Why did you choose Ferrari over other exotics?

I had no idea other exotics existed.

 

Everything from the build quality to the materials to the sound did it for me. And the speed. Ferrari seems to wrap up almost everything an enthusiast could possibly want in an amazing package. Combine that with the prestige and history of the mark and there is really very little to be desired.

I would never knock Lambo, Aston, or Porsche down by any means. They all produce beautiful and fast cars. But they aren't Ferraris.

 

OK, given that the only kind of sports car I have ever wanted was a mid-engined one. This leaves out Porsches, Astons, Jaguars,.....

And BTW my first car was a Fiat X1/9.

When I was looking, I would have considered any Muira in the $100 range, any F355 in the $100 range and any 348 in the $75-80 range. Finding a drivable Muira in the $100 was not going to happen, and I ended up running into a F355 before a 348. I still have it 11 years later.

Front engined cars just don't drive properly, the driver sits behind the center of rotation. In mid engined cars, the driver sits in the lateral plane of rotation, so the physics one receives from the car is just different, more pure. Rear engined cars have the plane of rotation behind the driver, giving completly different feedback than fron engined cars.

So, given that I only wanted a mid-engined car, the pickin's are thin. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, Lotus. OF these, the Audi looks <well> crap (that is Audi-like), Lamborghinis are too much "in your face", and at the time, Lotus did not measure up (Esprit era) and still do not with the Evora.

 

Problem with Lamborghini is they have been extremely germanified, ie gallardo is a glorified R8.....

Ferrari even though owned by Fiat is still one of the last of the pure brands.

 

a few hundred thousand owners, and you'll have a few hundred thousand answers;

The only other brand that delivered the same driving feel as Ferrari, was Lotus. Came close to buying an Esprit TT, but miles apart from the dealer on a fair valuation. Porsche - fantastic cars, very very competent, yet makes incompetent drivers look better. Ferrari's not so much.

Would of liked to have something funky like a TVR, but small production numbers and foreign production made them high risk cars to maintain far out in the Colonies.

And then, really liked the experience of a two seater convertible, which really cut down the offerings.

And wanted a car to drive a lot, for long distances, and not worry about a chase mechanic to pickup parts falling off, or needing a Sat Phone to call a flatbed again.

 

Ever since school, only talked about getting a Ferrari one day, after getting my first Ferrari then bought other makes....

 

Nothing - in my opinion - sounds as good, looks as good, feels as good, even SMELLS as good as a Ferrari. Just something about the mystique and sheer presence of a Ferrari sends a tingling sensation up my spine every time I see or hear one. Sure there are faster and more powerful cars out there; but Ferrari has been the only brand that really pulls on my heart-strings and makes me weak in the knees every time.

-G.B.

 

My passion for Ferrari is inextricably linked to my holidays in Italy. I first went in 1972, when I was 2, and every summer afterwards we would spend a month in Italy. My dad was into Alfa Romeo's, and the Ferrari was sort of the Ultimate Alfa for us. Occasionally we would see one on the road and my brothers and I would take about it for weeks! When I think of Ferrari, it is still linked to those memories. The smell of sunflowers on the Adriatic coast, olive trees, sunshine, fabulous culture, the gorgeous language, friendly people and the best food in the world!

For me there is no other supercar, because it comes from the land of milk and honey. Being older now, I realise this is just a fantasy, but isn't that exactly what Ferraris are made of? A sprinkling of fantasy?

This is the fundamental difference with Germanic and English cars, wonderful though they are. Because Brits & Germans do not do fantasy. Nor do we, the Dutch. We are too rooted in reality. My Ferraris give me a bit of levity in a serious world.


