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
If equipped, the car has at most a single 'Sport' button that firms the dampers and quickens throttle response — there is no scrollable mode menu, no Individual setup, and no software-defined dynamics.
04
Instruments
Analog tach and speedo with a small digital LCD strip for trip, odometer, and warning messages. No fully reconfigurable digital cluster and no head-up display on most trims.
05
Infotainment & voice control
Factory audio is CD-based, sometimes with an optional in-dash navigation screen (DVD-ROM map disc). No CarPlay, no Android Auto, no app integration — Bluetooth phone pairing only appeared on the very last cars of this era.
06
Driver assistance
Driver assistance is limited to the basics — ABS, traction control, and electronic stability control on most trims, with optional radar cruise control on late-era luxury cars. There is no lane-keep assist, no automatic emergency braking, no blind-spot monitoring, and no surround-view camera; drive with the same situational awareness you'd use in any analog performance car.
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
Smart-key fob with remote lock/unlock and rolling-code immobilizer. No phone-as-key, no shareable digital credentials, no remote app start.
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.