Please share the Ferrari experience with others

Let's see...

Can I take a picture of it - sure, but why don't you sit inside and let me take the picture.

Is it yours - (wave key) yes, it is.

The usual questions - How much, How fast, How long have you owned it, what do you do

Christ, $241 new, I got it for $180, 199mph, 1 1/2 years, I own a few corporations - BFD

No one asked you for todays nuclear gold codes.

I want to hear it - open the valves a little on take off.

Are you single? (now, that's a tough one - tougher as they go up the hottness scale)

Christ, it's just not that hard.

Be polite to everyone - you're simply NOT in that big of a rush unless you are a doctor rushing to an ER or Trauma center.

Be polite in traffic - don't reinforce the notion that many have, that Ferrari owners are stuck up self-important pricks. Most aren't - but a lot of people have that perception because of the few that ARE stuck up self-important pricks.

(More than a few of which reside here - sorry)

I've had entire familes stop in awe - what do I do - let them take pictures with or in the car. (try to ignore over made-up, under dressed jailbait daughter looking at me w/ bad intent - which could result in prison sentence - LOL)

To most, ownership is a fantasy they will NEVER fulfill - even for one day.

If you're that "late for an important meeting" and you're at a GAS STATION - the little boy wanting a picture of your car is the least of your worries. You ****ed up your schedule - take your lumps, don't take them out on some kid.

Better yet, don't take the "attention magnet" when you're going to a meeting.

If you can't deal with the attention - then drive a damn Toyota Camry.

 

I'm with the owner. Amazing how one must cater to somebody they don't even know at the privacy of their own home. Oh brother.

The very first day I got my F430, I was eating with some friends and could see the car parked outside and this father and kid were looking at it from a respectable distance and I could tell the dad was kind of motioning...come on son...we should get going but the kid wouldn't move.

So I went on over to the car and I spoke to the kid and said...oh you like it huh...you want to sit in it? The dad was immediately like...oh no...that's too much trouble. I said...no it isn't. The kid was shy too. So he wouldn't really sit in it but his dad took a picture of him next to the car and both were very appreciative.

These are exactly the type I don't mind sharing the experience at all. In the end...they didn't "expect" anything but the kid left happy.

It's the ones who "expect" something that I don't like.

 

So, I'm not taking sides but will point out it is not a trivial thing to start a car for a few minutes. Cold starts are the hardest on cars and cause the most wear. Add to that the fact that it's also bad for the car to just run it a couple minutes and then shut it off. Even if you don't rev it (which is definitely bad on a cold car), running the car from a cold start puts a rich mixture into the engine and the car gets just warm enough to cause condensation, which will sit there causing corrosion until the car is next driven long and hard enough to burn it off.

So, if it were my car, I would have declined, too. On the other hand, I'd also have done it in more friendly manner, offered a raincheck and an actual ride, and explained all of the above.

 

Exactly.

"I don't want to start it now, but when I do later, I'll come over first"

 

The "rich snob" comment was uncalled for.

This comment makes you sound a bit like a snob.

 

My thoughts as well.

 

.........

Or a day dreamer.

 

Enough of this already fellas. You've kept me well entertained.

 

WOW! alot of comments and different senarios. I would have been honoured to show and start the car.If too busy, throw out a raincheck or somthing.You see my experiences have been all negative with the neighbours around me.When they found out I had aquired the modena I got " what an ******,what a jerk,Id like to get sugar in that tank,thats a cheap f-car and oh ya a couple of fingers from down the road.I guess everyone looks at things differently than others.Im not even a snob.Not sure why this happens but when I bought a new daily driver before the 360, I got "nice car,great colour etc..." I think some people look at exotics and assume owners are stuck up snobs. Now that being said, when gassing up,and driving the f-car I get thumbs up and great interest from total strangers.I think sometimes in life we treat strangers nicer than people we already know.

 

Really, enough. Who cares about "one" enthusiasts experience with "one" ferrari owner. We needn't be tripping over ourselves to protest or analyze. Really, who cares.

 

As exotic car owners, should we accommodate the normal folk? Well it depends on the circumstance as many have pointed out.

1. At car show? : Yes we should answer questions, let people take pictures. I am not big on letting 800 people at a car show sit in my car, just because of bolster wear.

2. At a gas station? : While I am pumping I will chat it up, afterwards if I have a few minutes then yes, if I am in a hurry I will nicely excuse myself.

3. At grocery store / restaurant / store parking lot? : Maybe, I am usually in a hurry and if I am late my wife will beat me and not the type of whipping that ends with a snuggle. So if I have the 10min, sure why not, but if time is tight then nicely excuse myself especially if I am arriving and I will be leaving the car in the lot unattended.

4. On a date? : Only if the person is a dude, and it ends when I get the "look" from the wife unit..

5. Wile driving? : I have no tolerance for the honda revving up to redline or the BMW 335i that thinks its fast because he upgraded his software. I dont race, I dont pull over so people can take a look. I will however rev it up to redline if asked and I can grab neutral.

6. In my neighborhood, while driving? : I am known to stop and let every single kid have one ride around the block, that is of corse after letting the parents ride as well.

7. At my house? : Here is where you might get the OTHER Trent. If I am in the garage working on the car or washing it then I am probably up for a chat, etc. If I am inside, you risk certain peril. I have actually chased someone off of my property with intent to rearrange their schedule. They were not asking about my F, they were trying to sell my wife meat at the front door and I just snapped when they were forceful and would not take her 4th "NO" (I live in a very nice beachside gated community where solicitors are not tolerated and its posted as such). Who sells meat door to door anyway?

If you are at home and not currently washing or otherwise fiddling with the vehicle then I think it is inappropriate to even approach or ask. It is in fact your castle.

 

Male Prostitutes...

 

I laughed, then was confused for 5.3 seconds until I spotted that you were from L.A., then normality was restored.

 

We have let friends as well as their kids drive the California around the neighborhood (discretion is exercised). Now that the California is gone and the 458 is in the garage we are a little bit less likely to let others drive around the neighborhood just because of the increased difficulty in driving the 458. However we're always giving rides to friends and even some neighbors.

It's a very neat experience to share with others and hopefully others view it the same way. Letting others experience a little slice of heaven is massively rewarding. Though I can understand in some situations where it may be obnoxious and past bad experiences can influence future ones. Just make sure you stand your ground firmly.

I can only think of one situation when some one approached us at a car show that really wore on us, they literally wanted to talk to us for an hour and the conversation wasn't that great. A very nice person non the less.

Most of the time when I give people rides they break out their smartphone / camera. I always make sure to invite them to sit in the drivers seat to grab some photos (I take the key out )

Net net of it, if you can put a smile on some ones face take the time to do it. Paying it forward goes a long way.

 

+100 !!

The Golden Rule -- diffferently, but nicely, put!