Dr.kol details his experience upgrading his Ferrari California T with the Handling Speciale (HS) package, transforming its performance and sound. This post offers a valuable owner's perspective on aftermarket enhancements, demonstrating how targeted modifications can significantly improve a car's driving dynamics and overall satisfaction, even for a luxury sports car.
I ordered in spring 2016 a new Ferrari California T from a German retailer. I chose California T because I wanted to have 2+2 configuration and a cabriolet with hard roof. Soft roof is not really the way to go when it's snowing.
Soon I realised that I like the car a lot except three things:
- The car Feld a little bit soft
- The gear change was a little bit slow
- The car did not sound like a Ferrari
When the car was under production, Ferrari introduced the HS (Handling Speciale) package which was supposed to make the car much sportier. However, I could not change my order anymore.
This summer I went to a Ferrari store to check if they would have an alternative for California T. There was nothing where I could take the baby with her mother with me and drive the roof open. However, they told me that nowadays the HS package can be assembled also afterwards @ β¬ 11,800.00. I started to check what this HS package is claimed to do:
- Modify the gear-shift logic for the Sport mode both in automatic and manual settings. This is resulting sportier gear engagement during both up- (30% faster) and down-shifts (40% faster).
- New damper settings and modified springs: 16% stiffer front springs and 19%stiffer ones at the rear.
- Revised F1-Track logic helping to ensure better acceleration.
- New exhaust system with silencers. The new sound is fuller, richer and 3 db louder.
All that sounded like a great idea and the Ferrari mechanics assured me that the car would feel totally different after the assembly of the HS-package. So I decided to go for that.
The assembly took 5 working days and a week ago I picked up my car. From the front it looked just the same:
From the back the pipes looked a bit different:
And to the arm rest in the middle appeared a small sign:
When I jumped into the car and started the engine, I was surprised: so full, loud but sophisticated sound. Wow. When driving, the sound felt even better. Also the suspension felt stiffer and much more accurate and the gear shifts were suddenly like lightning. I do not know what they did with the steering but it's now stiff, fast and very accurate.
I must say that was 11,800 euro well spent I'm really happy and will keep my California T HS. Perhaps I will just buy a two seater to have my personal car.
Best, Kari
