[rickdgreen]

Hello,

I have had a situation where some people have basically tried to destroy my life based mostly if not entirely on me owning some very nice cars now and in the past. Although they where nice there are plenty of people who also have nice cars so I'm thinking why me? I'm a nice guy. I don't think I'm better than anyone else, but I'm painted as someone who only cares about money..etc. You know what I mean.

I wanted to get a feel for how often this occurs and how do you guys deal with people like that? I can't seem to win no matter how I try to handle it and I have the right to own these cars like anyone else. They went to the extent of claiming I was involved in scams to be able to pay for the cars and that was never true. Some of these idiots are police officers by the way so you can imagine what it's like.

I'd just like to get some feel for other people's experience on the hate treatment and how to deal with it.

Thanks!
-Rick

 

[JTNY]

In economies like these, I drive my SUV. No one is in the mood to see any shows of wealth right now.

 

[Night Life]

I get it from time to time but it has been decreasing over the years, after a while people get use to seeing you in a nice car or owning a beautiful home.

At first when I purchased my first semi serious exotic people thought it was a kit car etc...Then after when I started to become more successful and purchased two cars the talk of the town was that my business partners and I were dealing in more than just alcohol if you know what I mean. It became so bad that the local yokel cops started an investigation on us because there is no possible way three guys could possibly be successful without selling drugs lol bunch of Ya ohos. This was told to us by a good friend of ours who was a Sgt in the force.

Finlay ten years later and we are recognized as savvy business men that proved our worth to the community but now instead of them saying how can he afford that car it's more like "Oh it's and older 348 he couldn't afford a newer one ha ha ha . My how things change.

 

[Italian Lover]

Hate is a very strong and potentially violent emotion. It is unfortunate that there's people like that near you. As for myself, either I am too dumb to notice or there's no such hate here. I do get compliments now and then from strangers. Some would would take pics w/ or w/o permissions. All in all, I do not sense any hate. Just envy and "nice" compliments. w/ smiles Jimmy

 

[Gcalo]

I would ignore them.

Ignorant people should be ignored.

The world is full of them because their scope of life is miniscule and they know only their own ignorance. This is the attitude that creates racism and stereotyping.

The more attention you pay to them the greater their reach to you.

I do know that where you are located slander actions are quite potent when there is substantiation.

 

[David Lee]

Why shouldn't they? One time i was driving and my ferrari broke down there were about three men in there thirties walked up to the car and ask me 'is a Ferrari right? i reply yes with a smile and then they all started to laugh ha ha is a ferrari and it broke down and one of the fellows said you got to be joking haha' now by these comments you can tell they have never own any sports cars before because if they did have they would know all these super cars breaks down just a matter of time and where.

As for the haters you mention here's my humble point of view now if someone can afford a 20 million 250 GTO and yet sooo many hungry people around the world died every min as we speak doesn't that tell you something already,

we are the lucky ones so i guess we have to bare all of that and let it go, we might not like it but we sure can understand why.

You think shxt don't smell come on take the good with the bad and we all get a long better.

Cheers
D

 

[JazzyO]

Sorry David, but I disagree with your statement that it is because of wealth disparity. What is the real cause is laziness. With all my work in Africa, Russia, South America and Europe, what I have found is that the only people who ever complain about the wealth of other people are the ones who have too much time on their hands. They want the money, but they don't want to work for it. Hard workers see the example and want to emulate it. Typically, it is the people that were never prepared to do what it takes that are so hateful. They made conscious decisions when they were young not to work too hard and take the easy way out, and 20 years down the line they blame the world for treating them badly. In Europe and the US, they've got a roof over their head and they're actually rich compared to 2/3rds of the planet, but still they resent people who have been more successful.

When I was broken down on an off-ramp in England in my Boxer, the amount of heckling I got was pretty impressive. One guy shouted "I'll give you 1000 pounds for that!" and thought he was hilarious. I just smiled politely throughout and thought of what now is my personal motto:

"I'd rather push my Ferrari than drive your banger".

Anyway, sorry Rick, I don't really have solutions for you when the situation is so serious. I know people talk about me in my village but since I'm only there 4 times a year, it hasn't created any issues. Best of luck with your situation.


Onno

 

[David Lee]

Life is not so perfect for everyone yes some are lazy and yes some do work hard and make the most of what they can achieve in life, those always bitxh about what they didn't get or why this happens to me well i m sorry there life didn't plan out the way they wanted to i guess, but don't forget one thing onno.

Who gets the last laugh get my drift?

regards
D

 

[JazzyO]

Who gets the last laugh get my drift?

No worries, I'm smiling all the time, particularly when I'm behind the wheel.


Onno

 

[GPGardin]

Wow.....

I am amazed at what I have just read.

While I haven't owned my 348 that long, I have not had any negative experiences.

There have been a few times when people ( drivers and pedestrians ) went out of their way to let me in- these were fairly busy and I was certainly not going to abuse the clutch ( and in one steep driveway, the underside ) to jump into a small hole in traffic.

