What I would and would not do with my car

I was thinking about the plight of an earlier post where a member is stuck with his 458 as his only car for a week. Tears, right? It got me thinking about what limitations that would incur. I thought it might be interesting to see what level of paranoia exists among owners. This is where I stand:

I DO drive to work once or twice a week and park in covered parking next to similar cars.
I DO drive to to the supermarket and other quick errands like the dry cleaners or small shops where I can keep the car in the corner of my eye.
I DO go on drives where returning home is my final destination.
I DO to visit family and friends.
I DO take the car to “Cars n Coffee” on Saturday mornings to see other car enthusiasts.
I DO put a gun in my glove box (with concealed permit) if I have to drive interstate or long into the night. A ferrari with a flat tire on a dark deserted highway is a sitting duck.
I MIGHT leave the car in covered parking to attend a movie.
I MIGHT drive to the mall for a quick errand, and try to find a parking space that is landscaped on one side.
I MIGHT go to Walmart, Sam’s club or Costco or other slightly lower economically shops where people push big heavy carts and poorly controlled trolleys to their car.
I MIGHT go through a drive through, although some can be pretty tight and can ruin your rims.
I WONT put particulate matter in the trunk: bags of flour, rock salt, dog food, cement, mulch or manure.
I WONT park in venues that have large gravel parking lots.
I WONT go to spectator events like football or monster trucks where there is likely to be a lot of drunk spectators leaving the event.
I WONT go to large public events where I can boxed in playing bumper cars for an hour trying to get out of the parking lot. There is no where to go if approached.
I WONT go to destinations that are in unfamiliar or depressed parts of town.

Where do I stand on the crazy meter?
Am I too trusting or too paranoid?
Tell me what you would or wouldn’t do.
Add your own scenarios and experiences.

 

Not crazy I must say. How much have you driven your 458?

Great post. Will revert back with my input

Sunny

 

The gun in glove box is amusing.

 

I must stop driving the bloody thing! 2.5k miles in my first three weeks is not a good start . If this continues I won't have enough money to buy the next one!

 

I parked mine next to other cars
I took it to the supermarket, Walmart, and even Home Depot once.
I went to Cars and Coffee once. Never do it again... not my thing. Took it to other cars shows though.
I took my GF out in it and went on short trips with it.
I took it through a drive-thru.
I drove it to North Las Vegas. That's pretty depressed.

That's about it.

It's not a great everyday car. It's a good everyday car. What makes it not a great everyday car is that sometimes you just don't want the notoriety and attention it brings. And, it's not very good at storage space (duh!).

 

Wow, did you drive across the country and back? . Thats A LOT of miles in 3 weeks, glad you are enjoying the car!

 

Well, I've got a little more than 2,500 miles on mine in 5 months. I agree with most of the DOs, MIGHTs and WONTs, except for supermarkets. I've seen too many shopping carts rolling on their own through parking lots and slamming into cars. People leave them unattended in unlevel, windy lots and they are treacherous.

I've also ventured briefly in depressed areas without incident. And, I've made it without incident through countless construction zones, with the bumpy road setting of course (in NY, you simply can't travel without going through construction zones).

Another WONT for me is valet parking.

 

That's long early morning drives through the country with friends plus a day taking donations for laps in aid of a cancer charity. Plus using it everyday - which I really shouldn't be doing ! Epic car!

 

I WONT put a gun in my glove box without a permit to carry.

 

I have 2700 miles on my 2013 spider since Jan. Too much fun to leave it in the garage.

 

I don't have a gun, but other then that I see it the same way.

 

I do carry my gun everywhere I go...All legal of course.

 

The Golden Nugget takes very good care of the 458 when I'm there, but yea the rest of the town out that way pretty depressed, but we do like the Nugget. Beats the strip of fools! :-D

As for the attention you mention, you so correct here. That was and is my biggest concern. I've seen my share of exotics before the 458 was had, so seeing them on the road was no big deal. Nothing prepared me for what I experience when I go out to the local ice cream shop with my son. Crazy stuff folks do to see this car.

 

I will take it to my Ex-wife's funeral.
I won't take it to a tax audit.
I may take it to a strip club.
I won't take it to a middle school car wash.
I will take it to car shows (especially for the kids).
I may take it to traffic court.

 

Really funny....lol

 

+1

I will drive over my ex wife with it after my current wife drives over her with a steamroller. Twice

 

I take my FF or Cali to middle school car washes ... not for the car wash though, give them $5 and simply drive away!

Rick

 

As someone who has put over 8.5k miles in 3 months I say it IS A GOOD START. Enjoy this one. Why worry about the next one. the 458 is perfect.

I avoid parking in places where doors can be opened and dent my car, or the bumpers will get dinged from parrallel parking. I will pay to park in safe places in town. We have a covered garage that is never full and it's worth it. It's a small town and after 12+ yrs I know where all the good parking spots are.

I have found with my 3 Fcars people are pretty respectful. Never had a problem but it only takes one wacko to mess things up.

Carpe Diem = Enjoy the car.

 

+ infinity

 

2500 miles in 5 months ... Seems like you make a great choice... Enjoy it!

 

The look on my wifes face when I dropped our son off for the first time in the car was priceless and she still must be scratching her head why she gives me Child Support every month!

 

Here in Italy, all the supermarket carts cost one Euro to unlock. When you return it to the rack, you get your money back; consequently, there are zero run-away carts in that lot.

However, the parking spaces are narrow and the Swiss visitors are, for some reason, famous for creating door dings. So, unlike the OP, I don't care about keeping an eye on my car in a supermarket lot because it is unlikely to be stolen. And I don't see why watching a door ding happen is much better than discovering it when you return to your car.

My usual supermarket has two marked parking spots oriented in such a way that both spots on each side have so much extra room that door dings are impossible. If neither are vacant, I park WAY on the other side of the lot.

 

My candidate for humor post of the month.

 

....5,150 miles in two months....its the most remarkable car. I feel badly for my 2012 911 cab, alas it feels like a new car when I take her out. I truly love driving the 458. I've taken it to a track day in Canada (mosport), and to the Ferrari Club 50th anniversary at Elkhart Lake (road america)....its two different cars: 1) smooth, quiet, relatively spacious when in sport/auto mode, and 2) fire breathing beast when in race/paddles....It is truly a privilege to drive such a remarkable car. As for where/when I will drive it? I do not have a gun, but one has to be smart about where you go. Smart destination and parking choices are not difficult....and yes, i do take it to saturday morning hockey...the hockey equipment bag and stick fits better in the 458 passenger seat then in the 911....

wrt the mileage, I tell my friends, heck I don't see any therapist....driving in my therapy....and therapy ain't free....but what a return on the investment. Can't wipe the smile off my face when I slip into my nero beast and hit the red button....love to hear about people who enjoy their car as well...

 

My wife gave me an article about people who work and people who retire. The gist of the article was that people who work have purpose and are happier; people who are retired and idle are more likely to be depressed.

I know what depression is. When I ruptured my achilles tendon on New Years Eve a few years ago and could not ski, I got depressed. went to counseling and got out of it in time.

Driving the 458 Spider is therapy. No depression, just the joy of driving one of the best cars in the world. I am blessed, not depressed.