Introduction to the Ferrari Roma Spider
Spiders - or “convertibles” to you and me - are big business to Ferrari, so it was inevitable that the Roma, its entry-level model (and we use that phrase in its loosest possible term), would eventually lose its head. So to speak. Here then is the Ferrari Roma Spider. Our first chance to drive it was actually in Ireland as part of a larger driving event with Ferrari, covering a few days on some of the best roads Munster have to offer. Surely not the ideal conditions for an open-topped sports car such as this?
Pros & Cons of the Ferrari Roma Spider
Pros: Dual nature of its personality, serious performance, good looks
Cons: Fiddly steering wheel buttons, tiny rear seats
Exterior & Design of the Ferrari Roma Spider
• Fabric soft top deploys in 13.5 seconds
• Same distinctive 'face' as the coupe
• Impossible to ignore the options list
The exterior design of the Ferrari Roma Spider is undoubtedly striking, though not quite as look-at-me dramatic as some models in the Italian brand's stable. Up front, the body-coloured grille with its perforations and the shark-nosed contours call to mind Ferraris of yesteryear, but the rest is low and sleek as only a modern Ferrari would be.
Voluptuous curving wings and large LED lights distract from the long front overhang and the fact that there's an engine lurking under the sculpted bonnet, while the windscreen is dramatically sloped. The Roma Spider doesn't look bad with the soft-top raised, but it is far more alluring with it lowered.
The roof itself can be had in a variety of finishes (there's a red and silver option that really works well in conjunction with red paint, for example) and it goes up or down in 13.5 seconds. On the move, this can be done at speeds of up to 60km/h, which is a handy feature if the weather suddenly turns.
Other than an overall increase of 5mm in height, the Roma Spider shares its dimensions with the hard-topped coupe. For reference, the Spider's dimensions are:
Length: 4,656mm
Width: 1,974mm
Height: 1,306mm
Wheelbase: 2,670mm
Our favourite view of the Roma - coupe or Spider - is from the rear, where you can appreciate the thoroughly modern take on Ferrari's double-light style. The automatically deploying rear spoiler is picked out in black to contrast with the paintwork, as is the aerodynamic diffuser beneath the rear number plate. Even the quad exhaust tips poking through this are stylised.
As is the norm in the sports car market, Ferrari offers a bewilderingly long list of options to allow buyers to customise the car to their liking. Whether you're into carbon-fibre trim or an historical paint colour, you'll be catered for - at a price, of course.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the Ferrari Roma Spider
• So-called seats in the back
• Boot holds up to 255 litres
• Fiddly steering wheel buttons
You may have noticed the extra pair of headrests visible from the outside of the Spider when its roof is down. There are rear seats, technically available for passengers, but they're virtually useless due to the lack of space. They're best thought of as extra luggage storage, which, given the limited boot space when the roof is down, is not a bad thing.
A 255-litre boot is decent in a convertible such as this, but that volume is only available when the roof is raised. To lower the roof, an extra divider is needed in the boot, massively reducing the amount of space for luggage.
And while those rear seats could usefully accommodate a couple of big bags, we wish Ferrari had dispensed with them altogether and freed up more adjustment and space for the front-seat occupants. This isn't a car for those of larger frame.
It's a bit of a mixed bag in terms of switchgear, too. We're not huge fans of the drive selector on the centre console, styled to mimic the open-gated manual shift of old Ferraris. And yet the gorgeous steering wheel is fantastic to hold and blessed with wonderfully tactile gearchange paddles.
The touch-sensitive controls on the wheel itself are ok, though we'd prefer a physical button for the engine start. Thankfully the tactile 'manettino' drive-mode selector is present and correct.
Much has been said about Ferrari's decision to do away with indicator column stalks in favour of buttons on the steering wheel. For what it's worth, we found the buttons easy to use and nicely weighted for changing lane on the motorway, for example, but a disaster for indicating you're exiting a roundabout. No matter how used to them you get, this is going to remain the case.
Unlike some Ferraris that bundle the infotainment in with the digital instruments, the Roma gets a standalone touchscreen in the middle of the car. It's a relatively small 8.4-inch item set vertically, and it works well enough, though it's a shame the climate controls are on the screen rather than using physical buttons.
Spend a little more (ok, a lot more) and the front-seat passenger can have their own slender display, too. Though it's not a patch on the view the driver gets with the big, bold, yellow rev counter taking pride of place in the digital instruments.
Performance of the Ferrari Roma Spider
• Some 84kg heavier than the Roma coupe
• Highly adjustable driving dynamics
• Feels like a serious sports car when required
Some may dismiss the Roma Spider for both its position in the Ferrari lineup and the fact it's a convertible. Believe us when we say this is a true Ferrari in terms of how it performs. It is powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, which produces up to 620hp and 760Nm of torque. Read that sentence again and tell me this isn't a serious machine.
Despite a little extra weight over the Roma coupe, the V8 delivers strong performance figures, including a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed in excess of 320km/h according to Ferrari.
