296 reviews

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WCZ

Original Poster:

10,810 posts

201 months

Sunday 6th March 2022
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Evo review is up, seems like a fun car but can’t get over the hideous looks personally. The trade off is performance which isn’t really exploitable

Maybe I’m getting old though. Ferrari does have an incredible back catalogue to buy used

johnnyreggae

3,001 posts

167 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ferrari/296-g...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/ferrari/ferrari-2...


And my favourite from our own PH:


"I've never made myself sick while driving before."

Edited by johnnyreggae on Monday 7th March 09:49

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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New supercars simply will not appeal to most going forward other than a status symbol sadly.

Too heavy, too cumbersome, too quiet, too fast all adds up to being boring zzzzzzz.

Back catalogues are the way forward hence why I've been buying all the decent examples I can get my hands on

footsoldier

2,272 posts

199 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I actually quite like how it looks, and it is appealing to me more than expected, having read the reviews.
I do think that Cup2R tyres should be banned from reviews though...they last about 5 minutes but add a lot of fake grip in those 5 minutes!

cgt2

7,141 posts

195 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I was at a preview last week. Still unsure on the looks, the side and rear views look great in the flesh, the front is absolutely horrible. I can't imagine history will remember it as one of their greatest creations.

originals

1,635 posts

34 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Awful looking thing.

blueSL

633 posts

233 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Reviews very positive but that shortened wheel base feels as if it has been achieved at the expense of a cramped interior. What's certain is that I wouldn't be especially happy if I had an SF90 on order. That car has obviously been used as a development platform to finesse the 296 and remains rather unloved.

Ferrari say it doesnt replace the F8 but sits above it in the model range; that's interesting because AFAIK, the F8 order books closed some months ago.


RichardCHXX

112 posts

51 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Not forgetting that it sounds like a hoover

paddy1970

811 posts

116 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I don't understand people paying any attention to "new car" reviews. First, all the press cars are "specially prepared" (more bhp, tweaked suspension, additional NVH sound deadening....). Second, the reviewers do not dare criticise the cars as they will be black listed. Third, someone else perspectives may be irrelevant to your own priorities.

If you want to know about a car, you go to a dealer and test drive it....preferably over a weekend so you get a good idea. Although, I usually have a good idea after 1/2 hour of mixed driving.

I have been criticised on this forum when I go and test drive multiple vehicles (usually 3 or 4) to make up my mind but unless you sit in the car, you don't know.

I really don't understand people spending serious money on a car without doing their own research...

Taffy66

5,964 posts

109 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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I had a good look at one at Fiorano last October and both myself and my son agreed it looked stunning in the metal and pictures don't do it justice. Having read/watched a couple of reviews I like it even more but at over £240k for base spec and most likely £300k+ for a nice spec too rich for my blood unless I sell my 812 which I want to keep.

WCZ

Original Poster:

10,810 posts

201 months

Monday 7th March 2022
quotequote all
paddy1970 said:
I don't understand people paying any attention to "new car" reviews. First, all the press cars are "specially prepared" (more bhp, tweaked suspension, additional NVH sound deadening....). Second, the reviewers do not dare criticise the cars as they will be black listed. Third, someone else perspectives may be irrelevant to your own priorities.

If you want to know about a car, you go to a dealer and test drive it....preferably over a weekend so you get a good idea. Although, I usually have a good idea after 1/2 hour of mixed driving.

I have been criticised on this forum when I go and test drive multiple vehicles (usually 3 or 4) to make up my mind but unless you sit in the car, you don't know.

