Seriously..Is a Ferrari just a car?

As some of you may know, I've never had a Ferrari. Cough...cough..

So I wouldn't know what it's really like to own one.

Probably never will.

But YOU do!

So tell me, and I ask sincerely: as an owner, is your Ferrari "a car; a very nice car, but a car, nothing more or less, a very nice and interesting mechanical device"

Or

Is your Ferrari some thing MORE than a car, either as a near extention of your own being, or just so special that it's not simply a car, a mechanical device?

Does it enhance your life in some way that cannot be explained by just owning an object?

 

I thought we had this conversation a few years ago when you went for a ride in both V8's back to back.

Yes, they are just cars.

 

I dont own one but have access to one. And its certainly more than a car.
The days i know ill be taking her out , i can barely sleep..
as much as i love my Porsche , it cant compare in the emotion department.

 

Sometimes it's a wooden boat
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Dang! Where'd you get that picture??!!

 

I think it's a photoshop

 

I view mine as a functional piece of art -- emphasis on the function. The 328 has a heart-stopping shape, and I love to look at it and see all the lines and curves that even the best photography can't capture. 4.5 years and I still turn back to look at it as I walk away.

That said, it's role is transport. From that perspective, yes, it's just a car -- and cars are designed to be used regularly. I'll take it to the store, to work, wherever. I'll also sacrifice originality for reliability and usability.

If I had to give it up I would -- but I would miss the thing. Twisty roads on early winter Saturdays with the top off and the engine heating the seats is just fantastic fun. Besides, Ferrari folk tend to be pretty interesting people to hang with.

 

Uro,

Where you going with this?

Are you a car guy? Ever had a car you would never give up or wish you hadn't? Ever just gone to the garage to look at your car.... maybe just walked around it? Ever been frustrated, gotten in your ride, and everything just seemed right? Ever felt a sense of pride just because of your car? Ever felt a level of obligation to maintain your car just because you know you are the custodian for the next owner? (Maybe your son or daughter)

The Ferrari is just a car IF you are a car guy.......

Doc, if this is something you want to do - I implore you not to wait. Frankly - bluntly - you've waited long enough.

Remember, from a fiscally responsible position, the car will have value after you own it too. The money isn't being sucked away.

 

It's art and performance.

 

Um, its got 4 wheels and a steering wheel. So yea, it's just a car. Now if it had wings, that would be something special...

 

Life is too short not to own a Ferrari.

I feel for those who think it's just a car. You are missing one of the true joys of life.

Most fun I've ever had with my clothes on!

 

Just a car.

 

They are SPECIAL cars!

 

and the Sistine Chapel is "just" a cieling

 

Here's the story on that guy:

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/DeMarchi.htm

 

Yes, they are just cars. But they are exceptional cars and the company has a rich history in racing etc...
BT

 

Ferraris are rolling automotive art and a driving experience that stimulates all of the senses.

 

Car, yes. But an exceptional one.

 

they are cars in the sense that they have tires, an engine, and a steering wheel, and can get you from point a to point b the same as any other car out there. however, given the history, performance, styling, etc, it's a lot more than just a car, it's a marquee. what other brands can say that about their cars? the 4 major ones are ferrari, lamborghini, bentley, and rolls royce, imho. to make a car more than that, you have to like it much more than anything else, and feel that it's the best one out there on the road. this can be viewed in many ways, for instance, there may be some people out there who look at ferrari or any of those 3 other marquees as just a car, but view their chevy or ford as much more than a car. to me it's a matter of personal preference that makes a car more than a car. just my .02.

 

It's just a car. And a marquee is a big tent

 

well done, anything with four wheels and can take you from point A to point B is a car. they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, some people look at ferraris as just another piece of metal but to those people who see it differently including myself it is our soul designed into a piece of art. a piece of art that begs to be driven and just looked at for hours

 

Of course it's "just a car", but it can certainly be something more for anyone of us. When my wife was lobbying for yet another dog she argued that she'd supported me in getting the car, so I should reciprocate. I pointed out that while the car required a substantial up front commitment of cash, it was just a car, just a pretty hunk of metal that could be sold or even scrapped. It's not a moral offense to neglect a Ferrari (seriously). A dog, however, is a living creature for which we are responsible for its entire life.
All that being said, when I drove my car for the first time in weeks and only the fourth time ever on Saturday, I was literally cackling with glee. No other car, not even those that were far faster, better handling, or more expensive has made me feel anything that was even qualitatively similar to how I felt this weekend.

 

So they ride the short bus? Or should I say transit truck from the factory…

 

Uro... buy yourself an F40. You'll know the answer.

 

Seems to me that most people fall between the two poll choices...Sure, these cars are extremely special, with most people disregarding the cash involved because they place more value on the emotional experience. I'd gladly drop 3/4 of a million for the one I want and wouldn't think twice.

But then I look at threads where people have died or been seriously injured in these cars, and I always appreciate the instant disregard for the car in exchange for the well being of the person involved. These cars take precendence over a lot of things for most of us, and yet everyone on here knows that there are still things that matter more, which in the end makes a Ferrari, happily, just a car.