the right choice.
I don't think it does. Didn't seem Mohave that impact for me. It's worth it to not be in wet mode anyway! lol
I don’t own one now (any Boxster Spyder) but I have in the past. My wife would never own one unless I handled the roof. It’s not a big deal for a man and really only takes at a few minutes. Enough to get wet in a rainstorm. We all enjoy convenience- so I understand why it’s not for most people and really only a fair weather car. But what a great fair weather car they are and worth the inconvenience for the true enthusiast. IMO.
