GTC Lusso T vs. Roma vs. Portofino: opinions | FerrariChat

GTC Lusso T vs. Roma vs. Portofino: opinions

Discussion in 'FF/Lusso' started by Sarastro, Apr 27, 2025.

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  1. Sarastro

    Sarastro Rookie

    Jan 19, 2020
    17
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Al Reev
    Dear all,

    I have owned as Ferrarista an FF, a California, a California T, an F12, a 612 Scaglietti, and now I own a Portofino, so I am well into the constant v8 vs v12 discussion...and have no doubt the V12 is per se definitely a better experience.

    However, among the cars I am evaluating for my next Ferrari (unless I decide to keep my Portofino), I have two cars with the "same" engine, i.e. the GTC Lusso T or the Roma. I would rather go for the V12 GTC but the PTU issue does keep me far away from it, plus the RWD system I always prefer (not to say that this V8 I have in the Portofino and had in the Cali T is really a great among the greatest engines).

    My line of reasoning is the following:
    - the GTC is similar to the FF; so a great car for the whole family; good looking but perhaps a bit too heavy for having fun? Happy to hear your views;
    - the Portofino I have is great in flesh and has the benefit of the cabriolet setting (Roma Spider is out of my budget, and I will wait for Ms Depreciation to make her job over time); keeping a car for too long however is not my piece of cake, usually;
    - the Roma is probably the best looking car, but is only in coupe form and has the +2 seats the smallest of the group. Of course I do not NEED them since I have other cars, but I like a lot the looks and the fact that the Roma seems to be the smallest of the trio, and so perhaps the funniest to be driven (at least in comparison to the GTC and perhaps also to the Poartofino). I also do not get crazy for the haptic controls, even if I like the look of the interior.

    I am really hoping that someone here had at least 2 (or 3) of these cars and can offer a real-life based opinion on them in comparison.

    I also know at present a 911 991.2 Targa 4S + other daily cars, for reference, and have a long experience with Aston, Maserati, Morgan, Porsche + American muscle cars.

    Thank you very much for your kind feedback - and don't tell me to read other threads, I did that already!

    Kind regards,

    Sarastro
     
  2. KennethCDO

    KennethCDO Karting

    Apr 28, 2023
    84
    PTU has a good definitive fix option now that’s WAY less than whatever F charges for a replacement. Failure rate is very low also. I guess at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have that deter you.
     
  3. ANOpax

    ANOpax Formula 3

    Jul 1, 2015
    1,356
    The Netherlands
    Hi Al,

    You’re asking your question in the FF/Lusso forum so you’re going to receive FF/Lusso biased answers…

    But I’ll try to be objective. To set the scene, my wife and I have, or have owned Aston V8 Vantage, Ferrari F355, Cali, FF and F12. We still have the last two and miss the first two, largely for reasons of diminutive size and accessible performance at low speeds. I also have >12hrs seat time in a Lusso T and Portofino as well as a test drive in a 458 and 296.

    I note that you’re based in Switzerland and whenever we visit your beautiful country in the Ferraris, we are never having fun in the car because of the draconian speed limits. So I guess that I would want to consider how you plan to have ‘fun’ with the car? Alpine passes? (in which case, smaller is better) High speed runs in Germany? (in which case V12 GT is better) or taking the family out on trips (in which case, Lusso or Purosangue wins) or driving with the roof down?

    The Lusso is more refined and more modern than the FF. It is also more agile due to the rear wheel steering and even though the car is physically slightly larger, it feels more nimble than the FF. As @KennethCDO mentioned, I wouldn’t sweat the PTU issue on the V12 Lusso.

    We didn’t gel with our Cali. It was coarse and unrefined, especially at speed where it didn’t inspire much confidence. The Portofino is a much nicer car in looks and temperament. And while I would normally prefer n/a over turbo, the n/a V8 in the Cali and 458 were so far removed from the screamer in the F355 that they did nothing for me.

    I have no experience of the Roma or Spider other than seeing the Spider at its launch party. They are pretty cars but it strikes me that the Roma is a fixed head evolution of the Portofino which you already have and the Roma Spider is the soft top convertible version of the coupe which was based on a folding roof convertible :confused:

    I don’t think a Roma (of either variety) is enough of a change from what you already have.

    In your shoes, I would be looking at the V12 Lusso out of the list of cars you provided. I would also consider a 296GTB.
    I note your preference for convertibles and would also suggest that you take a look at 812 GTS and 296 GTS.

    Good luck. It’s a nice problem to have!
     
    Elferink likes this.
  4. Y812

    Y812 Rookie

    Nov 16, 2024
    10
    Full Name:
    Yuri
    I think that GTC4LussoT is the best choice if you want everyday Ferrari with real 4 seats. It is a bit more playful and fun to drive than V12 due to RWD, but in terms of sound V12 is definitely better, however I like how V8T sounds and in my point of view it is the best sounding V8T on the market. Last but not list you can forgot about PTU issues.

    I did not consider Roma due to lack of space at rear seats, also I do not like digital design of the interior, for me Interiors of Lusso/Portofino/812 are on top of the class.
     
  5. papou

    papou Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2012
    1,736
    plantation Fla
    Full Name:
    daniel ross
    I’m 100% Ferrari currently FF but drove my friends Lexus LC 500 last week it is magnificent I truly believe there
    is not a better made car today and it sounds brilliant,
     
  6. Y812

    Y812 Rookie

    Nov 16, 2024
    10
    Full Name:
    Yuri
    I wonder why so many people are comparing FF/Lusso to LC500? Ferrari is absolutely in another league, I drove LC500 and can honestly tell that Lexus does not accelerate, handles and feels as special as any modern Ferrari does. LC500 looks interesting, but the design is not timeless, only one possitive thing is the engine sound: it is better the Ferrari’s V8T but worse than V12 without any doubt.
     
    350MH83 and ANOpax like this.
  7. papou

    papou Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2012
    1,736
    plantation Fla
    Full Name:
    daniel ross
    Never a doubt in my mind regarding V12, I love my Rolex watches but I can also admire the engineering artistry of
    a Grand Seiko.
     
  8. Steve27t

    Steve27t Rookie

    Aug 6, 2024
    8
    Palm Beach Gardens Fl
    Full Name:
    steven cropper
    Between a Lusso T and a Roma I like the look of the Lusso more, the rear wheel steer makes it agile and the RWD makes it fun. I drove the V12 but went with the T as I was hell bent on a really top spec and so the 12 was a bit rich, and the PTU although there is a good fix is still a pain to deal with and not exaclty free.
     

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