Impact of owning a Ferrari on your kids?

Ferraris and kids are good things. I taught both my boys and about a dozen of their friends to drive a stick shift in a 308GTB.

We had them lining up to take their turn. They all did very well. It's a perfect car without any boosted brakes or steering and a very light clutch action

 

i can understand the op. kids can get roughed up over stuff like this.
on the other hand, as others have said, it will be this or something else, so might as well have it be this since there are side benefits!

my dad always had nice cars, so i grew up with that. then i have always had nice cars, so my kids grew up with it. i am known as a car guy, and lots of people come to me for advice on what to buy etc, and this has been passed on to my kids who know a lot about cars and take any ribbing in stride. all part of growing up.

i also take their friends in the 456mgt, and offer them or their parents rides in the other stuff if i go to pick them up etc, so i am pretty free with the experience - your attitude will affect the reception you get. it has now gotten to the point that all my kids friends have had a ride in one or more of the cars, and it is just a natural thing for them too. it doesnt hurt that at the school, most of my cars are not even near the top of the tree....but that depends on where you live.

my final comment would be buy the car WITH your son. make it a bonding experience - that in itself will pay dividends for ever.

 

My son honked the horn of my Ferrari Mondial when we first discovered it for sale. He was 3. He kneeled on the seat, and honked the air horn. It was loud and he giggled after it startled me while I was standing right in front of the car, and he honked it again and again, and made me and him both giggle. I bought it never having driven it. It had the right family feel. It was a moment I will cherish.

 

Is this real life?

 

Another thought is that your kids may really like the car and owning it may provide motivation for them to work hard so that they can one day buy a Ferrari, or whatever else they are passionate about. My father never owed a Ferrari but he liked nice things and this motivated me to one day be successful enough to afford the nice things I like.

 

A friend of mine is tremendously successful and has the house, cars, boats, and jet to go with all he's achieved. He also has two young kids (10yo boy and 13yo girl). I was with him at one of his son's lacrosse games in the spring and overheard one of the kids saying something to him about how "you're rich, I saw you come here in a Bentley!". Cool as a cucumber, the son turned to the other kid and said "I'm not rich, my dad is." I thought it was brilliant!

 

I have raised my four children while owning 6 Ferraris, 4 Porsches, 2 Corvettes, a Viper, an M3, 3 M5s, a Mustang, S5, and various other sporty cars over the years and feel it has added a positive experience to their lives. They were all enrolled in Skip Barber schools when then were 15 years old, Tire Rack Teen Schools, participated in BMW and Porsche driving schools at Road Atlanta, concours and other car events and have learned much more about safe driving and vehicle dynamics than children of non-gearhear fathers ever get with traditional "driver-ed" programs. They are all proficient in driving three-pedal cars. By the way, they are all girls. So don't just own one, have your children drive and enjoy them from an early age...

 

Sometimes there are just those people who no matter what you say, just need to get their a$$ kicked before they learn. Everyone needs a humbling experience in their life otherwise they will never learn not to act like that.

 

I would just say "so?". I wonder how someone would respond if you just nonchalantly said that.

 

That's because it was HIS so the girls wanted him and the guys envied him. He was a king lol.

 

Thanks for all the interesting feedback.

I am going to take some time to reflect on the issue.

I have always wanted to build a Cobra kit car as well. I know some hate the mention of the word Cobra and kit in the same sentence but building the car at home with the kids will add a lot of additional value to the car for me. So I am debating starting a factory five kit and then picking up an Fcar after completing it.

I would be happy as pie in both timelines and I'd love to teach my kids how to get their hands dirty.

 

while at a young age the kids don't know the impact of the brand of car they are in... by the time they reach an age where they know what it is, it is every day fare and don't make a deal out of it... even when you let them drive the cars... we have never made cars a "big" deal by restricting access... there was never a need for them to explore the limits of any of the cars leading to showing off or abuse

 

Why should you and your personal goals suffer based upon adolescent opinions or other opinions? Makes no sense at all.

 

I bought my 360 spider 10 months ago. My kids are ages 10, 7, and 4, with boys at the old and young ages. I think you have nothing to worry about.

I used the entire process - from shopping, to PPI, to shipping, to driving, to showing as an opportunity. It has allowed me to spend more time with my kids - something I don't get to do enough of because of the travel and hours required for my job. It also allowed me to teach them patience when hunting for a 10 year old relatively scarce car and at least one candidate scuttled by an effective, yet failed, PPI.

The reactions my kids have gotten have been mixed, but 95 percent positive. The few negatives have been effectively dealt with by my 10 year old who is also a "car guy" and can tell people how special the car is and that it is a hobby that we both love. He and his little brother take every opportunity to drive with me and to participate in meets and shows. It is truly wonderful. They love to teach people about the car. Though my daughter is less passionate about the car, she screamed and sprinted down the block when the enclosed carrier showed up with the car. It was the first time that any of us had ever sat in, let alone driven, a Ferrari.

