The day you bought your first Ferrari

I bought my first one on Valentine's Day and my second on April Fools Day. I'm not sure what is with the holidays but I seem to empty my pockets.

 

I bought my first one, the 308, over the phone, and the TR via eBay. I didn't mean to buy the TR, just wanted to see what high bid was, it was mine. LOL.

 

Hopefully my story will come soon. A few weeks ago after learning a lot from this site, I went to my local dealer and let them know what I'm looking for. I've wanted a Ferrari for as long as I can remember but the anticipation of the last few weeks is driving me nuts. I'm pretty sure I've had a headache the entire time.

 

What car are you hunting for ?

 

Growing up I always loved exotics but they never seemed like a realistic dream so I ended up owning a few BMWs.

One day i was driving past a dealer and saw a yellow 355 spider in the window and stopped in to admire its beauty.

When they told me the price i realized i could actually swing this...So I bought it.

However, what i didnt know at the time was the horror of Ferrari maintenance, particularly the 355. So while i could afford the car, the maintenance was killing me (I had never heard of a PPI before)

I ended up getting the car sorted but cost another $20k on top of the price, which drained me and I resented the car and sold it.

That was 8 years ago. Now I own a 360 spider and am fully prepared, mentally and financially, for whatever comes up.

 

Like most here, I have always loved Ferarris but never thought I'd be able to own one. When things got great financially, my husband got his GT-R and I started looking for my 360, which is the model I've wanted forever. I found a perfect one - Rosso Corsa, tan interior, one owner, low miles. Went to look at it all and was great. This was a Saturday and they were closing early because of ice storms in Dallas. So I said "Do I need to leave a deposit to hold it?" The salesman was like "No, you're good."

I should have insisted.

Monday, I get a call from the salesman, right after I was leaving the hospital following a medical procedure, telling me someone bought it over the phone ten minutes after I left. But they promised me a discount on another model (higher miles) than the one I originally wanted. The specs were the same except the higher mileage one had two owners, Challenge grill and wheels. So I go in and my husband is just waiting for me to chew the sales guy out. So is he.

So I sit down and say "You know. I spent all day yesterday on a liquid diet to prep for a colonoscopy. Last night, I got to drink far too many cups of liquid that tasted like cough syrup filled with salt. Then I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom. This morning, I had the colonoscopy at eight am. And then my day got worse."

He didn't know whether to laugh or not, and I didn't help him out with it, but I did get the higher mileage model (8k more miles) for 13k less.

It was still icy, because Dallas had stupid winter this year, so the car was delivered later that week on flatbed. With a leaking fuel pump.

The dealership agreed to replace the fuel pump and since you have to remove the convertible housing to do so, I paid to replace the other fuel pump and the roll over valves. The fuel pump (even though new) could not be shipped by air and the only one available was in NJ. It took 10 days to arrive. By the time they were ready to start work, my husband and I were going on a business trip, so I told them to add Capristo exhaust and cats while they were working on it. So literally 30 days after I purchased the car, I drove it.

It was and will always be glorious. Nothing can decrease the shine of owning a Ferrari. Not for me, anyway.

 

Bought my 1st Ferrari 25 yrs ago from an ad in the local newspaper!
The car was less than 3 miles from where I lived at the time, and never knew it was there.
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Mine's a bit bittersweet - I've wanted an F-car since I'm a child. Probably looked for more than 20-25 years...never pulled the trigger. A little afraid, a little too frugal, I'd make some excuse not to purchase.

New Year's Eve, 2 years ago, my aunt died tragically. She was my mother's identical twin, seeing her at the wake was obviously emotional, we were extremely close (her children - my cousins - are almost like half brothers, we look so much alike). It was too close for comfort, I recognized the time to do this - if I were EVER going to do it - was now.

I found it almost by accident. Bid on one that I think went to another F-Chatter (Todd308?), but another one was for sale near me. Another F-Chatter owned it (PhilB) - well maintained and priced right, I purchased the car and drove it home.

