Ferrari Roma Spider

Soft top on a modern grand tourer

The Roma Spider was unveiled in 2023 as the open companion to the Roma coupe. Mechanically it is the same car: a front-mounted 3,855 cc twin-turbocharged V8 producing 612 bhp and 760 Nm, driving the rear wheels through the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox that debuted on the SF90. Ferrari quotes 3.4 seconds to 100 km/h and 320 km/h. The significant difference is the roof. Where the coupe has a fixed head, the Spider uses a fabric soft top that opens or closes in about 13.5 seconds at speeds of up to 60 km/h, making this the first front-engined Ferrari soft-top since the 1969 365 GTS4. A patented deployable wind deflector can be raised on the move to calm the cabin.

We have not driven this model for this article. This desk-researched ownership guide uses Ferrari's official Roma Spider page, the PistonHeads used buying guide for the Roma that covers the coupe's ownership record, and the DVSA vehicle recall service. The PistonHeads article addresses the coupe specifically; the mechanical and electrical guidance transfers to the Spider, while roof-specific checks come from the official specification and convertible inspection practice.

Powertrain and running gear

The V8 is the well-developed F154-family unit in its 612 bhp state of tune, with 80 percent of its torque available from 1,900 rpm. The eight-speed gearbox has a mechanical reverse gear and shifts with the speed the design is known for. On a test session, check for clean engagement from cold, smooth low-speed behaviour and no shudder under part-throttle loads. Carbon-ceramic brakes were standard on the Roma and carry over; measure disc thickness and pad life, and confirm the wear-sensor software is current. The optional Magneride dampers change the car's character noticeably, so establish which specification the individual car carries and test the damper modes through their range.

Aero work on the Spider includes a revised rear arrangement; at 250 km/h the Spider generates around 95 kilograms more downforce than the Portofino it conceptually replaces. That is an engineering detail rather than an ownership item, but it confirms the roof conversion was properly engineered rather than simply added.

The soft top and open-air checks

A fabric roof brings a distinct inspection list. Cycle it several times, cold and warm, and watch for even, quiet movement. Inspect the fabric itself for staining, tears and worn seams, and check the header rail and side-glass seals for compression set that would admit wind noise or water. Check the stowage well and drainage paths for evidence of leaks. The deployable wind deflector should raise and lower on the move; verify its operation and its mounting points. Cars used hard in hot climates deserve close scrutiny of the roof material and the heated rear screen where fitted.

Electronics and the Roma ownership record

The Roma coupe's early record is relevant to a Spider buyer. PistonHeads notes electronic handbrake release issues and a scatter of electrical gremlins, including doors locking and unlocking themselves and headlights activating without command. Cars built between January and August 2021 required replacement of the rear door-pillar identification plates carrying incorrect weights, which is a paperwork check rather than a mechanical one but belongs in a diligence list. The 80-litre fuel tank gives a touring range of around 370 miles, and PistonHeads recorded fuel gauges that over-read or failed in the family, so verify gauge accuracy against a brim-to-brim fill.

As on any recent Ferrari, battery condition shapes electrical health: a car that sits will drain its battery and store warnings. Confirm the trickle charger is present and used. Run the registration through the DVSA recall service and confirm campaign completion.

Wheels, tyres and day-to-day use

The Roma Spider runs 245/35 tyres on 20-inch front wheels and 285/35 on the rear, and the carbon-ceramic discs measure 390 millimetres at the front and 360 at the rear. That hardware is durable when used but expensive when neglected, so check for lip wear on the discs, confirm even pad wear across each axle and ask for the alignment printout. The 2+2 cabin is honest occasional seating, best for luggage on a tour rather than adults on a long journey, and the 80-litre fuel tank supports the touring case. With the roof down and the wind deflector raised, the cabin remains calm enough at motorway speeds for conversation, which is the point of this kind of car.

Confirm the wind deflector is present, since it transforms motorway refinement on long journeys, and cycle the roof several times, warm and cold, before committing. As with the coupe, a battery tender is essential equipment on a car that is not driven weekly, and its presence in the sale, with evidence of regular use, tells you how the car was kept.

Warranty, servicing and buying order

The Roma Spider carries the same structural cover as the coupe: a four-year warranty in the UK extendable through Ferrari's programmes, and the seven-year maintenance programme attached to the car, covering routine servicing on an annual or 20,000-kilometre basis. Confirm what remains on the individual example, and match every invoice to recorded mileages.

We have not driven this model for this article. No present valuation, investment assurance or universal failure rate is offered. The Roma Spider's value as an ownership proposition is the combination of the coupe's genuinely usable grand-touring character with a properly engineered open-air format, at the cost of fabric-roof care and the same electrical vigilance the coupe demands. Buy on roof condition, a clean electrical history, build-record accuracy and service continuity.