Supercars and hypercars are dream cars. As in, they’re a dream to drive, or you can afford them only in your dreams. The 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale is no exception. And with a base price of over $500,000, it’s definitely out of most people’s budgets. But before you think of funding your dream car through, say, the Paycheck Protection Program, know that a couple of guys already tried and got caught.

So, is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale a dream to drive? Oh, yeah. In fact, MotorTrend calls it “better than therapy.”

The 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale is dreamy

Ferrari seems to have accomplished something many people probably thought impossible. The SF90 Stradale is the fastest and most powerful Ferrari yet. What makes this amazing is that it doesn’t have a V12 engine like most Ferrari models. Instead, it’s a plug-in hybrid.

But it’s still a supercar — maybe even a hypercar. The SF90 can allegedly hit 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 6.7 seconds. The handling and brakes are smooth, thanks largely to the brake-by-wire system and electric power steering, both firsts for Ferrari. All of the above combine to make one dreamy car.

Is driving the Ferrari SF90 Stradale better than therapy?

According to MotorTrend, yes, it is. An MT reviewer spent the pandemic driving dream cars and thought they helped him more than therapy could. And, honestly, what car enthusiast would rather sit in the dark binge-watching TV than drive a Ferrari? If nothing else, it makes for a great change of pace, literally.  

Outrageous performance that makes it a dream car

We already mentioned the breathtaking acceleration, so let’s look at the power behind the speed. The Ferrari SF90 packs a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 harnessing 769 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Then there are the three electric motors. One sits between the engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and produces 157 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque. The other two electric motors are actually mounted on the front axle. Each powers one of the front wheels and produces 97 hp and 62 lb-ft of torque.

The battery provides 15 miles of all-electric driving, and when it’s in Performance mode, the engine recharges the battery. In addition to Performance mode, there are three other driving modes: Hybrid, Qualifying, and eD (electric drive). Hybrid and eD are pretty self-explanatory, and Performance mode uses only the V8. On the other hand, Qualifying uses every ounce of power the V8 and the three electric motors can muster. And thanks to the different driving modes and motor configurations, you can switch between rear-wheel, all-wheel, and front-wheel drive.

Test-driving these dream cars allows you the thrill of driving one without the expense of buying one. But you also can’t just pop into your local Ferrari dealership and ask to take a spin. Most dealers get a little cagey if you don’t appear to be a serious buyer, but they have a good reason. A couple of years ago, someone stole a $2.6 million Ferrari during a test drive, and it wasn’t even the first time that happened.

 So, even if it’s better than therapy, driving dream cars isn’t that easy. That is unless your job is to test-drive exotic cars and write reviews. Nice work if you can get it.