My 296 GTS Spec
Discussion
Ah yes, the Atelier experience. I liken it to a beautiful Italian woman emptying your wallet and then taking you out to lunch.
My silver 296 is an Atelier car and after completing the spec, we put it to one side and started another based on my second choices and it was quickly obvious it was not better, so the original was, for me, the right one.
Good luck in finalising the spec of yours, it’s a great car to drive!
My silver 296 is an Atelier car and after completing the spec, we put it to one side and started another based on my second choices and it was quickly obvious it was not better, so the original was, for me, the right one.
Good luck in finalising the spec of yours, it’s a great car to drive!
In the real world of crossovers, speed bumps and gradient changes, I think the front axle lift is essential. It’s not like a Porsche GT3 where all can be made good by replacing the rubber spoiler lip. On a Ferrari, fixing an under-car scuff is seriously expensive, especially if you have gone for carbon. So to those who claim they’ve never needed it, I just say “yet!” In France, there are now horrible speed bumps at the entry and exit of villages, just waiting to spoil your day.
Leaving aside everything cosmetic, the black exhaust finisher is a must. The early silver ones discoloured like a motorbike exhaust. My black one now seems to have a glassy surface, I do not know if the silver ones has been updated in the same way.
I have carbon driver zone with LEDs and centre console, also matt finish carbon. If you like your music, the sound upgrade is worth having. I had the standard one in a 488 and it was pants.
Paint, black roof, wheels, interior leather, all down to personal taste. Brake callipers, exterior carbon the same. Shields can’t be retrofitted for sensible money. Avoid carbon fibre wheels.
The 296 is a bit less spacious inside than the 488/F8, and the racing seats for me are both comfortable and take up less space.
Enjoy speccing your car!!
Leaving aside everything cosmetic, the black exhaust finisher is a must. The early silver ones discoloured like a motorbike exhaust. My black one now seems to have a glassy surface, I do not know if the silver ones has been updated in the same way.
I have carbon driver zone with LEDs and centre console, also matt finish carbon. If you like your music, the sound upgrade is worth having. I had the standard one in a 488 and it was pants.
Paint, black roof, wheels, interior leather, all down to personal taste. Brake callipers, exterior carbon the same. Shields can’t be retrofitted for sensible money. Avoid carbon fibre wheels.
The 296 is a bit less spacious inside than the 488/F8, and the racing seats for me are both comfortable and take up less space.
Enjoy speccing your car!!
I had the race seats in my GTB with the electric lifter. They look good but are a bit of a pain to get in and out of due to the high sides on the seats base. I went with the comfort seats in the GTS as you can add the neck warmer function and seat ventilation which make using the car top down in both hot and colder weather more pleasant. There are more trimming options for these seats as well which allow you to create a more bespoke look if that is a consideration. It's all down to personal use and preference.
The lifting system is a must and is needed to get on and off most delivery vehicles if you use covered transport for servicing. It would almost certainly be required to get the car onto any recovery vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
The silver exhaust finisher is easy to look after provided you don't mind wiping it down with G Techniq Metal Polish which removes any exhaust soot stains. The lower body trim in the standard plastic is very noticeable as the side skirts are very deep. I went for carbon on both my GTB and GTS. Strangely the rear diffuser looks fine in the standard plastic finish due to the shape and angle of it curving under the car. I left that in plastic on the GTB but went carbon on my GTS as I plan to keep it longer.
The options list is substantial and there are lots of options outside of the ones shown on the configurator. Dealers can specify these without needing a trip to the Atelier. I added quite a few to my car in this way.
The lifting system is a must and is needed to get on and off most delivery vehicles if you use covered transport for servicing. It would almost certainly be required to get the car onto any recovery vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
The silver exhaust finisher is easy to look after provided you don't mind wiping it down with G Techniq Metal Polish which removes any exhaust soot stains. The lower body trim in the standard plastic is very noticeable as the side skirts are very deep. I went for carbon on both my GTB and GTS. Strangely the rear diffuser looks fine in the standard plastic finish due to the shape and angle of it curving under the car. I left that in plastic on the GTB but went carbon on my GTS as I plan to keep it longer.
The options list is substantial and there are lots of options outside of the ones shown on the configurator. Dealers can specify these without needing a trip to the Atelier. I added quite a few to my car in this way.
I’m quite tall in my upper body - top 5% it was said when I did a Jaguar car clinic and they measured me - so I like to sit as low as possible and that is with the racing seats and no lifter. If you have the lifter, it will not go as low. The lifter can’t be retrofitted but don’t think it would be a show stopper on resale.
