What do you say when someone finds out you own a ferrari?

What he said!!!

 

Hmmm............

I've been called a lot of things, but that's a first for me.

Guess I'll just have to unload this for something less prickly.

DM
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This topic is interesting as Im new to Ferrari ownership and being 'embarrased' is not something I was thinking about when i bought it.

The first time I realised this could be a problem was the day after I bought it while at the store and my friend mentioned the 'ferrari' and EVERYONE looked at us like we were @$$holes. So from that moment on I asked all my friends to refer to it as the F Car.

I would say out of the remarks i hear they can be broken down as follows; 20% positive, 80% negative including ' rental!' or my fav.. 'thats not real..you can tell by the (insert here)'.

having said all that Ive had the viper for 4 years now and can only recall a half dozen negative remarks. Why do you think that is?

Oh and I agree completely with ylshih

 

Give ya $20 for it.

Oh and on a side note, I clipped one of these cars a couple of weeks ago. The owner was such a nice chap (lawyer at that) he said don't worry about the damage I did..
I didn't think he was a prick.

 

I personally dont think its an issue at all, a Ferrari is not a car that you should be embarrased to be seen in.

The reason you are getting dirty looks is mostly jealousy I think, If you dont flaunt your success and tell everyone you own a Ferrari and explain how much it costs over and over again, then there is zero problem.

Do you love the car? If you answer yes (you better! ) then you should enjoy driving the car and dont care what others think and when people do ask about just divert the topic somewhere else.

 

-Soooooo ... you own a Ferrari?
-Yes, I couldn't afford a Lamborghini.

Unless patients would run away from you (assuming they have somewhere to go), I think you're making a big deal out of it. Keeping it low is ok, but making excuses for your hard work isn't what I would do, shall we say.

 

No offence but you'll understand more when you get one.
I do partly agree with what you are saying, but when a workplace "superior" starts commenting with sarcasm, it's no joke. Neither is the attitude some small minded people cop about "ferrari" owners.
On the flip side it does quickly weed out people you can comfortably talk too in a social situation.

 

If I ever feel the need to play down my ownership, I just say that I bought it used several years ago for a great price, and that when i go to sell the car it will have cost me less to own than leasing a new Mercedes.

 

PERFECT! I think very few understand the benefits of an 80/100 hour work week (.....so i get bored easy).

My ********* neighbor saw the car and said "I heard you inherited that!"
HUH?! I corrected him and needless to say he went back to his pathetic life.

I've also lost some (that I considered at the time) good aquaintances shortly after they saw the f-car. That's ok though - I've made definately better ones here! They understand my pain

 

This is an interesting thread.
I have had the experience of driving exotics that were mine, and ones that I was driving for work that I couldnt afford, and I have come accross some vey interesting reactions.

When someone asks about the car, and they find out I dont own it, they immediatley become more relaxed and ask questions and feel comfortable talking about the car and the experience of driving it.
As long as they think its yours, they are guarded and a bit standoffish.
I think that it is more about money than the car, the car represents a freedom with money that they resent.

I find that men are usually the ones being asses about it. This is a normal defensive/jealous reaction I think. Women and kids are usually excited and will make a nice comment and have a laugh about the car. Must be a testosterone reaction.

I find that the reaction in europe is generally more positive towards exotics than USA. They seem more interested in the car, in USA people focus on the driver, and how/why does he have that car and i dont.

Just for fun sometime, if you are out in your car and someone asks, tell them it isnt yours. You may be surprised by the reaction and following conversation.

Two of my favorite responses:

"Do you own a Ferrari?"
"No...........I own two."

"Do you own a Ferrari?
"Doesnt everyone?"

 

I don't want to turn this into a rant, but I've had more than a few drinks tonight, so here it goes...Very few of us have been given our Ferrari's or any other cars we oun. The Dr. in question (sorry, forgot your name) went through at least 4 years of college, 1 year of internship and 4 years of residency, all at very little pay. The rest of us are no strangers to the 18+ hour days, no vacations, seeing our families when we can, etc. We have paid our dues. WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR THESE CARS!!! Why should we have to feel ashamed for our just rewards????? This is not right. When somebody asks me about one of my cars, I just say (especially if they are young) set your sights on a goal, work hard, and someday you could have one too. No I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I worked my a** off for what I have. Is there something wrong with that???

 

Bo, Thats funny you mention this because for the last few years i have been doing the same thing. I live in denver (big city) so not a big deal driving down the road but i have to keep stuff like that on the down low at work. If anybody realizes my love for the mark and they ask, "do you own a Ferrari?" I tell them some day i will.....
Its a touchy subject at work or it can be for some... It may start the "how much is he\she really making?" type of rumors\B.S....

