Practical guide for everything a new owner asks on day one — starting the car, gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, driver aids, and easy-to-miss features.
01
How to start it
Step on the brake, then press the red Engine Start button on the steering-wheel — left spoke. The car beeps, the cluster flashes, and the V8/V12 fires. On PHEV models (296/SF90), the start button engages eDrive silently; you must press 'eManettino → Performance' to wake the ICE.
02
Where the gear selector is (and how to use it)
Ferrari uses steering-wheel-mounted carbon paddles plus center-console buttons labeled R, Auto, M, and Launch — there is no traditional stick. Press the brake, then tap 'Auto' to engage drive or pull the right paddle to manually grab 1st.
03
Drive modes
There are no selectable drive modes. Throttle response, steering effort, brake feel, and damping are mechanical rather than software-configurable.
04
Instruments
Analog gauge cluster centered on tachometer and speedometer; warning lights handle the rest. No reconfigurable digital layouts, no head-up display, no thumb-wheel menus.
05
Infotainment & voice control
Factory audio is AM/FM/cassette (CD changer on late-90s flagships). No touchscreen, no nav, no Bluetooth — connectivity features did not exist on the original car.
06
Driver assistance
Electronic driver assistance is either absent or extremely limited by modern standards. Do not expect adaptive cruise, lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, surround cameras, or stability-control intervention; leave extra space and warm the tires before driving quickly.
07
Fueling
Premium unleaded (91 or 93 octane) is required on Ferrari performance models — the engine timing is set for it and lower octane causes audible knock and reduced power. Fuel-cap release is a button on the driver door panel; the cap is capless (just push the nozzle in).
08
Keys
Cut metal key with immobilizer chip on most post-1993 cars. No remote-app access, no shareable digital keys, no wallet credentials.
09
First-week tips & easy-to-miss features
A few things every new owner tells us they wish they'd known on day one:
- Always use the front-axle lift before driveways and speed bumps — it stores the lift point in GPS so the car raises automatically next time.
- Warm tires and oil for at least 8–10 minutes before using Race / Track mode; cold rubber on this much power is the #1 cause of off-throttle spins.
- Download the brand app (Ferrari Connect) and pair it with your VIN before your first long trip — remote climate, charging/fuel-level checks, and remote lock-status save you walking back to the garage in winter.