1 month ownership of the Ferrari Roma | FerrariChat

1 month ownership of the Ferrari Roma

Discussion in 'California/Portofino/Roma' started by aepma, Jun 1, 2021.

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  1. aepma

    aepma Rookie

    Jul 24, 2013
    43
    Europe
    #1 aepma, Jun 1, 2021
    Hello all,

    Thought it was time to talk about my experience with the Roma after one month of ownership.

    I've done 1250 kms/800 miles in this time, and plan to do a very long trip through the south of France and Italian coast in a few weeks.

    I've spent quite a bit of time tweaking the various configurations, very time consuming given that I've basically had every system related option fitted in the car.

    So here we go:

    The Good

    As an overall GT/ DD/ sports car combination I struggle to find anything anywhere near the quality of the Roma in the market today. Maybe the 911 Turbo S which lacks all the raw passion and motion, but adds german precision and logic, can be a viable alternative. Or the Continental GT which doubles on the luxury but halves on the sportiness and performance. But for anyone that has beauty as a core value in life and lusts after raw passionate performance, the Roma is the only game in town.

    The engine is both smooth when you need it and explosive when you want it. No turbo lag, just immediate delivery even in Comfort mode. The chassis is perfectly balanced, no body roll, no understeer when cornering hard, almost impossible to tell that it is front engine given the ballerina like dynamics. The e-diff allows you to have controlled fun in a way that makes you feel like an action star.

    The interior screams luxury. The metal tidbits are beautifully polished and feel wonderful and cold to the touch. Initially I suspected they were cheap chrome plastic, but no, it's real metal. the leather and stitching are top notch.

    The infotainment was a big surprise. I watched and read many reviews complaining about it, but after 1 month of almost daily use I must say it is sublime with tons of useful functionalities with or without Apple CarPlay. The fact that you can expand navigation to fill the whole screen is priceless and just helps you feel relaxed and under control in long journeys. The dynamic driver assist features increase that feeling. The premium sound system coupled with the amazing sound insolation allows you to feel like you are in a very special place.

    The Bad

    After the 1st week the Roma was called in for a system update. It drastically improved the infotainment responsiveness, but is still not immediate . It's ok, and not a problem in terms of usability. But it's not super smooth.

    The central console looks... not right. I like the functionality and I have nothing against the fact that it replaces what would normally be physical AC controls. But the way it's just inserted in makes it look like a foreign object and not well integrated with the rest of the interior. The fact that the rest of the interior is perfectly designed makes it look even weirder.

    The engine sound is too loud ... for me. I understand that for most people they will actually enjoy that the Roma produces such a wild scream, and it's obvious that Ferrari did a 180 when the first reviews complained about the muted sound of the engine. But personally, i would've preferred a more subdued note. But again, most people will probably be thankful that Ferrari did a U-turn on this.

    The Ugly

    I haven't found anything that I hated in the Roma so far. If pressed, I might say that the back seats are essentially a shelf , although my 5ft 4in girlfriend has been able to get in there. Barely.


    Conclusion

    I'm radiant that i've bought the Ferrari Roma. I'm glad I ignored the naysayers. And I would recommend anyone that is still undecided to just pull the trigger. If you want a usable GT overflowing with passion, you won't find anything better.


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    kissmyaxe, Z33, Phil_J and 70 others like this.
  2. SAFE4NOW

    SAFE4NOW F1 Veteran
    Sponsor Owner

    Aug 25, 2004
    5,404
    Dallas Texas
    Full Name:
    If you know you know
    #2 SAFE4NOW, Jun 1, 2021
    Thank you for your well written review!

    S
     
    gjackers and aepma like this.
  3. EastMemphis

    EastMemphis Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 25, 2019
    1,740
    Memphis, TN
    Full Name:
    John
    #3 EastMemphis, Jun 1, 2021
    F2003-GA, Headsuppassinglft, Y not and 1 other person like this.
  4. [gTr]

    [gTr] Formula 3

    Mar 11, 2008
    1,024
    Hamburg, Germany
    #4 [gTr], Jun 1, 2021
  5. aepma

    aepma Rookie

    Jul 24, 2013
    43
    Europe
    #5 aepma, Jun 1, 2021
    Azzurro California.
    Apparently no longer available on the Roma.
     
