I have a passion for Ferrari, but sold mine, do you agree?

Hobbies come and hobbies go. What may be your passion now may be old hat in a few years, no matter how passionate you feel about your hobby now. Playing in the sand lot was terrific fun, and what could beat playing football all afternoon? Getting drunk with your mates and going clubbing was great one time. It is how life goes.

I saw a traffic sign once . It said "changed priorities ahead". Nothing could sum it up better. I actually wanted to go out at night and nick it, but had no time.

 

You don't drive a Monet; you just look at it. There are cars I'd feel the same way about. There's nothing wrong with a toy car that you just polish every day.

(If I have only one toy however, it's got to be a driver!)

Ken

 

I have owned a few cars. Not many. Seem to sell, regret it and buy a new one. All have been expensive to maintain. All have been very satisfying to own.

It's like having a mistress(not that I have or would). Always great to start with, cost a little extra money. But they always turn out to be whiney and very needy.

I think bottom line is alot of people enjoy the thrill of the quest to obtain a car. Once in the garage it kinda looks like an old car that cost alot to keep running. I think you still have the passion and will end up with another F car in the garage.

 

LOL! Great comment! You need to find the car (or mistress) that's a keeper regardless of the whine and expense; then you'll have something!

Ken

 

I think all of us flinch when we write the checks for repairs to our cars. I do it for all my cars, not just the Ferrari. I HATE paying for maintenance. But I do it. I don't waste my time wondering what else I could've bought, because if it was really important to me, I'd find a way to get it.

 

every decision we make we stand by right or wrong , to have had such a thrill in your garage is privilege at any cost, to me these cars are more than just money whether to buy or repair they reflect your success great or small. don't worry when you never find that driving feeling in any other cars you may purchase from now on you will know where to "get it again !"
you'll be back.

 

Yeh, I like this statement because it almost happened to me on one of my mission. (The same day lady Diana died) After experiencing a close death (I was for sure that I was a goner that day), I questioned myself repeatedly why I was spared. The 3-month psychological counseling could not provide the answer. Then, my wife said something as to "whatever you needed to accomplish in your life, you have not fulfilled yet...And, that the God want you to enjoy your life which you did not have as a kid." Then, everything was clear. Since then, I had a Son (need to be the best father to him) and I was able to go after "passions" in my life, one of which was the ferrari ownership. Now, I enjoy everyday to the fullest, but responsibly.

 

Although their responses are similar, I think it is a combination of 410SA's and 430 Silverarrow's answers. I don't think you necessarily need F-U money to own or enjoy a Ferrari, but it isn't wise to become 'new car poor'. I have an older Ferrari, love my car and love the way it looks; however, I drive the car regularly, park it on the street in my town (parked on the street in Manhattan a couple of times) and generally enjoy driving the heck out of it. I worry about catastrophic failures, but that's why I regularly use the best mechanic I could find, follow some basic precautions (like the warm-up proceedure) and don't go past redline.

I think the poster was right in selling, but mostly because he said he was becoming neurotic about it - 'driving became unpleasant because he was too worried'. Either his affection for the car was such that he became scared of harming it or the cost of repairs and maintenance were too great for his current financial situation. For some, Ferraris are an expression of status, for others including me, they are an expression of joy.

Regards,

Art S.

 

I read your post with empathy... I've owned my Ferrari 308 for about 12 years ... It was always a goal of mine to own one... and internally I wanted one when I was young and single, bought it at age 26... I never worried about what else I could do with the money, but I'm always worried about a catastrophic engine melt down ... and I had one... dad helped me get my engine rebuilt and that gave me peace of mind... for a while.... then I got Married, house, etc... life took over...so I just kept the car, maintained it ... and then just before Christmas this year I had a belt shedd a bunch of teeth... I'm not wealthy, but not poor... middle class working stiff... the Ferrari has taken a different place in my life... its still special, but I now know its just a car... when it breaks I'll fix it, but it may take a while...I'm not so all consumed by the Ferrari.... this was the change in my passion.

I know as much about Ferrari as I do about anything else in my life... it is really a "real" part of my life... as strange as the may sound, I used to Identify with all the rich and famous stuff... it was showy.etc... that was a part of it, but was never all... as a kid my parents used to take me to Watkins Glen every year from 1968 to 1980... from only 2 -3 years old Ferrari's were special to me... cant explain it... the sound mystique of Mr. Ferrari... for me that is why I will keep this car or at a minimum a Ferrari... its no longer a status symbol... 308 hardly are, but I like the way it drives, reminds me of all the 60's and 70's GP drivers, the way sports cars used to be, its pretty, its rare, and I've got to meet some fantastic people while around Ferrari's... and now I'm getting to know my car intimately ( mechanically) and that's not as bad as I thought it would be...So I have a passion too... hope you will be back to the Ferrari ownership world... I think we all have these cars for our own reasons... and that's fine. Having been there its better to rule your car instead of it ruling you! I just tell myself a broken Ferrari is better than no Ferrari.....or at least I hope so!

Cheers!

 

Best response yet to what is actually a fair question. Good job.

Dale