Trade an 812 GTS or Pista for 296 Speciale?

Just got offered an allocation for a 296 Speciale Coupe. Would have to flip out of my 812 GTS or my Pista. I haven’t spent an enormous amount of time in the 296 but I’m doing Corsa Pilota this week so I’ll have a real sense by the end of the week. Ive only heard phenomenal things about how well it drives. Having said all this, I can’t decide which car I Love more and have zero desire to sell. I truly love both these cars and had I not received the allocation I wouldn’t even consider selling. Thoughts?

 

Oh that’s a vicious one.

812GTS + 296 Speciale = a front N/A V12 GT convertible for touring and a cutting edge rear V6TT-H for tight and nimble. 812 is the best sounding of the three.

But you lose the Pista, which is the best looking V8 since the Challenge Stradale and will likely gain the most value.

Pista + 296 = keeping the most collectible of the three, and adding the most modern special series.

But with two coupes, and both being stiffer ride, you won’t have a convertible and the one that is more comfortable for days or events where you want to cruise.

I would probably lean towards keeping the GTS. Pista is the most beautiful to me, but it seems like guys trade them out without driving them much at all. I have no experience with the Pista, but have driven the F8 in several sessions and prefer the 296 over the F8. Go wring out the 296 at Corso and you’ll know which you want.

 

Just sold my 812GTS and previously sold my Pista. Getting a 296SA, and plan to keep it alongside my 458 Speciale. With the 296GTB, I wasn’t driving the 812 as much, and I have a 12 Cilindri coming. It was a tough decision, but I’ll be happy in the end. As far as what to keep, I was very disappointed in the sound of the Pista, and if it sounded as good as a base 296, I would have kept it. Hard choices, but I suggest seeing what you think at Corsa Pilota.

 

Congrats on the allocation. I would vote to sell the GTS and keep the pista. Pista will continue to go up in value and is by far one of the best looking F cars. Although it will now become more mileage sensitive so you have to think about what your use case is for the Pista. I prefer the driving dynamics of the 296 over the Pista so its more the above factors for me.

On the flip side, You can replace the 812 with 12C. 12C in my view is a much better driving car. More confidence when pushing…depends on your style. Re sound, i didnt think the 812gts sounded as good as the pre gpf coupes so i am not taking that into consideration.

goodluck!

 

If you would truly need to move one or both of those cars to go for the new one, I would keep both.

But if you want to continue with the brand then you have to choose and I would probably sell the Pista. Thats because I find the 296 is a better choice for most people to drive than the Pista. It actually feels a bit more of the traditional mid engine Ferrari ethos of fun to rotate, fun to rev, fun to drive (sorry for the use of fun). The 12 Cilindri is a nice car, objectively better, but they’ve been forced to make the car much less about the engine. It’s a wonderful GT car, but, for me, pushing the engine into the orchestra, as opposed to letting it be the lead guitarist who shreds and goes bananas, it’s just not the same.

 

i'd probably keep both unless you're doing track work - hard to see the 296 spec being any faster in reality on the roads than a pista

 

Yeah it’s a really tough call. I drive my cars. I have 12k on my 812 and 12k on my pista so the value is already affected. Not sure I care that much because I really own these cars to drive. Although no one wants to get killed on resale.

Having said that, I live in SoCal and driving open top between 6-8 PM is unbeatable out here. Losing that would be a mistake. Not as big a mistake as selling my pista spider last year(huge regret) but I think I would regret losing the convertible. Good advice to gauge after corsa which I plan on doing. Thanks for the insight guys…..

 

Yes, I love having a convertible too, here in Vegas it's mostly for night driving. But going to Utah to the mountains, or down to the coast in SoCal, is also part of it. The V12 GT is a very useable, versatile platform that you can cruise comfortably, then on an open road switch to Race/Manual and romp on it a bit, then go back to soft shock mode and Auto when in traffic again.

