296 GTS

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blueSL

Original Poster:

633 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
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I know it’s not a V8 but in the absence of another home for it…

296 GTS revealed today, to my eyes it looks better than the GTB and still has a (small) glass panel into the engine bay. Otherwise, it’s exactly as you would expect given the 296 GTB and F8 Spider. Price supposedly around £270k before options which would put it £45k above an F8 Spider.

The launch colour of the non-Assetto Fiorano version is blu corsa and I did a double take after spending the glorious Easter weekend driving my F8 with the roof down.

Thoughts anyone?

kith

578 posts

252 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
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Looks absolutely fantastic in that launch blue. I can't see what anyone would follow through on a GTB order when this is now announced, unless Ferrari are playing games such as you have to have a GTB first.

Interesting that in the pics, the windscreen pillars and surround are body coloured on the AF version. I thought one of the stand-out features of the GTB design was the 'visor' like glasshouse with the blacked out pillars.

is-uk

1,510 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
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is-uk

1,510 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
quotequote all
kith said:
Looks absolutely fantastic in that launch blue. I can't see what anyone would follow through on a GTB order when this is now announced, unless Ferrari are playing games such as you have to have a GTB first.

Interesting that in the pics, the windscreen pillars and surround are body coloured on the AF version. I thought one of the stand-out features of the GTB design was the 'visor' like glasshouse with the blacked out pillars.
The bi-colour roof is a cost option.

kith

578 posts

252 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
quotequote all
is-uk said:
The bi-colour roof is a cost option.
So you can't get a body colour roof with the black pillars? Shame, I will have to withhold my imaginary order now smile

blueSL

Original Poster:

633 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
quotequote all
kith said:
Looks absolutely fantastic in that launch blue. I can't see what anyone would follow through on a GTB order when this is now announced, unless Ferrari are playing games such as you have to have a GTB first.

Interesting that in the pics, the windscreen pillars and surround are body coloured on the AF version. I thought one of the stand-out features of the GTB design was the 'visor' like glasshouse with the blacked out pillars.
That blue is blu corsa and this was my F8 at the weekend. The colour really pops in the sunshine…


MDL111

7,172 posts

184 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
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one of the prettiest Ferraris in a long time imo [this one and the Roma] - shame they did not replace that glass panel with some metal slats or similar, would look more cohesive imo

lambo666

464 posts

125 months

Tuesday 19th April 2022
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Blue SL - If it were not for the lack noise/drama - I would be driving an almost identicle specced car.
Very nice indeed. Just wished it sounded as good as it looks.

MitchT

16,230 posts

216 months

Sunday 1st May 2022
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Nice looking car as modern Ferraris go - like a new take on the 308/328, though still not totally convinced by the humps over the rear wheels. Also, pretty sure it'll sound nowhere near as good as the older cars and will be so fast you can't get anywhere near to enjoying its performance.

Anyway, here's my [somewhat unimaginative] configuration...


blueSL

Original Poster:

633 posts

233 months

Sunday 1st May 2022
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Looks good, I’m going to Maranello later in June to specify mine at the Atelier. The range of seats seems restricted compared to the GTB and that raises concerns about interior space. The reduction in wheelbase has to come from somewhere and this old dog might struggle to perform the gymnastics to get out of the thing.

Was out in the F8 Spider this morning in the wet so no roof down but I had the little window between the buttresses down to let the engine noise in and it sounded pretty good and the cars felt fantastic on the road. The secret is to keep the revs up, 60mph in 7th is not this car’s natural habitat, just as it isn’t for a 911 GT3. It’s no 458 Speciale, that ship has sailed.

Getting expensive though, this is their entry level mid-engined spider and hard to keep it under £300k.

MingtheMerciless

466 posts

216 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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A question (with all due apologies to those who hate this question, please ignore if you don't like it):

What are the thoughts on likely depreciation on this model? I know it is crystal ball gazing etc and one would expect to lose out, but I can't afford to not think about it. I thought the 812 would depreciate heavily, and it did initially, and that the SF90 would drop like a stone, and that was kind of true but seems to be ameliorating.

But the 296 GTS - I can't figure it out. One knew what the next V8 was going to be like, 458 with last n/a V8, F8 last V8, some cachet there. But the 296 GTS is uncharted territory. Good to drive, stupidly fast, sounds nice, not a V8 but great drivetrain, heavyish and complicated, not a limited model, hybrid drivetrain is a meh kind of compromise driven by climate change regulation which seems to wrok as well it can with the 296 but it is a stepping stone to some kind of different future.

  1. confused. Driving it soon though so that will tell a lot.

garystoybox

810 posts

124 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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I’m surprised how well the F8 prices have held up considering how good the 296 is. To me it sounds considerably better than the latter V8’s and was staggeringly good to drive. Being tall and long legged, the GTB was too tight and the GTS more so, so never a contender for me. Given the long warranty and service packages can’t see the complexity being an issue. They’re not cheap though and even if I really wanted one, I couldn’t stomach the price for a 6 cylinder-hybrid (rather have a lightly used 812 GTS for not much more).

MingtheMerciless

466 posts

216 months

Wednesday 15th March 2023
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Thanks, good point. However the hybrid element ends up meaning the on the road price is a lot less than any 812GTS for local tax reasons.