Thoughts about driving your F car in today's economic environment...

I don't drive a Ferrari, but I do drive an R8. It gets retarded/annoying amounts of attention, especially in my city, but I've never had any problems leaving it anywhere. I park it at bars, in parking lots, and where ever else. Most people just compliment it.

 

Someday you'll be dead whether you drive it or not, so drive. ALso, the service fee is good for the economy.

 

You do have a good point, but unfortunately many other people don't think like that. There will always be people who are jealous and resent the fact that you "seem" to have more money than them. Always has been, always will be, but with the economy going south, there seems to be more of it now.

 

I don't think that will ever be a justifiable comparison... he does his path and you do yours in life. Always keep your self-esteem higher than public opinion. Most people spend their whole entire lives on this planet trying to buy it back !

 

Still my daily driver, park it at Wal-Mart, take it through McDonalds drive-thru,etc.

I'm happy and confident in my business, if people are bitter about me being successful because they fail at life, frankly that's not my issue. I grew up very poor until age 11 and I've been in their boat.

If my car gets vandalized I'd be upset but I set aside about $5,000/year for repairs/service and so far I've used less than $800.00 over the course of 20,000 miles in the last year and 3 months so I'd take it out of that fund.

Life is good, turn off CNN and just be humble and kind to others and enjoy the drive.

 

That's a real good point Kevin, a gentlemanly demeanor goes a long, long way....and as the other poster observed we are still sitting in the drive thru line after midnight! LOL!

I'm getting my Concealed Carry Permit, though......

 

Douglas, Rosso, as a car enthusiast since I was a kid and my father took me to the Ferrari factory, I can tell you there are owners from every corner. There are those who pull up in an Fcar at a local bar every Friday night where Toyota's are the norm. What a dynamic! One only needs to read Gatsby to understand. Then there are owners whose local "dives" are places (country clubs, board rooms, YPO events, non profits) where everyone can own the luxury item of their choice and what they choose comes to define them among their peers. It's the latter group that's showing restraint now.

 

As long as you didn't steal it, there's no reason to feel guilty about having money

Always have compassion for those less fortunate --- but, enjoy the fruits of your success, too!!!

And, remember that the majority of people being crunched hardest right now are those who were living far beyond their means and financially irresponsible. This is not to say that there aren't some folks out there who are being genuinely "victimized" by the reckless actions of others.

That said ---- yeah, I'd be careful where you park your car!!! The "have-nots" expressing hostility to "the haves" is sort of a dysfunctional tradition in the US . Our representative legislatures are founded on this principle!!!

 

No worries here.
My neighbor across the street has 3 SUV's for 2 people.

 

The fender of my 308 was pooked by a sharp object and someone stepped on the tail pipe and broke a support bracket of my Alfa 1969 GTV recently. These are not even expensive cars! But they certainly look classy.

 

Street goes both ways.
The car enthusiast father of an aussie F-chat member complimented a 599 driver on his car recently.
"Nice car!"
The owner replies; "What's it to you mate, you'll never afford one."

Doesn't take too many rude morons like that to re-enforce a stereotype of Ferrari drivers as being selfishly self indulgent fools.

 

That's the perfect guy who is asking to get his car keyed.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

I totally disagree that driving ones "car" has anything to do with the economic climate. I have a 91 Ferrari Testarossa and a 97.5 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster and drive them everyday as daily drivers.....I don't personally own anything else.

This is America and like most of us "Yanks" here, have worked DAMN hard to have the success and vehicles we have. I don't shove anything in anyones face nor do I shy away from enjoying my life....to the best I can. No one stopped driving their fancy cars when I struggled while absorbing and building our company back then....no one should.

Many times at the gas pump people ask how much gas it uses and that..."wow, it take the "expensive premium stuff". I answer by, it gets better mileage than that SUV over there and that gas is the cheapest thing you will buy for the F or L. I make lite of the situation by saying..."still cheaper than a woman" ....always gets a laugh.

It's how YOU are....

