I think I'm done with Ferrari

+1

Hope you stick around no matter where your automotive ventures take you.


Mark

 

I think the Mr H. has it right here. Maybe you need excitement. You are in Vegas - go to Spring Mountain and try a Radical, or something vintage? At the very core, racing is driving to the fullest. You will be surrounded by people who just want to go fast. Nobody is hanging out of windows taking pictures. People give you your space. You will just have a different experience.

There were also a couple people on here, and I am in this camp, where i have the least expensive ferrari there is, hot rod it, and have fun - but you will still experience the issues you mentioned in your first post.

 

I feel your pain and agree: In the process of finalizing the final Ferrari sale as I type [dumped the 456 for scrap!].

NOW, to break our habit of going to Ferrari sites and reading mags on a regular basis.... still an addiction.

Problem also is, I have no substitute for a Ferrari replacement…..perhaps I’m too old to get into cars as being a perfect vehicle of excitement.

Think I'll buy a farm or cabin and pine on the twilight of at least 'done that' for the bucket list.

[pondering getting back into boating/sailing/flying but honestly.....same problems] ya'...farming....one with the plants...sounding fun.

 

Mayor, I agree with all you are saying.

Try a Jaguar XKR-S GT......you'll love it.

 

Get the new Porsche 991 GT3. Has everything you want and its not 300k. Closest you will get to a race car for the streets.

 

haven't read the entire thread...

I hear what you are saying...

but what other Marque...can you drive for 3-5 months and turn around and sell it for Exactly what you paid for it?? and be first in line for the next "new" car.

you seem like your one of the privileged few...who are in the good graces of their F-car dealer...and seem to be one of the top 10% in getting the latest Ferrari has to offer...

a very enviable position.. even with the shortfalls you mentioned.

: )

 

Your next ferrari:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Expensive cars ... you don't own them, they end up owning you.

I thought I wanted a Ferrari. But after hanging out at car shows, owning a couple of Porsches, and reading this board, I realized I don't want one. Buying is one thing ... it takes another level of income to not have to worry about maintenance and damage once you have it. Quite frankly, having grown up with not a ton, I'm not sure I'd ever be mentally comfortable with spending the additional amount of money it would take for a Ferrari to be "worry-free" and not a time waster.

If you value your own time, having a car that you can just drive anywhere, park anywhere, be low key in, and that doesn't require much maintenance or babying is great. Frankly, tooling around in my old Boxster is a lot of fun precisely because I don't care what happens to it.

 

Jokes apart you should get a Maserati then. Next gran turismo with ferrari engines?

 

"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

--- the philosopher Spock

 

There isn't a whole lot more to say beyond: enjoy your new Corvette and whatever else fills your garage next. It sounds like you've gotten to that point where the pains of ownership far outweigh the pleasures. There are many good things in life, and, who knows, maybe you'll return to this one at some point.

 

That really sums it up. Whatever makes you happy. My bet is when the C7's take over, you'll move on to something more exclusive. Who cares if it's not a Ferrari. You're a car lover and it'll be something special. I don't experience most of the problems you're describing because I've got completely different circumstances. If the negatives of fcar ownership outweighed the positives I'd do something else, too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

Just saw this thread.
This reminds me about a time when I was a young man, seeing a Corvette convertible. I walked up to the guy and asked him if he would have still bought a convertible if he had it to do all over again. His response was, "If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't have bought a Corvette".

 

What a bunch of drama queens

 

I'm with you. I've had a couple over the years, but sold my last one 6 months ago.

It's hard to describe the happiness and relief I felt when the buyer's check cleared and the truck came to take it away.

It's weird, but I've never owned any other make of car that, months after I've sold it, I still get a huge smile just by thinking of it not being in my garage anymore!

I still like Ferraris, like seeing them and hearing them on the road or in a parking lot or car show, etc. Very cool. Just don't have any desire to have one in my garage anymore.

 

I remember what my friend did when Pedro Rodrigues pulled into the Pits and said that he couldn't drive anymore because his Ferrari was overheating.

My Friend put a screw driver through the water temperature gague turned to him and said:

"Now it's not. Go back out and drive you pussey."

 

If you have enough money to afford a new Ferrari, but then you worry about the attention it gets, possible damage from other drivers, maintenance costs and that you can really only drive it enjoyably at the track....

Then you don't have enough money to afford a new Ferrari....from a psychological standpoint anyway.

 

As with women, having the most desirable isn't without its flaws. But I've found, after having the most desirable, it makes you appreciate the whole range of things a little more. After getting my Ferrari, I learned that its the only car I can enjoy looking at as much as I can enjoy driving.

 

I think he's probably OK in that area actually.

 

Corrected. I meant to add...from a psychological standpoint.

 

A good combination of vintage and modern is a Singer 911. Classic 911 lines with modernized running gear. Fast and reliable. Meets your non-Ferrari criterion too!

 

First, let me say that I have benefitted greatly from the Mayor's insights and comments. A fine mind put to good purpose.

After experiencing much of the same with my 430 Spider (also my last and final Ferrari), I decided to sell it and as my wife watched me drive away from our apartment building to do so, she called my cell to make sure I knew I was being followed by a police car. A fitting end!!

I sure wish I had somehow kept (impossible though with job and location changes, in and outside the US) my Dino 206. Yes it was uncomfortable, rusted very easily, assembly quality left much to be desired but it was a great performer and you felt close to the "mechanicals".

I've also noticed a trend among Ferrari owners to be more interested in paint color subtleties, amount of carbon fiber etc. than the driving characteristics of the cars. Not blaming the owners, maybe the cars are too perfect!

Frank

 

I've got to say driving my Speedster is an absolute joy. Utter quality. It doesn't break, and if the engine somehow blows up I can rebuild it for the price of a major service on a TR/Boxer. People (men and women) love it. No attitude, no BS.

And Vidal Sassoon didn't have one.

I know that a 1950s car isn't all that usable, because it's bloody slow and unsafe, but I now totally understand why vintage 911s are selling for more than F430s. They do feel special.

Great post probably because I agree with all of it.

I don't think there's a car made today that's worth $300K, or even $200K.

 

I can understand your situation very well , one of my MD friend had to go through the same hassle. why don't you consider buying a racecar and hitting local tracks ? Autobahn CC , RA etc. I kinda reached that point after 2 Ferrari's and multiple Porsche...these cars are too fast for streets and the roads are boring here in Chicago burbs.

 

How about a great muscle car or vintage hot rod!