Funniest/Stupidest comments you have received about your Ferrari

Thanks, I wouldn't think about it too much, I didn't and it didn't affect me that much. Life happens to us all. It's sad that people jump to be nasty instead of asking a simple question or even easier... don't say anything! I try to avoid be rude as much as possible but since owning a Porsche have experienced that people are very jealous here in the UK. The Ferrari has elevated this so much more.

 

You missed an opportunity with that boy. No child should be embarrassed because his parents are poor. I once missed an opportunity as well.

Once at a small local car show I invited a young boy who admired my car to sit in it. Once he got out his father said to him, "well that's the last time you will sit in a Ferrari". I was so stunned all I could say was "well you don't know he could own one some day". What I should have said is stay in school, study hard, work hard and don't waste your money on junk.

Oh well, missed opportunities.

Postscript: When I told my wife, who was a school psychologist for 33 years, I said that father must have crushed the boy. She said you never know. Some kids will take that as a challenge and get that Ferrari some day. I thought I hope he does, and when he let's his father sit in it, he tells him well that's the last time you'll sit in a Ferrari!

 

Indeed, I always tell everyone and did this young lad to start his own business, be honest, be trustworthy and the business will grow as people want to do business with you. This has been my experience. I do think children are very smart these days, learn much more far quicker. When their parents are like how you experienced they know, are just too young and can't say anything back. I do feel that when it hasn't worked for the parents some don't want it to work for their children which is a shame.

 

I had the exact opposite thing happen to me at a local car show. A father and son were standing by a Jaguar, and I overheard the father say, "this is why I tell you to stay in school, get good grades, and get a job you enjoy. Then maybe someday you can get a car like this." I walked up to them and stated that I liked that message, as opposed to "Oh some rich guy got this car." I then looked at the boy and asked if he wanted to sit in my F12. Eyes got big and he said yes. Dad then looked at me and said, "can I sit in it too."

 

Indeed, it's not always bad, I do find much more jealousy here in the UK than the US.
I had a similar experience, father and son, father went to get fish and chips, son was sitting in passenger seat on the other side of the road moving around trying to get a good look, as the father walks out I ask him if his son wants to have a look. He brings his son and says 'That's what you get when you stay in school and work hard... otherwise you'll only end up in a car like that!! (Points at his own car)! I got to admit it was shocking and funny at the same time, at least he was being genuine. This type of father will encourage his son, which is what a son needs when they have the interest.
More children have taken pics and videos of my car than me. They remind me of me when I was their age. I love to see their excitement.

 

Another funny one...
Leaving my house early to go somewhere, get in after my DHL collection and see an overly excited boy in front of me with his parents, I drive past as I have to be somewhere, look in my rear view and he is standing on a corner with his eyes popping out, parents have walked off, not far just a few yards away. I stop my car, but i'm in two minds as I have to be somewhere. He refused to move, he would not walk away as he wants to see the car for as long as possible. As a human, we need to listen to what the heart says, I put it in reverse, put my window down, stop look out of the window as best as I could and say, 'would you like to have a look'. As this happens another man, walking in the opposite direction with his daughter says 'No'. I am completely unaware as I am putting the car in 'N', putting on the 'handbrake' or now 'fingerbrake', taking off my seatbelt and get out of the car. The boy hesitates until I get out and walk towards him and his parents who are all very excited seeing their son so excited. He gets in, again I have to tell him to hold the steering wheel, he's like 'really, I can hold the steering wheel'! So I say it will look better for the pics and when he gets a girlfriend he can thank me! His parents are laughing. We have a chat and I drive off. My passenger tells me later, possibly even the next day that there was another guy with his daughter who said 'No'. I say that I had no idea and wasn't talking to them, surprised they didn't see the young boy who was on the same path as them, talking about the car, staring at the car and clearly was interested not even 2 yards away.

 

I get kids taking photos of my car all the time. What absolutely amazes me is they all ask permission. I'm thinking I'm on a public street or in some public area, I have zero expectation of privacy.

Of course when they ask if they can take a picture, I tell them no, but I'll take a picture of them in the car!

 

I think it is only polite and shows good upbringing. Even today if I see the owner of a car I will ask before I take pictures.
It can be awkward, I've sat on the fender to eat and would rather not have pics of me eating, on that occasion I moved.
Another, it was getting dark and I saw a flash, some seconds later another, I remarked there seems to be a thunderstorm / lightning brewing and was about to leave. Then a guy appears at the front of my car and started taking pictures, he was 20, again I got out of the car so he could take pictures, I am shy and don't like seeing pictures of myself. I don't know how to 'pose' or 'look' so pics of me are just usually not very good. When the car is at the front of my house it is a private road that cannot be seen from the public road, they still walk round and take pictures but I don't mind that either.
There are many things that we can do, many people have now become very entitled, people touching the car at shows, even leaning on it or young children touching or wiping their hands on the bonnet in front of their parents. I've been in numerous arguments at a soda shop I visit and sit outside telling adults not to lean on the car. So sadly, I do think it is right / polite that they ask, I do think they will grow up better and be more successful.

 

+1 -- got the same from kids and adults with my ex-TR and get it now with my present Mustang. Nothing wrong with their being polite, and I'm always quick to reply "sure" -- and usually open the bonnet.

 

Oh I absolutely agree, it just amazes me.

I guess the couple at the Coldplay concert wish they had been asked!

 

The guy in the tie-dye shirt in the pic you made is a buddy of mine - Rick Fairless - chopper builder and painter in Dallas!

Kevin

 

The sad thing is many / most of us are all so polite and decent that we often don't say anything back even though we could. It does take a certain amount of intelligence to be able to afford such vehicles, certainly more intelligence than the people being rude or nasty. However, can you imagine the response! They would be threatening, get angry or even damage the car out of sheer anger and jealousy.
It's also interesting the qualities it takes; communication, attitude, intelligence, understanding, imagination, honesty, integrity, decency (unless it's just me)!
Then the lack of these such people have, people are so quick to state what they don't like or what is wrong about something you do, without the experience or ability and their self ignorance. Prejudice generally only causes problems in life, being jealous is a prejudice yet people are completely blind to this. They only affect themselves then after just a few years of having this attitude they become stuck, unable to change and in most cases never will change or be able to buy such a beautiful car that gives so much to us in our emotions, experience and for me has been very grounding. Very appreciative of life and wanting to share the experience with others.
It takes a huge amount of passion for a man to say to a thief, 'take the wife but don't touch the car'. The love this shows is very endearing, the change from a boy to a man! Excuse me while I wipe the tear away from my eye.

There is a clip on youtube of a lady in London, walking in front of a supercar on the road and screaming at the guy because of his loud exhaust, she screamed louder than the car! She was trashed in the comments and made herself look completely stupid by drowning out the 'noise' she complained about... with her mouth! Everyone feeling sorry for her husband or saying she must be single! She should be forced to wear a government health warning plaque around her neck as a danger to the public, men and supercar drivers! Some people just don't like human beings as a rule and life philosophy!

After rude comments I often just say to myself, 'it makes perfect sense though'... why I own the vehicle and they don't!