I really don't understand people spending serious money on a car without doing their own research...
this is the new ferrari 296 that's just come out, you can't test drive one at the moment. why not pay attention to the reviews?

i've bought cars on the basis of good reviews before and not been disapointed. there is some value to them imo

what is interesting is how relatively bored and emotionless the reviewers seem, compare it to when the 458/spec was first out - there is a huge contrast of how much they were enjoying it


garystoybox

810 posts

124 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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WCZ said:
this is the new ferrari 296 that's just come out, you can't test drive one at the moment. why not pay attention to the reviews?

i've bought cars on the basis of good reviews before and not been disapointed. there is some value to them imo

what is interesting is how relatively bored and emotionless the reviewers seem, compare it to when the 458/spec was first out - there is a huge contrast of how much they were enjoying it
Couldn’t agree more. Now watched a few of the videos and they are almost scripted in their similarities - reviewing seems ‘paint by numbers’; going through the process as detailed by Ferrari . For example, the 812 launch videos were all about the staggering engine/gearbox combo and the sheer exhilaration of the interaction with the car. That’s now replaced with very little comment on the emotional interaction and how the cars drivetrain makes you feel. No mention of how tiny it is inside either. I’m 6 foot 3 and had oodles of room in 458/488. My wife at 5 foot 9 couldn’t even stretch her legs out in the passenger seat of the 296 and I couldn’t fit at all.

MDL111

7,171 posts

184 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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as posted on the other thread, I think it looks great (as does the Roma) and it looks like Ferrari has finally turned the ship around after 2 decades of producing cars that looked at best average with very few exceptions [e.g. Monza]
Still don't really want one, but that has to do with the tech etc not with the looks for once.

Edit to add: average is maybe the wrong expression, "not pretty" covers it better

123RY

227 posts

87 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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garystoybox said:
Couldn’t agree more. Now watched a few of the videos and they are almost scripted in their similarities - reviewing seems ‘paint by numbers’; going through the process as detailed by Ferrari . For example, the 812 launch videos were all about the staggering engine/gearbox combo and the sheer exhilaration of the interaction with the car. That’s now replaced with very little comment on the emotional interaction and how the cars drivetrain makes you feel. No mention of how tiny it is inside either. I’m 6 foot 3 and had oodles of room in 458/488. My wife at 5 foot 9 couldn’t even stretch her legs out in the passenger seat of the 296 and I couldn’t fit at all.
Interesting. Henry catchpole at 6ft5 seemed pretty comfortable. That was with a helmet too. Different seat options perhaps?

12pack

1,594 posts

175 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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Well, its always fun to read what the reviews say about the previous model - or in this case the "unloved", "numb", "uninteresting" SF90.

Wonder what they'll say about the 296 when the 310 GTB comes out.

garystoybox

810 posts

124 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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12pack said:
Well, its always fun to read what the reviews say about the previous model - or in this case the "unloved", "numb", "uninteresting" SF90.

Wonder what they'll say about the 296 when the 310 GTB comes out.
Funny, I was just saying the same to a client this morning. He’d bought a launch model DB11, when the plaudits were industry wide. Shortly after with the launch of the V8 and AMR, the press were all reporting how it was now the car it should have from the beginning, with all the wrongs made right. I always thought that accusations of free trips to warm climates were a bit harsh or exaggerated. In the current competitive YT world, things seem worse then ever. Best see them for what they are (a free glossy stream of adverts) and I’ll make my own mind up when I get the experience the car in person.

WCZ

Original Poster:

10,810 posts

201 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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it was mentioned in the evo review (iirc) that they'd improved some of the failings of the sf90

130R

6,856 posts

213 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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Looks wise I especially like the rear haunches but I'm not keen on the headlights. I also can't help but think it would be a better car without the hybrid system. Presumably that would save cost and 663hp is more than enough surely, especially with 130kg less weight.

MingtheMerciless

466 posts

216 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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130R said:
I also can't help but think it would be a better car without the hybrid system. Presumably that would save cost and 663hp is more than enough surely, especially with 130kg less weight.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Mind you, Maserati are making that car.

Kid B

33 posts

45 months

Tuesday 8th March 2022
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It's ugly, and a V6 to boot. No attraction for me. I'd rather get an Emira which at least looks beautiful and costs half as much.

I'm sick and tired of reading reviews (like the one on this site) whose contents are just 2/3 regurgitated stats sheets/press release filler. I don't want to read more than a line or two about why Ferrari thinks this car is revolutionary and/or evolutionary. Tell me how it drives, what it's like on the inside and for god's sake compare it to its competitors rather than making naff statements in a vacuum.

Reckon some of these auto journos are plodders who don't want to miss out on the next invite to fly somewhere business class on Ferrari's dime. Get a real job.