488 vs 296 SpecialeA

I had a 488 and while a great car there is nothing limited or special about it. Get the 296. Be prepared to pay double what your 488 is worth.

 

If you were offered it, congratulations for being on the list for one of the special cars. I wouldn't hesitate, especially if you have it in your budget.

 

My situation I have a 488GTB that I bought new. Wanted a Pista and was denied. Didnt see the F8 as a change over because of the $$$$ and gain.

Electric / hybrid Ferrari is a BIG NO.

Money saved not going to a F8 , looking for a near to new Porsche GT4.

I will never own a hybrid supercar. I want my grandchildren to enjoy these 2 cars 20 years from now.

 

That’s why they have warranties. I was skeptical, but I like it.

 

I’m surprised you got offered that 296 SA. My understanding was that a 296 in the garage was a requirement to get an allocation.

 

Ferrari requires you to have 3 cars in the garage. Not a dealer requirement, but Ferrari corporate. I’d be VERY suspicious, honestly. I don’t think they’ll offer an Aperta, let alone a coupe.

 

The F8 is the last mid-engine non hybrid

 

Seems questionable as the 296SA’s are only going to VIP / Top / Challenge, and you only have a 488. But sure you should take it.

 

Works for you , more power to you.

I enjoy the fact that an automobile has a petrol engine and a battery just to start it.

 

6 cylinder... Batterypack... I would take that offer as an insult
Just kidding mate. If you like it and have the funds to spend then go for it and I'm very happy for you.

Will be fun to see how/if they hold value over time.
It's just something with the new designlanguage on SF90, 296 and forward Ferraris that bothers me. Even the inside, it's like they over-compensate the technology for being not so good at it before. Touch-switch to start the car etc.. Or perhaps just a new era of cars that not triggers me.

The more technology the less engaged driver. Speed has become democratic - you can make a VW ID4 go 0-60 faster than a supercar. Wich leaves only two elements left Wich is sound and feeling / engaging... And they're deleting this to, the more electric and tech they shoehorn in to theese cars... Just my two cents.

Have a 2018 488 GTB for 2,5 years now. I basically like everything about the car except for the sound that's truly disappointing comparing to earlier n/a models. If it was possible to switch to to a N/A engine I would do choose that every day a week. Have done everything I can to change the sound and it's far better than stock but still not the same.

Performance- wise new 296 SA should be incredible as expected, but even my F430s I felt had more power than I could use for public roads.

Conclusion - if they called me and said we like to offer you a brand new Testarossa instead of you're 488. It would be better

Let us know how it goes!

 

Electric motors/power units/batteries in 296 variants will go obsolete. ICE in 488 will not go obsolete. There's your answer.

 

There’s room for both. I will enjoy having both Speciales. Totally different experiences. Each representative of their differing eras.

 

One will appreciate, whilst other depreciates. At least you'll have one to counterbalance the other.

 

Apparently Ferrari did a good work on the 296 to mitigate the inherent rigidity deficiencies of a car with a removable top; so the 296 Speciale A might be considered...
The 296 is already a beast, so the Speciale is going to be even better (even if only marginally) with the added prestige of exclusivity (more so for the Speciale A) - compared to the 488, it's a big leap forward on many fronts.
The big question mark is the reliability, because the complexity is reaching new heigths with these hybrid cars.

 

Hybrid argument aside, have you had a chance to drive the 296? I've driven it a few times and i am so impressed with the agility of that car and the how amazing the steering rack, the brakes, the power band. It also sounds good. It will never sound like a 458 but it sounds good for a turbo car. My former 458 felt so unresponsive (front end). even the brakes in the 458 were not up to par. Other than the noise of the engine, i thought the 458 is over-rated. Actually, after i drove a speciale, i decided it was time to let the 458 go.

 

"Hybrid argument aside"? That's kinda what my point is resting on

Of course the 296 will be a "better" car as it's newer than 458... It's all depending on what you looking to get out of it in the end.

I drove the 296 - fast? hell yeah, but I don't care about that fraction of a millisecond faster. I want drama such as smell, sound and engaging. I want to wake the neighbors up and say I'm sorry next time I see them.

Sound wise we all have different references... Yes it sounds incredible compared to my daily VW Passat. No way nere a F355 with race exhaust and sport cats.

Again - it does not trigger what I'm looking for. All i could think of when I drove it was that it could be just any new car.
Understand me wrong here - It's to perfect that it's close to boring if you know what I mean.

The imperfections gives personality and soul. That I missed. But I'm not any benchmark by any means, im going backwards and looking at older models rather than newer ones.

With that said I think it's interesting discussions for sure and I respect all different opinions.

 

How great we get to argue which special car is more special. After I bought the 458 Speciale, it sitting in the garage along with two TM cars, an 812GTS and SF90 Spider, the garage took on a different smell. I love it. It's oil and machine. The hybrids are still that. They still offer that, more than they are an electric car. Has any car sounded as good as an F355 with a Capristo? No, not really. Does the sound of the 296GTB match a 458, no, but it's the closest we've had in 10 years. It's a beautiful sound, more so than a powerful sound. I look forward to adding the 296 SpecialeA, and it'll pair nicely with the original Speciale.

 

It is not milliseconds faster, it is F355 to 458 kind of difference or 3 seconds difference 60 to 130mph, that is maybe 3 to 5 bus lengths. The cold start in the morning is so loud you will be able to wake up your neighbors easy. They are mad loud at cold start in the morning then drop dead silence after a few seconds due to the exhaust valves. Probably best sounding V6 ever. I don't have 296, not a fan of the look, but just being subjective here, no fake news. Otherwise 296 +458 is spectacular combo.

I love 458, will pick one up as I am done with speed.

 

Sounds like a tesla plaid and we know how well that aged.

 

Unless we're all being trolled this is just a silly question.

There is no one in their right mind who would pass on a 296 Speciale Aperta to hold onto a 488 (not which one to buy, but to hold onto a 488 instead of getting a 296 SA).

Like in what world is that even a decision worth contemplating.

I mean if you really wanted to be totally transactional about it because you just love a 10 year old car, you could trade in the 488, get the 296SA, then trade it back to the dealer at a minimum markup, buy back your 488, and at the end of the day you still have your 488 plus a little pocket change for your troubles (and now the dealer gets to sell the "used" 296SA for a nice, ahem, market adjustment).

Win Win.

 

488 to 296 for me is "within the same margin" if it's 3,5 seconds against 2,8 seconds or whatever it is, what's honestly the difference....? The experience is pretty much the same of you ask me.

296 is mad loud at cold start....? No it's absolutely not. But of you feel that way - who am i to claim other.

Funny thing, My friend picked up his 458 outside my house 01.03 last night after he quit his work. (Saw him on the camera the day after) He did not woke me up!
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I mean, I don’t think anyone with a 488 is going to be getting a 296 specialeA. Not in terms of means or anything, but in terms of Ferrari’s requirements. Anything is possible, but I don’t see it happening.

 

I believe he pointed out he had other Ferraris. Obviously, he wants to keep them and is only considering trading the 488 GTB.