The sun is rising over the Pacific Ocean, casting a golden glow on the winding asphalt of the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. A brand new Ferrari Roma is parked at a vista point. Its owner, a first-time Ferrari buyer, is staring at the car with a mixture of pride and regret. He loves the car, but he wishes he had made different choices when he specced it. The seats are too stiff. The wheels are too flashy. The yellow brake calipers clash with the red paint.
With hundreds of personalization options, speccing a new Ferrari is genuinely overwhelming. The online configurator is addictive, but it is not educational. The salesman will encourage you to add options because they increase the profit margin. The forum members will have opinions, but their priorities may not match yours.
This guide covers the configurations worth paying for and the ones that drain your wallet for nothing.
The Location: Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California
The PCH is a ribbon of asphalt that hugs the California coast. It is a road for driving, not for racing. The curves are sweeping, the views are stunning, and the pace is relaxed. The Ferrari owners who live here have learned through trial and error which options enhance the driving experience and which are purely cosmetic.
The Ferrari Personalization Program: A Primer
Ferrari’s personalization program is called Tailor Made. It is divided into three levels: Exterior, Interior, and Equipment. Exterior options include paint colors, racing stripes, and wheel designs. Interior options include leather colors, stitching patterns, and seat materials. Equipment options include suspension, brakes, and sound systems.
The program is extensive. You can spend an additional $100,000 on options without trying hard. Most of that money will not affect the driving experience. Some of it will.
The Options That Matter: Performance
The Carbon Ceramic Brakes
Standard on most V8 and V12 Ferraris, but not on the entry level models. Carbon ceramic brakes are worth the money. They reduce unsprung weight, resist fade on track, and last longer than steel brakes.
Worth it? Yes, if you drive aggressively or plan to track the car.
The Adaptive Suspension
Standard on most Ferraris. The system adjusts damping based on road conditions and driving mode. It provides a comfortable ride in normal mode and a firm, controlled feel in sport mode.
Worth it? Yes. It comes standard on most models. Do not delete it.
The Launch Control
Standard on all Ferraris. Do not pay extra for it. It is included.
The Exhaust System
The standard exhaust sounds good. The optional sports exhaust is louder and more aggressive. It is worth the money if you want more aural drama. It is not necessary for performance.
The Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
The engine cover is visible through the rear window. The carbon fiber cover looks beautiful. It does not affect performance.
Worth it? Only if you are showing the car at concours events. Otherwise, skip it.
The Options That Matter: Comfort and Usability
The Seats
Ferrari offers several seat options. The standard seats are comfortable for most drivers. The racing seats have aggressive bolstering that holds you in place during cornering but can be uncomfortable on long drives.
Worth it? The racing seats are worth it if you track the car. The standard seats are better for daily driving.
The Front Axle Lift System
This system raises the front of the car to clear speed bumps and steep driveways. It is essential for driving in urban areas. The system is reliable and easy to use.
Worth it? Yes. Buy this option.
The Parking Sensors
Standard on most Ferraris. The rearview camera is also standard. These are essential for parking and maneuvering in tight spaces.
The Infotainment System
Ferrari’s infotainment system is not as good as Porsche’s or BMW’s. But it is adequate. The upgraded sound system is expensive and not significantly better than the standard system.
Worth it? The upgraded sound system is not worth the money.
The Air Conditioning
Standard. Do not pay extra.
The Options That Matter: Aesthetics
The Paint Color
The most important aesthetic choice. Ferrari offers a range of standard colors at no additional cost. Rosso Corsa (red) is the classic choice. Bianco Cervino (white) and Nero Daytona (black) are also popular.
The special colors are expensive. Some cost $10,000 to $20,000. They are beautiful, but they do not affect performance. Choose one if you have the budget and you want your car to stand out.
The Racing Stripes
The stripes are painted on or applied as decals. They cost thousands of dollars. They look good on some cars, but they are purely cosmetic.
Worth it? Only if you love the look. They do not add value.
The Wheels
Ferrari offers several wheel designs and finishes. The forged wheels are lighter and stronger than the cast wheels. The diamond finish is beautiful but difficult to repair.
Worth it? The forged wheels are worth the money. The diamond finish is a matter of personal taste.
The Brake Calipers
The calipers come in several colors at no additional cost. Choose a color that complements the paint. Avoid clashing colors like yellow on a red car.
The Interior Leather
The standard leather is high quality. The upgraded leather is even softer and more luxurious. The contrast stitching adds a nice detail.
Worth it? The upgraded leather is worth it if you spend a lot of time in the car. The contrast stitching is a small detail that adds a lot.
The Carbon Fiber Trim
The carbon fiber interior trim is beautiful. It is also expensive. It does not reduce weight in any meaningful way.
Worth it? Only if you love the look.
The Options That Drain Your Wallet
The Special Paint Protection Film
Ferrari offers a paint protection film at an inflated price. You can get the same film from a professional installer for half the cost.
The Custom Luggage
Ferrari offers luggage sets that are designed to fit in the front trunk. They are beautifully made and terribly expensive. You can buy generic soft bags for a fraction of the price.
The Commissioned Stitching
You can have your name or initials embroidered into the seats. This is a nice touch, but it does not affect anything.
The Carbon Fiber Aero Bits
The carbon fiber front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser look aggressive. They are also fragile and expensive to replace. A stone chip can ruin a $5,000 piece.
The Special Edition Badging
Ferrari offers special edition badges for various anniversaries and events. These badges cost thousands of dollars and add no value.
The Malibu Morning: A Wise Owner’s Perspective
The owner of the Ferrari Roma has learned his lesson. He is now helping a friend spec a new 296 GTB.
“Get the front axle lift,” he says. “I did not, and I regret it every time I enter a parking garage.”
“Get the adaptive suspension. It is standard. Do not delete it.”
“Get the forged wheels. They look better and they are stronger.”
“Skip the carbon fiber engine cover. No one will see it but you.”
“Skip the upgraded sound system. You will be listening to the engine, not the stereo.”
The First-Time Buyer’s Checklist
Before you spec a new Ferrari, complete this checklist.
- Set a realistic budget for options. Do not let the configurator run wild.
- Prioritize performance and comfort options over cosmetic options.
- Research the standard equipment. Do not pay for features that come standard.
- Test drive a car with the options you are considering.
- Ask the dealer which options hold their value on the resale market.
- Ignore the forum members who say you must buy every option.
Conclusion
Specing a new Ferrari is overwhelming, but it does not have to be. Focus on the options that matter: carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive suspension, front axle lift, forged wheels, and comfortable seats. Skip the options that drain your wallet: special paint protection film, custom luggage, and carbon fiber aero bits.
The sun is higher now over Malibu. The Ferrari Roma is gone. Its owner is wiser. He will not make the same mistakes again.
The best advice comes from a seasoned Ferrari collector: “Buy the car for yourself, not for the next owner. Get the options that make you happy. But be smart about it. A $20,000 paint job does not make the car faster. A $10,000 carbon fiber engine cover does not make the car more fun to drive.”
That is the truth of speccing a Ferrari. The options that matter are the ones that enhance the driving experience. The rest is decoration. Choose wisely. Drive happily.
