Your first Ferrari, how did you feel?

Sure Leonard,
There were a number of feelings. One was accomplishment of having succeeded enough to write a check for the long time dream car. It was also the culmination of a lot of research and a long hunt before pulling the trigger. There was anticipation of what lies ahead. A Ferrari is not just another car, it was also a key to activiites, meeting new people, doing new things, lots of new experiences. Would I like fellow owners? Enjoy the events? Answer to that was a big yes. Finally, there was a tinge of fear. Will an exotic car that was 12 years old at the time break the bank? All this was 13 years ago. Buying my first new one (a 430) in 2005 also had some of these feelings and a few others. I had a deposit down before I even knew what it would be so I devoured every scrap of info as it became available. I also had to get emotionally ready to write a 6 digit check for a car. I had the money, but my working class backround made this idea hard to grasp. Coming from an extremely modest backround, there was considerable pride reaching a level I could buy a new Ferrari for cash. BTW, very few Ferrari owners I know came from rich families. Most owners are self made.

Dave

 

Maybe my view of Ferrari would be different if I was a captain of industry, or something of the sort. However, for a regular hard working guy, buying my Ferrari was extraordinary on so many levels.

I have loved Ferraris for as long as I can remember. I can think of no other manmade thing which I have ever had such an affection. I spent my entire childhood dreaming about what it would be like to own one and stood in awe whenever one passed me by.

Why do I say all this...because, despite all of my impossibly high expectations, owning my Ferrari and taking her home for the first time was more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. Every time I start her up and take her out, I forget all of lifes troubles and become completely immersed in the experience. Ferraris are so much more than machines.

I sincerely hope you realize your dreams and when your time arrives, and I hope it does soon, myself and others will be there to give you whatever help we can, just like everyone was there for me.

Good luck!

 

LUV 4REZS read this too. (it's about the friends & business part) http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104300

 

to be honest, at least for me, I could have cared less about showing other people. In fact, except for taking her out with the Cars and Coffee crowd or to charity events, I don't take her out to friends houses and stuff. I didn't buy a Ferrari to show off or to impress anyone else. I bought it for me. In fact, in this economy, I think it would show a lack of tact to take it out and "show it off" to my friends, especially when many of them are losing or have just lost their jobs.
A lot of people bought Ferraris so they could tell everyone how successful they were...half of those cars are now up for sale because the owners were overextended trying to keep up with the Jones. No offense, but don't buy a Ferrari for status...its attitudes like that that resulted in the California. If you want to show off, buy a Lambo. If you want a pure driving experience unlike any other, buy the prancing horse.

 

I love ferrari and I loved getting mine.. but even at 32 I look younger I think and I get a lot of the "is this your dads" crap,(sometimes I tell my people it's my dad's just to get them off my back ).. so I find myself not looking forward to getting in or out of the car when people are looking.. or at a gas station etc.

but I still park the car in front of restaurants etc.. mostly because they let me do it and also because the car is safer.. but I am not a fan of the attention.. in 20 years when I am an older man it will be easier to do those things..



but the real reason I got her was to enjoy driving and looking at her for me.. it's a cool experience to be sure.. to drive a ferrari..

 

I didn't mean any disrespect. I would have loved to have shared my car with everyone, because I love it for what it is, and even though I paid my hard earned cash for it, I still kind of feel like I am only her temporary custodian. That being said, maybe I am a bit unusual, but I could count on one hand the people I told I bought my car. Heck, I didn't even tell my brother for three months. Maybe if this was a different economic time I would feel different. I do like the joy my car brings to people and I will gladly take it out and share it with anyone who asks. However, I am also well aware that to people who don't share my enthusiasm, it is the ultimate F$$k you symbol of excess, and you really have to be sensitive to the fact that a lot of really good folks are suffering real bad.

 

I expected to get some attention when I bought the car but was unprepared for how much I would get. For the first few years, I wished the car had a cloaking device but since that was not possible, I did my best to engage people who looked. Sometimes by just waving at them, other times engaging in conversation. People like seeing Ferraris and since it is a rare occurence they like to talk about the car with you. I've learned to enjoy it. As far as friends go, most could afford one as well if they wanted to, so they were mostly happy for me. It has been said that one of the hardest things to do is be glad for a friend's good fortune without feeling jealousy.

