Who needs a pension when you have a 355??

...... yes I can appreciate this comment. There are some that clearly are very sensitive and touchy about there chosen model and take offence easily. Perhaps these need to be on their own so that only self praise could/would ever be metered out on their site.

It could be password protected as well, now there a thought...!! You could vet all new members. Of course 355 ownership (min 5 years) a must. Apparently that's the only way one can even begin to understand the complexities of 355 ownership. Then of course there is age, ethnicity, family linage, Family wealth, knighthoods etc etc

Then what would you call the new site...

355-Elite
The Ultimate 355
The Ultimate Ferrari
La Ferrari (Ooops that's taken I think)
La Miserables (Oooops I think that's taken to !
Enzo's choice - I guess we will never know
The Gathering - A bit cryptic but effective I think.


On a serious note I would be very sad that a separate site would be set-up. Just because two brothers bicker and tease each other does not mean we don't love each other and the 355 is a beautiful and commercially successful car no doubt.

 

Now you are just fanning the flames, Andrew.

 

Unfortunately Andrew this has been going on for years and has gotten really bad in the last 2 years. Many good contributors have left and have never come back. It used to be about helping each other with the complexities of ownership and showing some of the newbies how to do things. I used to come in here a lot years ago but rarely come on here anymore since it has become more of a soap opera. When I open the 355/348 section and find the first 5 unread threads are about a car I don't care for or want to read about, it forces me to filter through those as well as the useless drivel from non-owners that don't know squat about these cars. unfortunately its more of a waste of time now. Separating the threads would be a good start toward rectifying the problem.

 

GD it is really sad that you would feel so despondent about what I see only as no more than some spirited banter amongst people with a mutual love of the same thing, Ferrari's.

I have a 348.... a poor much maligned, trashed by Luca himself, 348 yet I love it and still thrilled every time I open up that Tubi on an open road with the top off. If I took to heart all the malicious comments and trash talk I read about my car (including yours my dear friend) I would have slashed my wrists by now. However to me it is water off a ducks back. I guess being an Ozy I just don't take myself too seriuosly and am just grateful to ever own a car with a prancing horse badge on it !

You just can't take it so much to heart. Ok in this thread the 355 reins supreme but that's in our neck of the woods. If we had our modern 458/599/612 etc brethren or our classic 250, 275 Testarossa, Daytona brethren with us we would be mino's amongst giants and none of us would have a leg to stand on in any pissing contests.

Just hope you don't go. There are still plenty of newbies on there way (I note 2 new 348 owners joined recently ) and your input will be invaluable I'm sure.

 

Can't...Can't we all just... get along??

-Rodney King

 

Errrr...maybe you missed his point Andrew...he REALLY doesn't like 348's

 

Wasnt that guy a f355 owner who was beaten up by a group of jealous 348 owners?

 

.... Yes I do get that distinct impression however I'd rather be the optimist. No one can be that hung up on a given model. I think its more a picture he has decided to paint about 348 owners which admittedly brings up a raft of other questions. But anyway I for one are happy to have GD around. He's a 10 year plus Ferrari owner and I'm sure has some experience to share with new 355 members who we know he doesn't hate with a passion !?

....did I mention that 2 more new 348 guys have joined... oh yes I did

 

*You're

 

Don't be so sure. Gerry's also not that keen on any 355 which was not made in 1995.

That's a joke, in case I need to spell it out...

FWIW I don't see the point in separating the forums. The 348 / 355 models are obviously connected, just like 308 / 328 and 360 / 430 etc.

What I don't get is why people are calling for massive change and claiming that the whole forum has gone to the dogs. It hasn't. Not at all.

The ONLY thing I can see that is different is that after years and years of certain people constantly rubbishing the 355 every time someone asks about buying one, finally some owners are countering that with their own more positive ownership experiences.
So what?

It's just providing a badly needed sense of balance, nothing more.

 

I've owned 2 348's a 360 and then went back to a F355 (which I currently still own). They are all great cars for different reasons.

I can tell you the 360 was cheapest to own but honestly I couldn't separate the 348 and F355....... Whilst the 360 was the cheapest to run I actually lost more $ on it due to depreciation. Maintaining the car is only part of the true ownership costs and if you do the work yourself it really isn't expensive at all. Something that appears to be overlooked by many, especially the dreamers who have never owned a Ferrari.

Opinions are like ar$eholes...........Everyones got one but with these cars not many people have experience of actually owning them and therefore talk a load of $hite. This really puts people off ownership and is something I hate to see. Some of the comments I've read in this thread really make me laugh out loud!!!!

I'd like to see the 348 and F355 thread remain one. The vast majority of the people I've had dealings with are great, regardless of 348/355 preference. Lets not have a small bunch of cretins spoil it for the majority.

 

Well, back on the topic of escalating values and retirement plans. Back in 1985 I bought my 308 GTB new. Yes, 308 and 328 prices are skyrocketing, more than 348s and 355s. But if I had invested the $55k the car cost in '85 in Johnson and Johnson stock, in a tax sheltered retirement fund, today that $55k would be worth just under $3 million. Recently I've seen 308s with asking prices in the $65k-$70k range. They have a long way to go for me to break even when including all the outlay on service, taxes, insurance...., let alone see any profit.

Collector cars are not a good investment. Once in a while someone gets luck when they buy a car new and it stays in the family for decades and then turns out to be a dream car. But even the guy got $52 million for a 250 GTO last year probably does better with his conventional investment. After all, how do you think he got the $52 million to spend on a car in the first place?

 

cuneo,

We Norcal boys think alike. As I read through this thread, I too have thought of the profound words of Dr. King. Oh - wait. Those aren't the words of Dr. M.L. King. But as the words of Mr. R. King, they are both simple and profound.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled hijacked thread bashing.

 

Wow I just realized that my reading comprehension sucks. The thread is about if the 355 can replace your pension as an investment vehicle and NOT if you need a pension to support one.

*Egg on face*

Oops, well in that case my response should have been "No it does not because car values are highly unpredictable even for investment grade cars, which (unfortunately) our 355's and 348's are not."

As for the rest of it, I defer to my old mentor, Gilda Radnor's personna of Emily Litella who I quote, "Never mind".

Carry on

 

This thread has it all!

A positive article on a 355 that includes member bans, vagina's, forum split suggestions, arrogance beyond imagination and much more. This is awesome and held here for the world to see for all time.

It's like a slow motion train wreck you just can't look away from.

hahaha

 

Its better entertainment than comedy central, thats why we keep checking it! Lol
Thanks to this forum i now ride in my wifes vagina as opposed to on it and she loves it , curled her toes, thank you ferrari chat!

" serenity now "

 

We evolved to Facebook LOL

 

This site (or this section) should be re-named "Drama-Chat"

 

Hey. That's not fair....to Facebook.

 

I think a "hard core" section would rock, not for the faint of heart

Ever been in a mechanic shop at break time LOL

 

Facebook is strictly for women and poofs.

I don't know any genuine men who have the time to waste on that website.

 

Well, if it is mostly for women, it would seem like a target rich environment for "genuine men"

...and I think this waaaaay over due!!!!:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That's funny. That is the same name that just popped into my head recently.

 

Lol, great minds think alike