Can I sit in your car?

I had a teary-eyed pastor tell me, "We need more people like you in the world" when I let his autistic grandson sit in my car after he was going nuts over it.

 

I'm overweight, wear lotion and get into my car like it's my shifter kart. Stand in driver's area and slide down the back of the seat.

I don't agree that a car is just a piece of metal. If that was reality, then no one here would pay more for one than many do for their house. But since I did pay for it, I figure I'll get in and out of it how I want to.

I also let people sit in my car and take pics. I let my good friends drive it. I think everyone who is not a complete ****** should have the opportunity to drive an exotic at least once in their lives.

 

Jana wrote: I also let people sit in my car and take pics. I let my good friends drive it. I think everyone who is not a complete ****** should have the opportunity to drive an exotic at least once in their lives.

I agree 100%.

 

We have an annual event here called Rides to Remember - in fact, it's happening next Saturday - where as many as 100 exotic car owners give rides to kids who are or have been battling cancer. It's a real "feel good" event.

And to put it in perspective, the young man who rode with me the first time the event was held had passed away by the following year, which really had an effect on me. I was glad to have been able to give him a little joy in the last year of his life.

 

Nicely done Jim

 

I usually don't let people at a show sit in my car. Let one in and next thing you have a line of people. I really enjoy taking people the fastest they have gone in a car. Especially my son's college friends. Usually going 160-165 will last them for years and they will never forget their first Ferrari ride

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

Sounds like he is related to the woman in Post #19.

 

Are we talking about the only P4 in existence or just a run of the mill production car?

Unfortunately there is no real polite way of saying "no" that doesn't come off as snobbish IMO.

As much as we love them at the end of the day it's still only a car. What could possibly happen that couldn't be fixed? If anything we are ambassadors for the brand to pass on the passion and show that we aren't a bunch of elitist ****** bags who just wipe our cars down with a diaper all day and marvel at it. As long as people show respect and ask nicely what's the harm? Personally I get more joy out of letting people sit in cars than they do from sitting in them. I think if people saw the way they actually store the cars at the factory they would be mortified. Lol, all the Corsa Clienti cars are packed in some old dingy building inches from each other covered in a layer of dust! I'm sure those cars are touched by lots of hands and sat in often yet they are fine.

I agree with the earlier poster, if you even have to think about this you should steer clear of any public/club events. You are only setting yourself up to be disappointed. That way if someone asks you to sit in it while you are out you can simply say "I'm sorrry Im in a hurry to get somewhere".

 

After reading this thread so far, I will be removing the driver seat before the next soiree!

 

I have never had an adult ask to sit in my car. On occasion I have had a parent ask for his child, but much more frequently when a kid asks to have his picture taken with the car, I tell him it will be a much better picture if he is in the car. I do always check their butts before they sit down.

But to answer the OP, he can either clear shrink wrap the seat, steering wheel, door panel, rocker panel and whatever else you think people will touch. Or as an alternative just don't attend the event.

 

I'm an unusual Ferrari owner for many reasons - I put serious miles on them! - but one of those reasons is that I go to many events with hotrod guys. So, I'm not seldom the only Ferrari there. If a kid freaks over the car, I ask if he'd like to sit in it. I tell him/her to step into the well, and not on the sill, and I've never had a problem. Kids these days who are so aware deserve to be behind the wheel, IMO.

 

Damn....just damn. Impressive. I've always been more of a wide receiver build...tall and extremely lean. never broke 195 until after 40. (43 now) I'm 6'3.

I've fallen out of practice, but work subsidized a gym membership as part of our insurance. To get my 8 visits in per month, I'd go to a practice called Ashtanga once a week. My girlfriend got me into it (we worked together), and after she got laid off, i kept at it. First time...how tough could yoga be?....kicked my ass. It's not a "be the best you that you can" yoga. In addition, the instructor was this ukranian gymnast that drove it like a drill sargent. It was tough love, and even tougher when he knew your name. He moved on to his own studio. Work wouldn't subsidy his studio. I do a little light movement now and then, but rarely do a whole series.

it's an hour and a half of strength and balance, and there's two more "series" after it. The second and third series are more of a cirque de soliel act.

Stretching is a part of strength training. Find an ashtanga instructor, try it for a month, you might find it drives you further than strength training does.

sjd

 

Very interesting response. I may look more into it, but I was a distance runner for thirty years. I know what cardio fitness is. More difficult after fifty.

 

The more I'm thinking, The more my answers are changing.
My first answer is: That's why I don't take my cars to social events. I own my car for my personal self.
Then I almost posted: What's so hard about saying NO. People are afraid to say "no" these days.
THEN, I thought more and I have at times offered them to sit in the car and let me take the picture.
So my post is a waste of a post. Sorry, I'm no help!

 

I usually ask them if they want to sit in it, before they get a chance to ask themselves. If someone shows a lot of interest in the car, why not? It’s only wear, it can be fixed.

