about about .3 seconds faster 100-200 and 200-250 although I think under ideal conditions 296 is nearly as quick 200-250. I was shifting gears myself during from a roll for this run in the 296 and the car is definitely quick using PS and letting the car shift itself.
Drove my 458 Speciale back to back with my 296 GTB today. The 296 is an absolute beast, brutal acceleration, very fast gearbox, endless grip in curves and fantastic brakes. Will keep the 458 Speciale forever nevertheless. Wondering what the 296 successor will be capable of.
Until you have spent some significant time with a 296, you truly will not understand how phenomenal the car is dynamically. I have put 3,500 miles on mine since I got in April 2024. It makes any previous generation Ferrari feel old and slow. I also have a Speciale alongside my 296 GTB AF and I try and never drive them back-to-back as it definitely makes the Speciale feel less special. Regardless I am never selling the Speciale and it will be an iconic car even more so that it is today. I truly appreciate the 296 and its lightning fast shifts, the super fast steering and the handling that unless you are being stupid it is hard to unsettle the car. I agree the haptics suck and the on-board tech is dated. My 2022 BMW M3 iDrive system is like 1GB WiFi and the 296 system is dial-up. I just set-it and forget it and enjoy the drive and don't let the distractions ruin the ownership experience. Chet Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yeah 296 is cool but I think for the most of us we will part with it for something new in the near future nevertheless. I don't see much people keeping this car long term.
Awesome assessment and another glowing review of the 296 from an actual owner. btw is that LF? Beautiful Speciale dude
And then for the next of the next, until the day you realize that they all look alike, no longer have sound at the exhaust and have become totally digital and as complex as a satellite... Maybe even at that moment, it won't enjoy you anymore...
the blame is on the EU. Regulations are screwing the experience and emotion that comes from sound. For the North american market Ferrari should offer non GPF. As for technology, ferrari always has been on the forefront of introducing new ways to make their cars faster. Just look at the technology advances from CS to Scud to Speciale. As for user interface, im sorry to say but the 458 interface sucked. It was difficult to use while driving. Atleast ferrari is consistent in that regard
After hearing the latest F1 news that the V6 Hybrid era will see through the full cycle i don't have any expectations that we will move to a V8 or V10 era until 2031. How that impacts the road cars will be interesting to see. Regardless of the v8/v6 hybrids, ferrari missed the mark and moved away from the NA engines too soon. Like the STO, they should have had an offering (mass produced) so we could complain how much prices are negatively impacted. STOs were a bargain at one point in time (75-100K off msrp).
The 458…what is there to operate besides the sound loud pedal? I’m on my fifth version and don’t use anything.
Most Ferrari owners don’t actually really drive their cars. They also frequently sell them. In other words- this is no different from any prior Ferrari. On the other hand, I am buying a 2nd one (GTB & GTS) because I am smitten with how incredible the cars is to drive. I can dismiss the occasional annoyance with the haptics- as I have never had a perfect car- and this as close to it as I have ever seen.
The hybrid V6 is dynamically better than any normally aspirated engine in any regular production car. The 296 is a bargain. Over supply and FUD is just confusing the buyers. Price leads sentiment. It’s why no one wanted Dino’s at $15,000 and everyone wants them over $400K.
One of the coolest things about the 296 is the fact that it feels really small on the road. Ferraris have gotten so big in the past, they feel huge on the road. My first impression of the 296 was that it brought back the old days of sports cars feeling small and agile. If that comes with a V6, so be it. I know this is a point of much contention, but for me, the 296 is one of the greatest sounding cars I have ever owned.
Very well said, this weekend I drove the 296 back to back with the STO and to me the 296 sounded better (I like the tone more) if not just as good as the STO, liked the steering on the STO better but the agility and explosive power of the 296, the outlook from the cockpit of the 296 is better for me better all round visibility, personally I’d chose the 296, it’s more comfortable, versatile and the hybrid with EV mode ability is addictive, sneak in and out in electric, pick up a call mid drive by switching to EV mode, have the ability of carrying on a conversation with the passenger, the 296 is the more versatile car, all and all two absolutely fantastic cars, those who whine do not have experience with them because I doubt they would have such take if real life no bias experience would be involved.
As a STO owner, the word versatile and visibility (rear) don’t belong in the same sentence with this car. I largely agree with your assessment, esp. the steering. I’ve driven many exotics and have yet to drive one with better steering or overall linearity of feel and power. But it is not overwhelming and the impracticality of no storage and the cofango limit its usability to a Point A-to-Point A car.
