When you have everything but not the car

lol

 

If that guy keeps diligently building out his paper route, he'll have enough for a 456 in no time

 

I see this a LOT here on FChat - people with HUGE model collections, Book collections, they drive a new BMW or some other 'status' car for a Daily Driver, but.....NO FERRARI. I guess some folks are pis$-poor at financial management, or haven't quite figured out yet that for the price of a new BMW 3-series, you can buy a new Honda Civic AND a well-serviced 308 for the same money. If you add-up all of the excess F-Crap they threw money away on, they'd have plenty of cash for a down-payment on a REAL car. Some people were just meant to be dreamers, I suppose.....

 

Or...Some people can afford to buy a model here and there at $300.00 a pop, or a hat at $25.00 a pop, but are not in the financial or lifestyle position to engage in the ultimate frivolity of owning a Ferrari.
It is easy to justify the expense of a BMW as a daily driver, because you are using it for work, etc. But to responsibly own a Ferrari, you should anticipate putting $5K a year aside for maintenance--you probably won't need it, but you can't assume you won't, that, of course is on top of the purchase price. With a BMW, you have a fixed expense--the finance or lease payment--everything else is covered. It is easy to financially plan around a BMW, Mercedes, etc. It is not so easy to do with a Ferrari. For many, the collections allow them to be part of the club...as close as their finances or family commitments may allow. I can't fault them for that, nor do I think a Ferrari is a REAL car. A Ferrari is a Toy car. My Honda Accord is a real car, I can put a million miles on her and only change the oil. Nobody relies on a Ferrari for daily transportation. It is a simply about fun or for some, sadly about status and bragging rights. The vast majority of people can only afford to be "dreamers"...and we should be thankful they support the brand at all, because it is their dollars that really support the F1 program that we all love, and form will allow Ferrari to continue being profitable even if car sales slump. It's not like they are masquerading as owners...they just love the brand.




Just my .02

 

At the rate they're depreciating, if the guy waits six months and sells his scooter he'll have enough for a 456!

 

+1000

I don't see people making such a big deal out of the fans that have Green Bay Packers stuff of every description. Or wear a LeBron James basketball jersey. Somehow they manage to get by without being made fun of for be a wanna-be.

My opinion has always been that if you are so worried about what another person is wearing you may have deeper issues that may need attention.

 

I couldn't agree more, +1

 

Too critical ! If people want to wear FERRARI apparel so be it !!!! It's thier money that they spend let them.Geeeezzzzz!!!! Move on allready ( LOL )

 

While I partly agree with you, M.James does have a point. EVO magazine as many know had a 550 maranello as a 'fast fleet' car. The car was driven in nearly all conditions (although harry kinda drew the line when he couldn't see the road anymore because of the snow). In the end, the car cost exactly as much to run as a new bmw 535D (yes as in diesel). That included tires, depreciation, fuel, servicing yada yada on both counts.

Saying that, not everyone has money cash lying about to buy either cash. (hence the bmw is often a lease car)

 

My guess is they could be more of an F fan and think that the stuff makes them a part of it, which it does. Others go about life wishing and never realizing. They can't figure out how to make ownership a reality, don't think they are worthy or just stand in their own way psychologically. There's no right or wrong but if you want to be an owner you need to figure out how to make it happen and not just pretend or think about it.

 

Did he have one of these?

Courtesy of Mr. Granucci!
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I think it is important to note that just because someone dreams to own a Ferrari, they may not settle for just any Ferrari. For example, someone that wants a F430, may be happier driving a BMW than a Honda Civic and a F308.

 

Through experience, I've learned it's good to avoid the dorks - I mean folks - who wear Ferrari badged clothing outside of the F1 arena....whether they own a car or not.

 

Some people buy the gadgets, some buy the Ferrari(s), and some buy both. That's life.

 

I take both views simultaneously. I think Ferrari branded gadgets are fine, but cannot see the value in caps or clothing (but I see no problem in kids wearing them, they can't afford anything anyway!). So by all means have the phone, but not the keyfob. By all means have the pencils, but not the cap (or the jacket).

OTOH Ferraris are like any other car mechanically - they have oil, heads, valves, carburettors or whatever. I would not have any qualms about taking an older Ferrari to a good, non-specialist mechanic. This myth of "ZOMG u n33d a tru 4uthorized mekanik!!111oneone11eleven" is bull**** for the older cars. It's a car! It may have a substance that no other car has, but it functions the same bloody way! Multiple twin-choke Weber carbs? Check. Tri-matic? Check. Manual gearbox? Check - they all work the same way. Jebus.

But my point is this: because substance is why you buy a Ferrari, there's no reason to shun the more modest ones like the 400s or the Mondials. I love those cars. I could have bought a 400 (I'd have been broke albeit not in debt). And under the skin, the older ones can be worked on by any good mechanic. Hell I've seen paint jobs that shouldn't have worked but did even though they were done in a basic garage.