The few negative comments have been dealt with as others have stated - with comments on the value of hard work and feeling fortunate. I asked my 10 year old his thoughts as I was writing this. He said not to worry. He has only gotten a couple of comments to "don't brag" and he has just told them he is excited and likes cars. It hasn't been a problem and it hyas been overwhelmingly positive in his opinion.

 

Exactly. I wish I'd been picked on in school for my parents having a Ferrari. No, I was picked on for having pants that weren't the right size because we couldn't afford them. That sucked. But I survived just fine and rarely think about it anymore. I did swear to never buy used clothes again though

 

I’m lucky to have both- Ferrari’s and kids.
I’ve found that I get to enjoy the experience far more with them. My oldest son (15) does most of the talking now when we bring one of our cars to a show. When someone asked about our 612 and said “what’s a Scaglietti”, he went on to explain who the man behind the name was, his relationship with Enzo Ferrari, and the history of 4 seat Ferrari’s. When someone pointed to our 328 and said “that’s Magnums car”- he very politely corrected them and proceeded to talk about the model evolution, then walked him over to a 308 and introduced him to the owner of that Magnum car. I can’t even begin to put a value on the communication skills and confidence buoyed by his sharing in this with me.

My 12-year-old son is far more about the look and sound, but with him I get to share that excitement we all had as kids with him and his friends when they get a ride around the block.

In addition to Ferrari, I own a few other fun cars- including a pristine condition 1989 Caprice Estate Wagon. Yes- the one with wood panel siding and the rear-facing seat. This is by far my 8-year-old daughters favorite car (because of that rear facing seat), and it went to its 1st car show this year. We had just as much fun. Get your kids involved with your hobbies and passions.

 

If the kid gets crap for the car you drive or for your family's wealth, it is really just symptom of something else. There are the poor kids who are cool, and the rich kids too, and lot in the middle. If they are picking on him, it is for his personality, the fact that you have wealth is just an easy topic, it would be the same if you were poor and had to ride the bus to work. If your son is nice, and friendly to all, while not a push over, what you drive won't matter at all in the big picture.

I grew up in a very wealthy community, with farm kids still on the outskirts(said farms are all now large estates/mansions that might or might not have horses). Kids/parents drove the range from beat pickups and worn out /Fords/Chevys to Porsches/Ferraris and Roll Royces on a daily basis. Made zero difference to how they were treated, it all came down to the personality and the quality of the person.

 

My son came home from the hospital in my Ferrari. Its the first car he ever rode in. So, its just a part of his life that and he doesnt know any different. I dont know what life is likely to be for him when he gets to school (he is only 3 now). I am sure its not going to be a problem though.




PDG

 

My son grew up with with the Ferraris I have had over the years. He is grown now. I remember him telling me that his buddies thought it was really cool to see a Ferrari or Lamborghini but to him it was not that big of a deal. Kind of good in a way but for a car guy kind of sad.

Drew

 

It was a three day drive for my 8-yr-old and I back from North Carolina to New Mexico when I bought my car last year. I think it's safe for me to speak for him and say there is no amount of crap that someone at school could give him that would make him want to sell this car. It's experiences like this that make a car part of the family.
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you drove from carolina to New mexico with your young son good for you , I would give about anything for that experience.. .. I have daughters my youngest loves to be picked up at school in the ferrari . etc. but have not had the chance to do something like that with her....
it must have been a fantastic experience for both of you....

 

Indeed, it was truly priceless. More pics here if you're interested:

https://picasaweb.google.com/118367098511203792898/UsedCarShopping#

 

Its funny that a 355 or F360 costs less to purchase than say a new Audi Q7 but people have the perception that if you own one you are mega rich.....

I have a 10 year old son too and we have agreed not to tell too many of his friends about it, only his best mates.........as not to show off and secondly for security...the less people that know the better... Its amazing how someone tells someone else and before you know it the whole district knows

My biggest joy of owning my 360 is my sons interest in it....every time we go for a drive it is like its birthday...it has bonded us even closer
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My 10y son his friends thinks he's cool kid ...all his close friends I have given a ride and a couple fathers.
Plus i have a big truck that they love to ride in or when I'm working on it at home they sit and play PS3 in it

 

Don't worry about it at all buy it and enjoy don't ever worry about what others think. When I sold each of my past Ferraris my kids were all disappointed but very interested and demanding on what I should buy next. Kids are kids and who cares what they say at school they love it when I drop and pick up the girls in the Ferrari in the car pool line at high school and middle school.