Certainly true there are lots of possible options. Because my car is silver, I wanted the prancing horse and Ferrari logo in black. The horse they will do but not the logo. I eventually had them in satin which was a waste of money. You can have different Italian flag badges, down to choice, the car already looks quite busy at the back.
Some paint colours are sub-contracted out to a company Zanasi for painting and my experience is their quality is not good enough.
Usual caveat that you see little extra value at resale for most options.
Certainly true there are lots of possible options. Because my car is silver, I wanted the prancing horse and Ferrari logo in black. The horse they will do but not the logo. I eventually had them in satin which was a waste of money. You can have different Italian flag badges, down to choice, the car already looks quite busy at the back.
Some paint colours are sub-contracted out to a company Zanasi for painting and my experience is their quality is not good enough.
Usual caveat that you see little extra value at resale for most options.
Excellent description and very nice spec. BlueSL. I have just driven the Coppa Milano - San Remo in Italy (in an Oldtimer) but there were about 30 modern cars in a separate group participating. A couple of Pistas, 458 Speziales and a single 296 GTS with Fiorano pack. They all used their front lifts on various occasions but the Fiorano Pack 296 managed to get through without major scratches - I still wouldn’t spec one without it however.
Yes, as you know, you can’t have the front lift with the Fiorano pack. Seems reasonable for a track focussed car but I cringe every time I get a video of a car on a ramp when in for service and the scuffs are plain to see.
I’d actually like it to go a bit higher still and also not reset until 50 kph. It’s also slower acting than the Porsche equivalent.
I’d actually like it to go a bit higher still and also not reset until 50 kph. It’s also slower acting than the Porsche equivalent.
Have gone with seat and front lifter thanks chaps. Some stripes in seats to match bodywork and some carbon bits. Only tech things not standard I got were high power stereo and the front radar cruise control - a bit unusual but this isn't going to be a track car and there will be some mere transport runs to get to the nice places. I was going to get ADAC but dealer helpfully said you would be driven demented by the bongs and it wasn't a great addition to the car. Was impressed by focus on getting it exactly right for me and not on up selling options.
For me, the key to a successful configuration is knowing when to stop so as not to overdo it. Almost all the options are cosmetic not functional and you only have to look at some US cars where I think there is a culture of ticking every box to see it doesn’t always work. All in my opinion, of course.
The only option I would like up have included would be a front camera, the front of the car disappears out of view, especially in an 812 so extreme caution is needed when parking. I tend to reverse in so I can use the reversing camera to judge my position and I also use Carbonio licence plate mounts which mount the plate low and is the first thing to make contact with a curb or a wall if the worst happens and might just save you.
The only option I would like up have included would be a front camera, the front of the car disappears out of view, especially in an 812 so extreme caution is needed when parking. I tend to reverse in so I can use the reversing camera to judge my position and I also use Carbonio licence plate mounts which mount the plate low and is the first thing to make contact with a curb or a wall if the worst happens and might just save you.
Damn. Even has Daytona upholstery. Black upper trim keeps weird reflections at bay.
Your car has my perfect cosmetic specification (I'd have probably have had the lateral stripes on the Daytona seats in dark blue, but I'm really nit-picking now!).
Your car has my perfect cosmetic specification (I'd have probably have had the lateral stripes on the Daytona seats in dark blue, but I'm really nit-picking now!).
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 25th March 15:01
blueSL said:
Gosh, you went for the leather and alcantara floor mats! What are they, £1100?
I left them as standard which means you get an extra bit of carpet, looks like an off-cut!
Try over 3 times that cost. It's not as bad as it sounds though as it eliminates all carpet on the door sills and inner front wings/footwells and replaces that with alcantara. The centre tunnel is finished in the chosen leather colour as is the lower rear wall and under each seat. As I had sprung for the ridiculous upscale charge for the semi analine leater already it seemed prudent to option the leather/alcantara carpet option as Ferrari do not charge you a second time for using the more expensive leather so it made sense to get as much of it as possible in the interior.I left them as standard which means you get an extra bit of carpet, looks like an off-cut!
I had the standard carpet in my GTB and the floor mats look terrible as they have no edge binding and appear to be backed with some sort of stiff board. The carpet quality Ferrari use isn't the best either. I don't know why they dropped the leather edged mats available in the other models as they would have looked much better in the 296.
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