+1 If in L.A., the exotic has to be new. The girls whip out their Blackberry, Google the MSRP on your car - THEN get excited! (if over $200k). -
My wife isn't the biggest fan, and thinks spending $$ on cars is a waste, but she is fine with it as my hobby. She doesn't drive stick, so she can't drive it, and doesn't really like to ride in it because it is loud and smells like gas/oil. On the other hand, my kids love it. She understands my love for Ferrari's and cars in general, however. If she's at the grocery store, or something, and sees a magazine with an article on Ferrari, she'll pick it up for me. In general, she is pretty understanding about my hobby. I've been talking alot about potentially buying a 360, and she's OK with that when the time comes. But, if it were up to her, she'd rather take that money and donate it to a worthy cause. P.S.- We have a joint checking account. Large financial decisions are made together. We are a family, not 2 people living together. If you can't make these kinds of decisions together, then what's the point of being married? Dom (today is my 13th wedding anniversary).
My wife knew I wanted a Ferrari long before we got married, and she is totally cool about it. I would never let any material posession come first in my life, thats just wrong, but I dont think I would have married this lady if she had ever poo pooed my enthusiasm. Different strokes and all that I guess, but marriage is supposed to be a union, not a republic. If your not equally yoked starting out you never will be, and your just going to spend your life going around in circles until one of you is dead or gone. Ya'll should be on the same page "before" you say "I do", not trying to figure it out after.
No wife yet, but the prospective Mrs. Bullfighter loves the car - mostly because of the people we meet at Ferrari events. We were at a Maserati Gran Turismo 'unveiling' at the polo club in San Diego yesterday and she had a ball chatting with the couple at our table. Get a 328. You'll have a second honeymoon! =)
We've been through this before When she says you dont need a Ferrari Tell her you dont need a wife either If she doesnt like riding in it, tell her to drive herself or ride the bus LOL
When I brought home the 348 the first think my wife said was that the car was old. Now she wants me to buy a newer Ferrari.
well I bought her these and I got a ferrari or two ~ ! its a Win Win for all! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting that there are so many wives out there that are either not interested in the car as a hobby or even riding in the car. I guess I'm pretty lucky, my wife understands my interest in cars and wrist watches. Although my wife can't drive a stick and she isn't interested in learning how, she loves to ride in the car. She also enjoys going to Ferrari gatherings, showing the car, and meeting other owners at the car meets. In addition, if she sees a nice car (Ferrari, Turbo Porsche, Lamborghini) on the road she will call and leave a message on my cell phone to let me know what she saw. She is happy driving her MB, but she says its my job to wash/detail all the cars. If thats the price of having a nice car I can live with that. Best regards, Dino
Time you heard from a woman here. Women either have the passion or interest or not. Some can grow into it. I've had the passion since 15. I am a not so abundant female car nut. I never wanted to hook up with a guy who wasn't into cars, so I have a broader spectrum of finding that than you men. I can see how guys down play the passion, get married and then wish their wife was into it more. Seen enough men show up at events and wish their wifes were more involved. Ferrari Club events have enough social activities with women - at least in the mid atlantic region - so start there - they can make some friends and look forward to events. If the marriage is healthy than there is give and take on the F car. Now, if your dating a woman who isn't into it - and you are - switch gears. You may be sorry later. I do know plenty of couples in my region who are both into it and that is nice.
not only does my wife love the car, but she's driving it from Sonoma to Ukiah and back today for a business trip: 160 miles RT in the 456 she does this every week and last week she took the Mondial T ...she calibrates the Escort Radar detectors that way about a half dozen to there and then back...BTW both cars have a 5 MPH diff. Above the radar detectors... ALSO: She's more a gear head than I..... Shes rebuilt about three Malibu SS's and we are looking for another [anyone have one for sale??]. she has swapped the engines, trany for hurst, Eldebrocks inside, carbs, brakes, rear-ends, etc. etc. not to mention I've even seen her diagnose a trany prob. to a person who was told 'they told me to get a new trany" wife told her what the probs. were for about $100 bucks, and sure enough, solved their problem... BTW...... she does a good lube and oil change [thank god she has an excellent sense of humor]
I've owned my 328 since October of last year. My wife has been in it twice. She can't stand that it's loud (came with a Tubi exhaust), the lack of power steering, and that the car is so low to the ground, you have to be careful getting in and out of the driveway. She says she never wants to drive it, I guess that's a blessing.
My wife drove my 308 once. She seldom rides in the car to events and drives, too fast and low. She told me yesterday she just puts on her wayfarers, closes her eyes and pretends she is on "space mountain" at Disneyland.
Men are just naturally much more aggressive than women. Driving Ferraris is aggressive behavior, and most women do not like to behave aggressively. My wife encourages me to indulge in my hobbies but has no interest in them.
I guess it depends on the generation. For the younger crowd it's always the girls who are racing, tail-gating and weaving through traffic. Usually they're not into your car because it's not about them. Buy the girl a BMW convertible and see how fast she's "into cars".
** My wife is totally supportive of the habit and costs of Ferrari ownership, which is surprising since she owns a Lexus & Toyota Sienna ** She thinks they look great and says too bad 328s never came in "Automatic" like her Lexus & Toyota....If it did then she might drive it! ** Thinks they are way to loud. "Who would want such a loud" car she asks? Again likes her Lexus & Toyota for quietness ** Thinks they are way to low to the ground. Likes her Toyota and Lexus for height ** Thinks I spend way too much time on FChat....why do Ferrari owners want to talk to other Ferrari owners all the time she often wonders. ** Likes the fact that I own a Ferrari as it was a child hood dream of mine So all in all she is totally supportive of owning a Ferrari, but could care less about driving one and spending any time with one. However, she scores high on brownie points as she she is so very supportive in buying and owning one.
".......Do all you Ferrari guys has the same problem I'm having with wife's "no enthusiasm" for the car?..." What's with the ..."my wife won't l let me.........." etc. If you think your wife can unilaterally dictate this or that, its a lost cause. Post divorce dating revealed gf had fond memories of driving her daddy's XK140 to HS as a 16 yr old! Yes. This is a good thing. Marriage followed shortly after. 25 yrs later it seems like yesterday. Keep hope alive. If/when you find yourself in "my wife won't let me.........." etc., go to "moveon.com" so to speak. There is life after the "...my wife won't let me..." bs.
My wife is a lead foot .. drives our 328 more aggressively than I'd recommend, although as we all know, the passenger's seat is 20 mph faster than the driver's seat. She has an Audi A6, 4.2 S-line and wheels it like a F430. She's done vintage racing (Lotus 11), the Virginia City Hillclimb (in our Pantera and 246 GT) and was the fastest in her "class" (i.e., 20 guys and her) at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at California Speedway last year .. 152.52 mph. Fortunately for me, I was not in her class as she probably would have kicked my ass. I've yet to figure out whether her driving interests are a curse or a blessing .. guess it all depends on who has the keys.