Report: Ferrari performance

Executive summary

Ferrari still delivers breathtaking raw performance — explosive acceleration, world-class aerodynamics, and recent dominance in endurance racing — but that headline doesn’t tell the whole story. Owners and independent tests reveal recurring reliability and electrical issues, high running costs, and usability compromises that blunt the real-world payoff for many buyers.

The conversation (proponent vs. critic)

Ferrari Fanatic: "Look at the SF90 — near-1,000 horsepower, 0–100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, and advanced hybrid torque vectoring. That’s engineering at the extreme." (source)

Skeptical Gearhead: "Sure, on paper and on track Ferrari shines — but owners face expensive failures: transmission speed-sensor faults, electrical gremlins, brake recalls and maintenance bills that can run into the tens of thousands." (source)

Where Ferrari performance truly excels

Power and acceleration: Ferrari's latest PHEVs and V8s deliver class-leading power and blistering 0–100 km/h times. The SF90 and SF90-derived variants combine turbocharged V8s with electric motors to produce ~986–1,000 hp and sub-3-second sprint times (Ferrari specification sheet).
Aerodynamics and handling: Ferrari integrates active aero (movable rear wings, vortex generators, tuned underbodies) and sophisticated suspension/electronic control (eSSC, eTC, brake-by-wire) to create high downforce and tractable handling at speed. The SF90 generates hundreds of kilograms of downforce in high-downforce mode, a real advantage on track and at high speed (Ferrari aero article).
Motorsport pedigree and recent results: Ferrari’s Hypercar program (499P) returned to the top of endurance racing with multiple Le Mans victories and the 2025 WEC Drivers' and Manufacturers' titles, showing that their race engineering translates to repeatable success (FIA WEC report; Reuters coverage).

"The SF90 Stradale can generate 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, setting a new benchmark for high-performance road cars." (Ferrari specification sheet)

Where performance promises meet friction (real-world limits)

Reliability and recurring faults: Several Ferrari road models (458, 360, 812 family, SF90 variants) show a pattern of electrical faults, sensor failures, and hydraulic/pump issues that can leave a car immobile or expensive to fix. These aren't one-off anecdotes: formal recalls and owner forums document them. For example, a speed-sensor fault in DCT gearboxes requires transmission removal to repair in some models, a major labor expense (owner reports and technical writeups).
Safety recalls and defects: The Purosangue experienced a fuse-box layout issue that risked affecting braking; Ferrari issued a recall and a simple spacer fix, but the finding shows even core systems can be vulnerable in production cars (recall notice coverage).
Ownership costs: Maintenance intervals (timing belt, hydraulic components, battery care) and expensive component replacements mean ownership runs far above mainstream cars. Examples include reported engine rebuilds or replacements costing tens of thousands and routine preventive replacements of hydraulic motors after ~5 years in some subsystems (reported owner bills).

"Owners have reported issues including oil leaks, clutch problems, and electrical failures, with repairs costing thousands of dollars, demonstrating limits to Ferrari's reliability claims." (owner forums and investigative summaries)

The trade-offs buyers actually make

Track-first vs. daily usability: A Ferrari that screams on track may be fussy on daily drives. The pursuit of lightness, extreme aero and race-derived electronics sometimes reduces cabin durability and raises the chance of minor failures that degrade the ownership experience.
Cutting-edge tech increases fragility: Hybrid systems, high-voltage components, and complex torque-vectoring electronics add performance but also more subsystems that can fail and require manufacturer-level diagnostics.
Brand value vs. running cost: Ferrari's motorsport success and status retain resale value and road-legal performance. But prospective buyers must accept higher total cost of ownership and intermittent service disruption risk.

Representative excerpts (what the sources actually say)

"The Ferrari SF90 Stradale combines a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with three electric motors, delivering a total system output of 986 horsepower." (Ferrari spec)

"The speed sensor... is prone to malfunction. Replacing this sensor requires removing and dismantling the transmission, a labor-intensive and costly process." (technical owner writeup)

"Ferrari clinched a World Endurance Championship title double in the 2025 season finale in Bahrain -- its first top-class sportscar world title since 1972." (news report)

"Ferrari recalled certain 2023-2025 Purosangue vehicles due to a design flaw where the fuse box's power supply could contact the passenger-side footrest... potentially activating the brake warning light and diminishing braking ability." (recall PDF coverage)

Bottom line — balanced conclusion

If your primary goal is unquestioned peak performance (track times, top speed, lap precision, and motorsport pedigree), Ferrari remains among the very best. Their engineering (powertrains, aero, electronics) delivers measurable advantages on the stopwatch and in championships.

If your priority includes reliable day-to-day ownership, predictably low service costs, and simple systems, the Ferrari ownership experience can be challenging. Expect higher-than-average downtime, specialist servicing, and periodic expensive repairs tied to sensors, electrics, and hydraulics.

Put simply: Ferrari gives you extraordinary performance — at the price of complexity and sometimes fragility. If you value track supremacy and brand prestige above all, Ferrari delivers. If you want an exotic that behaves like an everyday car, look elsewhere or budget heavily for maintenance.

Practical recommendations for buyers

Pre-purchase: insist on full service history, independent pre-purchase inspection by a Ferrari specialist, and a clear record of completed recalls. (Do not rely solely on dealer statements.)
Maintenance budgeting: plan for high annual service costs, and set aside funds for major items (timing belts, hydraulic motors, transmission work).
Use profile: buy the hardcore models if you’ll use them on track often; choose more recent hybrid models for balanced daily and weekend performance.
Warranty & software updates: verify what’s covered and insist on dealer software/firmware updates as part of purchase negotiations.

Navigation links

Ferrari performance intersects many subtopics. Useful quick-jump links inside this report: SF90 power and aero, Ferrari endurance racing 2023–2025, Owner costs & reliability, Purosangue brake recall, 458 DCT transmission issues

If you want, I can now:

Expand any subsection into a deep-dive with full-source quotes and timelines
Produce a checklist for pre-purchase inspection tailored to a specific Ferrari model
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Summary: I ran a balanced verification of Ferrari’s performance claims. Ferrari excels on track and in engineering benchmarks, but ownership often brings complex, costly maintenance and occasional reliability problems. I created this report titled "Report: Ferrari performance" and included source excerpts and links. Would you like a model-specific deep dive next?