Unwanted Attention

There is no way to drive a Ferrari and not attract attention.
On way home today in the rain had a cute blonde in an Audi taking cell phone pix of the Mondial 8 at the stoplight. And she likely paid more for the Audi than I did for the Mondial.
Just drive the car and enjoy realizing you are watched.

 

Yes, that's it.

I cannot tell you how many guys have come on here in the last five years asking:'Should I get the Ferrari or the Corvette?', and I always say 'Vettes are a dime a dozen, they seldom turn heads, but every Ferrari will turn heads, your call'.

 

As an FCar owner, I can say that at times the "fish bowl" effect is a PIA, especially with my Scud. Fortunately, I haven't had any negative reactions to date. Also as a previous owner of a 575, most people don't recognize it like they do a 360/430. It is an elegant car, understated and depending on color choice, not so in your face Ferrari.

As for the audit aspect/concern that you're pimping scripts: no worries. You can score a well priced 575.

Make sure you get a PPI from someone not involved in the transaction, hopefully the records are all there and enjoy the **** out of it. I miss mine greatly and wish that I had kept it.

 

Next to a Camry? Yes. Next to a Koenigsegg? No. It's all relative.

When you're on your death bed, will you think back to what might've happened? Or will you think back to what definitely happened?

If you get the Ferrari, the enjoyment is definite. Closer scrutiny from the IRS (or anyone else) is only a possibility, not a given (and even then, as long as you're on the up and up, there's no need to worry).

 

I wouldn't worry about the IRS unless you have skeletons in the closet. Unfortunately, there is no way around the attention a Ferrari attracts besides picking when and where you drive it. It can get a bit tiresome at times, but don't let it become a prison for you and your Ferrari - they are meant to be driven and enjoyed. Like you, I would never consider driving it to work, but the smile it puts on my face after a stressful day at the office or on the weekend is priceless.
Jes

 

Fortunately I live in an area where I don't garner so much attention. I made a trip to my hometown in SC and it was ridiculous the level of unwanted attention it drew. I will never drive another Ferrari back to my home town bc of it. I finally get it when others talk about this subject.

 

If you want to decrease the attention factor get a non-red car.(or yellow) A 575 is approaching more of a "classic" status these days and doesn't really really make people think you're selling drugs or anything like that.(even though you are )

 

It will most definitely yield attention, good and bad. Buy the car for yourself and just say, I worked hard and deserve it. 575s are beautiful and understated looking. Go for it. Most of the reactions I have received are positive. The only negative ones being from the jealous crowd. And they rarely say anything out loud.

 

Lifes too short to give a crap about what others may think so do what makes you happy.

 

I like the 550s/575s in silver.

Half the people don't even know what my 328 is, because it isn't red.

But, back in my Alfa days, we used to say, "The red ones come factory equipped with a police car in the rear view mirror".
(Actually, I've never really liked red on a car. Probably because I tend to keep cars a long time, and red rarely ages well.)

But you can't please all the people -- so please yourself, and the heck with the Grundys.

"... and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." --Thoreau


For what it's worth, I find that people tend to be more intimidated by the Ferrari, so it gets less road hostility than the EVO.
The ricers will sometimes rev their engines at the Ferrari, but I just give them the "spock eyebrow".


Oh, and as for the IRS --- I was a little worried that the security office would see the Ferrari and think "unexplained affluence".
But one of the security guys was looking at a Mondial, and knew the real prices. So no problem.
And you don't list cars on your 1040 ... unless it's a business expense. --- or a medical expense.
(I've been trying to get a doc to write me an Rx for the flat crank V8 --- I always feel better after driving it. )

 

Maybe its OP's brother who is jealous

 

As many people have stated, you can't avoid the attention. If you live in an area of expenisve and similar cars, very few people will be bothered. But if your area has little or no Ferrari's around then you will atract attention. Even saying this, in the area I live I have 3 other Ferrari owners, but every time I drive my silver 360 (non red fcars avoid much of the attention) 90% of people on the sidewalk turn around to look as you go pass, you can't miss their quick turn as you pass them.

Most people don't comment or say anything, some will avoid eye contact or some will pass stupid comments hoping you will hear them. These are the jealous ones.

A few will pass nice comments, many kids shout out, "look a Ferrari" calling all their friends to look, which is nice, as I was once one of those supercar loving kids. Some adults will talk to you or pass nice comments, to these I am pleasant and will gladly chat about the car, I will even let some sit in the car and have their photo taken.

Very few people try to race or outpace you, as they immediately think your car is faster than theirs. Although I have had a few 17 year boys trying to race you in their ricer, I don't race in my Ferrari, it's not worth it. But I would have done if I was in my BMW.

Overall I would say it's 50-50 good versus bad comments/people. But I wouldn't change my fcar, owning one is too much joy to let small minded people spoil it for you.

Just my 2 cents.

