Talk me into/out of trading out my F8 for a 296 GTB!

Do NOT mistake this thread as me not being satisfied or not loving my F8. I love my F8. It's fast, it's gorgeous, and it drives like a dream. But I have a history of still trading out of cars that I love just out of temptation for something different.

Right now I'm seeing 296 GTB's, lightly pre-owned, 2024 models with great specs that I could probably buy without spending barely any money after trading out my 2022 F8.

I've driven a 296 GTB on a track before, and I know they are weapons. However, I am wary of owning a hybrid and reliability issues. I also wonder if it's silly to sell my F8 after only owning it for 2 months.

I'd like to hear arguments for and against trading out for a 296. Thanks in advance for anybody's feedback!

 

Arguments to keep: lower production numbers, no batteries/hybrid with their as-yet unknown problems, V8 heritage versus V6 powerplant.

Arguments to trade: arguably better looks, newer design and technology, less deferred maintenance, warranty availability.

 

IMHO don't do it

 

Thanks, but could you give your reasons why?

 

You say you like to trade out cars. You don't keep them forever right? Ok then why are you worried about Hybrid problems?

Buy the 296 keep it a year or 2 and you'll be on to the next greatest thing. do what YOU want to experience not what people on a forum think. There are no real major issues with the 296 or F8 when you have real issues with some other brands everyday type of vehicles having engine recalls. 296 doesn't have real issues like that.

 

I can't imagine trading in any car I was enjoying after just two months of ownership, so probably not the right person to advise you!

However, mdrums seems on the money with what he says above. Why worry about reliability issues if you're trading cars so frequently?

 

I am a long term keeper of my cars
Hybrid no matter who makes them will depreciate very quickly and will be very expensive to keep
The f8 is the last of the V8 engines for now ..all the bugs (or most) are worked out
As you can see the market favors the f8 as well because of how strong it's been holding its value
If you trade your cars in every 2 years as mentioned above then go for it right as for me I keep them as long as I can so if it would be the best play for me

 

Everytime I see one of these cars, I suffer from a torrent of jealousy because I can't afford it.....the other I just laugh at.

I'll let you decide which is which

 

I traded my F8 for a 296 and have 0 regrets. The F8 holds two advantages in my opinion:
1) the car is better looking than the 296 to my eyes. F8 is a hair below the Pista in looks and the Pista is the pinnacle of beauty.

2) The idea that it is the last of the non hybrid V8s but I'm not sure that matters at all. Firstly, there are still Ferrari V8s, albeit hybrid but the V8 lives on in the SF-90 and its replacement.

The 296 is better in every other way. It drives way better, it sounds way better, the interior is far more modern (the F8 is a 10-15 year old interior).

So when facing the choice I boiled it down to the fact that the only reason to keep F8 was basically speculative/value as this tribute car. And with that in mind, the F8 is the wrong car. Of the non VS cars, the 458 is the one to get, and otherwise go VS.

 

f8 is the last of all v8 no hybrids yes it has turbos which i love mid range power is amazing,f8 market is sleeping right now it will wake up with pista going for 250/300 k more.do what makes you happy if u can keep the f8 and add 296 that would what i would do,give up the f8 for a 296 never

 

In terms of performance the 296 is at a totally different level - there is far more difference between an F8 and a 296 than between an F8 and a Pista (or between an F8 and a 488 in the opposite direction).
The 296 is hybrid, and probably more expensive to maintain; while the F8 represents the end of an era, the 296 will certainly be outperformed by the next iteration.
At similar prices between the F8 and 296 it's really a tough choice.

 

The purely clinical quantitative side says trade it in for the 296. No brainer.

The purely EQ, romanticized and emotional side will say keep the F8. Easy decision.

The answer, as always, with questions like this is to get both.

 

Very subjective and, the good news, you can't go wrong, ultimately. But for me after really enjoying the F8 for 2 yrs and 19k miles, I just wanted to move on to a new platform and tech. Plus I wanted to go against the market complaining about the V6 H, which I think is BS.

As far as hybrid tech, keep in mind the La Ferrari from 2015 came with the battery and no one is complaining. Same for the Prius, btw. They can last a long time. I'm not worried about that. Also, in 5k miles and hard driving, only one issue with the turbo hose, nothing related to battery.

