How much of a poseur are you?

I got an unplaned 3 some once when showing up at the Gf in yellow Ct., unfortunatly to drive the Ct was a letdown so had to go.

Most consistent pickup car was a 69 beetle with roof sawed off and fibergass baja fenders, must be the bad girl thing, the naughty ones all gravitated to it.

Now older and more mature, the most looks I ever got from any woman in any car ever was when driving a rented escalade, I gues they imagine the white picket fence and the car or something, funny because a slade is a pos.

The ferrari, well when wifey was a fiance she encouraged me to get it as she knew it was my thing, I guess they both are keepers.

You know the joke from Bob Lutz about the guy who has an old etype. he gets married and a few months in the wife finds him in the garage working on the car. When are we going to get rid of this old thing and get somethign useful she says. He replies funny you sound just like my ex wife. In horror she says you never told me you were married before. His reply I wasn't.

Moral of the story to me, is make sure any woman you marry understands that the car thing is an addiction/life force and not an option. Its all about priorities and its good if they understand that going in.

 

The best ones are always unplanned. Planned ones typically equal one or both or them being jealous. Too much headache then.

 

Ive been flashed more on my motorcycles and driving my old built Camaro SS (2002) then I ever have driving my little 308. The Ferrari was a decision for me, and I could care less about how many tits I see while driving. If you have this thought that a Ferrari will instantly make Friday night less lonely, sorry you're wrong.

 

What is thread about exactly?

 

Basically it's about some people thinking they're better than some people.

 

A CT is a countach. the girls didnt see it till later, so the car probably got me in the mood more than anyhting.

As to how it went, at first when it started happening I thought (WOW and I didnt even plan it), you know one of lifes big gifts.. Frankly there was pressure on, because most hot woman are naturaly bi, like cats, and so as a man you need to "insert" your self in such a way that you are the main attraction, because lets face it there are things you probably cant do quite as well to the otehr woman as another woman can, and othrs you should be able to do better.

Lots of fun, much beter than the ride in a CT there, and having two spend the rest of the evening afterwards is a very King like feeling, plus it mnade for a very nice and durable friendship..

 

There speaks the voice of experience.

 

Good advice.

My first wife would not ride in a convertible with the top down...it mussed up her hair.

My current wife loves convertibles, has one of her own and loves to get her hair mussed. She will only drive a stick.

Works for me.

Moral...find a girl that will only drive a stick.

 

I don't think transmission type has anything to do with whether you are a poseur or not (Says the guy with a 456M GTA). It's more a matter of attitude. Sure, I don't mind the attention, but then, I'm a solo guitarist, and so, a natural born exhibitionist.

I think if you only drive your Ferrari to impress other people, then you are a poseur. If you do things like - oh, I don't know - take a solo trip of 2,800 miles in 6 days through some bad @$$ roads - A Monk's Musical Musings: Epic Vacation in my Ferrari 456M - you're not. Or, if you're not afraid to track your Ferrari - I declined an invitation to track mine, because I just don't think a GTA is that kind of car - that's another pile of serious cred.

Perhaps if you, "lost" your F-chat subscription, you are on the poseur side of the equation.

Cheers,

George

 

So a horse walks into a bar............

 

............... and the bartender says, "Hey buddy, why the long face?"

 

That's what I said when I met my first FF.

 

I agree its not about transmission choice. But a high percentage of certain types now buy ferraris because of transmission options and ease of use, allowing the pose, as opposed to really loving the machine in a performance setting.

I would say if you are taking long trips in a 456M maybe you like pain and pleasure. I hear they are very comfortable when they run, but hard to keep running.

 

a few years back I went to pack my leathers for a track day and somehow my buddies had gotten them and put lettering on the back.

POSER, PASS WITH CARE.

Another guy had MOVING CHICANE put on the back of his.

Quite a good practical joke both for the humor and how they managed to do it.

Wish I had pictures.

Doesn't help that I slid into the gravel in those.

The bike world is rife with opinions on what makes a poser. Some demand a certain amount of mileage per year (um… no thanks, I rode through all weather all year in college… no reason to now). Some say track times decide. In either case I guess I'm a bike poser.

