Who is Secretive about their Ferrari Ownership?

I don't come out and tell anyone that I have a Ferrari. I am single, I definetely do not bring it up with a woman I just met. And since I haven't met one that I really like, looks like only the folks in the club know about the car for now.

 

Im not secretive about my 348 at all. Everyone whos knows me,knows about the car. When i meet new people,i dont tell them,but usually someone near-by asks about the car,then all hell breaks loose and the new friend starts firing questions away Which i dont mind at all

 

Same as tifosiron. I don't volunteer that I have one, but my car-enthusiast friends always want to know what I'm driving because I usually have something special in the garage.

If someone asks, I'll gladly talk about Ferraris (mine included) with anyone.

 

I haven't told alot of people yet, but I've only owned the car for 3 months. There is nobody at work who knows, and I'm going to try to keep it that way. Even though it's just a Dino 308GT4, people hear the word, "Ferrari," and well...you know. I work with 4 cardiac surgeons - one drives a new Toyota Highlander Hybrid, one drives a brand new 350Z Roadster, and the other two drive big BMWs. Their money is in their homes, not their cars, and rightfully so here in the Bay Area.

My Ferrari is one of my few "extras" that I take - I'm usually very practical -but people will just assume it is, or was, a $100,000 car just because it's red and says "Ferrari" on the back. Little do they know, the car probably cost less than 90% of the cars in the hospital lot. It's best just to keep it on the downlow, methinks.

 

I was looking at a black/black (red piping/inserts) 360 spider last year and the salesman mentioned that the owner kept it a secret from his wife. He had it garaged at a friend's house and would have to sneak out to drive it.

 

Wow I wonder what else he kept secret from his wife?

 

While not an owner, I can't think of an owner I know who really tells people.

From my experience F car owners tend to want to be treated like people, not what people think F car owners are. So they prefer not to bring up the car(s) unless it comes up.

Imagine that... people wanting to be treated like there is more to who they are than a car they happen own? Who'd a thunk it?

 

If a woman or some1 out of the blue asks I tell them I drive a Navigator or a Mini

 

I am very discrete. My wife and one non-Ferrari owner friend knows. I have not told my other friends and acquaintances. Since I am retired, I do not need to worry about co-workers. I tell my kids not to ever discuss it with their friends. I have not even told my parents. They grew up during the depression and just do not understand today's wealth creation. I never drive it to any social functions with my wife unless it is to dinner and we are not meeting anyone we know.

I never bring it up, unless someone said saw me in it and even then, I let them bring it up if they want to. I try to keep my personal things to myself. When you live in Silicon Valley, it is best to keep your finances discrete. Many people have money from Hi Tech sector here and are just normal people that got lucky. N. Cal people are more down to earth. S. Cal folks either just want people to think they have money or have it and want people to know they have it. The difference between N. & S. Cal. in a nutshell.

 

I don't let many people in my workplace know that I have a F-car. That's because most of them would almost definitely give me sh*t for having one. As it was, when I was driving a boxster 3 years back, some were giving me a hard time, some totally ignored me, and not to mention the stupid questions I get, like 'where do you get your money from?' 'Won't you lose a lot of money when you sell it?' 'why can't you get a normal car?' 'where will your parents sit?' etc.... Imagine what will happen if they know that I drive a F-car now.

 

I tell everyone when it can be a natural part of the conversation. Getting the Ferrari was one of my goals after becoming self employed. It is like gospel. Spread the word, it is good news! Having excitement and talking about a car you really enjoy is very different than bragging about spending alot of money on a car that you really know very little about (The Dr. Phil type). Usually you can only bring it up in conversation with other car folks, but occasionally others want to know about it.

BT

 

This is funny. Reminds me of when they had a contest to see who the most humble person was in the church. They picked someone, pinned a medal to his chest that said, "I'm the most humble person in this church", then promptly took it away from him because he no longer qualified (ha ha).
The moment someone responds to this post, they are no longer secretive about their Ferrari.

 

Nahhh. This is more like an AA or GA meeting where you get a chance to come clean about your secret vice !

 

I play it pretty low key.

Say the word Ferrari around where I live and the first thing people think of is $100K plus car....which is not always the case. Thinking like that can lead to jealousy and recrimination so it's better to just drive and enjoy and if someone see's you in it then you talk about it, otherwise I don't need the extra attention.

I do have this one particular problem though. I have a buddy who for some reason likes to bring it up whenever he can (the fact that I have a ferrari). He's self absorbed and insecure. If we are talking with total strangers and the conversation turns to cars, it's a sure bet that he'll say "scott drives a ferrari...." He's obvioulsy got some issues about trying to impress people, he thinks if his freinds are cool then he must be too... It's sad and funny at the same time.

 

Lol. Actually, my neighbor walked over the first day I had mine and said: "I just had to come over and give you sh*t..." (good spiritedly!)

 

Here are two older threads on this that were good:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15438

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60650

 

My friend said he drives his 308 to work 3-4 times a week.

 

it's always better to keep a low profile!

 

Yeah...my neighbor across the street did the same thing. He's awesome, though - retired, always outside working in the yard or in the garage with the door up. The thing is, the guy's a major car nut - he just likes the older stuff. He's got a *cherry* '56 Ford Victoria and 3 Model-A Fords - one truck, one "driver", and his show car. All 4 vehicles are so incredibly clean, it's unbelieveable.

He really likes having somebody across the street to hassle (me), whether it's about my cars, my lawn, the fact that my wife and dog hang out in the backyard and not the front, etc. He's a great neighbor, and one I am happy to share my "hobby" with. My coworkers, and even some of my friends though, no way.

 

I try and play low key, I work for the government, most everyone at the office knows about it, I usually drive it into work on Fridays, now that someone let the cat out of the bag. I got all the "how can you afford this" and the "your parents must be rich" or the "What are you pushing on the side" stuff, but I try to explain the choices in life I made before coming to work for the government how I was a Telecom Executive and investments etc etc, but they like to keep thinking the opposite. It’s only an '86 328, but like people say the mention of any F-Car = $100,000's to most people. I never bring it up in conversation and when people ask what I drive I don't even mention it.

 

I don't tell anyone, although most love them there are still one or two jealous folk out there who will gladly 'key' your car, sadly I have seen that done a few times to others, I also like to keep a low profile for security reasons as my garage is not yet alarmed

 

agree with Jon and Ron.

 

I've only "announced" my Ferrari to three or four people in my pre-ownership life, and those persons are auto enthusiasts at my level or otherwise well-wishing types.

Neighbors all see me around in it and reactions range from complimentary to completely unaware/indifferent.

My last boss knows about it and he's a longtime good friend and well-wishing type, but I never take it up to the building where I used to work or tell other former professional associates about it...the ongoing competitiveness, ego-upmanship, and sarcasm was heavy with some folks...it would just get me handed a lot of stupid bullschit.

Of course, I'm more than happy to show it off to those that I've met in the Ferrari world.