 

Depending on what mood I'm in when asked if I own a Ferrari, I usually respond that the wife would not let me get a plane.

Q. How much?
A. More than I wanted to pay.

Q. How fast?
A. Faster than I want to go.

 

When we as a club go out, or even just a few of us, we always make it a point to make our cars accessible to curious kids. We try to answer all of their questions and on occasion they get to sit in them. Most of the time they are quite polite, sometimes more so than the adults.

Most importantly we emphasize what you just said, "Stay in school, get good grades, stay away from drugs and you can have one too when you grow up".

The good things don't come easy.

 

It is not only that, but also what someone has sacrificed to have a Ferrari. Ferraris range price wise in comparison from another "brand new" car of a different make, to a very,very nice piece of real estate. A "brake down" can ruin your summer vacation plans.

 

Very well said!!!

 

Nice and simple rules to live by!!!

 

So sorry for you that you need to hide it. another part of the Ferrrari fun is that fact that you are dare to be different, not showing off but being different. The Ferrari is a star among cars on the street. It can tell a lot about its driver; taste, passion, sophisicated level, wealth... I feel so proud every time I drive it. But not too proud to let it changes my personality....

However, In Bo's case, I think it's better to hide. Let's say if it was me and I am the boss, if one of my employee drove in a brand new 360CS in my office's driveway. Sure, I won't care where he get the money to buy it but I will be a bit caution with this guy. In other word, I'd not probably teach him everything I know about my business. He sure got the resource and he can take the know-how from me and start his own business. I won't take him seriously. ...... That's from another perspective, IMO.

 

The only thing I didnt like about my 03 M3 was knowing there was a fake exhaust pipe coming out the back.

 

I would say that the majority of people are not car enthusiasts and do not understand the joys of owning a nice car or going for long drives in the countryside without a destination in mind! Most people see the car as a status symbol and do not realise that it is often a passion, a hobby like something they probably do themselves. Many people have expensive hobbies like travelling (I do for sure!) and golf, travelling countrywide to watch pro sport for example. Many though do not equate nice car in the same hobby bracket!
I don't think the attitudes of some Ferrari drivers i.e. those who are not enthusiasts and drive the latest sports car as a status symbol, saying look at me and my huge ego. The minority as always will spoil the image of everyone else who is good and honest as in everything in life.

I am only a student so no Fcar yet but when I see an Fcar driver in traffic or in a car park, I will try and talk to them asking them about the car and so on. I always like to chat to fellow enthusiasts!

Finally, I would not be blatent and arrogant about having a nice car but by the same token I wouldn't get a black Fcar with tinted windows so that I could hide my identity. If you want to buy an Fcar then the attention is something that comes with the package IMO. You have to take some attention as pay off for the fact that you have a great car and enjoy driving it so much!

 

And the most eloquent award goes to....Yin !!!!

 

I'm a surgeon, 40 and bought my F-car after admiring the model for 20 years (90 Mondialt cab). I feel I have worked hard but my ownership is the result of educating myself about Ferraris and searching for this specific car,...not spending a certain amount of money. It is not always easy to get that complete point across to inquirers. At $43k, my wife's bare bones 4x4 Yukon cost more and will likely be traded before it is paid for so I see no financial guilt. I find it interesting when someone (in the hospital) brings up my F-car ownership. Other doctors usually say something in reference to speeding, blowing off steam, etc. Most people are curious about the car's reliability and driving characteristics. A pyschiatrist who drives a 996 cab asked me last week why I don't track my car. I didn't have a better reason other than I couldn't tolerate damaging my dream car. Then she admitted that her husband departed the track (hit dirt only) with her car and now she is thinking about getting a 944 to track. I rarely defend the cost or [my] practical joys of owning my Mondialt which I rarely bring to the hospital. Very few insults, though I guess it helps that I'm also one of the bosses (Chief of Surgery).

 

I don't own an F-car yet, but I find it odd when people find out about my obsesion with them... they nearly always ask the same questons that you as owners get asked. They then proceed to tell me that I will never be able to afford one.

My answer is... "Perhaps, but that doesn't mean I am not going to try and when I get it you are welcome to come along for a ride."

 

heh that'll be the excuse for my first

 

All in jest m8, I have owned several BMs and often was the butt of similair jokes. The only thing I would say about the M3 is I currently know several guys who own one and all of them are image conscious aholes. The profile of the BMW driver has changed, at least in my country, for the worse.
I checked your profile though and your cars speak volumes about your taste, obviously a real enthusiast.
Steve