[Pete04222]

If you don't like talking to people, Don't drive a red Ferrari!!!

Yesterday I had to run a few errands and it was a nice day so I took the Ferrari. I went to the Outdoor Power equipment place to get lawnmower blades, I stopped at the convenience store to get more lawn mowing supplies (beer) and the hardware store. At each of these places someone would come up and ask me questions about the car. Fortunately, I don't mind talking to people so I cheerfully answered all their questions and popped the engine cover for all who asked to take a peek at the engine. The most common question asked is "What year is it?" All are shocked when I say 1979. They think it is new or only a few years old. Even on the road people were yelling "Nice Car!" at me out of their windows and when I pulled back into my driveway I even had someone pull in behind me to check the car out.

So I guess a red Ferrari is an attention-getter. So if you drive a Ferrari and you don't want to talk to people, my advice is to "Stick to the back roads and don't stop for any reason."

Here's a pic I took yesterday:

 

[360 Spyder]

One day I WILL be in that position.
Yours is such a beautiful example of the Marque.

 

[Pete04222]

One day I WILL be in that position.
Yours is such a beautiful example of the Marque.

Thanks Man! It is the coolest car I have ever owned. It is really fun to drive. Everytime you take it out it is an experience. Look at what happened yesterday, nobody would have looked twice if I was in my truck. In fact, if it was a brand new Corvette people might say "Nice car." but they wouldn't come up to me and ask me questions about it.

You remember the post from the guy who hates Ferraris? I guess this is why. He sees a group of people surrounding a car and hates the fact that so many people are paying attention to a thing. The owner must have bought it because he wanted all this attention. What an Elitest! Pretending he is rich!

What he doesn't see is the fact that people love a car like this, they are intrigued by the Ferrari name and that the guy who bought it feels the same and he is willing to share with all who ask. Go ahead, look it over, ask questions. If they are nice I will invite them to sit in it. "Go ahead, try it on for size.". I did this for a 14 year old boy once and his mother thanked me. She said I made his whole week.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Do you remember the post from the guy who hates Ferraris? I guess this is why. He sees a group of people surrounding a car and hates the fact that so many people are paying attention to a thing. The owner must have bought it because he wanted all this attention. What an Elitest! Pretending he is rich!

What he doesn't see is the fact that people love a car like this, they are intrigued by the Ferrari name and that the guy who bought it feels the same and he is willing to share with all who ask. Go ahead, look it over, ask questions. If they are nice I will invite them to sit in it. "Go ahead, try it on for size.". I did this for a 14 year old boy once and his mother thanked me. She said I made his whole week.

I will not let that guy this thread, cause I do not want another topic closed, but, I know for a fact he does understand why people like Ferrari's. Next week I will visit him and we will go together to a ferrari-dealer, because he lives near one, then we will visit other companies that have Ferrari's for sale. The thing he doesn't like is that Ferrari has lost exclusivity. There are a lot of posers buying a Ferrari today, He thinks that shouldn't be part of the marque. He likes the old Ferrari's.

His problem is that he can not bring his statement clearly, and that is why most people got upset by his post.


Now for me, when you drive a Ferrari, you just know for a fact that you will attract attention (except maybe a 400/412 since they look like the early Volvo's, no offence). As long as people are nice to you, be nice back, let them sit in the car when you have time etc, make a chat. More people will look at Ferrari-owners as nice guys.

 

[Pete04222]

As long as people are nice to you, be nice back, let them sit in the car when you have time etc, make a chat. More people will look at Ferrari-owners as nice guys.

And that's how I try to be. Why does someone not like me because I own a Ferrari? Why are Ferrari owners viewed as elitist pigs when every single Ferrari owner I've talked to will bend over backwards to help you out?

Well, I agree with you, I may have steered my own post in a direction I did not intend for it to go. Lets get back to what happened to me yesterday and the mystique of the Ferrari car.