Around town and my circle of friends/acquaintances there has been nothing said to me ( maybe behind my back - if so, don't care ). I am not a successful business owner - do have a company car ( minivans generally ) and wife drives a 2002 Malibu - certainly no flaunting of wealth ( what wealth???? ).

While I do not disagree with JazzyO's personal motto - I think that this is the type of statement that one should think and not voice. This would incite/ramp up any negativity out there. By smiling, waving and letting others take photos etc. in a friendly way perhaps we can change the potential attitudes of those that may not think highly of F-car drivers.

Greg

 

[JazzyO]

While I do not disagree with JazzyO's personal motto - I think that this is the type of statement that one should think and not voice. This would incite/ramp up any negativity out there. By smiling, waving and letting others take photos etc. in a friendly way

That is exactly what I described.


Onno

 

[GPGardin]

Onno,
I realize that this was exactly what you did -I just trying to reinforce this.

This motto is something that one can really relate to and if said aloud would only make matters worse. Note that my case the "banger" is my wife's daily driver. No point in having anything else- we have an 18 year old in the house!

Greg

 

[Vizsla]

In more normal times a Ferrari will generate some jealous negative responses but fewer than the compliments that come.
Today there is a lot of anger in people who feel that they've been screwed economically and they'll express it where ever and how ever they can. Not fair but still understandable.

 

[agp22]

You can always drive it early in the morning (like Boxer) while others sleep, in open roads and avoid talking too loud about it when around people that can make stupid judgments, also avoid city driving and parking close to suspicious morons.

I only talk about it with car freaks, to others it's just about status, they don't get it.

I once had a jealousy-haunted close person say when he saw my 98 Maranello: "98 model? So you got yourself another old car?" to what I replied: "yeah, sure doesn't compare to that awesome brand-new latest-model POS diesel 8 seat minivan of yours, I guess you get to enjoy all that..."

My advice: drive fast, but stealth

 

[rickdgreen]

Thanks for your input guys. It's just frustrating to be made the bad guy just for having a nice car and trying to enjoy life.

They rag on people who have money but buying nice things and trying to have good experiences all puts money into the hands of those who build those things so no matter how you look at it the wealthy are helping others. Everyone's goal is to succeed in life and make the best of it because for all we know it's only a one time chance and if any of us get even a fraction of success (nice car) we are made out to be the bad guys no matter how nice we are.

 

[JazzyO]

It is difficult to deal with the stigma. But I must say that I get the other side just as often - people that proclaim you are wonderful when all you're doing is being you and trying to share your passion. You think it is nothing special to give a guy a shot-gun drive but they think it is. So it goes both ways - you get your hecklers and the guys that appreciate what you're doing and for me the positive outweighs the negative by a long shot.


Onno

 

[archiegibbs]

It has more plus sides than negatives. Just a small thing, our local Gas Station is a Shell station, from time to time Shell run Ferrari promotions - it could be anything from model cars, Trump cards, caps T-shirts, you name it any promotional material Shell and Ferrari want people to collect and to buy more gas for because they will have to collect tokens or vouchers. Normally you have to buy X number of gallons/litres of V-Power to get a token. I just used to roll up in the 328 stick 20 litres of regular unleaded in it, take my son into the kiosk to pay and we'd walk out with arms full of Ferrari merch. The pump attandants were always impressed by the Ferrari and because I used to take my little boy out in it. I don't get the same treatment in the Saab, but they always ask where the Ferrari is - I don't want to tell them I sold it.

 

[Granucci]

My wife loves her work, I think because it keeps her active and alert, and she makes tons of mone$
SEE
.....she manages a Taco Bell !:!:!
yup....she loves the job and she is an awsome manager...all her employees like her.

She drives the Ferraris, which ever one I'm not, to Taco Bell, and parks it there. The worst thing that has happened is, since it's the local GREAT hangout for school kids etc....., is a set of valve stems were missing. WOrd got out...case solved. Don't mess with the candy store nice-lady-manager's Ferraris...

IF she manages to drive the Truck to work for taking loads to other stores, whatever, there are 18 of them, EVERYONE wants to know "where's the Ferrari"....I actually have google earth pics of the Ferraris in front of Taco Bell...shoot, GOOGLE earth truck is shown in the parking lot, eating lunch....

LOL...gotta love it.

To the OP, I also believe the area you live makes us more jaded and less aware of problems. I certainly, sorry, would NOT like to enter Oakland CA and just park downtown or on some side street...not happening..

matter of fact, I sometimes skip the city [oh, to you non-initiated, I go back aways... San Francisco is always called 'the City' or 'San Francisco'... IF YOU EVER use just the last two syllables of San Francisco ya' had better put on your fightin' gloves...that's a no no]

 

[Gcalo]

Actually I hate topics such as this!

 

[Neonzapper]

...but of course