296 GTS or 296 speciale coupe

Hi,

I currently own a 296 GTS, which I have been thoroughly enjoying.

The dealer has recently offered me an allocation for a 296 Speciale Coupe, though I remain undecided on whether to proceed. As the GTS is the only convertible in my collection, I would prefer to keep it rather than trade it in, which means I would potentially be holding two 296s.

I do have a few concerns:

1. Would there be sufficient differentiation between the two models to justify owning both? The 296 is already such a capable car that I wonder how much further improvement is realistically possible and perceivable.
   
   
2. Would it be wiser to consider something like a 488 Pista or 458 Speciale instead, for more variety? Additionally, a bit concerned about the potential depreciation of speciale coupe after already experiencing a drop with the GTS.
   

I assume many GTS owners missed out on Aperta allocations and are likely in a similar dilemma.

are most of you with coupe allocation still proceeding with the order?

 

Keep GTS & spend the huge cost to change on something else

 

i do have the exact same question. and understand your struggle. it would be wiser to buy a 458speciale or Pista to your GTS. but if you want to have just one - what i want…

i ordered the 296speciale.
and will sell my GTS.

i will put windows down if i want air.
life is to short to not drive the latest special series ferrari.

 

Just offering another idea- don’t make all the moves at once/ in a short term.

Keep GTS order speciale coupe, but consider ordering the non lifter suspension- that will get you the more sporty multimatic setup. Keep in mind you also wont get bumpy road mode.

Then when they show the 296 successor, consider replacing the 1.0 GTS with the 2.0. If you don’t like that, maybe consider looking for other choices.

 

Is it now settled that’s there’s two suspension types depending on whether lift is optioned (on the Speciale). Thought I read somewhere it’s multimatic with bumpy road mode irrespective of lift or not. Maybe that’s not possible, I don’t know how these suspension systems work

 

I will find out for certain, but at the moment I am operating with the information from the XX, which is as you presented. I dont think Multimatic can have a variable damper unless you do it like PS and that adds a significant amount of weight.

 

Same boat - reached out to another dealer and can get VS Spider.
Holding SF90 Spider for XX coupe - burn to do this again, losing spider for coupe
Own Speciale 16M Dino GTS812 - owning a hybrid / some old school manuals - anything in between is boring.
Yes Speciale / 16M not used since SF90. Will keep 16M let Speciale go I really dislike coupes. Speaking of would go for 16M vs Pista
At 6 plus 2 on order - thinking of chasing Porsche next 918 and getting off the bus, getting Monza / F80 is not going to happen.
I struggle to order VS even in Spider - prefer SF90 Spider XX coupe 812GTS for modern Ferrari's.
VS Ferrari's is not really track focus as I hoped, painted livery than downforce which makes them unsafe. End of the day - depends what you want in your garage. [/QUOTE]

 

The Multimatic dampers are not active, nor do they allow for a lift function.

 

296VS has a lift option....

 

Yes, just like the XX has it. In order for the Multimatic suspension to provide a lift, it needs to be the system used in the PS, which needs a lot more electronics and adds a lot more weight. The odds are the choices will echo that on the XX.

Lifter suspension means you are getting a retuned Magnaride which will let you get lifter and also provides different user selectable damper modes such as bumpy road. If this is correct, then on the XX, they recommended to just about everyone to go with this setup as the XX front is so low and the new tune of the suspension is more sporty anyway.

Or, the non-lifter suspension, which would mean the Multimatic setup from the AF package, probably retuned, which would mean no bumpy road, and of course, no lifter. With the XX they said you better expect to use this car mostly on extremely smooth roads or the race track.

Again, the above is my own semi-educated guess, and not anything confirmed, but I’ll be better able to tell you all something at the end of the week, perhaps someone will be able to inform us sooner.

Ive been driving around the 296 GTS for a little bit, non-AF setup, the suspension is so impressive. It’s both very comfortable, but also has great body control. I’m sure the AF offers an even more connected feel, but in my area with crummy roads and the occasional steep ramp, the lifter and bumpy road pay dividends. I bet the retuned Speciale suspension will be that much more sporty so Im planning to skip the Multimatic, even though I think its super cool, and I had it on my 296 GTB, its a really impressive setup and is not too harsh.

