Funniest/Stupidest comments you have received about your Ferrari

every single time I had a girl over in high school "why does your dad have three of the exact same car?!?!?" Followed by confused looks as I explained that they were all very different, just the same color

 

I'm 33 and this has happened to me, but only very rarely. People don't sweat me about my age relative to the car.

Lately, I've been absolutely bombarded by questions about price and how much it costs. It makes me so uncomfortable. It's such a tacky thing to ask, jeez.

 

Lots of us "boomers" are nearing or at retirement age. And, are thinking about or transitioning from a work mentality to a fun retirement mentality. Part of that is the acquisition of things long postponed for other reasons (family, savings, etc.).

For me, it was the successful launch of the kids (last one is a senior in college), combined with the realization that there is more to life than work, that led me to decide "it's time". Time to get that first F-Car. Something I'd been thinking about since I was in high school.

Some of the questions you are getting may be "research". Especially if they are older people, maybe people that are more used to direct conversation, rather than internet research.

On the other hand, it seems that "tact" is becoming a lost art. As is politeness.

Sid

 

I live for my kids, they are everything to me.

I could not live without kids.

 

Fair point Sid. But when the questions are "how much did you pay for that?" then your latter point seems to trump the former one. I always try to go out of my way to be polite to people and tactful - it just gets a little bit frustrating when other people can be, quite frankly, a bit crass.
Not one single person in my circle of friends has asked me the dollar question - for that I'm so thankful. Of course, I never told them I bought the car - they just ended up finding out through the normal course of friendship. I get this question from strangers only. My wife's afraid that some day, one of these "curious strangers" will shoot me and take off in my car. That thought had never crossed my mind until she brought it up!!!

 

Get used to it. The other thing is when people know what cars you have from seeing you around, they feel they're your friends and start asking personal questions. Remember that if you drove a Honda, you wouldn't be getting these personal questions. From strangers.

Just remember: no one cares about you; they care about the car. Which is okay because the cars deserve attention; the driver does not (speaking for myself, of course - I'm a nobody).

 

Being late to this thread, I apologize if someone already mentioned this.

When I bought my vintage Ferrari, I was in my early 40's. Consequently, I would get comments along the line of the purchase being associated with "......mid-life crisis".

Initially, I would respond with my interest in the marque since my impressionable teenage years, its historical significance to automotive history, artistic design, etc. thinking that an explanation might actually matter. I later realized that I was only getting a deer-in-headlights reaction, so I later decided only to smile and say "no, not really..."

 

My standard reply to anyone who asks "how much did that cost?" is to shrug my shoulders and say "I'm just the driver".

 

I usually just shrug and say "they can be pretty pricey depending on year and model". I've never been pressed to elaborate.

 

When asked what it cost, I always give them the brand new sticker price, I never tell them what I paid for mine used.

 

I think you mean pre-owned.

 

Sure....but where I'm from we say "used" not "pre-owned"

 

...or second hand, as Brits would say.

 

I disagree with this one.. where I'm at people stare and they are curious as to whether you are a professional athlete, actor, or they think you may be famous to afford such a car and they try to figure it out. Sure the car is what's drawing the initial attention, but there's no question that I've found that some people are very curious as to who I am.

 

I understand this position. In my own experience however, there have been overwhelmingly more questions about the cost of the car than what I do as a Professional. In my case, yeah, people care way more about the car than they do about me, but that's fine with me.

 

All of these comments are the very reason I like going to F car rallies and meets. Nobody ever says any of these things or ask any of these questions. It's just us talking about our cars and not thinking twice about what the other guys are wondering. We are all thinking the same thing

 

I am glad that you feel that it's about you. Personally, as a retired professional athlete and successful tech company founder and owner, I know that I don't rate any sort of attention and if I were driving my station wagon, I know I wouldn't get any and don't deserve any. Any attention is because of the car and not because of me, hence my statement.

But I am glad to know that there are those out there that feel that attention is for them.

 

This is true, Fcar gatherings don't have the sorts of dollar value problems. Any questions about price have generally been when I'm out and about. Or if I've parked the car in a reserved parking corral at an event. Or if I'm self parking at the front of the valet stand.

 

I

 

I get that ' how much did you pay for this' all the time too. And I agree that it's not anyone's business. I just say 'a lot more than my wife would have hoped.' They usually chuckle and that's it.

 

I've noticed that price questions have become much more common in the last twelve months or so.

Some times its tough to respond politely.

 

Agreed on all counts. And lately, people have been looking at me like I'm a little green Martian when I politely refuse to tell them. Like, they can't comprehend why I don't tell people how much stuff costs me.

 

One day, I'm just going to look at them and with the straightest face I can muster and in my most deadpan voice, I'll say:



"Millions."

And I'll walk away.

 

What sport did you play, and for what team?

 

I usually don't let it bother me, but this particular individual was really annoying. While filling up after the track day this guy in an E38 7 series:
- nice car
- thanks
- do you own it outright?
- (puzzled face) it's mine
- how much did it cost?
- don't know (walk away)

WTF people.