Portofino to Roma Spider Opinions? | FerrariChat
Buy

Portofino to Roma Spider Opinions?

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by 430tdf, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:57 AM.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 430tdf

    430tdf Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2008
    285
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Brett
    #1 430tdf, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:57 AM
    The dealer is trying to get me to trade to a Roma Spider, I'm pretty happy with my Portofino, any thoughts?
     
  2. rmmcdaniel

    rmmcdaniel Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 19, 2012
    280
    #2 rmmcdaniel, Sep 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
    They should have a demo for you to drive. Aesthetics and soft vs hard top are your own judgements to make. I do think they tuned up the driving dynamics and sound nicely on RS vs Porto. Updated tranny helps a lot with that.
     
    430tdf likes this.
  3. Zarakoff

    Zarakoff Karting

    Jul 8, 2020
    198
    Uk
    Full Name:
    Ian Curley
    #3 Zarakoff, Sep 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
    Depends if you like cloth roofs and no physical buttons on the steering wheel .
    I like the hard top so if I was upgrading I’d be looking at 296 gts seems good value at the moment and not that much different in price to the Roma spider
     
  4. Redneck Slim

    Redneck Slim Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Mar 10, 2011
    1,683
    Palo Alto,CA,USA
    Full Name:
    Walt Kimball
    #4 Redneck Slim, Sep 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
    Wait for an Amalfi Spyder and compare.
     
  5. 599F1

    599F1 Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 5, 2023
    345
    Full Name:
    599F1
    #5 599F1, Sep 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
    the Roma Spider is light years ahead of the Portofino. the tech alone is worth the swap. the updated performance is very noticeable. cold start is loud and impressive. when you drive a Roma Spider, the Portofino feels very old in comparison. the shifting from one gear to the next propels you forward, very cool effect. the soft top isn't like the old types. the material/execution is incredible and performs just like a hard top, but looks much better. I agree with @rmmcdaniel that you should drive the demo to see the difference.
     
    PixelStix, 430tdf and rmmcdaniel like this.
  6. NbyNW

    NbyNW F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 3, 2007
    4,336
    South Dakota / Maryland
    #6 NbyNW, Sep 14, 2025 at 8:04 AM
    Would this also apply to the non-spyder Roma also (minus the soft top comments), feel, power, shifting, sound?
     
    599F1 likes this.
  7. 599F1

    599F1 Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 5, 2023
    345
    Full Name:
    599F1
    #7 599F1, Sep 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
    I would assume so, but never drove one. that said, my understanding from the dealer is that the performance was upgraded in the Roma Spider (but probably not a ton).
     
    NbyNW likes this.
  8. rmmcdaniel

    rmmcdaniel Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 19, 2012
    280
    #8 rmmcdaniel, Sep 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
    They tuned the electronics, gear ratios and exhaust tune for the RS compared to Roma. It's talked about in some of the first drive videos on YouTube.

    I can't speak to how meaningful the difference is in practical day to day terms as I only have seat time in my RS, but it is definitely "different" than just chopping off the roof of the coupe.
     
    430tdf and NbyNW like this.
  9. NJPortofino

    NJPortofino Rookie

    Dec 21, 2019
    35
    Full Name:
    D T
    #9 NJPortofino, Sep 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
    You’ve all missed one key point which is that the Roma is hideously ugly and collapsing in value. I find it objectively very hard to say the Roma is better looking than the Portofino and let’s be honest, you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re buying any of these for “performance.” They’re GT cars.
     
  10. SVCalifornia

    SVCalifornia F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2011
    2,583
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Keith
    #10 SVCalifornia, Sep 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
    In your own mind!

    My Roma is a beauty!

    And it is a high performance GT!

    No stickies! No transmission issues!

    Good luck with your Porto!
     
    NbyNW and rmmcdaniel like this.
  11. VII7

    VII7 Rookie

    May 29, 2025
    39
    Fort Worth TX
    #11 VII7, Sep 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
    Buying a RS now with the amalfi spyder coming soon would be financially unwise but then again it's a Ferrari.
     
  12. 430tdf

    430tdf Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2008
    285
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Brett
    #12 430tdf, Sep 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
    Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated!