    Caeruleus11 and EastMemphis like this.
  6. niccmann

    niccmann Rookie

    Mar 5, 2021
    26
    Southern Europe
    Full Name:
    Nicholas
    #6 niccmann, Jun 1, 2021
    Thank you for the beautiful review. The Roma is *stunning*. I settled on a Portofino because I love driving with the top down, especially because I love to hear the engine scream... A Ferrari without a LOUD engine noise wouldn't be a Ferrari in my mind. But IMO the Roma is prettier, for me the best looking car in the market right now.
     
    kissmyaxe, Jordan68, john a barnes and 1 other person like this.
  7. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2005
    9,469
    Full Name:
    LaCrinoid
    #7 crinoid, Jun 1, 2021
    That’s odd. I wonder why...?
     
  8. Vintageignition

    Vintageignition Karting

    Dec 17, 2020
    50
    Full Name:
    Mike Mancini
    #8 Vintageignition, Jun 1, 2021
    Great review, thanks!
     
    aepma likes this.
  9. gw32

    gw32 Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2017
    942
    Sonoma, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #9 gw32, Jun 1, 2021
    Thanks for a well thought out review. I should get a call any day to increase my deposit and have changed my mine on the car several times. Really good to hear about the functionality of the infotainment system. Based on the negative comments it has received it was my biggest concern.
     
    gjackers and aepma like this.
  10. ChadR

    ChadR Karting

    Jun 19, 2019
    249
    Central Florida
    Full Name:
    Taj B
    #10 ChadR, Jun 1, 2021
    The engine sound would be a plus for me.
     
    LordVennFF likes this.
  11. Dadr

    Dadr Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2012
    686
    Memphis, TN
    #11 Dadr, Jun 1, 2021
    Thank you for the review, well said. Like you, I have been using it daily since January and agree it is a remarkable daily. Elegant, sporty, comfortable and capable. It provided me an avenue to use a Ferrari daily and worth it.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Caeruleus11, aepma and EastMemphis like this.
  12. dan129007

    dan129007 Rookie

    Apr 20, 2018
    43
    Florida
    #12 dan129007, Jun 1, 2021
    This is the review I have been waiting for - I was hoping that the software updates would work out some of the early reported kinks on the infotainment system. Sounds like things have improved - thanks for sharing!
     
    aepma likes this.
  13. XSpeed

    XSpeed Formula Junior

    Jan 6, 2019
    408
    Full Name:
    SX
    #13 XSpeed, Jun 2, 2021
    did you get used to the touch controls on steering etc?
     
    aepma likes this.
  14. colormered

    colormered Rookie

    Jan 22, 2021
    42
    Full Name:
    Eric Weinraub
    #14 colormered, Jun 2, 2021
    My Roma just went into 85 status ... should be on the boat soon..thank you for raising my excitement.
     
    F2003-GA, aepma and russellmcg like this.
  15. BLUESL

    BLUESL Karting

    Mar 17, 2014
    78
    London
    #15 BLUESL, Jun 3, 2021
    I'm wondering whether the Roma interior for driver and passenger feels cramped with the engine pushed so far back - the centre console seems huge but I have yet to see one in the metal.
     
  16. Headsuppassinglft

    Headsuppassinglft Karting

    Dec 24, 2020
    80
    Addison, TX
    Full Name:
    Christine Fritsch
    #16 Headsuppassinglft, Jun 3, 2021
    I'm sorry for the off topic question. You mentioned 85 status. Where would I see that? Would it be in the My Ferrari app?
     