It's really your demeanor and body language that people pick up. While I'm filling up, most people stare from the distance. One person comes up, they see that I treat everyone with respect....no matter what flashy or junker they came out of, then everyone else comes over. I spend time to answer all questions and pop the engine cover. If you don't have the time to do that....you're missing the point of driving a work of art.....they are meant to be shared.

Even some friends say I'm too humble for the cars....I say " I'm not humble at all ( I'm a pretty flashy guy ) but I don't treat people badly.

So get out there, drive your F or L cars....or both everyday and enjoy your life!

....it's what you worked hard for....isn't it?

BUT.....

I will say though, petty jealousies are everywhere. You will always get the semi-snide comment or people cutting you off. The traffic light always seems to be the start of a race for everyone around me. You just have to roll it off. Remember....we have much more to lose than the "idiot" that cut us off.




Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Good to hear Shamile!

Out of curiosity how many miles have you racked up on your TR and Diablo?

 

48K miles on the TR ( had the TR for years )

39K miles on the VT ( drive the VT more and rack up double the miles than the TR )

I drive back and forth to my homes in GA....once a month + all over FL to coordinate job sites for ADA code compliance & handicap access.


Thank you for asking


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

where I live we're ALL poor..

I've come to the conclusion that they just don't know what to think. Most people are just mesmorized, like they're processing new information

(most have never seen one in person)

 

....know exactly what you mean.

I feel the same way everytime a tall thin blonde with long hair and a very short skirt happens by. For me, "both" heads are dumbstruck.


Shamile

Freeze.....Miami Vice !

 

No problems in Idaho...but most folks don't know what the car is anyway.

At the Italian car show last weekend...there were two (2) other ferrari brethern. A 348 and 250. I know there are others...but maybe they're skeert.

 

I think it depends a lot on the model, if its a famous Ferrari like a 308, TR, 360 then people may be PO'd about it

But there are plenty of Ferraris that the public is completely clueless about, Most people are clueless to how much they cost anyways

That said for some reason the Slutmobile and F40 seem to make people happy and they seem to like them more than my 512TR coupe

My daily driver is an 02 M5 so I guess lots of people dont view a 7 yr old BMW as a rich guys car so its a nice sleeper

When I used to drive my rough 68 Vette and I'd dress down it was pretty bizarre experience for me. Everybody assumed I was just a blue collar guy and there seemed to be a lot of cameraderie for that

 

Almost any other marque of sportscar and their general assumption seems to be you likely 'did it up yourself'.
Why that seems to not apply with older F-cars is an interesting subject. Worth a thread in its own right.

 

I drive mine a couple times a week. I always treat people with courtesy, and often let kids and their parents sit in the car and take pictures of themselves in the car. (I'm still looking for the guy that did that to me some 40 years ago, he cost me a lot of money). I've never had someone react badly towards me while driving the Ferrari.

Art

 

I've decided to only drive mine on "drives" and not for any errands or park it while at the gym. Got the buffer and the battery charger out and went at the 300zxt. With a new shift boot and some mats the thing looks good.

In four days i've gotten 3 nice car compliments and one buy offer on it (Z).


Not gonna leave even my 308 out for the vandals.

 

I think folks will just adopt "careful spending policies" - I bet the holiday season will be pretty depressed. Can't expect any record sales this November/December.

Also, we will be taking the viper and ferrari out tomorrow just to get them out tomorrow on some backroads. Have to drive now because the crappy weather is going to start soon. I know the cars won't melt in the rain, but its really a pain in the @$$ to clean up the car. Michael

 

Well, here's the weekend recap:

At the Brewery Tour: All thumbs up, tons of photo ops with the car, several insisted I join the photo......several new friends made.

Art Car Museum: Tall blond surfer girl from Corpus Christi tried it on, luckily she was about the same size as ol' Tex....

Beer Can House: Kind of a quiet day, but since a Fcar has moved in three doors down (348 Spyder) Ferraris are now "common" on Malone Street....LOL! Hasn't been that way since Bush Sr, used to eat at Otto's down the block...

So I think Public Sentiment is still largely 'positive', at least here in Texas...