    I guess I should add a little more information. I have a gated 430 spider and a 328gts as well as a 2019 Portofino.
    I use the Portofino for 6-700 mile weekend overnight trips and have put about 10k miles on the car.
    I have test driven the Roma spider and the 8 speed is a big improvement over the 7 speed in the Portofino, the extra power is ok but I don't think it will make a significant difference in real world circumstances. My preference in looks leans towards the Portofino, but the potential issues with the 7 speed transmission weighs on me.
    I'm not a big fan of all the screens or the haptic controls of the Roma, but a new car comes with the 3 year warranty......
    The dealer tells me the Roma order book will be open thru 2026 so that makes the Amalfi spider the end of next year or the beginning of 27 and then another 2 years before they start arriving state side.
    And I hate to say but to me the overall shape of the Amalfi is pretty much the same as the Roma so the spider version will have the same long soft top as the current car.....
     
  13. NJPortofino

    NJPortofino Rookie

    Dec 21, 2019
    35
    Full Name:
    D T
    #13 NJPortofino, Sep 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM
    What do you mean “potential issues with the transmission”? Is there a thread you can point me towards? I know 9 or 10 people with a portofino and no one has heard anything about this.
     
  14. WashingtonFerrari61

    WashingtonFerrari61 Formula Junior

    Jun 26, 2022
    497
    Northern, VA
    #14 WashingtonFerrari61, Sep 15, 2025 at 6:49 AM
    The Portofino has a much more aggressive look but based on you owning two other classic analog hardcore F-cars, how could you ever pass on the very noticeable difference in elegance and comfort the Roma gives compared to the Portofino. The Roma just oozes class and sophistication which reaches the roots of a well established and distinguished gentleman who enjoys performance car brands similar to Aston Martin.
     
    430tdf likes this.
  15. 430tdf

    430tdf Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2008
    285
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Brett
    #15 430tdf, Sep 15, 2025 at 7:04 AM
    I could be wrong but Check out this thread: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/ff-transmission-problems-i-am-hearing-this-is-an-issue.561476/

    Post # 21 lists all of the cars that use this transmission, currently a friend with an FF started having transmission problems this summer and is sending it into the dealer this week.
     
  16. Tfatur

    Tfatur Rookie

    Oct 29, 2024
    12
    Full Name:
    Thomas C Fatur
    #16 Tfatur, Sep 15, 2025 at 11:02 AM
    Brett, you might want to consider a Portofino M if you like the looks and the user interface of the Porto, but want the new 8 speed gear box along with the enhanced driving dynamics. I also have a 2019 Portofino and after driving a friend's Portofino M I really noticed those improvements.
     
  17. 430tdf

    430tdf Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2008
    285
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Brett
    #17 430tdf, Sep 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
    If I could get a Porto M new, that would be my preferred option, but since they've closed the order book and I'm not into black or red cars (except for the 328 which is red)
     
  18. KS_California

    KS_California Karting

    Jan 24, 2022
    161
    Eastern KS - Just west of KC
    Full Name:
    Werner Bartels
    #18 KS_California, Sep 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
    If you are happy with your Portofino - keep it unless you have the budget for the Roma & really like it. Hell - I can't use all the capability of my old California on the street. If I had the $$$s - I'd love to have an 812 GTS over a Roma any day.
     
  19. Zarakoff

    Zarakoff Karting

    Jul 8, 2020
    198
    Uk
    Full Name:
    Ian Curley
    #19 Zarakoff, Sep 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
    im sure it’s old California models . But I suppose it’s how you drive it and look after it
    The 7 speed in the Portofino is used in the 458 and 488 isn’t it ?
    My dealer said they have had no issues in the Portofinos so far
    If you keep a basic warranty on them which covers drive train and electrical components then we can all sleep at night
     
  20. Sfscott

    Sfscott Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 1, 2018
    8
    Full Name:
    Scott Roth
    #20 Sfscott, Sep 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
    I drove a Roma spider a couple of weeks ago for an hour. Great driving car. Gearbox was lightning fast, ride was smooth and nimble and a lot fun. The electric/haptic controls were not to my liking, but if that was my only choice, I am sure I could live with it. The Amalfi spider will replace the buttons, but it's a long wait for a car that hasn't been announced. Of course, given the option, I would prefer the 8-speed.

    I prefer the hardtop to the soft top and think the Porto looks better with the top up compared to the Roma with the top up. That said, I think the lines of the Roma harken back to the Daytona, and I happen to like the grille.
     

Share This Page