| Author |
Message |
Willis Huang (Willis360)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 10:27 pm: | |
The best policy in dealing with the public, I think, is to stick with general car-specific answers. And keep the answers short. Never give out detailed information (alarm systems, personal data, etc.).
It might sound paranoid but I actually got into a habit of taking the car out at different times of the day/night and drive different routes each time. |
J.D. Smythe (Jeff)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 9:03 pm: | |
You can't be too careful. Besides cars, stereo is my other hobby. I was in a high end stereo store in Los Angeles buying some speaker cable. A stranger in the store started asking me about my equipment. I assumed he was another audiophile. I gladly shared equipment stories with him. Three days later my house was burgularized. Yes, by the same innocent stranger in the store.
From then on I don't to talk to strangers about my cars or anything else. Since that time all my cars are registered in a company name with a business address. |
Tim N (Timn88)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 8:40 pm: | |
I am never too pushy when i ask someone about their car. I just tell them its a nice car and then i comment on how clean it is. Sometimes i try to add something in to let them know i know what im talking about, but its hard to do that with out coming off as condecending, by making them think you know more than they do. |
Frederick Thomas (Fred)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 8:14 pm: | |
One day at work I looked out the window and saw three teenage boys looking at my car on their bikes. It looked like one of them could give it a nice scratch or dent so I hurried outside. I asked them how they were doing and introduced myself. They were quite impressed with the car. I let them all sit in it and showed them the engine. In was fun for me and fun for them. I remember falling over everytime I would see a Ferrari when I was younger. I would have loved to sit in one. I also remember wishing the driver would get on it so I could hear the engine so when ever I see kids rubber necking at my car I drop it a gear and get on it for them. They always seem to get a kick out of it. One day about two years before I got my 308 I saw an F40 parked. I ran and picked up my dad and brought him back to see the car. The owner came out and started the car and let us sit in it. He told me to come back when he had more time and he would take me for a ride in it. I like to try and pay back this good gesture so I always try to answer questions and share the fun of owning the car. I have people ask if I want to trade also. The other day a guy in a really beat up van that was for sale commented on the car and asked if I wanted to trade. I told him I only had the car for a year and wasn't ready to trade just yet. I like the "how many of those do you have" line. |
Awang (Wang)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 7:03 pm: | |
Strangely here in Brunei, peolple don't usually come up and say "hey nice car etc." They just admire from a distance and point.... Then again you have the royals and you don't simply approach them.
Did you guys check out the FX in Forza? It didn't belong to the sultan but rather his playboy brother prince jefri... Well the car wasn't my taste. I've seen it before, it does look imposing though. |
Steve Marcus (Stevem)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 6:49 pm: | |
My 360 gets lots of attention but nothing like my yellow Powler. Go figure...the car costs about 45K and drives people nuts....I must say people look at you differently in a Ferrari...They ask lot's of personal questions...I've had eight Ferraris since 85 and I'm quite used to it...I also let young kids sit in my car....When asked by some teenager in his mustang If I ant to trade I give my standard answer " How many of those do you have?" |
Jerry Wiersma (Tork1966)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 6:19 pm: | |
Is it my imagination or do Harley owners blow you guys off too? Not mean but they don't even look twice at the car. Also shunned by people with cars like the souped up 4 door Novas with the hood scoops, Wrangler jeans, missing teeth,....you know .....booger eaters. Not that it irritates me but it just makes me curious. I'm reasonably sure it is jealousy with the latter group. Jerry |
Martin (Miami348ts)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 2:22 pm: | |
You never know what just happened to this guy....
He could have had a call from the IRS about an audit for all we know. As bad as it is being brushed off, don't take it personal.
I like to accomodate people as well. Had a nice couple (mid 20s) come from their house while I was parked on the street waiting for a Realtor. They did not speak a word english but the glow in their eyes said it all. They wanted to take pictures next to the car, I got out and let them sit in it. That must have been a great day for them. It is nice to make people happy and share.
Unfortunately there are also days you are in a rush or have something else on your mind but Ferrari (not a whole lot but...okay, very few my wife says) |
Willis Huang (Willis360)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 12:41 pm: | |
I think most owners will accommodate enthusiasts if they're not in a rush and depending on circumstances (personal safety issues). You'll not going to get a positive response if you go charging up to the guy aggressively and surprise him.
Personally, I don't mind answering questions if the people are nice and not aggressively pushy. I love it when parents bring their kids over to check out the car while I fill up the gas tank. |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 12:24 pm: | |
I'm like Rob, I always try to make time. I was at a fuel stop in Raton, NM this weekend and I heard a strange clicking sound behind me. I turned around, and a 16 yr old was taking pics of my car as fast as he could wind the camera. I invited him over for a closer look, showed him the engine, then put him behind the wheel and took a picture of him. I would've offered him a ride if I'd had the time. The reason I got addicted to Ferraris in the first place is that the MD down the street from us growing up bought a fiberglass GTB and took me around the block when I was 16. I've wanted one ever since. |
Tim N (Timn88)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 12:14 pm: | |
I dont really mind too much because all of the other owners i have talked to have been social, willing to talk and informative. When i own one, i wont hesitate to answer questions and talk to ferrari fanatics becuase i was one at one point. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 11:44 am: | |
Well, I ran into this my entire life before I actually owned one myself. You never know on a scale of 1 to 10 how crazy a person is about Ferrari. I've always been a 10, but I got shrugged off most the time as just another someone that had maybe read a R&T a few times. I would say 90% of Ferrari fans fit in that category. The other 10% actually own one, will own one, and are the type of people on this board weekly.
As an owner now, I try to be nice to everyone. Although, these cars get so much attention and sometimes you're in a hurry. In a typical fuel stop I'll get at least 2-3 people wanting to talk. |
Randy Ines (Raines)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 10:59 am: | |
Tim,
I wouldn't take it personal. Some people just choose not to share. Anyway, I'm a first time owner ('81 308 GTSi) and love it when people ask about the car, especially for people like yourself who appreciate F-cars. I have even checked out books on Ferraris to get a better appreciation of them myself. It's just not the "looks"...it's the whole package. Keep on keeping on! |
Tim N (Timn88)
| | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2001 - 8:48 pm: | |
Today, i was driving my car and i noticed a 328 GTS parked in a shoprite parking lot. Me, being a large fan of ferrari decided to park near the car and wait for the owner to return so i could strike up conversation. After 20 minutes the guy comes out. Let me tell you, he really did not want to talk about his car or anything. I am good at starting comversations with people who drive nice cars because i have alot of practice, i do it all the time (i have it down to a science), but i dont know what this guy's problem was. This is the first ferrari owner i have ever met that hasnt been eager to talk about his car and be nice. I hope im not like him when i own a ferrari. But it was worth it for the sound. On a side note, i got a ride in a new M3 convertible today. They are fast, handle real well, and sound nice. |
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