3 weeks with the Roma

I am writing this post for the benefit of anyone that just got Roma and hasn’t driven it hard.

A little background, I traded in my first Ferrari which was a 458 Italia. The first day with the Roma was amazing. I was really excited about having my first brand new Ferrari. It was so much easier to use the stereo and to make phone calls. I was digging it. Then after a couple of days I began to fear that I really made a mistake. The Roma was starting to feel like too much of a daily driver. Did I really just trade in one of the greatest Ferraris ever made? Have I made a mistake? Well this was all because I was trying to keep the revs below 5000 miles for the first 600 miles as described in the manual. I was basically driving around in automatic mode.

Now that the car is fully broken in, I only drove the car in manual mode. Once the car is fully warmed up, I drive it hard and I don’t shift until the steering wheel lights up like a Christmas tree. I can tell you for certain that this is a very capable Ferrari, if you drive it hard. If you do not drive this car hard it’s going to feel boring. In my opinion though, this is a great Ferrari. It is every bit as fun as my 458.

So if you have a Roma or if you are getting a Roma, drive the car hard in manual mode and I am sure you will be pleased with it.

 

Similar experience. After six years with my 458 Spider we added a Portofino M last year. I never worried about the break in period and always drive it in race / manual (my wife is happy with comfort / auto) and think it is about 95% as fun as my 458, but easily twice as comfortable.

I think the engine / transmission are the same in the Roma and Portofino M and I remain baffled by the LED steering wheel. The 458 is easy: 5 LEDs at 5500 / 6250 / 7000 / 7750 / 8920. The Portofino M has nine LEDs at 5500 / 5725 / 5950 / 6175 / 6400 / 6625 / 6850 / 7075 / 7300. With max HP starting at 5750 and max torque ending at 5750, the second or third LED seems to be the best option, but I would love more educated opinions.
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Rob, you probably have more experience than me but I just shift as soon as I see blue or earlier. The 458 is definitely easier. It talks to you more. I think you can easily bounce off the rev limiter in the Roma if not watching closely.

 

Completely agree, this car needs to be driven in manual mode. Coming from a DB11 which I almost always drove in auto, I was surprised how mellow auto mode is on the Roma no matter where the dial is set.

 

Yesterday I drove my 599 for the first half of the day and then jumped into the Roma for the second half!

It's very fast, spins the wheels in 3 gear...... Easy to drive too!

I also saw a grey Roma and Black Roma and I just love seeing them on the road! Better than a Porsche Turbo in my opinion!

 

curious how much attention the roma draws vs the 599. Not sure what color your 599 is. Saw a grey one yesterday on the road. First I've seen on the road in a couple of months and I see 911 Turbos multiple times a day. I love Porsches and will own more of them but I'm looking forward to something a bit more unique (that is, if ferrari BH will ever come through with my build slot)

 

Which did you enjoy more?


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It’s a good question.

My 599 is black so it goes a little under the radar.

The Roma is green and people who know what it is always have a second look at it.

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May the Horse be with you

 

The 599 has more charm with the Enzo V12 which is simply delicious. It is a far more rewarding car to drive at the limit, the steering is so precise with loads of feel.

The 599 is a big car and the traction system is no way near as advanced as the newer Ferrari’s so this keeps you on your toes too. Finally, I find the seats to be 1 million times more comfortable than the Roma too.

The Roma is a tighter package, feels much more agile and delicate to drive. The moment I jumped into it, I had a instant confidence to push in hard.

In summary they are at two ends of the spectrum and it is never a matter of which is better than the other as they simply compliment each other therefore there is a place for both.

Just like the 575 has a place in its own right. Image Unavailable, Please Login


May the Horse be with you