15 years of ownership ends ...

My 360 is off to a new home this coming week - and so ends 15 years of Ferrari ownership. I don't now if I will ever own another one, but I think the time is right to do this.

There are quite a number of reasons. My life and priorities have changed a lot in the last few years and with a young family I don't have as much time to spend on my hobby. I have been using my 360 less and less as time goes on.

I sold my 308 QV 18 months ago right at the peak of the market and now it is time to let the 360 go. Prices have softened and I got perhaps 90% of what I may have got 1 year ago - but still nearly 25% up on what I paid in late 2013 for her.

Other reasons do include financial reasons - my wife left the corporate world 6 years ago to raise our children and the justification of having the Ferrari in the garage had to be re-looked.

Last but not least an unpleasant incident .... In July 2017 I was pulled over on the freeway by what turned out to be 3 bogus cops (uniforms / unmarked car with blue lights), and robbed at gunpoint of my valuables whilst enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive. That was probably the biggest decision-maker. to be targeted by thugs because of the car you are driving makes one very nervous to use the vehicle. I have hardly enjoyed the car since then.

Anyway - I am still an Italian car guy and have found a lovely little Fiat 1200 Spider to tinker with. I am hoping that as it is much simpler that I will be able to do a lot more work on her than on the 360. I also intend to tinker with the car with my kids - I am really looking forward to this.It is possible for my two little girls to squeeze into the rear seat - so we can do some classic car events as a family, not just me on my own - which is important.

I'll post some pics of the new car sometime.
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Best of luck in all of your future automotive endeavors and thanks for the heads up on the bogus cop incident. Glad you were not physically harmed.

 

You have your priorities right. But don't think you wont be back with Ferrari later on... hopefully not the damn SUV planned since you have a young family.

 

Definitely not the SUV. Maybe a California one day, in red/tan. I know it is not the most revered Ferrari but it certainly ticks the boxes for practicality and versatility. Although if truth be told my ideal F-car would probably be a 430 Coupe. I could imagine owning that forever.

 

Let that be a warning to all. This is not the first time I heard of the bogus cop scam, they are out there preying on the motoring traffic. They say if pulled over not to roll down your window until the person is at your window and is seen with his badge and uniform. Keep an eye in the mirror and have 1st gear selected incase. Not meaning to hijack the post but IMHO we are driving vehicles that tend to put us in an ostentatious frame and screams to some of the less scrupulous individuals "ripe for the picking". If the markets fail and we are in a downward turned economy we will be targets more frequently of this and snide remarks to boot. It is funny how individuals perceive someone who drives a Ferrari. There are videos on youtube have a look at this one.

 

I wish you well, and if there is one thing I have learned it is never say never.

 

Wow, that video is just insane. If I ever see someone doing something stupid to someone else's Ferrari like spitting on it I will stop and cause a scene. That guy needs to be grabbed by the ear and dragged to the car to wipe the spit off it with his shirt.

 

Some of those look staged

 

Watch some more of his videos and you see him in is Lambo receiving the same issues and him ranting about the Bad side of ownership and people because he drives exotics.

 

Wow on the video!

You just don't get that level of hate in Florida. Most are happy to see them and always ask to rev your engine.

Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice!

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Thanks for sharing and wish you all the best!

 

I need to bring my babies to Florida I guess.

Who knows maybe he flaunts it and revs it when ever and where ever he goes when the cameras off. But some of the drive by comments are bad. Staged I do not know. Just thought I would share. I have a buddy with a f430 who went to the golf club and came out to see a scratch put in his paint. People are so Jealous and the tougher the times are the worst it gets. I have had other ferrari's since 1988 and been through the ups and downs of the economy. I felt there were times you would not wear a diamond encrusted Rolex. Maybe I was just to busy fighting the bad pulse of the economy to bring out a Ferrari.

 

I think that vid is largely staged, but those things do happen. I received more hate driving a Corvette as a young man than any other car I've owned, though. My stock response to the old "What do you do?!" question these days is "I give people jobs." Diffuses most things right away. Typically, I encounter nice people who are just interested and like the thought of a friendly owner.

OP - that is a terrifying experience and I can imagine how something like that can sour your connection with the car. I've never really considered that...then again, then first thing I'm required to say when an officer approaches my car is "I must let you know I do have a handgun on my person. Here's my permit."

Best of luck!

 

I don't think the video is staged: it's in Toronto, and while there's big money in TO, Canadians have a more difficult time with overt displays of wealth.

Miami/SoFL, Vegas, North Dallas, SoCal, Seattle "Eastside" etc... No problems. In 15,000 miles around Vegas, I can only think of two mildly negative experiences, and countless cheers, photos, thumbs up, "rev it!" Etc.

Dave - sorry to hear about your situation, although given what I see about the tense situation there I would probably keep it on the DL too. Or move to Australia...

 

I think when the time is right to moveon you know. Mine will probably be when I retire.
Sorry to hear about the scam police incident. I've heard stories like that but not actually known of an individual it has happened to. A bit different in the UK in that the bogus cops should not be carrying a gun but it is not to say they don't or dont have another offensive weapon.

The video is staged I'm sure but those are certainly reactions you might get in the North of England. Certainly not all good.

Lastly your nice little Italian sounds interesting. All the best.

 

Sorry to hear about the bogus cop incident. One of the reasons I tend to be very weary when travelling "up North".

I think its better to have enjoyed something then to have wished you had bought something and enjoyed it. Your 308 was undoubtedly one of the very best in SA if not the best QV. None I have seen can match that car and that included a recently restored car.

 

Thank you Jacques - you know your cars so I appreciate your comments on my old 308!