Time for a road trip to Monterey. The open road beckoned, or should I say the freeway and moderate to heavy traffic beckoned. A road trip in a drop top Ferrari, embarking on a journey to the central coast and the Monterey Peninsula to do some European type road tripping… yes please! Just a warning. This is a quick take review that will not go into exhausting detail of all of the features and nuances. It’s a Ferrari. Enough said.

The Ferrari Roma is a masterclass in design, channeling the spirit of mid-20th-century grand tourers while embracing the sleek minimalism of contemporary sports car styling. Its long hood, fastback silhouette, and subtly flared fenders echo the elegance of the 1960s Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, while the shark-like front end and grille assert its place in the 21st century. The result is a car that feels timeless—simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic, with a presence that’s both refined and unmistakably Ferrari. A throwback to Ferraris of old that evokes the desire to go for a Sunday drive every day of the week. were allowed to use modern materials and all their advanced trickery to resurrect Italian passion.

Flip (technically turn) the Ferrari’s Manettino switch to Race and forget about it. Even in its stiffest settings, it handles bumps with elegance and ease. The engineers at Maranello used their best magic to balance comfort and performance in the suspension, and they nailed it. Always confident and planted, giving enough road feel to the driver to ensure a complete driving experience. Yet, also avoiding chipped teeth while sipping from a water bottle.

The twin-turbo V8 doesn’t scream—it speaks in a deep, resonant growl that makes music unnecessary. At cruising speeds in the upper gears, it hums with a composed elegance, a mechanical whisper that barely hints at the beast within. It’s easy to be lulled by its civility, to forget that just beneath your right foot lies 611 horses waiting, ready to kick down the stall doors. But drop a gear, press with purpose, and the illusion shatters—the V8 awakens with a snarl, all fury and fire, as if insulted by your restraint and eager to remind you of its true nature. The dual clutch 8 speed gear box is definitely geared for road trips with long ratios, but finding power is never a problem. Clicking the giant paddles with ease moving through the gears or finding the grunt of a well timed down shift brings all smiles and grins climbing mountain roads and attacking the curves.

Gliding along the iconic curves of 17 Mile Drive, the Ferrari Roma reveals itself as a refined exotic—more grand tourer than brute, most at ease when cruising with elegance at a spirited pace. When the V8 isn’t devouring the ribbons of Northern California asphalt, the Roma becomes a moving sculpture, turning heads and slowing time, as if the world syncs to the slow motion soundtrack playing in your head. Much like an Aston Martin lends its driver the class of James Bond, the Roma casts its pilot as a modern-day renaissance gentleman—cultured, composed, and refined.

The journey commenced with a swift exit from Sacramento, heading south on I5. Although not the most scenic route, various navigation apps indicated it as the quickest option. After navigating through the Central Valley, we crossed the Pacheco pass and descended into the Salinas Valley, gradually getting closer to our destination. The Pacheco pass provided the first glimpse of the Roma’s capabilities on a sweeping mountain road. Recent construction on route 156 had replaced the four-way stop lights with a few large traffic circles. Despite the temptation to use the circles as Formula 1 track chicanes, we continued the journey at a swift but legally compliant pace. Arriving at our lodging I felt great although the seats are a little firmer than I prefer. Stepping out of the Roma and dislodging our luggage from the rear “seats” as well as the glove box sized trunk, I was keenly aware that this was a day of dreams accomplished. Alas, tomorrow could provide even more amazement.

The Roma has been criticized for being too compromised as a a GT car, but frankly those critics miss the point. The Roma recalls the classic era of the 50s and 60s where Ferraris were part performance and part rolling art exhibit.

Note the most common foible of Ferraris and that’s electronics. Settings are controlled by small center console screen and a series of capacity buttons on the steering wheel that control the driver screen. It all works…most of the time. I had a few issues finding things in the center screen menus or seeing through the glare with the top down. Several times the blind spot monitor had a fault and didn’t work but then would correct itself later. Apple Car Play worked all but one time where my phone would not connect. Another time as pulling away from my parking spot, what seemed like a seatbelt alarm was going off, but all seat belts were fastened, and then were no faults on the dash. This continue till I finally decided to stop on the side of the road and turn the car off and back on. After doing that the alarm resolved itself. Another time while shifting to reverse to park the heater came on full blast. Interesting feature.

A note on another issue. The Roma includes start/stop technology aka the fun police mode. On the first guided drive I took when the owner has just received delivery we struggled for some time to find the appropriate capacitive button or menu screen to turn off this nanny annoyance. Eventually we found the culprit on the lower left of steering wheel cluster of capacitive buttons next to the door labeled HELE. What in the what is HELE? According to the manual HELE stands for HELE system (High Emotion / Low Emission). Props to Ferrari for the creative naming of this feature even though it’s unclear that anyone buys a Ferrari is concerned with saving fuel or lowering emissions.

This is the thing that makes you forget any issues that may arise.

But in the end, none of that really matters. Sure, in your daily driver, these quirks might provoke curses and clenched fists. But in a Ferrari, they’re mere footnotes—momentary distractions that vanish the instant you touch the throttle. Even with a few imperfections, most things work just as they should. Ferrari’s passion hasn’t quite made its way into the digital interface, but maybe that’s by design. In an age where cars have become smartphones on wheels, the Roma is a beautiful rebellion. It reminds you that CarPlay isn’t the pinnacle of driving—it’s just a convenience. Behind the wheel, lost in the sound and sensation, the last thing on your mind is a touchscreen. And really, when everything else delivers pure, unfiltered joy, it’s impossible to stay annoyed—with a big dumb grin, the flaws just fade away.

During my time with the Roma, I subjected it to the grueling demands (insert sarcasm here) of Carmel, Pebble Beach, and the iconic 17-Mile Drive. Doing my best to recreate the Amalfi Coast, the combination of car, weather, and winding roads felt too perfect—like a scene pulled from a well-written screenplay. Saturday’s mission took us through Carmel Valley and up the Laureles Grade, a ribbon of road made for driving bliss. With its mix of fast, sweeping curves and technical tight corners, it was an ideal showcase for the Roma’s precision and poise. I experienced it both top down and top up in the Roma Spider, which features a clever leather-trimmed wind deflector that deploys over the so-called rear seats (a generous term for that space). Though it sits lower than the window line, it masterfully manages airflow, preserving cabin serenity and even safeguarding a well-styled coiffure. Despite the day’s gusty conditions, the cabin remained impressively calm—Ferrari engineering, once again, for the win.

On the way back from the weekend getaway, we took the scenic route along the Bay Area’s Skyline Boulevard, carving through the hills toward the legendary Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside. So distracted by the drive, I completely forgot the weekend crowds that Alice’s typically draws. With redwoods towering above and ridge lines flashing by, the Roma made every twist and turn feel like part of a grand tour. After soaking in the serenity of the forest-lined roads, we descended into Redwood City for a delicious Lebanese lunch. The Roma, ever the grand companion, delivered us home swiftly and comfortably—though not without reminding me that drives like these aren’t just transportation, they’re fleeting moments of magic meant to be fully savored.

I would like to shout out to the generous owner of this art exhibit. An early supporter of TLP, a gentleman of true taste, and a great friend. Can’t thank you enough for trusting me with your baby.

- Mark Farouk