From McLaren 720 to Ferrari Roma
Discussion
Worth reading the comparison review in EVO this month - Roma, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lexus. They like the Roma.
It’s good that Ferrari make different cars for different niches where McLarens and Aston Martins (DBX excepted) are a bit samey. I’ve driven both the Roma and the Portofino M, both of which I liked, but they don’t stir the emotions like the more sports-focussed cars.
It’s good that Ferrari make different cars for different niches where McLarens and Aston Martins (DBX excepted) are a bit samey. I’ve driven both the Roma and the Portofino M, both of which I liked, but they don’t stir the emotions like the more sports-focussed cars.
Had the Roma since this morning and I have to say that after Day 1…I am not a fan. The engine is, well, it’s an agricultural diesel unit! Seriously, Ferrari have made it sound like our V8 diesel in the Cayenne, in fact I think the Cayenne sounds better!
The inside is just a messy technical spew of stuff. It is utterly distracting. My wife is a huge car gadget and tech geek and it’s an interior that is heaven to her. Except she said it was all just too much and not focussed enough for what it was meant to be. Everything is just messy.
I’m in for a long haul to Oxfordshire tomorrow, will report back again after Day 2.
The inside is just a messy technical spew of stuff. It is utterly distracting. My wife is a huge car gadget and tech geek and it’s an interior that is heaven to her. Except she said it was all just too much and not focussed enough for what it was meant to be. Everything is just messy.
I’m in for a long haul to Oxfordshire tomorrow, will report back again after Day 2.
hornbaek said:
I think the Roma is wonderful - but when you are in that sort of territory its not far to a 812 Superfast and that is a proper Ferrari so that is where my search has taken me.
I drove a Roma and decided to buy a 812 Superfast for not much more then a well specified new Roma would cost. The 812 is so much better as a Ferrari you'd swear they were made by different car makers. DeejRC said:
Its easy to drive.
Thats about the only positive thing I have to say about it so far.
In every other way, by the metrics of what it is about...it is a catastrophically bad product.
I think you're being somewhat unfair on the Roma. In the metal its a truly stunning looking car with fantastic poke. However they need to be substantially less money than a hardly used 812SF to make any sense. Thats about the only positive thing I have to say about it so far.
In every other way, by the metrics of what it is about...it is a catastrophically bad product.
The F8 is even easier to drive than the Roma due to its superior steering and better traction. Neither car has the character of the F12/812 due to the lack of the wonderful V12 which has to be the best engine even put in a road car. I actually see both the V12 cars values rising from here on..
Both F12s and 812a are sure fire future classics and worth keeping long term IMO.
Sorry Taffy, but I don’t think I am. I LOVE the look of the Roma, I’ve been keen to get my hands on one for ages.
1. The interior is a confusing mess. It over complicates everything for zero benefit. You actively have to take your eyes off the road and then make sure the touchpad stuff is working.
2. The engine is appalling. I’m sorry but it sounds and feels like a poor mans diesel. It is a huge disappointment and much inferior to V8 diesel unit in my Cayenne.
3. The wing mirror placement is just plain idiotic. They take a huge amount of visibility away from the driver looking out of the side window, pulling out of jnts etc.
4. Space is poor. The boot feels tiny and awkward, the rear seats simply would have been better as more space.
I find this car a very large disappointment compared to hoped for expectations.
1. The interior is a confusing mess. It over complicates everything for zero benefit. You actively have to take your eyes off the road and then make sure the touchpad stuff is working.
2. The engine is appalling. I’m sorry but it sounds and feels like a poor mans diesel. It is a huge disappointment and much inferior to V8 diesel unit in my Cayenne.
3. The wing mirror placement is just plain idiotic. They take a huge amount of visibility away from the driver looking out of the side window, pulling out of jnts etc.
4. Space is poor. The boot feels tiny and awkward, the rear seats simply would have been better as more space.
I find this car a very large disappointment compared to hoped for expectations.
DeejRC said:
Sorry Taffy, but I don’t think I am. I LOVE the look of the Roma, I’ve been keen to get my hands on one for ages.
1. The interior is a confusing mess. It over complicates everything for zero benefit. You actively have to take your eyes off the road and then make sure the touchpad stuff is working.
2. The engine is appalling. I’m sorry but it sounds and feels like a poor mans diesel. It is a huge disappointment and much inferior to V8 diesel unit in my Cayenne.
3. The wing mirror placement is just plain idiotic. They take a huge amount of visibility away from the driver looking out of the side window, pulling out of jnts etc.
4. Space is poor. The boot feels tiny and awkward, the rear seats simply would have been better as more space.
I find this car a very large disappointment compared to hoped for expectations.
Don’t sit on the fence, why don’t you tell us how you really feel? 1. The interior is a confusing mess. It over complicates everything for zero benefit. You actively have to take your eyes off the road and then make sure the touchpad stuff is working.
2. The engine is appalling. I’m sorry but it sounds and feels like a poor mans diesel. It is a huge disappointment and much inferior to V8 diesel unit in my Cayenne.
3. The wing mirror placement is just plain idiotic. They take a huge amount of visibility away from the driver looking out of the side window, pulling out of jnts etc.
4. Space is poor. The boot feels tiny and awkward, the rear seats simply would have been better as more space.
I find this car a very large disappointment compared to hoped for expectations.
Personally, I thought the interior was quite nice, apart from the touch pads.
