How things changed when you bought your first Ferrari?

This isn't about the decisions THEY'VE made, it's about the ones YOU'RE making. And, smarmy or glib answers like, "well, don't you want to go to a successful ______" don't come off well. As opposed to a less successful one, I presume? That's egocentric. Sam Walton drove a beater pick-up. Warren Buffett drives a Buick. I guess you're more successful than either of them? It's nice for you that you can afford to drive a Ferrari, but don't rub other people's noses in it. Least of all the people paying you for something.

And, it DOES go with the territory. It may or may not be jealousy. Maybe it's just a belief that "flashy" cars are driven by insecure wankers who have a need to show off. Or, maybe it's just the belief that if someone can afford to drive one, they're being paid too much. Or, maybe it's something else entirely. Point is, it doesn't matter what it is. The perception exists, so why voluntarily open yourself to speculation and criticism? Maybe it's worth it. Maybe not.

Now, none of this SHOULD matter. What you drive shouldn't be anyone else's concern. But, because people form opinions based on what they observe (rightly, wrongly, correctly or incorrectly), it's an issue, and you might consider that in your purchasing decision.

CW

 

It has nothing to do with the decisions I make. Those are mine. Unless those decisions affect you, they are nobody's business. If you or someone else has 'issues', that's your problem. Generally, the only people who have any issues with someone else's cars, homes, clothes, etc., are people who are jealous, because of where they are at. Usually because of the decisions they have made. Instead of worrying what someone else has, they need to take stock in the things they want and work towards it. But sometimes its tough to do self analysis. It's much easier to be critical of someone else.

Instead of basically expressing jealousy, it might serve them better to find out what that person has done to achieve.

When someone digs into my personal life, they are not going to see me feel guilty about being successful. I'm sorry if that sounds 'glib'. Remember, I didn't bring it up..... they did. But, I notice that you don't have a Ferrari in your profile, so you probably have no 'real world' experience with what goes on from an owners side.

The only insecure wanker in this discussion is the insecure person who is far more concerned with what someone else has. If one spends their life worrying what someone else will think, they are wasting their time. You can't please everyone.... so you have to please yourself. If that's a Ferrari, great. If its not, that's great as well.

If Warren and Sam want to drive beaters..... that's their choice. They wear that fact as a badge of honor, and good for them. That's what they want to do. I am not searching the parking lot to see what people are driving, and assessing them, unless they have cried "I can't afford it", or they have stiffed me. I give away services more than I care to mention out of compassion.

Only a jealous, non owner would feel they are getting their nose rubbed in it, based on someone else's car. That is where the 'wanker' lays.

 

Typical...

CW

 

Well, that was a well thought out and measured retort. Well done.

 

Sorry, but I have no need to validate my qualifications of ownership. Suffice to say that I've owned a few. If you won't take my word, then I suppose you'll just have to discount my comments as the ramblings of a jealous, non-owner. I own them because I enjoy driving them. I frankly don't care for the nonsense and inquiries that comes with them, but that's the burden, and I accept it. If owning them "costs" me something, somehow, because people make a judgement about me, then I have to accept that as part of the bargain.

But, substantively, you've missed my point. The decisions you make are being judged by others. As I stipulated, rightly, wrongly, correctly or incorrectly. However, it's YOUR decisions that are being questioned and commentated upon. If you do not care, that's fine. And, I don't disagree that jealousy is often the root of the commentary, and that's the jealous person's issue. But, the fact that they even have in issue, makes it an issue for you. Again, if you don't mind dealing with someone else's perceptions of you based on
what you drive, go ahead and drive whatever you want. But, the fact is that people are making a judgment about you because of it. Or because of what you wear. Or because of where you live. To say it's not your issue, because it's theirs, doesn't integrate the fact that we're in the same general population together.

CW

 

So am I the only one that started accumulating them because my wife said no boats or planes?

 

You do mean these types of boats and planes, don't you?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1340006/Sothebys-hosted-The-Malcolm-Forbes-toy-collection-brought-2-3m-New-York-auction.html

CW

 

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any of those...

 

In Hong Kong and PRC, people are as flashy as possible - for various reasons. It maintains "face", just thefact that you can afford such luxuries means you are a person of importance. Luck is vieved as having a moral dimension. If you go to Maco to gamble and win 100K we all understand that you were unusually lucky; in China people are often viewed as deserving their luck, so your winnings confirm that you are an exceptional andworthy person.

That's why it is so common for people there who run into financial difficulities to off themselves. It is the public a loss of grace, not just going from rich to poor.

So we need to cultivate the same attitudes. You want your dentist to have a Ferrari because it means he is a very good dentist. Don't you want the best teeth?

I was a lawyer and our firm had an admiralty practice, and I swear I read in an admirality law magazine in the library that the Hong Kong firms gave every new associate fresh out of UK law school a brand new Ferrari to meet clients with - because the clients had to believe their expensive lawyer was super successful. It seems so strange to me now I wish someone would confirm my memory.

Of course, an American trial lawyer would drive to the courtroom in a Yugio, because a jurior might see him enter the courthouse and he needs to have a certain image that keeps the envy and prejudice at bay.

 

At the county government center where I work the other newer Ferrari and the Viper I sometimes see belong to bail bondsmen.
As to my Ferrari I have to explain it I got the Ferrari fun car and the Jeep Compass raincar for less than the new Charger that would not do either as well.

PS my wife's Volvo cost as much as my Ferrari Mondial 8 used and the Jeep new.

Alas there are some that think the Mondial must be worth 6 figures as it is a Ferrari but none have made me a firm offer lol.