From V12 to Hybrid: My First Week with the Ferrari 296 GTB (and McLaren 720S Comparison)

Thankfully it has stayed off.

 

My poor 750 has been languishing on the lift. Mainly due to the weather but also because the 296 is much more fun overall.

im considering replacing the 750 with the 12cilindri Spyder however I’m not sold on it yet. But it will be my first built to spec Ferrari
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Oh, sorry to hear 750s is a great car. Maybe it being somewhat refined makes it too similar to the 296? I have been driving my mp4-12c spider with the 296 gtb back to back lately and thoroughly enjoying both. One is just so raw and old school and not to mention less than half the price.

 

Congrats! A suggestion: if you decide to go ahead with the 12 Cilindri, do the configuration at the Atelier in NYC. It just adds to the experience.

 

the 750 is refined but it’s not the biggest reason why it’s not being driven the 296 is truly just more fun all around.

I’m going tomorrow to test drive a few cars so I’ll bring this up if I pull the trigger!

 

So I test drove the Puro and the 12. The puro took me by complete surprise the handling is absolutely unreal for a “suv”. I think it’s worth it at 500k but 600-650k it’s impossible to justify.

the 12 cilindri is flat out amazing. Feels really nimble and sounds incredible. The lightning slaps during upshifts is brilliant.

I have a serious dilemma because I really want a 296 speciale but I’m wondering if I’ll be happy having a 12 cilindri Spyder with a regular 296 and possibly even a 750s Spyder?

im willing to part with the 750 because I know v12s are a dying breed but I’m curious what others think

 

Definitely first world problems for sure. I think it makes sense to cover as wide of a spectrum as possible. Good thing you really liked the 12 cilindri spider. It will be your front engine slightly more GT thing with top down. 296 will be your mid engine focused sports car. NA v12 and latest hybrid tech. Covered all your basis. I tried to do that before, had a v12 vanquish. But after having a mclaren, it was just too slow and soft for my enjoyment. Glad you don't have that issue with the 12 cilindre.
Any concerns that you might miss the super light weight carbon tub thing if you part with the 750s? I don't really see any other advantage it has over the ferraris.

 

that’s kind of where I’m being held up with the 12 cilindri. The car felt fast but the 750 would blow it away and you could feel the car being heavy but it did hide it very well. I’m not quite sure the 12cilindri would be an upgrade to the 750 and I also don’t need 2 convertibles again. If you felt your vanquish being slow then I suspect I’d come to that conclusion too.

You’ve made me want to take the 750 out tomorrow and see what my butt dyno remembers.

I did also test drive a 296 gts today which surprised me how stiff it was but still not as sharp as the gtb. It sounded even better than the gtb and looked way more elegant with the fuel filler/charge port hidden in flaps by the rear deck lid.

I have some things to consider because if the dealer gets me the 296 gts it will guarantee me a speciale.

 

Well don't sell yourself short. My vanquish felt slow and boring because a) it had "only" 560hp or so. b) it sounded good but not THAT good and I don't value the sound as much as some other folks. c) it didn't rev high enough, I like it to scream to the top and d) it had a slush automatic. 12 cilindri has none of these short comings.

I do want to question why you are so interested in a speciale? I assume it's not because you think it will appreciate in value? I suspect ferrari these days will try to sell as many as they can get away with so prices probably will not sky rocket like the old days. Assume you buy it to drive, will it be really that different than a regular 296 with a few more decorative wings? I genuinely ask because I dont know, the limited cars are out of my pay grade.

 

not trying to sound juvenile but the speciale looks stunning. Plus it will be lighter with more power? The 296 is already phenomenal like you said so it being turned up to 11 surely must be a good thing!

The residual values aren’t all that important because I’m reaching the end of what I’m willing to spend on multiple cars and I want to figure out which ones I want to keep

 

That's the thing about the speciale, if you love the look, then that's reason enough for the upgrade. But I just looked up the specs again, 50hp over the standard car and 60kg lighter. On paper that doesn't seem to be a meaningful difference. Consider there's 50hp (6%) difference between performance mode and qualify, I struggle to tell much difference tbh. Weight? 750s is 500lbs lighter and you know how that feels already.
It's a tough sell once you've already reach the top. Haha. Splitting hairs.

 

IMO the Speciale will be a very special car, you might be able to buy one second hand after but there is a tone of value (at least to me) speccing a new factory car exactly the way I want it, it's also a very exciting part of the whole purchasing process, the F296 GTB and GTS are amazing cars so you wouldn't shortchange yourself while waiting for Speciale.

12C and 750 you will always be able to find and buy, series production cars, not great difficulty finding something slightly used in the future therefore if I were in your shoes, I'd go the Speciale route and in the future I would add a 12C for the sake of variety or any other V12 for that matter, anyway just my opinion, good luck with whatever you chose because there are no wrong answers here only expensive ones LOL

 

FWIW, I think there’s nothing wrong with preferring the looks and intent of the base 296 GTB/GTS over the Speciale. It’s an elegant, beautiful design and the car is a brute in a fine suit. Doesn’t need to shout “look at me” to deliver epic performance. I can get behind preferring the less shouty design as there’s way more visually going on with the Speciale.

I personally love the way the Speciale looks but I too have wrestled with needing it over the GTB as I’m not selling the 765 so I have a shouty, wild looking machine already.