 

I would say get the 296 Speciale and trade the GTS in for a Pista Spider / 488 spider / 458 spider / 812 GTS.

Having 2 x 296 will definitely be an overlap. You could also consider a different 2nd car altogether like a McLaren/Lambo spider in the similar price range to have some variety in the garage.

 

I can't really comment on what the OP should do. BUT, i'd never own a 296GTS and a 296speciale at the same time. As an experience they are too much alike in my opinion.

 

I have a GTS, love it. We have a Speciale GTB (Coupe) coming. I secretly hope the Speciale is overpriced so that I can decline the spot and keep the GTS.....

 

LoL - I'm the opposite. where i hope it's priced reasonably. Saw a 12C that just came in at the dealer with a 45K markup due to tariffs! i hope that is not the case for the Speciale.

 

I am keeping both (GTS and Speciale Coupe).

 

Curious why you think the 296 Speciale would depreciate. I’m asking because I have an allocation.

Also, Pista and 458 Speciale are appreciating like crazy. I was thinking it would be the same for the 296

 

I say keep the GTS. It’s about perfect and your only convertible. I don’t think the cars will be that different.

 

It's still a Hybrid. No one can predict the future, But Look at the market for every hybrid that's out there. Also, Every indication is they will make as many as they can sell which lowers the desirability and will cause depreciation. The Pista and Speciale going crazy is a perfect example as to how the market dislikes hybrids and is prefers the last ICE VS cars.

 

What is your reasoning and view as to why the hybrid SF90XX has double the MSRP in the aftermarket?

My view is that a unique hybrid will not have some of those negative hybrid aftermarket dynamics we have seen.

I have friends who somehow forget that the SF90XX is a hybrid when they are saying how incredible the car is and that it’s one of the best, but 10 minutes ago they are saying that SF90 has a weak aftermarket because it a hybrid.

My view is that an entry car into a specific model range will have price depreciation because of volume. What we saw in the 2021-2023 time period with a very high % of high performance cars moving up due to low supply was a market aberration. All of the entry V12s have been the same: the stock 812, F12,599. The same price depreciation. They just didn’t jump like the SF90 did with a jump from $650 MSRP to $900 aftermarket for a small amount of sales units due to that market aberration. To then below MSRP with media comparing the huge hit from the aftermarket high to low.

Value is usually partially reflective of scarcity. At thousands of units, scarcity is hard to argue and needs to be for a hybrid which is a new narrative. But can at 599 units, I also agree that Ferrari has the right road car strategy having a nostalgic line with the Icona, whose buyers don’t need more performance, and forward looking buyers who also may love F1 and want to drive F1 tech as that makes them feel closer to being part of F1 emotional glory. Historically, the V12 line captured the older customers and the V8 the younger customers with mid engine. I believe Ferrari is just redefining the buyers products by driving emotion first and engine, second.

 

Very good points. Maybe if the 296 Speciale was numbered and limited it would have a better chance of appreciation.

 

All good points. I think the XX being numbered is the differentiator. And I think it’s market appreciation has surprised / emboldened Ferrari which is why they’re making as many F80s as they are. Ferrari has basically proven there is 3x the demand for their special cars as any other brand. Them making 1000 is like McLaren making 330.

In my view, the 296 Speciale will be a solid car from a secondary price standpoint, especially at first, but it will depreciate 10-15% before stabilizing and rising. The main reason for this is just that the market is routinely discounting options on these cars like paint, carbon, etc. and those are exactly the options Ferrari has risen the price of to the stratosphere. These cars will be heavily optioned ($200k+ routinely is my guess). I think the base car holds value 100% but the options are immediately discounted by the secondary market 50-75%.

 

With the issue being that I had to make a decision weeks ago, before my GTS was even delivered, I put the Speciale coupe deposit down... I figure I'll have two years with the GTS to figure out what I want to do. Absolute worst case is that I want to keep the GTS more, and that I have to ride out payments through the first refusal period before I can sell the Speciale.

But as someone noted, the 296M GTS might be even cooler looking, and I might eventually order that too! And maybe I get the 296M Pista Spider (or whatever they call it) allocation then.