It’s always surprising when a brand new supercar looks dirty. But Ferrari made the Roma to be a GT, and that means getting dirty on long trips is all part of the job. This particular example of the Italian V8 stallion has gathered quite a few defects in its British Racing Green paint over the first six months of ownership.
First, let me just say that British Racing Green is one of my favorite Ferrari colors that isn’t red or yellow. This just looks classy on certain models, the F40, 812 and 488 Pista to name just a few of the most famous non-Rosso Corsa creations.
The Roma has to be one of the most “colorful” Ferraris of the modern era. Since its launch, we’ve seen customers order them in silver, white, blue, or dark purple. Of course, it also helps that the proportions are different from a traditional supercar, which is mid-engined.
Technically, the Roma is mid-engined too; the twin-turbo V8 sits behind the front axle for greater weight distribution and balance. And while some still might not consider this to be a supercar, the 612 horsepower gives it a respectable top speed of 199 miles per hour. You can’t do that in your average BMW!
This particular example has landed at the famous YouTube car detailer AMMO NYC because it has been on the road for six months and never received a wash. You’d probably be surprised to learn that some of the damage to this green paint basically existed since the car left the factory.
But before the minor imperfections can be targeted, the Roma needs a thorough cleaning with special attention paid to the wheels and smaller details. After that, an air-powered polishing tool with wool or foam pads is used to remove scratches without eating too much into the clear coat of the car. After 12 areas with obvious imperfections, AMMO NYC uses a 12-inch polishing tool to go over the whole car. Gone are the visible swirls and orange peel effect, which honestly don’t belong on an expensive car like a Ferrari.
How much is a Ferrari Roma?
The official base price for a Roma is somewhere around $220,000. However, a quick look online reveals many are selling for about $350,000. With a 2+2 layout and a surprisingly large trunk, this is one of the most practical Ferraris. And while it does share underpinnings with the Portofino drop-top, Maranello claims that 70% of the components are new.
You can spend all day trying to find a bad angle and fail. The turbos on this 3.9-liter V8 help it deliver 561 lb-ft of torque and have a speed sensor that measures their revolutions… just like the new Nissan Z.
Also new is an 8-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission that is smaller and lighter than before. The gearbox is derived from the one introduced in the more expensive SF90 Stradale and helps the Roma hit 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, followed by 124 mph in 9.3 seconds. It even promises good gas mileage: 19 mpg combined.
