296 Owner reviews?

All they needed to do is have a touchscreen in the center vs this silly system. In the 12c they moved away from this nonsense. Terrible design and someone is going to wreck trying to figure it out while driving. These aren't race cars so the entertainment systems need to be easier to use.

 

I brought it up to my salesman and showed him how it doesn't hold - I think it's missing a gasket or something to tighten the fit. I would glue/stitch in velcro but since the car is not a keeper I don't want to modify the carpet for the next owner.

I have to stop by service to clear codes again and will ask if there's a fix.

 

I love pretty much everything about the car.
Closer to the 458 experience than the 488/F8 gen ever was.
I do miss the no creep in the DCT.

 

From the visibility point of view, I find difficult in certain situations to see vehicles coming from the passenger side when turning left, due to the lack of a rear quarter glass. Twice in the two days I have been blinded to oncoming vehicles from the right, particularly when the angle of the entry to the intersection is more than 90 degrees. Once I had to turn into the oncoming lane just to look back with the passenger side mirror to see if there was an oncoming vehicle. I need to remember that problem and pay more attention on approach to an intersection, but this is a potential deadly runnel vision problem.

 

The P4S tire compound is stickier than I thought. On my this week new 296, I noticed that the P4S tires had picked up several roofing nails (maybe sabotage). I was not happy. I was unable to even get my finger nail under the edges of the nailheads. Upon digging them out with a key (not the Ferrari supplied amulet) I discovered that they were small round headed rocks that had burrowed deeply into the compound. Removing them left deep holes. Crazy--but thankfully not nails.

 

P.S The outside temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit so the road surface was undoubtedly super hot. I can now see how the P4S would feel squishy after a good 30 minute rack run. I did drive a 296 at Fiorano on some hot laps, but did not look to see which tires (or pressures) they were running. Dumb.

 

It does not even take 30 min , it is a 4 lap max and they need to be cooled

 

Oh and considering the consequences, I wish the app had a SoC indicator with a possibility of a notification if it drops below a certain level.

 

I agree - have had a few close calls with vehicles in the passenger side blind spot… I’m surprised more people don’t comment on this and wonder if it’s somehow worse in the GTS vs GTB… I just saw on Instagram there is a camera based solution with a screen fitting over (or in place) of the rear view mirror that someone in the UK had fitted to their Huracan STO and thought could be worth looking into tho not sure where it could fit on a Spyder.

 

Agree - the UI is terrible. Not only is it difficult to figure out how to get around on Carplay or even changing audio sources, but once you figure it out, it is just so tough to pull off correctly with that steering wheel controller. Really takes away from the experience. Mclaren (for all its tech criticism) has the right idea on how to work secondary controls. Give us a damn touch screen, please.

 

I had a close call with a motorcyclist driving in my passenger side blind spot. I’ve been extra careful ever since.

 

I just noticed you have tire temps in this picture! How the heck is that possible, under which screen are you?

 

Sorry just PSI. But charmingly it pings with a warning when there is even 1lb difference, or even less than 1:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

oh yes, I mis-read it. no temps.

 

Mine car is a 24MY and it started to do this too. With the tire pressured matched to the pressured on the door jam I had to inflate all of them to 32 PSI to keep from getting the light. Sadly, because of the temperature here in the summer the tires quickly get up to 37-38 PSI after some driving.

I know it isn't that big of a deal but it seems like there is a software glitch with regards to the pressures.

 

What is wild is that it is so sensitive. Even one pound OVER or UNDER and it's beeping. The F12 or 458 did not even bother me with that unless they're like deflating under 28-30lbs. The past two days it has been every time I drive it with the tire warnings, and I stopped and refilled them to make sure it was above the cold setting by 1lb.

I've been telling friends this car gives me a limp mode, warning (like these), error or "go to dealer" of some sort about every other time I turn it on. It puts me on edge and makes me feel that the car itself just is not reliable, even if I [and the service dept] suspect it's just bad sensors. Going into limp mode on WOT on the freeway onramp and feeling the car lurch like it'***** the brakes for you, or deployed a ****ing parachute, made me almost crap myself the other night.

It's the coolest at some things but I look at it and think of the ungodly amount of money it cost and I sigh that I wish it just ****ing worked properly. I've honestly never had this feeling before.*


*I've never had a McLaren!

 

Frustrating.
In the 8 months of owning my 2023 GTB I never had one issue with tires or engine at all. Winter to summer.

SV

 

Seems that Ferrari is very inconsistent with their problems. As excited as I am for the car, I just won’t deal with problems. Dealer will be listed my car for sale in short order if that’s how my car is.

 

Knowing the problems, I hear people back out and don't take delivery. Just pay the damn thing and put if for sale right away; even at a small loss as the dealers want their commission.

 

I've had some problems - limp mode which was caused by a faulty pipe, manifested whenever I put my foot down hard. I've had jerkiness which appears to be caused by setting off from cold without the engine on so it is stone cold when it comes online and makes the car feel jerky. I always warm the car up now and, so far, no jerkiness. It makes sense but I'm amazed the manual doesn't mention it! I also had a probably glitch where I couldn't change gear which required an off and on again.

However - that said - the 296 is amazing and I haven't been put off so far at least. I have had similar problems in almost every Porsche I've owned, problems with Astons and minor problems with other cars. The build quality of the 296 is really excellent, cabin rattles and creaks are almost none existant (I get a bit of noise from the carbon buckets on ruts). Materials and controls all feel good. Panel gaps are small and even.

If I had one arriving soon I would be looking forward to it and not worrying too much

 

Trying to muster up some positivity, the A/C is the best I've had in a Ferrari, it totally blasts the small cabin with really frosty air. Good if you take it down to AZ. Plus the ventilated seats are a must have for down here.

The upgraded hi-fi sounds excellent.

I don't understand guys who poo-poo the 360º camera. I swear by it, 4-5 times a day - basically every time I park I am relying on it to not touch parking blocks or sidewalks.

 

+1 regarding Surround View. Makes parking s

+1 on Surround View

 

360 Camera is worth having. Very small sacrifice for having the .... errr... nipple on the front spoiler and under the wing mirrors but you don't really see them if you aren't looking for them. Similar thing with the Auto Cruise Control sensor.. I like the feature, the sensor is noticeable if you actually look for it.

 

I didn’t spec the camera purely for aesthetics. I also like living dangerously.

 

After a few weeks with the car I have to say that the UI isn't as infuriating as I thought it might be, the overabundance of chimes is.

I long for these heavenly days ...

Image Unavailable, Please Login