What is the obsession with low km?

I tend to drive my cars only on nice days and use them for a destination trip where there is parking that is safe. This obviously cuts down on the occasions that I can drive them.

 

We have two 2011 sports cars, 911 and a California with 130 K and 55 K kilometers, respectively. Not low by F standards, perhaps, but I calculated pre-pandemic that the main mileage differentiator is that we don't take the Ferrari on road trips.*

My hang ups are parking security, battery tender issues, lack of a spare tire, and we have other cars better suited to long trips. I gather from F-chat that a lot of the enjoyment of these cars is point A to point A. Add into that having multiple cars to exercise, and miles can be low.

T

*I work from home and my wife 2 km from work, so commuting not a major mileage accumulator for us.

 

It’s all about resale value.


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Miles are always lower than kilometers. Just sayin'

 

I bought a 2016 F12 to drive while I wait the 2 years to get my F8 Spider. It had 3900 miles on it when I picked it up, and it now has 7200 miles. I have only owned it for 10 months, and keep in mind that I live in Wisconsin and stored it for 4 of those months. As I told my sales associate, "when the F8 comes in and you get it back, it will have a lot more miles on it because I am not buying it to look at it." I am very much at peace with the depreciation so that I can enjoy it and use it for the purpose it was built, to be driven.

 

You’ll miss the F12. I miss mine. And maybe it’s the miss the I bought it to drive it feeling.


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I could never understand the obsession of being concerned about what other people do with their cars. Live and let live.

 

I am opposite. No reason to even start one of the Ferrari if it isn't a road trip.

 

It’s an irrational fear of owning the less than perfect, “used up” Ferrari. If everyone else has a 2,000-mile car and yours has 10,000, you lose the “virtual status competition.”

I’ve noticed that over in the classic market, especially Porsche where I am now, no one cares about the odometer. It changes the experience.

Having had a close call with being permanently unable to drive, I don’t worry about saving it for the next guy.



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I always thought it was dumb that people bought these cars then never drove them. Then when I could actually buy one myself I realised I didn't have time to drive it much because I was too busy doing other stuff (inc working to earn the money to be able to buy one in the first place).

Not sure why people obsess over low mileage though. I'd rather a car that had been driven and maintained properly over one that just had low mileage and a patchy history.

 

Neither do most but I am happy there are a few. Being able to buy a nearly no mile TR for 1/3 of its selling price was a dream come true. I don't mind a car with patina....as long as it is my patina. Do not know about you but I am reluctant to buy used clothes or stay in a hotel room that looks like the last guy just left.

As for all the really misguided people who really believe people are saving their cars.....you are mostly wrong. It happens but not as often as you think. I have been in the Ferrari business a long time and most Ferrari owners have a number of cars. Ours is not at all uncommon. We have 2 people, both drive and we had 7 cars and a motorcycle. Too busy to play often and thats the only time we use the Ferraris. Its just not possible to put many miles on them. 75 % of my clients fit that description.

Like I said, maybe you'all should quit obsessing about others and how our cars are used.

 

You're a braver man than I!

I just get stressed about the parking and battery tender situation. Which Ferrari are you taking on your road trips?

T

 

I am the same way. I only drive my f-cars to places I’m familiar with so I know where to park, ensure I can clear my front lip, avoid potholes, or avoid unwanted attention. I’ve tried to break the habit, but it causes me more stress than joy.

 

This is all because 90 % of Ferrari owners think of them as investments, not driving machines, its that simple. The good news is, who ****ing cares, its better for the people that want to own a Ferrari and actually drive it . The thing is, these folks have the money to fix them , and they still worry about putting to many miles on their Ferraris. I wont get started, but you get the picture . I once new a guy who owned a dealership in Newport Beach, that specialized in Ferraris, he had , and I kid you not, a brand new 512 BBi, a brand new F40 and a brand new 288 GTO, and they all just sat in his dealership, it was insane to see all these cars within a few feet of one another, I drooled every time that I went to visit . It was right around the time that I had bought my 89 328 GTS, which by the way, I have put 84,000 miles on since. I am a driver, 90 % of owners are not .When it comes to 3x8s, there are many owners who cant even properly fit in them , so theres that .

Big G

 

When Im in the drivers seat, I usually drive for about 3 or 4 hours,without getting out , unless I need gas or a drink, I live in So Cal, so its easy to put the seat time in, and still be fairly local. I get the not wanting to park your Ferrari anywhere that you cant keep your eyes on it. For me its all about the drive, I dont have any destination, I just drive until Im satisfied , I put it away, then , " I dream with my Uncle by the fireside " so to speak .

G

 

it's just social status and resale

 

The Testarossa is the better of the 2 for long days on the road but we use both.

Battery tender? No Ferrari ever made should need a tender for overnight or for a few days. And as for our 2 I never use a tender on either because there is nothing wrong with them

 

I actually worry far more about the Harley on road trips. The Ferraris mostly get ignored in hotel parking lots but Harleys disappear with alarming regularity. The Harley gets locked, chained and parked right outside a window of a room with 2 big guys with 2 big guns.

 

I thought all the high end cooktops came with stained aluminum foil around the burners.


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You might be on to something there! Maybe it's not to preserve but to make it easier to clean! [emoji2]
T

 

I love driving my 458 spider but have to admit that I don't drive it as much as I could. I live in the NY metro area and find that I really can't park it anywhere public without worrying about some knucklehead scratching it with their belt buckle or leaning up against it for a selfie. I have 8500 miles on mine and agree that you don't want one with too few miles; as my mechanic says these cars like to be driven.

 

Whats too few? We bought a 10 year old with 900 miles. Been perfect. That was 22 years ago and its had zero problems. Lots of wives tales out there.

 

Just think of comic books and trading cards. The KM is very much correlated to the condition from "mint." These after just as many collectibles as they are utilitarian devices.

As I've gotten deeper into exotics, I've learned that people often assume folks "don't drive em'" by choice. Actually, I've found that many people simply don't have the time combined with an extensive fleet.

I find myself putting less and fewer miles simply due to the other activities requiring my attention,