Why I'm not done with Ferrari

Your entitled to your opinions. If you want to continue to debate this then why did you ask the moderator to close the prior thread that you started?

Was it because your inconsistencies were called out?

Odd behavior?

Many of these issues may be specific to your dealer as I did not run into many of the problems you sight. Ferrari is not perfect but they create some of the most passionate, desirable cars on the planet and they have never performed better or been more reliable.

I'll take some more... please.

 

Please... we all know what this is about.

For Rob's sake, I'm done with this thread before he shuts it down.

Please continue and tell the rest of us that everything is just fine.

 

This thread should do a guest spot on The Walking Dead so someone can shoot and stop it before it strikes again IMHO...

 

I find odd why someone would have a problem with a thread that bores them or does not interest them. Just don't view it.

The other thread was very active and had 80,000 views. Obviously, many people enjoyed the discussion.

Buy what you like. Participate in the discussions you like too.

A Ferrari is not for everyone. I particularly enjoy discussions with others that have a similar passion.

Live the dream!

Best...

 

Sorry, no intent to offend; nor does commentary here or on the previous thread necessarily infer a lack of passion for the brand, old or new. A little light humor from time to time isn't the worst thing in the world (also IMHO) but I'll refrain on this thread henceforth.

 

All is good. No need to walk on pins and needles.

Humor is good for the soul. Sometimes, in print it's hard to interpret tone.

 

What I don't understand is how this keeps circling back to a discussion on value. I take that back, actually I do understand, but it's a lack of objectivity. To the super rich, Ferrari is but one playground, one in which you need to buy probably a dozen cars a year for bragging rights to a LaFerrari. That's how deep the rabbit hole goes, so we all have to pick our price point. You can dump a ton of money into Ferrari if you want to, but it has to be fun. Most of us have a limit. If you're spending more than your limit, it's not fun anymore. Really not much different than a casino. If you're uncomfortable at the $100 table, don't sit at the $100 table. Doesn't mean you have to leave the casino. If you don't leave the table though and you start getting pissed off over your losses, it's easy to start blaming the house and walk out in a huff.

Ferrari should always be fun, buying, driving, washing, showing, never a blah moment. If you've forgotten what you're driving, glance left or right and you'll remember in a hurry from the expressions all around you. Never a dull moment.

If you want value in a Ferrari, it's not hard to find. You just have to go well loved and depreciated.

 

Unfair attack, shame on you...

And stop with the "Its just a joke" garbage....you started this specifically to mock Bob while drawing attention to yourself.

Forum policy is the OP can ask for a thread to be closed, and a moderator will look at different aspects before making a decision.

FWIW, I agree with Bob and his reasoning. I would much rather have a carbed Boxer, '99 Diablo roadster, and a 5 year old Porsche Turbo for a DD for the same money.

 

Busted!

Why would the moderator "shut this down"?

I sent him an email asking him why the other thread was closed and he told me you requested it.

Odd behavior indeed.

 

This I can agree with. Bob will hate rolling around in a late model Corvette sooner than later. the ownership experience will be far less satisfying than he is used to.

 

The Onofrio who owns the dealership is older. I have had several conversations with him about a couple of things. He owns other dealerships too and one very special Ferrari race shop. I believe he used to race for Ferrari back in the day so maybe it's his son who does the racing now.

 

His son is the racer. Very young and good looking and down to earth. I've watched him race at Sebring. He won! Incredible. Nice family too. He is literally living the dream. What a life!

 

Correct and most people just call his father Frank.

 

+1 I drove the new vette and found the car to be very bland and unispiring. Granted, the car is a fraction of the cost of a Ferrari but once you have experienced a Ferrari it is hard to go backwards and be happy for more than a few months. Just my 2 cents

 

That is PRECISELY what happened to me with my new C6 Grand Sport last year, bought it, supercharged it before taking delivery, LOVED looking it and loved launching when possible, but that was the end of it. Far from sublime. And I lost my ass on it as well. Losing far less on the 612 for a far richer and more fulfilling driving experience, for the whole family.

 

I'm not even referring to the car itself.

In my head, I'm visualizing Bob sitting in a Chevy dealer service office waiting for his car to be finished......but they're late because of the line of Cobalts and Malibus in front of it. And there he is, sittling next to all the ummm...characters waiting for their Silverados and Camaros......LOL at the thought.

I had 4 Corvettes, and by the end I was so frustrated by the ownership experience.

