Configurator Challenge: Ferrari Roma Spider

The Ferrari Roma Spider is the Italian car maker’s ‘entry-level’ convertible. Here’s how Drive journalists would configure theirs.

Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but too much choice can be confusing. In our configurator challenge, Drive team members scroll through a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.

The focus of this week’s challenge is the new Ferrari Roma Spider, which we recently tested at its international media launch in Italy ahead of its Australian arrival next year.

The responses were created without looking at each other’s homework – but as you will see below, there was a common theme across many of the specifications.

Tell us what your ideal Ferrari Roma Spider would look like in the comments below (build yours here), and what you’d like us to configure next.

Susannah Guthrie, Consumer Editor

My Roma configuration is the opposite of demure – why would you bother trying to fly under the radar when buying a car like this?

I fell in love with the grey fabric roof because it looked so fresh (although it wouldn’t stay that way for long given I have no off-street parking), and I think it pairs perfectly with the Rosso Scuderia orange paint. Yellow brake calipers because, why not? And yellow-hued beige seats because, again, why not?

Nailed it. No notes.

Tom Fraser, Journalist

The Ferrari Roma Spider is one of the Prancing Horse’s cleanest designs of late, which makes for an entertaining time on the configurator.

I’m sucker for Ferrari’s iconic Blu Tour de France which seemingly fits everything from the Maranello stables, and the fact I can pair the colourway with a blue fabric roof ties the look in nicely.

I’ve opted to go without the carbon-fibre exterior accents – despite its impressive outputs this boulevard cruiser is no track-day special. Instead, my specification selects a Cuoio interior with aluminium plating for footrests.

It’s an all-round gorgeous car and I very much look forward to seeing one on Aussie roads.

Ben Zachariah, Journalist

I do love a Ferrari, but I always feel as if they’re a little bit more special when they’re painted in anything other than red or yellow. The Roma isn’t what I’d call classically beautiful – meaning it really needs a dark colour to hide some of its design, er, “elements” – but it does look lovely from some select angles.

For this reason, I’ve chosen Blue Tour De France – a rich, dark blue – for my convertible, with a blue fabric roof, and mated it with some forged matte Grigio Corsa alloy wheels (which annoyingly, and incorrectly, Ferrari calls “rims”). I’ve optioned yellow brake calipers to match the Scuderia Shields on the quarter panels, and selected the standard exhaust pipes as it doesn’t need anything more. No carbon-fibre for me, it’s not a race car.

Inside, I’ve gone with a dark tan I can’t pronounce for the squared pattern seats and lower door trims, along with standard carpets and aluminium footrests.

Actually, nevermind… Just get me a manual Ferrari F355 Spider and I’ll spend the change on maintenance.

Jordan Mulach, Journalist

Where do you start with building a car you know you’ll never own?

Because I don’t live on the Gold Coast, my Ferrari Roma Spider is finished the not-at-all-loud ‘Blu Tour De France’, with forged ‘Grigio Corsa’ diamond-cut wheels – sitting in front of black brake calipers (because why pay for a colour that will get dusty anyway?).

Other exterior highlights include carbon-fibre trim and a black roof (I was going to pick blue, but it was too far away from the shade of the paint).

Inside, how can you go past the lovely ‘Daytona’ pattern seats, more carbon fibre and aluminium pedals – not to mention the ‘Carta Da Zucchero’ upholstery?

Unfortunately I’ll never have the money to own – nor the privilege to drive – a Ferrari, so what you are seeing here is how I would dress up a significantly cheaper Mazda MX-5 with a fibreglass body kit.

Alex Misoyannis, Journalist

Yes, that’s a grey Ferrari. These cars are associated with red and yellow, and are meant to be vibrant and colourful – not a shade lifted from the dashboard of a Holden Barina.

But something about the Roma – its softer Aston Martin-esque look, or maybe its suspicious similarity to the Maserati Alfieri concept of 2014 – means it suits a darker, or at least more neutral colour over a red, orange or yellow, in my view.

I’ve opted for a Roma Spider in the imaginatively-named Grigio Titanio (Titanium Grey), with a black roof, matte grey Corsa wheels, gloss black rather than carbon-fibre highlights, and black ceramic exhaust tips.

Adding a much-needed pop of colour are yellow brake calipers, plus yellow highlights inside that contrast the two-tone grey and black upholstery, Daytona sports seats, and aluminium highlights around the cabin.

Consider this a Ferrari for the self-conscious. Just don’t drop the roof on the daily commute.

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