A few months ago, I was at the gas station, and one of the cashiers came running out. She told me she had never seen a Ferrari before, and asked if she could take some pictures. So, I told her, “why don’t you sit in it, and I’ll take your picture”. She was ecstatic. I took several photos of her with her phone. You could tell that I made her day.

At car shows, when kids come to admire the car, I always offer to let them sit in it (provided their parents are with them). They love it, and hopefully will become future Ferrari fans/owners.

 

One of my favorite parts of owning my car (458) is letting other people experience it. I let people in it all the time and have done several rides for people.

One day a guy standing outside a barbershop (who obviously worked there) yelled that he wanted a ride. I pulled right over and yelled for him to get in. He was very grateful and loved it.

I feel like if you're fortunate enough to own a Ferrari, you almost owe it to others to let them experience it. It might be the only chance they ever have. It's hard to say "no" without making people feel like they are some how inferior and unworthy of it.

 

Username checks out.

 

I let anyone sit in my car. I only have a couple of rules

1. If it's a young kid (pre-teen) -- you must ask your parent or guardian for permission (I want to re-inforce that they need permission before touching/sitting in something that isn't theirs).
2. I ask that they don't touch the turn-signal or head-light steering stalk levers (they are fragile). Also, don't take the e-brake off. Anything else - feel free to touch.

At a C&C a couple of years ago, I had a group of kids come by, all about 10 years old. It was a birthday party type outing. I made them get permission from their chaperon, then let them sit in the car for as long as they wanted. I also encouraged them to press the horn button. It was great -- for the next 10-15 minutes, we had continual blasts of the air horn.

I've had a lot of cases where kids, both young and young at heart, tell me that my car was the first Ferrari that they ever sat in.

I did have one sort of bad experience. After letting a couple of very young kids sit in my car (with parental permission), another car owner at the show saw what I was doing, and became angry with me. His rational was that I had just given the kids permission to touch all the cars there. Even after I explained that I explicitly made the kids get the parents ok, he still was angry with me. Oh-well -- I think it's his loss if he can't share the joy of cool cars with kids.

I really enjoy my Mondial, and I enjoy sharing it with everyone -- car people or not. What's the fun of owning something like this if you can't share it? Seeing a kids face light up is just as good a feeling as I get when I drive the car.

Sid

 

Four years ago I posted this in the Funniest/Stupidest thread, but there's a little postscript I should add. Here's the post -

I heard a disappointing comment this past Thursday evening, but it wasn't directed at me or my 612. I was at a local informal car show run by a rotary club to raise a little money. It's a small time event, but it's fun, everyone is nice and there's great car talk.

As I was talking to some people next to my car a boy about 10 years old was really interested in it. So I opened the door and told him to sit in the drivers seat. His face lit up and he sat there for only a minute and then got out. His father then said to him "well that's the only time you'll sit in a Ferrari". I just said something like you never know, he may have one some day.

I'm sure the father probably didn't realize the message he was sending to his son. The disappointing part was that he didn't use that opportunity to say something like see what hard work or education will get you, or something encouraging along those lines to his son.

Here's the postscript-

I told my wife (a school psychologist for 33 years) the story. I told her I thought that probably crushed that poor kid. She said not necessarily, some kids will take that as challenge and he may very well get his Ferrari.

So I thought to myself I hope he gets one. And after he lets his father sit in it says, "well that's the only time you'll sit in a Ferrari"!

 

Like others have said, it depends on the vibe I get from who is asking...and how they are asking. The very polite parent with the clearly excited, but somewhat terrified kid are the best. I just say that I will tell them the PROPER way to get into and out of a Ferrari, and then guide them in step b y step. It actually makes the event that much more special. Respectful, polite people always are preferred. Even then, I sometimes have to decline the request, explaining that there are simply too many people around and I can't have my care being seen as an arcade ride. .

 

I agree with this. I had my E-Type at a show (it's a driver, not a resto) and a guy came up to me and said it was his dream to own one of these cars. Through conversation, he revealed he never even sat in one, so I invited him to sit in mine. He was hesitant at first, but I said go ahead.

It was worth it for me just to see the reaction - he clearly enjoyed it.

That being said - if you don't want someone to sit in your car - just say it. Some might think you are being a bit rude, but who cares - it's YOUR car, do whatever you think is right.

 

It's always fun when you sit down to write and you end up answering your own questions? Enjoy . . . .

 

I don't let many strangers sit in my car because quite frankly they are not very careful as a general rule.
They just jump in, kick the sills, slide all over the seat because it's not their car. If I point out they they have marked this or that, they just say "sorry" and I'm left with the damage.
If you want to sit in a Ferrari go to the official showroom or an auto show- that's what they are there for.
Sorry if it's a bit harsh but years of experience has taken its toll.