may i just say

Barry:

Glad to hear it. Yes, most owners are just regular guys. If you're ever going to be in the SA area, PM me. We'll go out for a drink/dinner.

Best regards,

Scott

 

Very well said Barry, and I could say almost precisely the same thing that you wrote here about myself (substitute the word 355 with 348)

 

its kind of funny though...while i was at the show this weekend parked next to a 77 lotus esprit(cool car) i noticed a disturbing trend. i was aff to the side a bit in a chair. people would come to the ferrari and talk amongst themselves like wow a ferrari cool awesome thats bad azz, then when they would see me, theyd kinda walk away. but almost all of them would start up a conversation with the lotus guy?!!?!! WTF im not at all pretentious or snobby and when people would ask me questions i would give them all kinds of info.

soooo why do you all think this is?

 

For some reason there is this pre-conceived notion that Ferrari owners are super-rich, arrogant, stuck-up, "too-good-for-you-so-don't-talk-to-me", etc....

 

so we all need to make it a point to change that belief!!

 

I've seen a VERY clear-cut difference in the "approachability" factor since I've had the 355. When I drove the Elise to a gas station, I'd get approached all the time by people curious about the car. In the 355, people will look at it, and at me, but generally don't come over to chat. The perception is that we don't live in the same world as the common folk, and I guess that might be true for some people, but that's not me.

I won't ever forget the look on one boy's face, when he got out of his family's SUV to look at my car at a gas station, and he took pictures with his phone. His dad came over to join him, and I told the boy, "You need a photo of you in the driver's seat!". His father couldn't believe that I'd let him do that, and he did take some great pics of his son at the wheel. Made both their days, and the father thanked me repeatedly. Made a potential future owner happy, and it didn't even cost me a dime.

As the 355 gets older, I've started to get better reactions on the freeway. Less people trying to race me or get me angry, and many more thumbs-up and smiles. I think the general population feel that they relate better to the less top-of-the-line, fresh-from-the-factory models. Which is a good thing.

SP

 

lol
a very small percentage ruins it for everyone

 

+1 more.

I think I've experienced the same thing with spectator crowds, but I made a point at this past Saturday's C&C to smile and say hi to everyone that walked up to look. This seemed to spark several conversations that may not have otherwise taken place. I even let a bunch of kids sit behind the wheel while their parents took pictures. Fun stuff!

 

well i did my share this weekend....let plenty of wives sit behind the wheel... mwaahaahahah

 

+355!

If ever in Portland, OR, PM me...dinner's on me at Jake's Famous Crawfish--Google it if you haven't heard of it.

 

If ever in Belgium........

 

if ever at mt. rushmore...

 

+1!!

 

Has anyone here met Pap yet?

 

+1 ...exactly my story... and

..if ever in Victoria BC.. whale watching is on me!