Admittedly, left in the default Comfort driving mode, the Roma Spider is a surprisingly docile and comfortable car, capable of handling long-distance drives with ease. The suspension is supple enough to absorb road imperfections and speedbumps, and the gearbox is smooth, with the dual-clutch transmission shifting seamlessly.
In this mode, the throttle is almost lazy, as you need to push the accelerator pedal down quite far to elicit a response. It makes it a doddle to drive smoothly, even in slow traffic situations, or when manoeuvring the car in a tight spot. If you want a 'softer' throttle again, there's also a Wet mode, though we found no need for it, even in bad conditions.
Left to its own devices, the gearbox is fine, as mentioned, but you'll uncover an entirely different side to its personality if you select the manual mode from the centre console. Not only are you then responsible for the shifting - using those glorious paddles behind the wheel - but the gearchanges happen quicker, and they're accompanied by rousing sounds from the quad exhaust system behind.
Going down through the gears results in sharp changes punctuated by gratuitous throttle blips, while flat shifting on the way up can be downright violent. In a really, really good and exciting way that car nuts will appreciate. Used like this, the Roma Spider suddenly feels very serious indeed.
And that's before you explore the more focused settings of Sport and Race, where the exhilaration is ramped up a notch. There's an “ESC Off” option as well, allowing the brave to switch the electronic stability control off completely, but on the public road this car is thrilling enough without the need to do that.
Actually, on an Irish public road, you'll be grateful for the option to separate the damping setting from the main drive mode. No matter which of those you're in, you can press the manettino down to access “Bumpy Road”. Amusing as it is to see Ferrari blaming the road rather than the car, this is highly effective, allowing the suspension more give to deal with poor surfaces.
As is Ferrari's preference, the steering of the Roma Spider is incredibly reactive and free of slop, with plenty of feedback to the driver's hands. It's a real joy to attack a sequence of interesting corners in and, showing how serious Ferrari takes that enjoyment, this car comes as standard with carbon-ceramic brakes. The brake pedal is deliciously firm and confidence inspiring, no matter how hard you push.
Running Costs of the Ferrari Roma Spider
• Ferrari running costs expected
• Excellent servicing package included
• You can extend the warranty
The Ferrari Roma Spider has a WLTP combined fuel consumption of 11.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 258g/km, placing it in Ireland's highest motor tax band with an annual charge of €2,400. That's par for the course with this level of performance, and no owner will worry how often they're filling up the ample 80-litre fuel tank.
Insurance premiums are expected to be substantial, too, reflecting the vehicle's performance and value. Ferrari offers a standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, with extended coverage options available for purchase.
More impressive is Ferrari's seven-year Genuine Maintenance Programme. This is included as standard and covers all scheduled maintenance for the first seven years of the vehicle's life, regardless of mileage. Services are performed annually or every 20,000km, whichever comes first, and include labour, original replacement parts, engine oil, brake fluid and other routine checks.
The programme is also transferable to subsequent owners, enhancing the vehicle's resale value. Obviously, this maintenance plan covers scheduled servicing only; non-routine repairs and wear-and-tear items such as brake pads and tyres are not included.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the Ferrari Roma Spider
• Only one Ferrari dealer on island of Ireland
• Expect imported price north of €500,000
• No car leaves the factory in 'standard' guise
The only Ferrari outlet on the island of Ireland is Charles Hurst Ferrari in Belfast, so Irish buyers will have to import one. Charles Hurst is no stranger to such things and should help anyone south of the border through the process.
As with most cars in this part of the market, no Roma is likely to come from the factory in standard format, such is the high level of personalisation available, but we'd suggest a minimum price in and around €500,000 registered on Irish plates.
There are plenty of high-performance cars in which the roof can be lowered, but the only true rival to the Roma Spider is perhaps the new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. They're remarkably well matched.
Verdict - Should You Buy the Ferrari Roma Spider?
It would be easy to dismiss the Roma Spider as only the most affordable way to drive a new open-topped Ferrari - and while it is that, the description doesn't do this car justice. Here is a good-looking, high-quality convertible that is an accomplished long-distance cruiser, but also an engaging sports car when the mood takes you. No other car that could be considered a rival to it can pull off this trick quite so well.
FAQs About the Ferrari Roma Spider
Is there a manual Roma?
Sadly no, as Ferrari no longer makes any car with a manual gearbox. Saying that, the dual-clutch “F1 DCT” transmission is a real gem and there's massive excitement and driver involvement to be had from it, depending on the settings chosen.
Would you have a Spider over a Roma coupe?
That's a tough question, actually. While the soft-top does a good job of keeping out the elements when the roof is up, and that's an extra side to the car, we prefer the design and practicality of the Roma coupe.
Want to know more about the Ferrari Roma Spider?
Is there anything else you'd like to know about the Roma Spider? Or anything you feel we haven't covered here? Then just head over to our Ask Us Anything section and, well, ask us anything.