  17. colormered

    colormered Rookie

    Jan 22, 2021
    42
    Full Name:
    Eric Weinraub
    #17 colormered, Jun 3, 2021
    this is the production status available to Ferrari dealers via their FNA console
     
  18. colormered

    colormered Rookie

    Jan 22, 2021
    42
    Full Name:
    Eric Weinraub
    #18 colormered, Jun 3, 2021
    We are talking about a Ferrari, not a Maybach. That said, I don't think I've ever felt cramped in any Ferrari I've driven whether that was a 430, 458, F12, Portofino, Cali T, and now the Roma.
     
    Jordan68 likes this.
  19. Serge Mallat

    Serge Mallat Rookie

    Jan 6, 2018
    9
    Full Name:
    Serge Mallat
    #19 Serge Mallat, Jun 3, 2021
    Excellent review. I like the specifics. I have test drove it at 3 separate events and I loved it each time. We actually have one on order so I am excited for it to be part of the Ferrari Garage in our home. Forza Ferrari... Grazie
     
  20. Lektronimo

    Lektronimo Karting

    Dec 31, 2012
    141
    Franklin Square NY
    Full Name:
    Stefano
    #20 Lektronimo, Jun 3, 2021
    Beautiful color! similar to my azzuro metallico 328.
    Being a drummer, I prefer a loud exhaust tone lol
    Enjoy!
     
    aepma likes this.
  21. 2012blackcalisuccess

    2012blackcalisuccess Rookie

    May 16, 2021
    10
    Dallas texas
    Full Name:
    Chester Middlebrooks
    #21 2012blackcalisuccess, Jun 3, 2021
    I love the roma! Def on my shortlist of cars to own soon.. so damn pretty! Love the backseat for an occasion with the kiddos... They love my california!
     

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    Magnus Kanerfalk, F2003-GA, Andynyc and 12 others like this.
  22. gw32

    gw32 Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2017
    942
    Sonoma, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #22 gw32, Jun 3, 2021
    I'm 6'4" and 240 lbs. and was pleasantly surprised by how I fit in the car. It didn't seem cramped at all. That said it does have more of a cockpit feel to it. I was very sensitive to comfort before I made the decision to ordered one.
     
    aepma likes this.
  23. blazing928s4

    blazing928s4 Rookie

    Mar 8, 2013
    45
    Melbourne Australia
    Full Name:
    Nigel H-A
    #23 blazing928s4, Jun 3, 2021
    Noise is very decisive. Personally dislike intensely overly loud cars and more so the loud start up!
    I had a 3lt Panamera loan car, stupidly loud at start up, I hear my neighbour every time he leaves in his Macan Gts....

    I was at a cars and coffee recently...well you know what goes on there as they leave. My sons fav Ferrari is a testarossa, I taught him well! How beautiful did it sound. Purposeful yet understated, just enough for the driver to enjoy, not the whole neighbourhood! 308s the same, lovely music.

    Maybe it’s my age, but I’m just not interested in the “look at me noise” these cars , of many brands, now make. Sure on a deserted road I could enjoy it, but who wants/ needs that attention around town?
     
    Pepsi10, Pro Bono and aepma like this.
  24. Vintageignition

    Vintageignition Karting

    Dec 17, 2020
    50
    Full Name:
    Mike Mancini
    #24 Vintageignition, Jun 3, 2021
    Lots of people...
     
    cy0811, Nonoyeahyeah, drjmoney and 3 others like this.
  25. niccmann

    niccmann Rookie

    Mar 5, 2021
    26
    Southern Europe
    Full Name:
    Nicholas
    #25 niccmann, Jun 4, 2021
    Maybe a live on a different planet, but I don't think that "many brands" nowadays build cars that make "look at me noise"... Its quite the opposite. Apart from Lamborghinis and some other exception, most cars do very little or no noise at all compared to a few decades ago. Even Ferrari makes cars that doesn't sound very good or loud, like the Portofino or the Roma.

    About the startup sound... Yeah, sure, a Panamera or a Macan are loud when they are cold and you start the engine. They have powerful engines that need to take temperature quickly. But as soon as they are running at temperature they are extremely quiet - too quiet for me.
     
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