Im a few thousand miles into my F12, and I think the car is fantastic. Not that it is important, but as a first time owner I think the steering wheel is silly. The LEDs are great, but most of the other stuff doesnt make practical sense to me: If you are going to change a standard item like turn signals, the change should be a big improvement since it is going against muscle memory. Likewise, the hornI dont really want to think about how to use the horn when I need it. The start button on the wheel make little senseI dont often need it once the car is underway. Why put it there? Similarly, the driving mode selectorhow often do I need to change this once underway that I need it on the wheel? The other stuff is fine. Im all for cool looks and unique things, but the charm of the wheel is lost on me.
Ferrari started a trend ... Start buttons on steering wheels are common now ... Porsche and Audi now offer driving mode selectors as well. I believe LAMBO has turn signal buttons on the Huracan ... I like the look but defer to owners on the actual livability. I do agree that horn should be in standard location as it can be a life safety issue. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It takes some getting used to, but it's one of the best things about a Fcar. The modern wheel makes everything feel different, and it's clearly F1 inspired. Very efficient. I love it personally and wouldn't want an older Ferrari without the new wheel because it's a part of the experience. The steering feel is so great, and everything is there without moving far in traffic or at speed. Learning to do new things keeps us young ... you'll get into it maybe.
There was a similar thread in the 458 section. I really like the steering wheel config. Since I always drive in Auto, I have to keep both hands on the wheel and everything is right there without having to move an inch. I love the turn signals (if you press and hold they are in lane change mode and only flash 3 times). The volume and station select button are right there.. very efficient set up and I hate getting in to my lexus with the antiquated turn / wiper stalks. There are times when driving that you need to change the manatino. When on a track, you need to temporarily move to sport then back to Race or CT-Off for the F1 Trac auto-learning. Similar for changing road conditions. If it starts to rain or the road surface changes (from asphalt to concrete or clean to sandy conditions) you need to drop to sport and then back to CT-Off so the system can re-learn how much traction is available.
I like to warm up in Sport then switch to Race so it gets used each drive. If coming up to traffic Sport is a little better option sometimes as well. Once you get used to the turn signals on the wheel it seems old school and wasteful to flip normal stalks. The horn position is strange and so rarely used it can be hard to remember that your thumb is right on them. I do recall a rental car years ago that actually had the horn on one of the stalks! I find the shape of the wheel pleasant and seems to date the previous models at first glance.
thats what i want!!!!! some 747 action glass cockpit, the whole bit. I had the LED's on my Enzo and that was the biggest gaff I ever saw, I look infront of me-the road when im in the gas just in case there's a obstruction(a car going 70mph for example). Looking at a sterring wheel is a joke ESPECIALLY when the line of sight of the LED's and road are not on the same plane!!!!! in a F1 car yes the LED's are great. on a road car they are a joke. nothing more than a marketing ploy and cash grab. Like a paddle shift 360, it aint fast enough to need that, its marketing. now a f12, Enzo, Aventador anything over i'd guess 600hp needs a paddle shift as a gated gearshift/clutch peddle is just too slow. good for Ferrari adding uselss options to bump up the price, nothing wrong with sizzle and happy customers. but i like to keep it real, not live a illusion.,
The only two things I don't like, is the horn buttons and the start button. The start button would look more at home in the center console, and the horn buttons just don't do it for me. I think the Manettino is in a good spot to change on the fly. Same with lights and bumpy road mode.
Interesting POV on the LED's. I find it is easier to see than the tach. I catch them with my peripheral vision. I also think it looks cool for what that's worth.
I agree with 33pds. I find the LEDs useful- especially when at the track. But even on the road, I see them lighting up out of the corner of my eye. Of course I can tell by sound and feel whats going on, but this is a nice backup. I think LV Eric you have it pretty well when you say a lot of this is marketing. They need to find more ways to distinguish the car, and thus, lets put everything on the steering wheel. Each of us will have our likes and dislikes with this change. For me, I am with you guys on the turn signals- I prefer they left that alone. I think Ferrari really nailed it with the Manettino though- by far the best system from any of the companies for changing the setup of the car. Agree on the bumpy road button- great spot. The horn is interesting- I generally stay off the horn and Ive had a few Ferraris with the finger buttons for the horn so Im just used to it- I do agree it would likely be safer to have it where just about everyone else has it as the center of the steering wheel. Engine start, I agree its gimmick but where else would they put it, and Ferraris are very much about the engine, so this puts the word Engine very much front and center. Anyway just my 2 cents. These cars are so wonderful that this doesn't really bother me too much.
Looks great, no doubt. However isn't practical. I hit the Rev limiter on my Enzo many many times when I first got it as i wasnt used to the speed I needed to change gears, the LED's never helped me once. IIRC seems to me they all flashed red when i was late with a shift-that took a while to get used to. that was my experience, if they work for some-great!!! The wheel certainly looks better, I like the turn signals and start button on the wheel, I think they got all that right. Spot on. And if the LED's help some drivers great. i'm not the greatest driver, however i've driven a tonne of cars. If the led's and line of sight were on the same plane then i'd have them-i need all the help i can get. perhaps i'm too tall. I'd be crashing into everything looking at my wheel to see when to shift. I am of the opinion if you really know a car, sound/feel will tell you when to shift. I'd like to hear a counter point from a more skilled driver as i have lots to learn best eric
Never driven an Enzo but the LED lights don't appear especially bright. The ones on a real F1 car are very bright (and there are more of them, and in a different colour). It should be a relative straight forward modification and easily reversible, brighter LED's (and possible adjustable brightness).
The wheel in my FF took quite some time to get used to. I had a California with the old wheel and drove them equally, what a pain to switch between them. So I bought a California T. They are the only two cars that I drive and now am totally used to them and cuss when I have to drive my wife's Porsche Cayenne once in a while. The LEDs help the newb certainly and look cool to the uninitiated. My white tach is somewhat easier actually. Then you get used to the sound and ignore the tach and LEDs. UNTIL you trade your California in for a California T that has a 7,500 rpm limit and blow the limit regularly until you get used to the new sounds . What a great problem to have
My complaint is that the cruise control knob should be on the wheel in the FF and F12 but isn't, making for the need to reach to turn the silly knob whenever you want to adjust your cruise "speed."
Exactly...the steering wheel is designed this way to pay homage to the F1 wheel. Why not have all the controls there ? Save for the horn which should be on the airbag in the middle of the wheel...
