296 GTB Review

[SSO]

I just had the opportunity to spend several days driving a 296 GTB in a variety of different conditions and wrote up a review on it. Overall the car is really good, perhaps the best mid engine Ferrari since the 430 Scuderia. Only major negative is the driver interface. Too much swiping and tapping. Hybrid system works really well.

[garystoybox]

Enjoyed the write up and comparison.
When my 812 was in for service a couple of months back I had a 296 for a few days.
Enjoyed it but soon was itching to get behind the wheel of the 812. Just don’t find the new hybrid Ferrari soul-stirring to a same degree, despite its effectiveness. Ticks all of the boxes 10 out of 10 on paper but not translating to a big enough long term feel good factor imo.
Given the high number of used vehicles hitting the dealers with significant early depreciation it appears I’m not the only one who feels like this (my pal at the golf club been offered £80k less than his purchase cost against the incoming spider on his 10 month old car).

The 812 is actually much more compact than it first seems. Only 2-3 inches longer than the 296 and actually more compact than a Roma. Think just feels intimidating at first as sitting so far back relative to the mid engined cars.

Edited by garystoybox on Thursday 14th September 23:06

[WCZ]

good write up, do you think the 296 needs more power?

[Oaky]

Which one did you love?

[Nuttbelle]

Hybrid, meh

[SSO]

WCZ said:

good write up, do you think the 296 needs more power?

Definitely not.

[blueSL]

Interesting. My dealer wanted me to have a GTB as a stop-gap before a GTS and I’m glad I didn’t since the GTS is where I want to be. Things have definitely moved on and while depreciation is not in the same league as Aston Martin or McLaren, it’s there, real and painful. I think since interest rates have increased, a few pigeons have come home to roost.

[DeejRC]

SSO said:

I just had the opportunity to spend several days driving a 296 GTB in a variety of different conditions and wrote up a review on it. Overall the car is really good, perhaps the best mid engine Ferrari since the 430 Scuderia. Only major negative is the driver interface. Too much swiping and tapping. Hybrid system works really well.

Agreed entirely on your assessment of that damn trackpad. Mutual hatred indeed.

[SSO]

DeejRC said:

SSO said:

I just had the opportunity to spend several days driving a 296 GTB in a variety of different conditions and wrote up a review on it. Overall the car is really good, perhaps the best mid engine Ferrari since the 430 Scuderia. Only major negative is the driver interface. Too much swiping and tapping. Hybrid system works really well.

Agreed entirely on your assessment of that damn trackpad. Mutual hatred indeed.

Its shockingly bad.

[schaeffs]

SSO said:

I just had the opportunity to spend several days driving a 296 GTB in a variety of different conditions and wrote up a review on it. Overall the car is really good, perhaps the best mid engine Ferrari since the 430 Scuderia. Only major negative is the driver interface. Too much swiping and tapping. Hybrid system works really well.

Really interesting you said that - my last Ferrari was a 430 Scud and have just bought a 296 GTB. I found the 296 feels alive - just like the scud - really playful. Can't wait to spend some proper time driving it as the weather improves!

[SSO]

schaeffs said:

SSO said:

I just had the opportunity to spend several days driving a 296 GTB in a variety of different conditions and wrote up a review on it. Overall the car is really good, perhaps the best mid engine Ferrari since the 430 Scuderia. Only major negative is the driver interface. Too much swiping and tapping. Hybrid system works really well.

Really interesting you said that - my last Ferrari was a 430 Scud and have just bought a 296 GTB. I found the 296 feels alive - just like the scud - really playful. Can't wait to spend some proper time driving it as the weather improves!

Congrats and enjoy.