 

It’s arguably my fav car I’ve ever owned. Would have been the pista spider but the sound is a bit underwhelming. That said, everything else re the pista is a 10/10 in my opinion. I love that car so much. Wish they were showcasing the speciale at corsa pilota. Would probably sell a lot of cars. I know I’d prob be sold.

 

I would keep the GTS and sell the pista for the 296S. Because you emphasize driving, the experience between the pista and 296S is largely similar. The GTS offers the top down v12 experience.

I would say the opposite if you were a collector speculating on value over time.

 

I wouldn’t say I hate value and I’m still tortured that I sold my pista spider for half of what it’s prob worth now but I def buy these cars to drive. Having said that, before you know it my pista will have 25-30 miles on it and the value will plummet.

 

I just sold my 812GTS because I wasn't driving it much at all. I do however already regret it as the spec was super nice. I felt regret selling my Pista as well but I knew I could replace it anytime if I wanted. For now, I am down to 1 Ferrari which is a 296GTS but a Piloti is coming at some point. I am hoping to move out of the 296GTS soon, but not sure for what.

 

I guess it comes down to what you're looking for. Standard 296 is better to drive and use, faster, sounds better, and is more fun than the Pista. I'd imagine the Speciale will be even better. For that reason, I'd dump the Pista and keep the 812 GTS as it will give you a different type of experience to the mid engined 296.

 

Pista values are crazy right now. Try convincing the dealer for a Speciale Aperta allocation in exchange for the Pista...

They are going to make good money on the Pista, and you will spend good money on the SA. its a good win for everyone. Frame it that way

 

hmmmm yep this is really good perspective and prob the right answer. My pista is a unique spec too so should get a pretty solid amount. Blu Scozia/nero with Blu Scozia accents and full carbon. Pista is just so good looking and the drive is so insane. In way to Corsa pilota.

now if I could just decide which car to take on the drive. Can’t even make that decision. High class problems

 

No

 

Surprised no one has suggested keeping both and adding the 296 Speciale. That’s always the right answer.

 

Ah yes, The obvious choice but If I want to keep my family together one would have to go. My wife can’t comprehend why we have two.

I kept the 812 and Pista and passed on the allocation. I am certain the Speciale is going to be incredible. I’m hoping it comes out and depreciates and I can pick one up slightly used under MSRP. Having said that, it’s probably unlikely given how VS cars are appreciating these days. Let’s see what happens with the hybrid…..

 

I think expecting some mild depreciation is perfectly reasonable especially for the higher MSRP specs.

 

Sounds like a solid plan. In the meantime, keep working on the wife. You might be surprised how much progress you can make over time. I remember 8 years ago when I brought my gateway drug home (Ferrari F12) my wife thought I was crazy. When I quickly added a Performante and then replaced the F12 with an 812 she was quite upset. And then the years went by and my persistence broke her resistance, and ultimately she let me build a detached garage that currently houses 7 fun cars and with two more on the way. Worth mentioning, she’s an awesome wife and we could not be happier together. Over time, she came to realize the full extent of my passion (addiction?) and she became supportive (although she still thinks it’s full blown mid life crisis and thinks I am too old for these types of cars).

 

Too old, maybe. Too big, almost definitely!

 

I love this. A true tale of persistence paying off. I’m heading down a parallel path. The wife’s actually been very cool. Can’t say I haven’t put her through quite a bit the last 18 months. Went from a 992 GT3 touring to a 992 GT3. Traded it for an 812 GTS which I’ve kept. Then got a Pista Spider. Traded it for an F8 Spider(idiot…lesson learned). Traded the F8 for a 430 Scud which I kept for a week(literally) which I then traded for a Pista Coupe. Been a long strange trip but Ive now learned what i like and what I don’t like. Wasn’t a cheap education.

I’m sure in time she will come around to a 3rd. I’m hoping maybe one day she’ll be into them as well. I tried to get her to come to Corsa Pilota with me last month but no dice. I think shed have had fun if she gave it a shot. Regardless life is short and I’m enjoying my self immensely.

 

Why didn't you like the Scud?