Also, I found the engine sounding as good as any turbo charged flat plane V8 can with GPF. And no, any sane person wouldn’t confuse it as a diesel under the bonnet.
Drove nicely and looks the business. My golf buddy has ordered one with a nice spec at £196k, some £60-£70k less than a nice 812. It’s also a very different car to an F12/812 imo.
DeejRC said:
Anybody who thinks that doesn’t sound like a naff diesel is deaf. Simple as. I will happily listen to the V8 diesel in the Cayenne every time over this engine. It’s not relative, it’s an absolute.
Don, what you doing over here on ph? Don't you have a 2024 election run to plan?? 
garystoybox said:
Don’t sit on the fence, why don’t you tell us how you really feel?
Personally, I thought the interior was quite nice, apart from the touch pads.
Also, I found the engine sounding as good as any turbo charged flat plane V8 can with GPF. And no, any sane person wouldn’t confuse it as a diesel under the bonnet.
Drove nicely and looks the business. My golf buddy has ordered one with a nice spec at £196k, some £60-£70k less than a nice 812. It’s also a very different car to an F12/812 imo.
Personally i thought it sounded pretty good for a GPF V8 Turbo. Its only when you compare it to a 812 it sounds ordinary, but then that goes for all cars. It sounds better than the F8 i drove. The one aspect the Roma trounces all its competitors especially any 992 is the ride quality which is pretty sublime for a Supercar. Personally, I thought the interior was quite nice, apart from the touch pads.
Also, I found the engine sounding as good as any turbo charged flat plane V8 can with GPF. And no, any sane person wouldn’t confuse it as a diesel under the bonnet.
Drove nicely and looks the business. My golf buddy has ordered one with a nice spec at £196k, some £60-£70k less than a nice 812. It’s also a very different car to an F12/812 imo.
At £196k they make perfect sense especially as 812SFs have risen in value by about £10-15k in recent months. The Roma should't be compared to the F12/812 as they are very different cars.
The one aspect i really didn't like about the Roma was the over-light vague steering which doesn't instill confidence to drive fast over bumpy B roads.The Roma i drove was a pre-production LHD car and i'm confident the fully honed final RHD car would steer a lot better.
footsoldier said:
Deejrc - do you have one, or was that a test drive?
I’ve had it since Monday. My F12 is in for its annual service. Was due to go back today, but they have found a little oil leak with the power steering, so sorting that. As such I’ll have the Roma over the weekend till mon/tues now…so will be a week with the car. Done about 350miles in her now as I’ve used her to come from Devon to the office and GW tomorrow.And I’m adding worlds most useless sat nav to its list of dislikes. I still can’t believe any of you think this thing doesn’t sound like a bag of s
te!Taffy66 said:
Is the Wakefield tavern in North Adelaide opposite the Fire Station still going. Spent a lot of time drinking there in the late 80s.
Just a block from my office. The Wakefield is still going but pubs are hurting here with ever-changing Covid rules. No Freedom Day here yet!Well, I'm also pondering the move from a 720S to a Roma. I recently drove a Roma at Millbrook and comparing it to the 720S is, of course, pointless. Two different job spec's.
I love the look of the Roma (and a Ferrari guy pointing out the similarities to a Monza didn't hurt). So much more substantial yet delicate compared to an F-Type or Aston.
Steering far too light at low speeds but does weight up as you push on. (Obviously I am spoilt beyond comprehension with McLaren steering.)
The view over the bonnet of the wings and power bulge is lovely (you see nothing ahead of the screen in the 720 - which is fine for a sports car, but in a front engined GT I want a view of the bonnet).
I hate screens and touch sensitive switches, Absolutely hate them. I run a tech company; but I want a car to be analogue. I thought this would be my biggest disappointment in the Roma; but actually I thought they had such an industrial and serious quality to them that my fears were (partly) allayed.
The car I drove rattled quite a lot. I am putting this down to: going over the pavé cobbles at Millbrook, the car being an early production vehicle, the car being mistreated as a press car. I might be wrong but I refuse to believe Ferrari build quality is still that poor in 2021.
I didn't change gears manually much, but from the little I did I can believe the reviews that the box is very very impressive.
I thought the lack of turbo lag was one tangible win over the McLaren.
Just my 2¢
I love the look of the Roma (and a Ferrari guy pointing out the similarities to a Monza didn't hurt). So much more substantial yet delicate compared to an F-Type or Aston.
Steering far too light at low speeds but does weight up as you push on. (Obviously I am spoilt beyond comprehension with McLaren steering.)
The view over the bonnet of the wings and power bulge is lovely (you see nothing ahead of the screen in the 720 - which is fine for a sports car, but in a front engined GT I want a view of the bonnet).
I hate screens and touch sensitive switches, Absolutely hate them. I run a tech company; but I want a car to be analogue. I thought this would be my biggest disappointment in the Roma; but actually I thought they had such an industrial and serious quality to them that my fears were (partly) allayed.
The car I drove rattled quite a lot. I am putting this down to: going over the pavé cobbles at Millbrook, the car being an early production vehicle, the car being mistreated as a press car. I might be wrong but I refuse to believe Ferrari build quality is still that poor in 2021.
I didn't change gears manually much, but from the little I did I can believe the reviews that the box is very very impressive.
I thought the lack of turbo lag was one tangible win over the McLaren.
Just my 2¢
Edited by nestreet on Sunday 3rd October 01:29
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