Then there's the driving experience. To me the 296 is superior in every way to the F8. Except the haptic buttons, 296 and never looked back.

 

Great feedback, guys, keep um coming. This is the best discussion, where varying views and opinions are presented and everybody feels open to speak their mind (unlike with politics in America today.... )

I hear that you can get a non-haptic steering wheel with REAL buttons with 296 now. I've heard that some people even retrofit their 296 to get that steering wheel, so that's certainly a plus...

 

Don't you roll your eyes at me boy! LOL... what real issues do you have in your mind with the F8 and 296 then since you don't agree with my statment?

 

yeah but I think it’ll be very expensive to do that. Personally I got used to it after a couple weeks and moved on. It’s certainly not something that would keep me from absolutely loving the car. Having said that, I do encourage you to ask the dealer about it.

 

I really do not believe the 296 has any more or less reliable than any other modern Ferrari (any model post-F430).

The internet chatter about the nightmares with the 296 batteries, wonky UX gremlins, etc., while likely real, is just heightened noise based on response bias.

The majority of owners who have no issues, will not just come on here to post "hey, my 296 has been perfect, how about yours?" First, it's unbecoming and just taunting the Ferrari gods, and two, they're probably too busy driving their 296.

In other words, don't let the voices of a select few drown out the silent majority.

It's not silly if you no longer enjoy the F8, or would enjoy something else (the 296) more.

Life's too short.

We can always make money. Time? Not so much.

 

no

 

Admittedly for F8 I've mostly heard about turbos failing like the 488 - my friend's had an F8 turbo fail at like 400 miles - but overall they seem a lot better built than the 488. I would not avoid either 488 or F8 for mechanical fears. Just realizing the high replacement rate for DCT and turbos and pricing that in (either warranty or aftermarket cost).

296, my own GTB drama was documented in the 296 problems thread as it played out, my own car was delivered to me new with a bad engine block and several intermittent electronic gremlins - cameras not turning on when reversing, not turning off when driving forward, EV system refusing to activate, plugged in and not charging:
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/anyone-having-problems-with-the-296.678696/page-5#post-149849919
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/149859054/
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/149861760/

From that, I got a handful of people reaching out for input on how to deal with their dealers and FNA, and just commiserating. 296s have had a mix of issues with the main battery/hybrid system/recharge issues, exhaust sensor and port issues, I know of a couple DCTs that were replaced or had sensor issues quickly.

I'm not denying that many/most people here have had excellent experiences.

 

For me, sound is of utmost importance, and the F8 has none. The 296 sounds incredible. Better than a Pista by far. I haven’t driven an F8, only seen/heard them, but I enjoy my 296 more than I did my Pista, especially in the sound department. Looks are a personal preference, and the Pista is amongst the best ever, but the 296 has not disappointed with that either. Win-win situation.

 

Seems really simple. Which do you derive more pleasure driving? You’ve spent ample time with both so you should know the answer already. As someone who has traded out of 5-6 Ferrraris in the last 12 months, I can lie to myself as much as I want but deep down I always knew when I really wanted something different. I went GT3 to Pista Spider to F8 Spider to 430 Scud and back to a Pista Coupe. I can say with certainty I came full circle and am completely content with where I am now. Good learning exercise to get me where I should be but I knew I wasn’t 100% content every step of the way. If I had to bet, I’d say you really want to get into the 296 otherwise you wouldn’t even be thinking about trading the F8. If you truly truly loved it you wouldn’t even consider a switch. My first Ferrari was an 812 GTS and I have never thought about trading it despite the vicious cycle I just went through. Good news is you really really can’t go wrong with either decision.

 

I did the opposite and traded from my 296 GTS back into a F8 spider. While the 296 was excruciatingly fast a sounded great, the lack of room for me being as well as the lack of emotion driving the car, it was a no brainer. I also personally like the more aggressive look of the F8.

 

As a F8 owner now for a year and a half and a ex-488 owner who's 488 exhaust was stock except I plugged the valve lines to keep exhaust valves open....I miss the sound of my 488 and that is saying a lot...LOL. I still love the F8 and how it drives and the engine feels.

 

It’s nearly a perfect car…