Suprising ignorance!

Pretty funny. A lot of people just buy new Porsches because they're pretty and status symbols. Much like BMW, which used to be insider knowledge between enthusiasts, Porsches attract a lot of people who never read a car mag.

I also know several Porschephiles who are incredibly knowledgeable about all things automotive, so it depends on who you meet. But the odds of finding someone who's car-ignorant behind the wheel of a really good new Carrera are bigger than you think.

Credit Porsche with making a car that anyone -- not just car experts -- can buy and drive. It's kind of a mixed blessing, I s'pose.

 

Are sports car owners really becoming this ignorant to the classics?

Jeff[/QUOTE]

Yes they are. This has happened to me as well and I am also shocked when it does. Although I aways take the time to answer questions it feels strange because I feel they should know for some reason. I had about 3 kids come over to our house when I was in the garage one day that were about 12 years old. One of them knew details on everyone of my cars and was explaining each one to his friends, I was very impressed. Gives me great hope for the younger generation.

 

Well I would have to say im going quite the opposite direction, we have a semi-modern fcar (360) and in fact Im starting to like more and more the older classics, instead of wanting to jump up to a F430 like most owners do, we are looking to get a F355... (yes I know not quite a classic classic, but still you understand my point)

I guess you will always get some wealthy people who buy these as the posts above say as a status symbol and a generally nice looking, powerful car to impress friends and satisfy egos etc. Its fine by me if they do that... and then theres the group (members on fchat) that are actual enthusiasts and like to know whats behind the car, make and history of the maker etc etc... Im sure also that some of these "ignorant" people do eventually transfer into enthusiasts, they find people with similar cars, start reading up on the technical side and see there is a whole different side to the car they didnt know about.... thats when they find fchat, and then bye bye goes social life as they will be on here 24/7

 

(Not talking about a personal Ferrari, though ive had this experience before)

Im at a redlight, and some ricer comes up and askes if I think I could beat his "tunned jet-on-wheels."

Though, as was said, you get some amazingly weathly people who own these 500K cars, and know nothing about them.

A co-worker of mine just bought a 599 GTB. Fantastic car. We went to an exotics get together with a few friends, and a Lambo owner comes up and askes (word for word) "cool kit fellas, 575?" Im dead serious. It left me floored. I was really speachless. I had nothing to say. Its like going to the Badlands, and talking about deforestation.




Kind-Rolling-Eyes-Regards,
Jon

 

Alas, you can also find the odd individual who buys a Ferrari knowing nothing about the marque other than its status value.

They don't tend to keep them very long, though. Ferraris are drivers' cars. I haven't pushed a newer model around corners, but the classics are quite a handful for people used to status boxes like a Lexus or a family Mercedes. Such owners tend to scare themselves, tell themselves that they got "a bad one", sell it, and then go buy a Porsche.

Where Porsche loads their cars up with "Stability Managment" and other gizmos to make the owner feel like he knows how to drive, Ferrari does not traditionally make the car cover for the driver. (Okay, some of the four seat Ferraris actually had automatic transmissions, so they make *some* concessions to commuter use on some models.)

And then there are the 20 year old Ferraris with 100 miles on the clock -- the "investment" owners.

Owners of a given marque are not all alike. Some people "flip" cars every few months, others keep them for decades.

You should see how disappointed most of the younger crowd are when they find that I left my EVO stock. (Which makes me a "weird" ricer owner, I guess. )

But "Magnum" went off the air a long time ago. A lot of people are surprised how old my 328 is. Times move on. (I find it surprising on internet chat rooms when I encounter 20 year old russians who have no memory of the soviet union.)

It's also depressing how many people in the 'states have never even heard of Alfa Romeo.

But if you really want to see an experience gap in action, try to describe a Saturn V launch to an 18 year old.

 

I rebadged my 3000GT to GTO, as the car was originally called in Japan. You should hear the Pontiac guys come out of their tree. But hey, I don't go up them and make fun of them for driving a domestic with an import name.


Gran Turismo Omologata

 

I notice the same thing. Not owning an F-car, I haven't got firsthand experience, but I see owners of "performance cars" fail to notice supercars on a regular basis. For instance, when I see a Mercedes SL or a Porsche pull up to a valet station who's got a Gallardo or a 360 Spider, the driver never even notices the supercar. Maybe they're just too common.