There's no point being precious.

Me: I'd like some Ferrari stuff but there's no way I'd clog my life up with it. There are some gals I know that would look good in a Ferrari shirt. I wouldn't mind a set of pencils. But I'm not rushing out to buy this stuff. I'll eventually get around to it. Best spend a few dollars on getting to know the history of the company a bit more, as well as appreciating more the technical aspects of the various models.

I'd like to see more subtlety with some of the gadgets. I'd never buy that Acer laptop - it's too vulgar. I'd buy a Ferrari phone if it were by Apple or Nokia, but it should be done with class and subtlety. I find even the wristwatch too loud.

 

Wooden F50 anyone?

Ferrari Segway?

Short shorts Pappy?

 

Ferrari is a CAR company, not a T-shirt company. True Fans of the marque know full-well that Ferrari never made a bad car that isn't 'worthy' in some regard. Every machine offers something a-cut-above ordinary transportation - even a Mondial 8. You either "get" that, or you don't. Are you trying to tell me that any Ferrari that isn't the latest-and-greatest F430 is 'settling'?

 

Ferrari is far removed from being just a car company. Ferrari is a racing company as much as it is a car manufacturer. That racing program is funded, in part, through the sale of memorabilia and other items, which are purchased in no small part due to Ferrari's legendary racing pedigree--not its status as a car manufacturer. Since racing is a sport, purchasing a Ferrari T-shirt or hat is no different than purchasing a NY yankees jersey, cap, pen, mousepad, etc. Many people love the Scuderia, while preferring other road cars to Ferrari. However, even those who purchase the hat because they can't afford the car, are doing all of us a favor by supporting the Marque we love. As owners we should embrace them and do what we can to share our cars and experiences with anyone who shows an interest.

I am sure you would agree that there is nothing special about being a Ferrari owner as opposed to a fan, its not like we cured cancer or anything...we just cut a check.


Other than that, I agree with your sentiment that there is no such thing as an ordinary Ferrari, and all of them are special.

 

Why are there only Porsches in that picture?!

 

[QUOTE Nobody relies on a Ferrari for daily transportation. [/QUOTE]

Correction. I rely on a ferrari for daily transportation and i am not affluent.

 

I don't have any Ferrari apparel, because it seems odd to wear a shirt or jacket if you don't have one. When I finally do get one, I will probably get a few discreet branded items like a keychain or t shirt. No red laptops or Puma shoes for me.

On a smaller economic scale I have a couple of Ducatis and also have two Ducati polo shirts. But I never wear the shirts when I am going to be riding the bikes. It just seems kind of dorky like I'd be trying too hard to get noticed when off the bike but its in the parking lot. Just at lunch Tuesday I left my helmet on the bike and went inside, some young guys next to me were commenting on the bike and didn't know it was mine. Maybe I'm just an aloof jerk, but I bought the bikes for me and I don't really care if anyone knows I have one.

I suspect that even if I had a Ferrari T-shirt or cap you wouldn't see it on me while I was actually using the car. It is wierd, but maybe that is just me.

 

I would call 26K miles on my 430 in just over 2 yrs a Daily Driver..............As far as people that don't own a Ferrari but wear the hats, shirts, shoes, etc......I see it like this: It's none of my business what ANYONE wears, drives, doesn't drive, etc.

I happen to like that people express themselves wearing Ferrari stuff. Here in L.A. I often see owners wearing a LOT of Ferrari stuff. I like it because I can approach them and talk cars. It happened at the Beverly Hills Hotel recently and the guy happened to be my neighbors best friend.
He drives a 599 and 430. I never met the guy in ten yrs of living across the street from his buddy. I used to see him pull up in amazing cars all the time.When I ran into him at the hotel he was wearing Ferrari apparel from head to toe and it kinda worked on him. He is in his 70's so it was almost cute.

Anyhow, God bless ALL Ferrari enthusiasts!

Sincerely,
Ape

 

I know a guy who owns a Mondial. He also owns pretty much everything else you can think of that you could stick a Ferrari logo on. When he brings the Mondial to a gathering, he has on his Ferrari hat, sunglasses, shirt, shorts, belt, socks, shoes, and watch. If his wife is along she is dressed similarly, and if their grandkid is along he's in a Ferrari car seat in the back of the Mondial and dressed in a Ferrari onesy or whatever.

This guy LOVES his Ferrari and is proud that he owns one. He's probably the nicest Ferrari owner I know and is friendly, generous, kind, and fun to be around. I think it's great that he's so enthusiastic about his Mondial and also that his costume sometimes offends the uptight and judgemental jagoffs who would really benefit from being more like my friend.