Onno

 

I agree- no car company out there not even Bugatti has the flair and creativity of the Italians when it comes down to food, wine, language, culture and cars! Of course if someone gave me a Bugatti, I would not complain but there is that je ne sais quoi factor about Italian exotics like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Alfa that others cannot touch. When I was a kid, I dreamt of the Countach and F40 as fantasy cars as well as the Alfa Spiders (remember the Graduate with Dustin Hoffman?). I drove the Lambos but they felt heavy, big and like driving trucks not very comfortable and difficult to manage. Porsches and Lotus feel great and handle and are true drivers sports cars but not exotic in the same league as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. I liked the California but its not exotic enough to me- I'd get a Maserati Granturismo convertible for less money with similar driver experience albeit minus the prancing pony badge, if I was in need of a GT type convertible. Anyways, hopefully in few years, I can pickup either an F430 or 458 Italia if I love the driving experience. I guess the next step would be to actually drive one!

 

Exactly why I love vintage cars. Creature comforts are for woosies.

 

LOL, great answer.

MB

 

I caught the virus at a very young age.

 

Being of Sicilian roots, I remember the family meals when young and of course la bella macchina would always come up. FERRARI! Growing up had all the classic american iron and always wanted a Ferrari. Some day I said, some day. Well fast forward, I have one and love it. Sight, sound, feeling, all the senses are represented and I feel that it represents the passion of the Italian people all wrapped up into a car. Also have a DD driver in the form of a Masi QP which I also enjoy.

 

For me - my father came home from work and took me across town to see a Ferrari parked in someones driveway. It was a 308 GTS red/tan and it was around 1979/80 or so. I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. I decided THAT was the car I wanted to own - thirty years later I bought one.

Dont get me wrong - I like old XKEs, US Muscle, etc.... but the 308 is, in my eyes, the single most beautiful car ever made. So, that was the deciding factor.





PDG

 

I wish I could say it was the call of the prancing horse.
It was severe dissatisfaction with Porsche and Lamborghini sales, build quality, and service.
I had concerns about Ferrari too. How could I not?
Then a 458 allocation opened up--I'm excited and happy.

 

Sold my Ferrari and got a Lamborghini, It just depends on what floats your boat at that moment in time .

I might well sell my Lambo and get another Ferarri one oth these days.

 

I was a fetus in 1957.

 

I never considered anything else. I don't like the styling of Lamborghini at all. IMO, too over the top. I would like to have a GT2 but I will always have a Ferrari.

 

Ferrari has so much heritage.

 

I was born in 1967, and while growing up every car that I really saw as incredible was a Ferrari. Ferrari had a solid racing history that flowed into its cars, and there seemed to be a lot of soul in the Ferrari cars. I've also drooled over a Lamborghini now and then, but never wanted to actually buy one. Although some day I might buy a Lambo, the Ferrari was my first exotic. I really can't say there is anything wrong with other brands, it's just what I feel.

Looking at the Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, etc just don't hit the spark for me. They are incredible, but for me they just blend into the background. So many friends of mine feel the need to point out that my car is not as fast as X or Y, but it isn't about the numbers either. There is just something about the Ferrari.

 

Boxer rates up there as well.

In 1984, the 308 and Boxer had a lock on the top two cars I'd want to own. In 2011, my top three new sports cars wouldn't include a Ferrari. The "exoticness" has waned over time, and the styling is now pretty mainstream.

 

because my dad had porsches. and there are only 2 car brands that can truly be driven from the dealer to the track and actually survive and perform: porsches and ferraris. so the choice was obvious.

of course it helps that they are mostly gorgeous works of rolling art that sound great too !

 

fiat only owns 10% of Ferrari. last time I checked

 

My dad was a fetus in 1957.



For me, the 288GTO and then the F40 were the center of the automotive universe growing up. Best looking, best sounding, coolest cars there were.

Even though my family has never owned a car like a Ferrari, I was lucky enough to have a dad that did a lot of traveling and meeting with business owners in the USA and Scandinavian countries. Then in '95 they sponsored a guy named Gil de Ferran for the Indy 500, got to go up and see the race, meet Gil when I was 8. There was a yellow 348 nearby that I oogled and just went nuts for! Ever since then I've been hooked.

But a Ferrari will not be my first personal exotic. I'll be buying a Spyker, then the Ferrari.

 

Can't pull this off in a Lotus?