 

[eddyvf750]

Just a quick comment on those who post incendiary, angering stuff- in the car magazine forums I used to frequent, such posters were called "trolls"- they could add nothing to any discussion, all they were about was causing an argument or infuriating others. They were usually just kids pretending that they knew enough to make their opinions worth something. There aren't many on this forum, gratefully, although one shows up here once in a while. I mean why would anyone sign on here just to say bad stuff about Ferraris and their owners unless stirring up trouble was their intent?

 

[4i2fly]

If you don't like talking to people, Don't drive a red Ferrari!!!

Yesterday I had to run a few errands and it was a nice day so I took the Ferrari. I went to the Outdoor Power equipment place to get lawnmower blades, I stopped at the convenience store to get more lawn mowing supplies (beer) and the hardware store. At each of these places someone would come up and ask me questions about the car. Fortunately, I don't mind talking to people so I cheerfully answered all their questions and popped the engine cover for all who asked to take a peek at the engine. The most common question asked is "What year is it?" All are shocked when I say 1979. They think it is new or only a few years old. Even on the road people were yelling "Nice Car!" at me out of their windows and when I pulled back into my driveway I even had someone pull in behind me to check the car out.

So I guess a red Ferrari is an attention-getter. So if you drive a Ferrari and you don't want to talk to people, my advice is to "Stick to the back roads and don't stop for any reason."

Here's a pic I took yesterday:

O.k., I don't normally take the Ferrari to the hardware store but you are right. Most people are just checking the car and looking at it w/o even putting any finger prints. II had old ladies ask me about the car and admire the looks and the color. I really admire them. Plus, how often do people see Ferraris parked in front of a store for a beer run. Good story Pete, now to change the subject, I have been taking this stint from Woodside to La Handa to Half Moon Bay to San Mateo back to Woodside, CA of course. It is one of those backroads with fantastic 3rd gear turns and 4th gear top ends mixed with 2nd gear hair pins. About 55 miles what a therapy!

 

[adlinyusman]

yea, i always get ppl asking me what ferrari is that, or that it's a very nice looking car. Last couple of days I was filling up petrol for the 355 and the lady and her son in the car next to me was telling me how nice the car was and if i could let her son have a look inside (the son was probably 10 yrs old), what's sad is that i could see that the young boy was slightly impaired, so i told him yeah you could go inside and have a look and turn the key fob, after a few minutes he came out and gave me the biggest hug i had in a long while, he thanked me profusely and the mother told me that he has always loved ferraris but no one had ever been nice enough to offer him a chance to even be near one, much less sit in one.

That i believe is the best part in owning a ferrari-that you can make other people around you smile a little wider or feel a little better when you actually give them a chance to be near one. Not everyone gets to own a ferrari, and even lesser get to even sit in one, so whenever somebody strikes a decent conversation with me, i will without a doubt, share my passion with that person.

 

[Bazil]

Quite right chaps - this is one of the things I love about the "ownership experience" (actually I really hate that phrase!!)

Filling the car is usually the time I get most questions - and I make a point of chatting to people who ask about it.

A couple of weeks ago I was filling the car and I dribbled some petrol down the side as I took the nozzle out. I wandered across to get some paper towels to wipe it off, and as I got back to the car a voice behind me said "Don't worry about that - you go and pay, I'll lick it clean for you!!" I turned around expecting some spotty youth and it was a guy about my fathers age!! We had a good laugh and chatted for a few mins. He said he'd absolutely love to have a Ferrari - which I found quite funny as he was driving a brand new Mercedes S500 that probably cost twice as much!!!

 

[Rosso]

Well, I can only look foward to experiences like that in my future. It really sounds like you guys can just make someone happy so easily, it's great.

 

[Spasso]

Some of us from the club went on a drive today to meet the Canadians and have lunch. When we all pulled in and parked people gravitated from all around. We were all starving but managed to talk to a few. I heard a request from a group of young girls if one of us couldn't take a picture or two of them posing with a Ferrari and to please Email the pictures to them.

