i think if we all just came to terms with our miniscule manhoods and openly embraced our tinyness and changed the name of the board to SmallPenisChat.com, the naysayers couldn't say anything about us we aren't already admitting and they'd finally leave us alone... So who's with me...? Guys...? Guys...? Hello...? C'mon, don't tell me i'm the only one here with a small... Uh... Um...
1. Many first time buyers over-extend themselves buying the car, and then can't afford to maintain it -- so it sits. 2. Many places, you just can't get really good maintenance at any price, so if you haven't the time or tools to do the work yourself, it sits. 3. People buy them, enjoy them for a few years, then get distracted by work, family, a new hobby, etc., so the family car gets the load, and the Ferrari just sits. 4. And many many other scenarios. Not all garage queens become that way because the owner would rather pose next to it than drive it. Heck, the posers want to take the car out to be seen with it, not hide it in the garage. And yes, there are those who drive the thing a few times, and get frighted by the responses of a highly strung mid-engine in unskilled hands. Those "drivers" tend to blame the car, sell it, and then buy something with a computer to correct for their mistakes.
My younger brother, who had no interest in cars, used to tell me I was just looking for a psychological penis extension and needed one because I was such a wimp.
True drivers don't have cars, they drive them. That was the point I was making, and I wasn't even being subtle by emphazising the words 'have' and 'drive'. But hey...
I have had 8 Ferraris over the years...........From an F40 on down and I have probably logged close to 100,000 miles on them......alot of those miles on the track and some decidedly unpoliticaly correct back road driving.......and franky I could care less what some bunch of jealous losers in a socialist country or anywhere else for that matter have to say about my anatomy. I am fairly comfortable with myself and my choice of cars. Ciao.....Dino
I would love to track my 360 but the price of admission is already without adding on costs of fixing things that break. Porsches on the other hand are cheaper to maintain and IMO more durable. I still drive my 360 hard on occasion but I definitely don't whip on it like I do my Viper.
If I had just spent $100K or $200K on a Ferrari, I wouldn't exactly be slinging it into the close spaces at the neighborhood Starbucks or Blockbuster. As much as I've always thought of the Boxster as an overly plasticky, mass-produced overpriced car, they are extremely common here in San Diego and more or less disposable -- so you can drive them every day. And they make Porsche accessible to anyone who seriously wants one. In a way, it was a good move on Porsche's part to reach down the automotive food chain a bit without selling out the more powerful 911. Real car guys of modest means can drive a Porsche. The Ferrari mystique, for most people, is that they are RARE to start, and then rarely driven because maintenance is so expensive. Even among Ferrari owners I'm guessing there are very few who can afford a 575 or 360 as a daily driver, so these cars stay in hiding except for 78-degree Saturday afternoons. I don't think it's odd -- or some malicious conspiracy to deprive the public of seeing these cars. It's just common sense. Try to put your 80,000-mile 550 with parking lot rash and badly stone-chipped nose on the market and see what you get. The only "solution" would be for Ferrari to offer a low-end car, a la Lotus Elise, that would bring the brand to the masses. Let's see a show of hands as to how many here want a cheap, 6-cylinder F-car... (I didn't think so.) Honestly I think BMW has a worse image problem, as the ultimate poseur machine, and they make trucks to boot. Which is sad, because BMW really makes some nice cars. Jon
I have met three ferrari owners and gone to one dealership with the means to buy on of the cars. 2/3 owners were complete asses, one of them went so far as to make fun of my 93 RX7, saying it was another one of the 4 cylinder jap cars trying to be a sports car. The dealership didn't take me seriously because I am only 27, they said I am younger than the average buyer and asked if I could really afford it or if I was just wasting their time. Then they wouldn't unlock the 360 on the floor for me to sit in, because they didn't believe my financial situation, nor would they confirm it, so I left. If I wasn't so understanding, I might be of the attitude that ferrari owners have small dicks too. Some of them out there certainly aren't helping your cause. In fairness the one ferrari owner who was nice, was above and beyond nice, great guy. Just from my young experiences.
NNO While yours may be small from what I overheard the Pirelli Girl at the FFQC telling her GF you know how to use it.
I've met a broad spectrum of Ferrari owners and the vast majority were car nuts and the nicest people I could imagine. Because I'm driving a 33 year old Lotus, I used to have an inferiority complex...but they (at least the 308/328 guys) recognized me as a fellow car nut; part of the insanity. Several helped me with maintainence on my car and teaching me about how to do things. I did meet a 550 owner once at a local Ferrari meet at a restaurant. I showed up just to see the cars, and parked at a respectful distance from the Ferraris. There were lots of kids around and this 550 owner's attitude was "Touch my car, and I'll kill you. Breathe on my car, and I'll kill you." The kids also liked my Lotus; I let them sit in it and play with the gearshift. It's just a car and I can clean the fingerprints. I hope I made my point to that *******. Ken
Luckily I have had nothing but positive feedback from anyone I've encountered while driving my Ferrari. True though I have'nt had it for long, but it was a long time coming. I try to drive it as much as possible, which is tough here in the pacific NW this time of year.(praying for a dry day!) And I'm sure true for most too. The people I've encountered are real positive, ie wow I have'nt seen one of those for years and the like. One of my best friends has a 911 and has for years. Its a fun car and he drives it well so its a hoot when we go for a spin. But he'd rather have a 355! He was happy that I finally got my Ferrari, no animosity there. I thought the penis deal was a corvette thing? Another good friend having 2 corvetts and a big block 69' chevelle is looking for his Ferrari. A blue 360 spider with a F1 tranny(anyone?). I come from the typical hotrod background, ie.. 55chevy, 68 camaro ...etc. To me the Ferrari was the BEST of both worlds...hotrod/sports car. Come on...a Hemi headed quad overheaded cammed all alum. V8 with 4 webber 2bbl carbs in a light weight car that handles on a rail that looks like art in motion! Give me a break! It's the ultimate. Any EVERYONE who is truley a genuine car guy no matter what he currently owns knows this. The people who say otherwise are really unimformed, jealous, or too affraid and step up to the plate. There are a lot of really neat, fast, pretty cars out there and the people who drive them I'm sure they enjoy them. BUT... their still not a Ferrari, and I think thats what really gets to them and they say negetive things to make themselves look/feel better. IMO for whats its worth. Kurt
Is it just me, or do drivers of Boxsters have the same bad rep as the Bimmer drivers? It just seems whenever I pass a driver, he seems to have a ego problem.