Neil

 

If I may I would like to add that if you run into that sort of attitude in a public setting (not while driving - just hit redline and laugh) and you witness it happen one could always take the initiative and introduce yourself especially if kids are drooling. My meaning is that taking the first step could in some small may help eliminate a percentage of the misconception alot of the general public have about Ferrari's and their owners.

I'm a gregarious person by nature and have had a few instances in the past where such a thing happened but I eliminated the error by just being me. Did my meaning come across as I meant it?

Lamens terms: Spread the Ferrari love like it is an STD!!!

 

After reading this post I'm buying a Prius

 

Haha stop it your killing me!!! Hopefully though you got the jist of my incoherent rambling?

 

A nice sentiment, I am always willing to talk to people about my car passion. I have never found kids who are nasty about my car, they always tend to be the drooling type. I guess this is part of being a child, the innocence of youth and not having society hammer you down yet.

It's rare, very rare I park my car anywhere but at home, so any comments I get are mainly when I am driving, unless you have the windows and roof up they are generally loud enough for you too hear. But to be honest I have had plenty of negative people comment on the type of cars I have owned over the years, as I tend to go for sporty, expenisve or unusual models. I always found the best way to deal with this is to gun the car and simply let the engine sound soothe you down, better than any medication I think.

It's true though I have found most Ferrari owners are not friendly at all, the ones in the flesh I mean. As an example I went to my local Ferrari Indy garage the other day to talk to the mechanic, he was working on a 575 outside his shop and I said hi and waited for him to finish. The car owner, a father and son were nearby and the father started panicking about the mechanic driving it in to the shop, he was concerned over the width not fitting through the shop door, despite the mechanic calmly and respectfully telling him not to worry he still started to panic, then went round and folded both door mirrors in as the mechanic was trying to drive it in to the shop. As the car was pulled in I made a friendly comment about the fact "thats part of owning these cars, we fret over them too much!" The father ignored me, but the son laught and said true.

Why do most Ferrari owner act like this? Very weird, but I guess that's part of the reason Ferrari and many other exotic cars have a bad rap.

Neil

 

It is rather baffling to me aswell as my outlook is that it is just a car and can be fixed, to each their own though right?

Now back to the topic at hand imo 'unwanted attention' will never cross my mind no matter what car I drive. There is something that sit's wrong with me in one's psyche who worries about having such an issue which in all reality is a non-issue, just my psyche though and I'm not trying too be judgemental.

Anyone here with such issue's with a 308QV GTS or Mondial QV convertible who will finance a 30yr loan pm me and I will put your mind at ease.

 

The 550/575's in ht darker colors are almost "stealth" exotics. They don;t scream to stand out, but are very reserved and can go largely unnoticed, except by a few folks. Sure, I get the people at times taking cell phone pics of me driving on the highway, but no too much of a pain. The subdued TdF Blue I think gives the overall impression of a non-flashy person, and so when people do approach you, it is in a more reserved manner. Funny,but I get significantly MORE attention on the road, in the parking lot, at the gas pumps, in my 1980 Volvo 242 GT, which is yellow and in perfect condition. As far as the IRS is concerned, your sales receipt will show definitively that you paid less than for a Mercedes S-class or AMG.

 

Ferrari attract attention.
For some, that's a good thing.

As mentioned, non-red is a very
effective way to avoid a lot of the attention.

I waited 47 years for my first Ferrari, and I kind
of like the attention (all has been positive), and
to explain to younger folks about delayed-gratification.

Older folks get the point right away.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292029

When I first arrived at the weekly meeting of my social club,
I was hesitant about my "welcome," One of the leaders of
the group gave the car (silver 456ma) a careful going-over,
looked me in the eye, and said loudly to all:

"good for you !"

I recently bought SierraFoxtrot's TDF Blue 575 F-1,
and it has been well received all over town.

When I have my Ferrari cars out, I expect to be oggled,
pointed at, given thumbs up and "chatted up."

With their parents permission, I often let kids
sit behind the wheel (engine off), and let them
enjoy the experience.

I often invite the parents
to take the seat too.

For many, just seeing a Ferrari on the street is remarkable.
To wave to the owner/driver cements the experience into
memory.

To actually chat with the owner
(who turns out tto be a regulay guy)
greatly adds to the experience.

To sit behind the wheel plants the memory fovever.

Another Ferrari convert...........

 

The IRS could care less what you drive as long as you mail them a rememberance every April 15.

A LOT of people think all my charity work is some move to get my Ferraris underwritten.

No, I just do the charity work.....LOL!

 

I have a Rosso Corsa 550 Barchetta that totally attracts attention and wild reactions whenever I drive it.
My Argento Nurburgring 575 F1, gets attention from people who know their cars.
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I think you're overanalyzing it. The IRS will know what you paid for the car, and a 575 about at average Mercedes price levels these days.

Also, if you didn't want attention, you wouldn't buy it. There are BMWs, Mercs and Porsches these days that would eat a 575 for lunch, so it can't be based on performance.

 

you guys got me excited....so i went out for an hour's drive in the cs. wanna feel the eyes on you, then try that, in race mode ! thats what i'm talkin bout !!