LA Times on David Lee's collection...

Its just as much the buyer as the seller. Buyer knew he was breaking the rules.

 

and...Ferrari once again bolsters its exclusivity. Which is obviously by design. When the uber-rich are regularly 'turned down' no matter how much money they offer. Go rogue and be blacklisted. That's my guess - David Lee probably went too far 'around' the normal channels in regards to the LaF and is now being punished for it.

Fully in Ferreri's prerogative to choose who they sell to (withing reason, of course, I can see the backlash if they say they won't sell to Germans, etc..)

Plus the fact Ferrari turned him down obviously has the opposite effect on Mr. Lee...a person used to getting everything - is not used to hearing the word no. He wants a LaF-A even MORE with the refusal

 

I am sure the seller will never be allowed another car from Ferrari

 

IIRC, the F50 was initially leased by Ferrari to avoid speculators and Lexus did the same with the LFA. They should've done the same with the LaF so if an owner got into a situation like the divorce case for DL's LaF, it goes back to the factory and make it a non-transferable lease.

 

very smart way to approach it!

 

I think there was something worked out where the seller didn't transfer pink slip but Ferrari saw buyer driving it around Pebble Beach

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

I think a lot of the David Lee thing is that perhaps more than ever, it's now very cool to be a "car guy." If you're a relatively unknown, wealthy person and you crave fame, building a serious car collection and promoting it on social media, etc, is a good way to get that fame. You can then use that fame to promote your business dealings, as David has done with the jewelry business his family started.

It sounds like he uses his cars quite a bit and has passion for the brand, so good for him, I guess. More than anything, this is yet another example that money and passion alone won't get you on the A-list everywhere. Including at Ferrari.

 

This is a great post. It's a slippery slope to start engaging on who are 'real' car guys are who are 'poseurs' and/or questioning motives. I think the only people that could have a legitimate beef with this guy is if he somehow bumped them off the LaF/LaFA list, or they own a business near his C&C events and experienced inconvenience/damage.

 

Both Lexus LFA and Ferrari F50 were 2 year "leases," but really just meant that the manufacturer kept possession of the title so the owner couldn't flip it. The LFA I don't think had set payment terms and you could pay upfront for the entire thing, but still wouldn't get the title until 2 years later. The F50 from what I've read had more set terms. $240k down, $5k+ a month, and $150k due at the end of the 2 year term.

I think 2 years may be an okay timeframe even in today's market given the rate it seems super/hypercars are made and out-do themselves.

 

Was he inflating the values of the Enzo, F50, 288GTo etc....in the video. Don't really follow those but seemed high. Of course perhaps they are ultra low mile examples, etc....

Anyways as one commenter posted re his quest for an Aperta...

Thoughts and prayers!

 

Great info..I agree also an easy solution.

 

+1

 

I'd say he leans more in the direction of Kardashian than Carolla, in that he really seeks out attention and thrives on social media followers. He seems to highly value his "Instaguru" status and his "likes". But I do think he has real affection for Ferrari, whatever the basis for it may be, and again, he makes his cars available on a regular basis, often at large financial expense to himself (recently trucked 3 cars to a car show if I recall correctly). I think he deserves credit for that.

 

Thanks Dave,

I don't really see much of him other than a couple episodes of Jay's Garage and a few articles. In both channels, of course, he's engaged in some self-promotion. The fact we're talking about him shows it works. Call it vanity, free PR for his businesses, or a true passion of Ferrari - I would argue it's an amalgamation of all the above.

My point of view is like the Kardashians, they and David Lee have zero affect on me and my life. As long as their actions do no harm me and/or if I'm not forced to consume their brands - "to each their own"

Cheers

 

huge mistake? whats he going to do... not buy anymore... uhh... ya ferrari wont care...

Also, this guy is super self involved. He is a male car guy version of the kardashians in my opinion.

Also, he slightly misrepresents his Lusso... might be an indicator to not take him at face value

 

ahh... but... when you make the rules... you can do what you like.

 

great article -- all very true

 

So let's see.....

On one hand, Ferrari wants to make an SUV to appease its shareholders....

....and at the same time, it won't produce ONE additional LaFerrari Aperta to sell to one of its more notable and loyal customers, all in the name of "exclusivity"???

 

You nailed it.

 

G