Can't believe I waited so long but I'm reminded of how short life is. I'm very happy with the car, it's been a blast...

 

I bought my first Ferrari, a 246GT from FAF in Georgia. I had just gotten out of Med school. My wife thought I was crazy as the color " Gold" was not me. Started for home late and nervous, then lost in the seediness 'area of Atlanta at the time on fumes. Once fueled, car intact and still alive I found interstate 75. Now this was a time in our history that the 55mph limit was in effect and Georgia was very stringent in enforcement. The Dino and it's three Webbers did not like 55 at all. By the time we crossed the Fl. line it was after 1 am and traffic was very sparse so decided need to really listen to those chains and ANSA exhaust. Intoxicating music to the ear I must say! State Highway Patrol enjoyed it also! Since that time have enjoyed 4 other Ferrari cars to include a 308, a Boxer 512 BBi (which I imported), A Testa, and now old faithful my 360 F1.

 

Sent you the specifics via PM. Basically a scud that isn't red or yellow.

 

Just a quick line.I actually bought a new 2015 ZO6 Corvette convertible after waiting 14 months; when I went to pay for it the dealer added a 10K premium after promising none.I was quite irritated but now the cool part I had saved up enough money for a down payment on the car I really wanted so I did a thorough internet search I found my 2007 F430 Spider Red/Tan with 8500 miles.I bought the car and it was the best decision I have made in many years.I drove it 6300 miles on a road trip last month and had the time of a life.Great car, a ball to drive, dependable and pretty fast as well.Love my Ferrari. Bill Holbrook

 

My first Ferrari... Man seems like yesterday... I brought my landrover in for an oil change... While I waited I walked over to the Ferrari dealer across the street.... And there she was a 2004 360 Modena f1... The car made me melt... I put down a deposit one day shy of my 40th bday. That was back in spring of '07. I've sinced another Modena 3 pedal which I still miss but I'm loving the 599! i have surpassed any and all expectations of living the Ferrari dream .

 

I just realized that it is already more than 20 years ago that I went out to buy a red BMW Z3M Coupe, and went home with a Blue 400iGT 5 speed from the showroom next door.
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Dreamed for 20 years, then when I realized a younger colleague wasn't going to survive his brush with cancer I bit the bullet, downsized my house and then spent some months looking for the carbed gets I NEEDED. In Australia at that time (late 2001 into early 2002) this was like looking for a unicorn. The one I eventually found needed lots of work so I visited the workshop weekly for 6 months before it was finally ready. I was so nervous I got the mechanic to drive it to my office where I waited until everyone had left before I got in it! I was actually terrified that the reality wouldn't live up to the dream - about 5 km of driving fixed that problem and I've never looked back!

 

On the day I went to collect my first the heavens opened up (well it was the UK and it does rain from time to time - usually every few minutes it seems). Had a drive of around 180 miles to get from the dealer to back home (from the outskirts of London back to the SW of the UK).

Not long into the journey the bonded rear-view mirror decided to detach from the windshield.

As this was of an era when mirrors on the doors were not mandatory and the option had not been fitted on my vehicle I had zero rear visibility. As I was driving back via the main M4 highway it wasn't too bad although the rain intensified and I felt it was not safe to drive on.

I stopped at a shopping center near a place called Bristol and found a motor parts store. Purchased a cheap suction-cup mirror, then had fun getting it to stick onto the damp windshield glass. Eventually the darn thing stayed in place and I finished the journey without further drama.

Of course as soon as I arrived back home the rain stopped and bright sunshine broke through!

The cheap suction mirror is still in place over 30 years later!

 

That's the way to do it. Also, bimmers are for daily driving-unless you have an E30-then you daily drive it and track it!

