| Author | Message | ||
| yasir saifullah (Yasir)
New member Username: Yasir Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2002 |
Isn't it true that People on the other side of the pond like to drive their cars more unlike here where people feel pride in Low mileage cars. Later, Yasir | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1246 Registered: 3-2002 |
michael, the next time you are in london and want to have an exotic car overload, then you need to go to a few car parks. the one i park in in belgravia has about 20 ferraris (old ones too like daytonas, lussos, etc), 5 lambos, rolls/bentleys and porsches. there is one over in mayfair around the corner form the dorchester that is incredible with 3 floors of exotica, especially older cars. like seeing the dupont registry in the flesh. then there is the one on park lane under the park itself. that is where a lot of the gumball rally cars sleep so plenty to see again. | ||
| Craig Williams (Craigw)
Junior Member Username: Craigw Post Number: 142 Registered: 4-2002 |
Michael, Chelsea cars ususally have a mondial or 2, a couple of new&old 911's and lots of old MB SL's. there is another garage that you may have seen about 2 doors along & can look like part of it that has a lot of Exotica, Lambos, rare Astons etc etc. | ||
| Michael Zaic (Mikez_nj)
New member Username: Mikez_nj Post Number: 20 Registered: 12-2002 |
Hans - I agree with you, the people are extremely friendly. I was there on tour with a choir that was singing all over the place, and we got the most incredible reception. In terms of driving there... I would hate having all those cameras around. Our tour guide mentioned that prior to all the cameras and technology, people would often race around the M25 (is that right?) in the middle of the night, but the cameras took that fun away. Couple of questions for you London folk - 1 - Chelsea Cars... I quickly passed this dealership, and thought I saw a few Ferraris there. Was I just seeing things? It looked like an exotics dealership, but the website makes me think I'm crazy. 2 - How much do those new MG convertibles go for? As a non-owner (hopefully not for too long!), I love just catching a glimpse of the cars. I kept thinking, man, DES would go crazy here! Two very cool things happened while I was over there... The first happened the second night I was there - I was walking down the street, and a 355 pulled up and parked right next to me. Since the 355 is my dream car, I was in heaven. The second happened towards the end of my trip - I walked out of Harrods, and parked right on the street were a Mondial and a 456, within about 25 feet of each other. I know it probably doesn't seem much to the fortunate people who have Ferraris, but to me, it just helped make a wonderful trip even more memorable. Ah, but now I'm rambling... someday I'll know the joys of ownership... | ||
| Paul Hill (348paul)
Member Username: 348paul Post Number: 267 Registered: 12-2002 |
And the best thing about owning a Ferrari in London? Blackwall Tunnel & a Tubi !!!  | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 534 Registered: 2-2003 |
Kevin, yes I was. RAF Mildenhall  The tractors were the worst for traffic blocking. But, those aren't as bad as the lorries with veggies or other foreign objects falling off of them to hit your car. Besides this, I miss it! Weather and all. Sunny | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 1116 Registered: 12-2002 |
Just confirms that fact that I NEED to get accepted into this conservatory and move to London. Sounds like my kind of place! | ||
| Kevin (Jammy)
Junior Member Username: Jammy Post Number: 114 Registered: 3-2002 |
Hey Sunny- were you on one of the bases? I only ask because most Americans in that neck of the woods are associated in some way. Know which roads you mean- we went to Hunstanton today in fact. The significance of the beet & the pigs (I like seeing them in the fields- they're not caged inside some sort of hell barn) is *&%$y farm tractors travelling at 1mph. It's Norfolks version of traffic control. Kevin | ||
| Kevin (Jammy)
Junior Member Username: Jammy Post Number: 113 Registered: 3-2002 |
Mark- snap! Parting of the red sea is how I describe it too. Good example of it last weekend on the way to the Ferrari Festival @ Donnington; three of us (360 spider, 550 and 456) on a dual carriageway averaging 120 and not having to drop below 100 because everyone just kept getting out of the way. Amazing really. Kevin | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 528 Registered: 2-2003 |
Kevin, I lived in Mildenhall village for a couple years which was a short drive North from Cambridge. Definitely some great roads, away from the beet and pig farming that is Sunny | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Junior Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 225 Registered: 7-2002 |
Kevin I'm with you, I find 99% of people are happy to see a Ferrari and are always courteous, infact on fast roads, motorways etc, the Prancing Horse seems to have a greater effect at parting the waves than an Emergency vehicle, people seem to fall over themselves getting out of the way!!!! | ||
| Kevin (Jammy)
Junior Member Username: Jammy Post Number: 112 Registered: 3-2002 |
Well I live near Cambridge, about 50 miles from London, and what strikes you whenever you drive into London is that it's just no fun. Traffic, lumpy roads and speed cameras all over the place. I remember reading somewhere that there are more Ferrari in London than the rest of the UK put together (or something like that). No surprise you can spot them, 'cos they ain't going anywhere in a hurry... Out here in the 'burbs we're blessed with some fantastic roads, Ferrari are a rare sight and I've only ever had one (mild) example of resentment. Most of the time other road users are courteous to a fault (sharp contrast to experience in the 911) When the weather's good, like it is right now, tooling around Britain in your Ferrari is as good as it gets with your clothes on (IMO) | ||
| Kristoffer Hansson (Maverick)
Junior Member Username: Maverick Post Number: 149 Registered: 3-2001 |
P. thomas - Perhaps the aqusistion cost is lower in europe than in US but the tax aint. In sweden most people pay 60% in tax so you just dont make enough money. The goverment take it all. For an example - a new civil engineer gets about 2.000 dollars after tax, go figure.. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 525 Registered: 2-2003 |