 

For civillian use I have a Mercedes and a chevy.If the Mercedes dealersip experience was half as good as the chevy I might buy another, as it stands no way. Yeah the serice center looks pretty at merc, but its way corporate and the work is incompetant bordering on negligant. At chevy which used to be the worst 20 years ago, it looks a little greasy on the floor, but the people at the counter and in the shop actualy understand cars and what they are doing, its also quick and efficient. I dont need cappuchino, just no hassles at service and relaiblity. I guess it just depends on the dealer, but I think chevy in general has really come on a lot in the last 5 yrears, from my experience they had to do better and they have.

As to the rest of this debate. I am not saying I am right or wrong, just giving perspective. IMHO the two good looking ferraris(harmoniuos design not shock) of the past while are the 456 and 458. The 456 might as well just be any luxo car to drive, besides looks and engine layout its really a boring ride, maybe it can maintain hight speed but its really overboosted stereing and bland, a heavy floppy car, shamed by any newer cadillac in the drive/steering chassis department and lacking otherwise in motive charisma, but it does look classicaly good to me.

To my eyes and general acclaim the 458 is the first really stunning 2 seater ferrari in a long time, easily the equal of a 246 308 and boxer in terms of style and classic good looks. But if you like Italian cars and their feel, this car does not have it, more japanese and german than italian. The sound is either bland or screaming, no harmony, the power is torquey down low, then flat then it screams. IMHO its fine and easy to pootle around town, and its probably fun on track, the bit in between is pretty much missing, and that is where I use my ferrari.

Yes the dealers have gotten better, I know you can order a 458 and get it in a year or so, which is great. Probably the "brand" does not quite have the pull it once did and societal tatstes are moving away from obscene wealth displays, so there is room for regular customers again. As to lists and lines, well lots of people(especialy sucessful ones) feel important and special getting a table at some new resteraunt, I just like good food.

And if people are afraid to own a new ferrari out of warranty because you cant even repair or maintain a gearbiox, its probably not for me. I tend to buy things I really like, bond with them and keep them. I am not in the buying a ferrari as a trinket or affirmation of wealth category, a short term prospect till the next thing comes along. So I am not done with ferrari in principle, just waitig for them to make a lithe viceral and durable machine. I am aslo not against modern tech, but it should add to the experience not detract. For example the first ABS and traction control units in say BMW were too intrusive and dumbed down the driving. Some newer systems allow you to dance the edge and do more. So tech need not bland out feel and expereince, but a lot of it currently does, and that applies to ferrari too. Yeah it can improve raw numbers and useability, but at what cost, and is that cost worth paying for paper track numbers?

As to whteher you can buy 3 new sports cars for the price of a new ferrari, well if the ferrari were objectively and subjectively superior you wouldnt need or even want 3 other cars, you would passionatly want the subjective "best". I know I used to feel that way about ferraris.
I could probably buy close on 2 new ferris to cover what I am into with various sportscars now, and if the 458 was remoteley like what I thought it would be to drive, then that would be the case. I love the looks and would have bought one to keep, but ferrari is not interested at present in the type of customer I represent, and makes a different product for a different clientale, with different values.

As it is I am subtly upgrading my Boxer to have it be that much better, which is not an economic, but purely a driving pleasure decision, in fact its a poor economic decison. I am in the process of building a GT40 rep for big tracks, keeping the lotus for small tracks, and in a year of so adding a new Gt3 for the modern approach and street, a car supposedly modern but with feel and trackability.

IMHO ferrari could and should be making 1 car that could cover all these diciplies, a 275 4 cam did, a 250 swd did, a 288 did. In the 458 they have the looks and motor, the rest though is blah to drive on the street(excpet maybe Germany), and prohibitive to run on track. I woudl like a ferrari that was capable in both diciplines or even great at one of them. So far I dont see it, maybe the from what I read CS was closest in terms of driving experince, although not a stunner to look at and not really durable.

Durable by the way does not mean lack of frequent maintanance, all high performance machines need maintanance, durable means strong when maintaned preventively.

So I am not done with ferrari, just not compleled to own a newer one now, but remain hopful that they will one day make somethign I find compelling, as I found and still find so many of their past offerings. I wa salo hopefull that Mclaren would offer somethign compelling, a mini F1 if you will, or a F1 foir the masses due to modern tech, as opposed to a really fast great daily.

As to whtehr raw imparctical cars sell, well the 18 month waiting list on the flawed and slower Aventador(compared to the F12) indicates there is a market for viceral raw fast flawed and impractical exotics, with an overlay of tech. The aventador is also not a limited production item so its wait is not a manufactured brand shortage, just real demand.

 

Great collection and choice. How about maintanance costs for that many machines. I still think if ferrari got it right you could have one machine that covered most of those bases.

What does it take to run and maintain the 355 over say 15-20 track days?