I shot the pictures with my own camera and sent them this evening. I don't know if they got them as I have not heard a reply.

I didn't starve and I made some kids happy. It made my whole day just a little bit more enjoyable.

I really think it's important as a representative owner to do this. I can't count the MILLIONS of times I wished I could have sat in a car like this or go for a ride when I was a kid.

 

[4i2fly]

.

That is such a nice picture! Do you have the high res?

 

[Dj Dirk]

.

That is such a nice picture! Do you have the high res?

i took one from the same spot but focussed on the TR, it's on the gallery but that pic is for premium members only

 

[Bazil]

The second picture is cool - they'll love it!! Their boyfriends will be really jealous!!!

 

[jsa330]

My '64 330 2+2 attracts more attention than I ever expected. I've been totally amazed.

There is definitely a wealthy collector/Ferrari snob elitist attitude that exists, especially here in the US, but I've rarely encountered it, probably because the big shows and auctions are in California or on the East coast. Here in Texas the collectors keep their cars under lock and key and off the roads - I guess they trailer them out to Pebble Beach or Palm Beach or wherever. There are quite a few 308's and newer Ferraris visible in Dallas, but spotting even a relatively mundane vintage car such as mine is extremely rare here.

No one has been rude to me over my car. People's responses to it range from a head turn to hour long conversations.

There is an annual all-make British car show here, held outdoors in a very nice park and lake area. There are usually 150 or so vintage Brit cars, and other makes are allowed to enter as "non-British". There is always an Italian corner with 10 to 15 cars of various makes. This year I took the 330 out there intending to park it and just enjoy looking at all the fine Jags, Bentleys, etc., but didn't get to spend five minutes doing so because of all the compliments and questions that started the moment I parked. I got in two hour-plus Ferrari discussions, and by that time the show was over.

 

[Rosso]

I agree with Bazil, that's nice of you, Spasso.

 

[Westworld]

[



I will not let that guy this thread, cause I do not want another topic closed, but, I know for a fact he does understand why people like Ferrari's. Next week I will visit him and we will go together to a ferrari-dealer, because he lives near one, then we will visit other companies that have Ferrari's for sale. The thing he doesn't like is that Ferrari has lost exclusivity. There are a lot of posers buying a Ferrari today, He thinks that shouldn't be part of the marque. He likes the old Ferrari's.

What are the "posers"? Do you think this has happen with Ferrari? Have they lost the exclusivity?

 

[Pete04222]

What are the "posers"? Do you think this has happen with Ferrari? Have they lost the exclusivity?

I think what he means by "posers" is people who have stumbled across a pile of money and buy a Ferrari to show-off their new found wealth. They know nothing about the brand, only that "It's a Ferrari". They don't even know what that means.

The "authentic" owner is someone who knows what Ferrari means and appreciates the exclusivity of the marque. It is a rare car and there are not enough of them to go around. If you have the means to get one and you get one because you want one then you are an owner. If you have a pile of money and you get a Ferrari for the sole purpose of impressing your freinds, then you are posing.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Yes, those are the people I mean with posers. And already I think this happened too much.
The same with alle these things with Ferrari-logo's on it. Laptops, camera's, wrenches, even LEGO. I know people want merchandise, but you can overdo it. Some people will buy them just because of the logo, and Ferrari knows that, so they put they logo on everything they can get their hands on.
IMO the direction Ferrari is taking the last 2-3 years (and years to come) is too much money, and too little exclusivity.

If there are more people reacting on this specific topic, I can split up this topic so we don't ruin the topic of Pete

 

[Pete04222]

OK Bob, I think you and I are on the same page and I guess I agree with your friend. I don't like the posers either. These are the people who would snub me because I "only have a 308". I think maybe your friend just expressed himself in a way that lumped all Ferrari owners into this catagory and ruffled some feathers. I don't think you need to split the topic. I think this dicussion fits in here.