296GTB vs SF90

Yes, I know this was posted in the SF90 section, but it just seemed to have been glossed over yesterday, mostly by SF90 owners. This is an amazing and shocking result, to be honest. More shocking because these tests were done in damp asphalt conditions, where the SF90 should have moped the floor of the 296, but the 296 actually edged ahead and was pulling on the SF90 in the last couple roll races. I know the SF90 has the AF package which will causes a little bit more drag, but I do not believe the AF package is going to make a considerable difference in the results under 185 mph. Either way, it's still an incredible feat for the 296 to hold its own. On a dry day with sticky tires out back on the 296, it would definitely walk away from the SF90. And the quarter mile would be even closer as well, possibly tip the hat to the 296 based on its trap times being consistently higher.

It's hard to judge true power to weight ratios since Ferrari doesn't actually give correct numbers to begin with, but I do believe Ferrari is sandbagging it's 296 HP numbers. It's probably more like a 100 HP difference between the two cars based on these results, if you are to believe the 100 kg difference. It wouldn't surprise me if the 296 on a dyno does well over 800 HP to the wheels. The fact that it can keep up with a 765LT with well over 600 more pounds of weight is incredible in itself, so there has to be more power on tap than is advertised.

Brooks from Dragtimes dyno'd his 765LT coupe at 765 to the wheels, and it was able to keep up with if not slightly edge out his non-AF SF90 in the right conditions. I've been able to knock out 9.7@149mph on the street in my 765 Spider, and there have already been similar times by the 296 with stock tires. I wouldn't doubt if the 296 fitted with Toyo R888Rs or something similar could clock off a 9.5x@150mph in optimal conditions. I know a lot of people don't care about drag results, and we all know these cars weren't built to drag race, but some people still do put merit in these results. I personally find excitement in being able to accelerate that warp speed once in a while. The 765 and the Plaid were the only two vehicles that I have owned that gave me that sense of time warp euphoria, up until I drove the 296. I'm certainly looking forward to mine when it eventually arrives.

It is amazing that this car is able to be this fast with the extra weight, and still be RWD. And it has a usable frunk unlike the SF90, and to me, RWD is just funner to drive, and the V6 arguably just sounds better than the SF90. Could this quite possibly be the best overall car Ferrari has made so far for the money?

Flamesuit on.