London can be nasty for driving and parking. Keeping a car nice there is harder then it is here in Los Angeles. I was spending a late night partying in the Angel District one time and came out from the club around 3-something AM and was victim of a hit 'n run. Just look around you at the dings, dents, etc on the cars. London can be a warzone! But very very enjoyable. Sunny | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 307 Registered: 4-2003 |
I think that owning an F-car, P-car or MB in Europe is far less expensive than here in the states. Based on aqusistion cost (including monetary exchange rate). I was in Florance, Italy in 2002 and saw a 1997 355 Spider red/tan for a mere 51K euros. The dolar was stronger then, but still, do the math and it is substantially less than here in the US. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1390 Registered: 4-2002 |
I, too, was in London a couple of years ago, and the car scene is remarkable. First (and only) time I've ever seen 2 Maranellos in traffic in the same day. As for the people - I found them universally warm and friendly. Can't say the same for some of their 'resident aliens', tho. They can be absolutely rude in ethnic restaurants. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1241 Registered: 3-2002 |
yes, the warm weather we're having does bring out the sidewalk 'exotica'.... a friend of mine got a 996tt, and i was ribbing him that they were so common that they weren't worth having. he didn't appreciate this so i told him i would keep a record of those that i saw for the balance of that week while commuting the 15 minutes to and from the office (not countin the 2 that park on my street). well i saw about an average of 4 per day for 3 weekdays, but in doing so i kept a mental tally of ferraris etc and its just incredible. per day, i must see 3-5 550's 4-6 360's, and countless 348/355's (only one other 512tr black on black in pimlico), and add to that tally the lambos, vanquishes, sl55's, i even saw a macf1 on the mall !!!! its getting as bad as monaco. to be different now, you have to either drive a 2cv or bugatti veyron !!! | ||
| Manu (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 737 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ross - we went down to Lamborghini London on monday night to have a look at the orange 6.0 Diablo there (probably within spitting distance of your place), saw about 3 360s, a 550 and grey Murcie (again) on Italian plates.... When are you going to do the right thing and get a Tubi off me? OH - Forgot to add - just trapse down to St Johns Wood High Street on Saturday morning for a coffee..... The whole place is a damn supercar car park - endless Porsches, SL55s, BMW Ms, Ferraris, and the odd Lambo.. this doesn't compare with some of the ahem... exotica walking on the pavements though..... - | ||
| Jeff Howe (Ferrari_uk)
Member Username: Ferrari_uk Post Number: 281 Registered: 12-2002 |
All. I don't have a Ferrari :-( but I know the "have-nots" in this society can get very animated towards the "haves" when we're talking about Ferraris or any nice looking car. As for the country as a whole...Born and bred in one of many cathedral cities and I think most of us walk around with our eyes shut ! If we step back and look objectively most of us will find that this is a beautiful place and a great place to live ! Where we live is rolling hills and the famous White Cliffs of Dover and France is visible on a clear day or evening. Yours, John Bull | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1238 Registered: 3-2002 |
know what u mean manu. i was driving around on sunday and was feeling very good about things when i was passed by a nice grey murci with non-stock exhaust that just roared. made my 428bhp and stock exhaust feel a little inadequate..... | ||
| Mark Collins (Markcollins)
Junior Member Username: Markcollins Post Number: 222 Registered: 7-2002 |
You lot must be unlucky, 7 years and 32k miles of UK Fcar ownership and I've only once had a problem, mind you I don't take it into London much, maybe it's a local problem | ||
| Manu (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 736 Registered: 2-2002 |
London is PACKED out with Ferraris..... seeing a few in every trip (if only for just a few hours) is really no big deal... To be honest I find it kind of irritating from an exclusivity point of view... (flamesuit on) Dave is right - an incident just a few days ago (not massively dissimilar to what happened to Allan) whilst riding as a passenger in a mates 355 Spider confirmed that some people have a terrible jealousy problem..... fu*king a$$holes.... | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1237 Registered: 3-2002 |
yes, we are spoiled. i see so many 996 tt's that they seem common place and ordinary. i see at least 5 ferraris/day on my commute. etc etc. but the traffic is a killer. we move between 3 and 10mph in town. not fun | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 305 Registered: 4-2003 |
Dave, I was in London in 2000. Had a great time. That is not the first time I have heard that owing a F-car in the UK is realy problematic with all of the jealousy you are faced with. | ||
| Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member Username: Dapper Post Number: 681 Registered: 4-2002 |
The country is great, the weather...well you just get used to it...the people, nahhh, many have jealousy eating them alive. I am a UK resident and have been all my life but have to admit to sometimes feeling ashamed to be. | ||
| Kristoffer Hansson (Maverick)
Junior Member Username: Maverick Post Number: 147 Registered: 3-2001 |
Haven�t been in london but in stockholm its the same. If you spend a couple of hours in the city, if its a sunny day, you�ll certainly see at least one or two ferraris. It has happend that Ive seen 6-7 ferraris when just taking a 45 min walk around town. And Michael - Sure the country feels more beutiful with frequent ferraris sightings | ||
| Michael Zaic (Mikez_nj)
New member Username: Mikez_nj Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2002 |
I was in London last week, and I've never seen so many Ferraris in my life. Maybe it was just timing, but I saw at least a couple every single day of my trip. I wish I could go back! I also got a chance to see Ely and Cambridge (saw an f-car out there too), and I must commend the UK people on a beautiful country. |