 

my first ferrari was the 348ts. it belonged to a friend who wanted to sell it, and we agreed on a price. i was 34 and i was thrilled! then all of the worst qualities and defects of that model started to show up, then it got stolen - twice, then it left me stranded - 4 times, then i had enough. i sold it to another acquaintance - and it was stolen from him. that car was cursed.

so for me, my ferrari run really starts with the 512tr. i had always loved and lusted after that car. and i wanted one badly. i had lived in rome and knew the dealer there from having been at the showroom about a dozen times to drool over the cars, and i also knew the owner through other friends. so on a further trip to rome i saw 'my' car in the showroom. this was at a time when nobody wanted the 512tr. the dealer had 3 and could not sell them. so when i inquired, he threw out a price (which was already low), to which i responded with an even more ridiculous counter, and he agreed! he said get it out of here before the weekend and its yours!

so i called my dad, sent him a ticket to meet me, and we drove from rome to london over a weekend - and that is a wonderful memory as well.

that car is like my wife - i loved it before i bought it, loved it when i bought it, and still love it today. of all the cars i have had, it is my favorite. like a faithful friend.

 

Bought my first Ferrari - 1985 308gts QV at Autopalace in Pittsburgh PA on December 9, 1994. bought from Fuzzy and Mario. Bought it 2 weeks before my 26th birthday.

Metallic black, crema seats with black piping. the day I bought it was clear - cold & sunny. went to the dealership with my mom and dad ... pick the car up and we went down town PGH for lunch and light Christmas Shopping. done around 1PM. drove home to my folks place ( New Castle PA ) where the car was to be stored for the winter. un usually we had no snow yet that year... so I was able to drive the care till January & first snow / salt.

so back to the day -drove over to my friends business, did not tell him I was buying the car, and i just went in and said come out and check out my new car... he comes walking out and "freaks out!!" "Omg, a 308 wow, look at that paint, wow, i dont know anyone else who deserves the car more than you... "

car drove great for about 3 months then the first of MANY issues cropped up.... but that is a whole other story.

 

Yep, I'd recently got divorced, turned 40 and started chemo. A strange time indeed. On the drive home I kept glancing down at the horse on the steering wheel to metaphorically pinch myself. I'd only sat in one Ferrari previously but the dream was twenty years old. That was six years ago, the car was my 355GTS, parked a few feet away from now.

 

Very nice story!

I bought my F360 four years ago, right before Christmas...the experience was surreal, from walking to the dealer to pick it up, driving her home...I lost count how many times I was looking at the cavallino on the steering wheel and thinking...I am driving a F....Ferrari!!!...and then when we arrived home and parked the car inside the garage...it was surreal...then wife started crying and told me...you fulfilled your childhood dream....then for the next several days...countless times that I opened the garage door, just to see her...

 

I bought a 328 at FCI in NC in the late '90s, when I visited their dealership on a whim. That was some dealership at the time. A terrific salesman took me for a ride I will never forget and I was sold immediately.

Sadly, Ferrari dealerships are no longer like they used to be.

 

I live in Eastern Canada, and the Ferrari I bought was from Western USA (Portland Oregon).

The dealer sent me pics of the car. When I arrived there to close the deal it was sitting on their showroom floor and I walked right by it not knowing it was the one I bought because it looked so much better in person (that was embarrassing) I didn't think it was mine

Nevertheless, I will never forget the entire experience beginning with the search, the research, the booking of the flight, the trip, seeing it for the first time, driving it for the first time, the painful wait for it while it was being shipped across the country, signing for it when it was offloaded from the truck, and then driving it home. The gratification of fulfilling a childhood dream was finally realized, and all the blood sweat and tears was definitely worth it.

 

I bought mine in Portland as well.

The most memorable thing was driving it home in the rain.

Haven't driven my F-car in the rain since.

 

I never thought I could be in a Ferrari. Then 5 years ago it suddenly seemed possible when I started doing research. It's been such a wonderful place to be for the last 4 years.

Walking to that sexy car in the parking lot. "*damn* that's MY car."