For the f-cars, does it make a difference if you own a 4-seat or a 2 seat or a harder core version? To pose in a Scud entails different actions than in a 456 yes? (because the purpose is different).

 

Aren't all high end cars poseur cars these days? When I was growing up only high-end cars had power windows and air conditioning etc. Ferrari's were mostly a lot faster than everything else on the road etc. Now everything is fast and one could just buy a new Subaru that will keep up or beat most Ferrari's. Nowadays a new Honda Accord has so many options most don't use them all. Why buy a high-end Mercedes that costs five times more? A little nicer leather and a little more horsepower is the only reason?

 

I dunno, on a recent family vacation we had a loaded toyota corrola for 1 week and then an audi A3, the difference in the way the two went down the road was marked. I could say the toyota worked and was competant with allt he gizmaos but above 70 one really had to think ahead, the whole thing was like drivign a competant marhmellow.

In the audi even at 80 it was smooth serene and easy. Same with drivig through traffic, you really had to cane the Toyota. The Audi had beautiful linear steerign throttle and brakes one could move with ease. Plus the whole dash layout of the audi was fresh and easy on the eye yet great to use.

I think there is still a large difference between some premium cars and equivalent mass brands.

But yeah the steering on the new mercedes ML sucks so bad I would think they should be ashamed to even build it. And yeah my Chevy equinox drives great. But get in something really good, somethign with a bit more than adequate power, well judged and weighted controls linear steering and a solid feel then you understand what premium is about.
Of course lots of so called premium cars are now so in badge only.

As to speed, yes there are many sports cars or sporty cars as fast as a ferrari. But there is a magic and asthetic to the machine many others lack. The sense of occasion and enjoyment you get from driving a ferrar on the open road, stringing bends toigtehr, motor in full soprano, hard to find eslewhere.

That all being said, you cant beat the steering of a miata, pity its otherwise such a slug. Nothing can really beat a GTR on paper, pity its so uninspiring and clunky in execution.

Why do people wear good cloths or have a nice watch, is the goal not just to be warm and tell the time. the answer is some people have an inner appreciation of some things and own them for their own personal enjoyment. While many others own "premium" products to get enjoyment from the reaction of others. Some people like and understand great wine, otehrs want people to see the label, some enjoiy a great steak, otehr just wnat protein.

Its the reason why most mercedes are mediocre these days but sell based on the badge, because its badge envy that is now the biggest client base and premium product is hard to do with volume, and why bother is the metal moves anyway.

The biggest dissapointment I had drivign a new car on 13 was a Rolls wraith. I thought it would be smooth exceptional, something really speacial. Certainly its large and interesting looking. Truth is I couldnt get past the chrome plated yet very cheap feeling window switches, or plastic doorhandles, or the way it shuddered over manhole covers. Perhapos they should benchmark and old caddy fleetwood from the 70s, or even a rolls corniche from the same era for the feelign of smooth.

What the rolls really is is nothing more tha a gussied up 7 series running on runflats for crappy ride, cynical marketing to rich peole at its zenith.

Now the biggest surprise last year was a base dodge challenger v8. It braked well, steered well sounded great, felt solid and big/premium. I suppose its based on an old but good mercedes platform, with what america does best in etrms of coupe styling and big v8 power. A 28k car, that felt 80k+

So yes you dont need a premium badge to get a premium machine, there are some reasonably priced ones out there. But drive a porche GT3 in anger, or say a scud and you realise the mass offerings are just not the same in terms of reactivity sound feel etc, although the vette is getting close.

 

I'm sure a 456 - especially the M - is far more reliable than a Boxer. I've met guys with over 50K miles on their 456's, and no catastrophic failures of any kind. Since I got mine sorted out, all it has needed are oil and brake fluid changes. And I've put 15K miles on mine in 22 months.

It's a fantastic long distance touring car. That's why I got it; to go on adventures with it like I do with my BMW motorcycles. Now I'm interested in doing some track events, so I'm shopping for a 360 to put beside it.

The 512BB is my favorite rear-mid 12 cylinder Ferrari, BTW. Had a poster of a yellow over black one when I was in high school. Not sure I'd want anything that old now, though. I like the modern Ferraris. I embrace the onward march of technology.

Cheers,

George