Dave

 

It happened so fast it was a blur. Walked in to the dealership and had it in an hour. Drove home in traffic on Wilshire Bl. I called my fiance (now wife) and told her to come downstairs. She was like "Oh, that's nice" and went back in!

When it really hit me was a few days later when they put the Tubi on it! I was like, "YEAH BABY!"

I looked at the salesman and said, "PRE-DA-TOR!"

 

Neighbors even worse. You would think I shot their dog the way some of them look at me now. The funniest part about it is that they are all pretty well off and have minivans, BMWs, etc that cost more than my Ferrari.

I am not complaining though, I knew exactly what I was getting into and have loved every second of every minute since getting the car, to say nothing of all the great folks I have gotten to meet at various events.

Here is a little known secret, most Ferrari owners I know are down to earth gearheads, and some of the nicest and most giving people I have ever met...a far cry from the stereotype.

 

Leonard,

I've learned over the years to wait until someone shows that they have a real interest in sports cars before showing them my car and letting them drive it. When someone is really an avid fan, it makes the sharing experience all that much better.

Otherwise, I use my daily driver car most of the time and only take my Ferrari out on the weekends and local club events.

And yes, I still get a big grin every time I run through the gears in it.

In summary, worth it. Well worth it.

Good to see you online.

 

Reality is a lot better than the Internet (for Ferraris as well as other things). I "underbought", in that the specific Ferraris I wanted were actually less expensive than the weekend car I sold when I decided to make the move -- so, it wasn't so much a sense of financial accomplishment as a sense of closure because I'd wanted a 308/328 GTS since I was in high school.

As far as the first drive, yes, as Hardtop Dave said, you're nervous when the truck pulls away and it's just you and an old exotic Italian car. I had budgeted a stupidly large amount for any initial problems, and the car turned out not to have any. But even in San Diego Ferraris aren't common, so it was fun taking it on a warm-up lap of the area before pulling into the garage -- less tension than driving someone else's, or a dealer's car. You're proud to have a model of car that most people won't see every day - or week - or month. But I'd say there was more drama on my first Ferrari test drive than the actual delivery of my car. After a 10-month search, some of the newness had worn off.

Regarding the experience, I'd say the best part was -- and is -- sitting in the driver's seat. There was a magazine quote somewhere to the effect that "it's too bad you can't hear it in these photographs, because compared to how it sounds it looks like a Trabant..." Between the sounds, the view over the fenders and the seating position, I'd say the experience is far greater than the "impress the neighbors" factor, which you might have thought would be the big deal.

Then after you have it, and it's parked in your garage, it's a (pleasant) shock everytime you open the garage door from your other car and see the rear of the car. I'd say it's never become "just a car" to me, probably because the 328 was my poster car since it was new. So, you always appreciate it that way.

+1

 

I can't think of anyone who would care half as much if I bought a Ferrari as myself. I honestly might be a little self-conscious about it to tell the truth. Don't have one yet, hopefully one day I will. All I know is I'll be so excited I might have to wear a diaper in case I pee my pants.

 

F ast
E xotic
R ed
R eal loud
A wesome
R icheous
I ndescribable...................That about sums it up for me..

 

After spending 2 years restoring my Dino and putting practically every penny I had in it, I can tell you when I first drove it I was excited but scared "s" less that I'd crash it or it would burn to the ground. That took a couple of days to get over.

What I never got over was people waving at me as I drove past them.

 

vindicated. like sysiphus if he'd finally pushed the rock over the top.

 

I felt like I was high on PCP, Angel Dust and Crystal Meth..........ALL at the same time!!

 

Buyer's remorse vs. total panic...it was a long trip home.

It got a lot worse, when my soon to be ex-wife saw it.....

"I hope you DIE, in this car"...in front of my wide eyed little ones........

The later cars went a lot better....

 

I have never done all those, at the same time.........

 

And you let a woman like that get away? Looks like keeping the car was the much better choice.

 

Old money folks in general do not appreciate the amount of work it takes to become a Ferrari owner. Most Ferrari owners understand the passion because they understand what it takes to become financially able to afford such a car.

 

Yeah, dont stress too much about that Leonard!!

There will always be negative people in your life. Ignore them and enjoy your Ferrari buddy.