My favorite though was when I was following a Diablo VT Roadster about two months ago. It's probably the craziest-styled car of all time. We get up at a light next to a Volkswagen GTI - the "performance" version of the Golf, something I had always questioned due to its lack of performance. The GTI driver looks at the Diablo once, then looks away, completely oblivious. Idiot.

 

They notice.

If they appeared not to then their illusion was complete. How would you like to drop $100k on a car only to see someone else show up w/ Cinderella, wouldn't you be like, "I'll pretend I didn't see that."

 

I was gassing up last weekend when a youg kid about 12 to 13 walked up. He politely asked me if he could look at my car. He said oh wow a QV. It must be an 83 or so? A few seconds later another older guy drove up and said Magnum PI, that must be an 83? I was kinda floored. The kid asked me about the car some more and when I was about to ask him if he'd like a ride, his mom came over and said nice car, its time to go.
I've had people ask me if my 250 is some kind of an old vette. The 308 could be the most recognised Ferrari ever.

 

Lots of status buyers out there, pickin' out a car because the neighbor has one, or his partner has one, or because it gives him a chubby when he hops in.

I guess when Porsche hits 100K cars manufactured a year, all the exclusivitiy goes out of the brand.

After all, with Porsche making SUV's, can a Porsche station wagon be far behind?

Can't wait for the day when I get to ask the guy driving a Porsche Vista Cruiser how many HP the car makes or its 0-60 time while he's filling it with regular gas at the BP station.

DM

 

Here's a thought: Maybe the guy's testing you!

 

Fair comment: The 599 looks like nothing so much as a body kit on a Z-06.

 

Ignorance is not limited to those who put SF shields on their street Ferraris.

 

+1. Americans are very brand conscious. On average, they may have no clue how a 308 and a 575 differ, but the Ferrari brand has a lot of weight and people make an effort to figure out what brand something is. Women know what kind of handbag other women are carrying, and what kind of shoes other women have on; men check out cars and watches.

Moreover the whole 3x8-355-360-430 line stands out big time among normal cars. I saw a silver/blue 360 Spider yesterday in La Jolla and even with all the Bentleys and Jags and Porsches, etc., around there the Ferrari was pretty hard to miss. And IMO the 360 doesn't scream 'Ferrari' as much as the earlier cars do (308, TR, etc.)

 

Probably a Diablo is simply not on his list of "things to be looked at twice"?

I once saw a parked yellow 25th Anniversary Countach near Pike Place Market in WA. Although I appreciate and respect the car for what it is, I didn't look twice. But if it was an LP400 or an LP5000S, I most probably will linger around talking to the owner.

As an avid yet picky car enthusiast, I thought I should explain these situations that sometimes arises.

 

not all people are car guys. My next door neighbor asked me if my 308 was a corvette....

some people just dont know. Also had someone ask if my 911 was new (its a 78 SC)

 

Money just doesn't care who owns it anymore.

 

Time to put the house on the market...

 

When people see my 328, they invariably recognize it, but they are also surprised when I tell them that it's a 21-year-old car!

 

This seems to be fairly common actually. I know at least three doctors/dentists who own porsche's and paid about 100k each, they don't know much or care about their cars they aren't car guys its a status thing. I'd take the 78sc being new comment as a complement (I prefer the old porsches though) but the fact they though it was new shows it is in good shape and the styling is holding up!

As for being compared to a vette I'll second moving!

 

Hey you 3xx owners - Most of the responses should make you proud. The car is such a classic and the syling so perfect that it could be a new car. Or some other "performance" car that the viewer lusts for. The ultimate compliment! If I could fit in one I might be among you.

As far as "non-car" people buying expensive cars - most of these cars drive and perform better than the average "whatever", so you can't fault them for buying as nice a car as they can afford. It might be a Ferrari (even if they don't know one from another) or some other exotic car. It is not ALWAYS status. They will have a nice ride, whatever the motivation.

Cheers
Warren

 

Very true, Warren. I do take it as a compliment when someone notices. And you're right again in that no one should be faulted for picking up the best they can manage. However, I will say that it often grates a little to see the ride that someone has chosen, and then hear them demonstrate that they don't know the difference between a K-Car and an F-Car.

 

Yes - such a waste. Like watching the couple at the next table order a great bottle of wine, and leaving it half full.
Oh well- just congratulate yourself that you would not have done that.

Cheers
Warren