The In Crowd and the Out Crowd

They're still just cars...

 

No **** Sherlock.

The reason Ferrari doesn't do auto shows is simple. Why should they? They sell every damn thing they make regardless of price and value. So why **** with success?

Dale

 

Cars may be built elsewhere, but the LA metro area is car comsumption land. I would guess you will find more new ferrari sales here in Southern California than most other areas in the US and the rest of the world. China may be growing, but Southern California is king. The fact that ferrari failed to attend the LA auto show while appearing at other shows in much smaller markets is pathetic. The fact that US consumers must wait months or even over a year to get new models that have already been distributed in Europe and other non US markets despite the fact the US market is still the largest consumer of ferrari products is pathetic. US ferrari owners in general, and those in Southern California in particular deserve better.

 

And they call me pedantic

Everything was fine until a couple people with confirmation bias jumped all over the world 'elitist' because they misinterpreted the statement. The original poster never called owners elitist. He called Ferrari and elitist company and many, including Chad/Hawkeye above, agree. Why? Because Ferrari IS an elitist company.

The word was used properly according to the dictionary. Its not the posters, nor the dictionaries, fault if some people have a negative response to what is, just a properly descriptive word.

Anyway...Bob, to his credit, saw what I was saying and it all ended. Then you dug it back up again

As has been said...this is pointless and high school. I wouldnt have even got into it if people hadnt attacked the person who originally used the word elitist. I dont like to see bullies around here.

 

Well since that is the case. Im selling my cars now.

Only to a true Elitist though.

 

But, putting it in P&R would be an "elitist" thing to do.......after all, the members here (without subscriptions) should be allowed to argue and grouse too

......sorry guys, I couldn't resist the temptation

 

Whatever Ferrari's reasons for not attending the LA Auto Show, I think it was a short sighted move.

Sure, they may not end up selling one extra car because of being there, but that's not really the main reason for the auto show in the first place. It's not about immediate sales at all.

It's 100% brand building.

And not necessarily just to adults.

If you've been to the LA Auto Show, just look at the people going there: a lot of families bringing their kids. Teenagers. Lots of kids and teens.

When you see how kids and teens are reacting to the Bentleys, Aston Martins, Lotuses, Porsches, Rolls, BMWs, Benzes, etc as well as all the more pedestrian brands -- you will know why these car companies are there. When you see a 4-year-old putting is hands on a headlamp of a BMW, mesmerized, or a 6 year old boy jumping into a Porsche and putting his hands on the steering wheel -- that's why these car companies are there. The cars are there to be fiddled with, sat in, touched, etc.

These kids and teenagers may not be buying now - or even years from now. But they are your future customers.

Buying a specific car can be an immediate (or even impulsive at times) decision, but brand perception is built over a lifetime. And most car companies know that. And that brand perception may not affect which car you buy now (because you're either too young, or you don't have the money), but it persists over a long time which will affect what you may buy years or decades from now. That college kid driving a beat up Honda could be the next billionaire one day with a hot tech startup -- and his preferences for which marque he prefers is in some small but real way influenced by his actual experiences with it even at an auto show years earlier.

Ferrari NOT going to the auto show is myopic, and suggests that it takes it brand for granted (i.e. that it doesn't need to "brand build") which is an arrogant assumption that the rules of business don't apply to them. No brand or business is forever. Things come and go, especially if you take it for granted. There have been a slew of "dead brands" and Ferrari isn't immune to that.

I mean, Rolls Royce is "elitist" but they still trot out their cars at the LA Auto Show. The difference is, Rolls Royce is smart enough to know that no matter its history or success, they aren't above market economics that they can simply eschew continuing to build the brand - and taking their marque for granted.

Ferrari isn't "elitist" for not going - they are just arrogant and short sighted.

And yes, this is my first post.

 

Come on... I said Ferrari was an elitist company. You can play semantics, but the truth is Ferrari is an elitist company. I neve said otherwise. I didn't call Ferrari owners elitist or snobby. I didn't say anything negative about owners or otherwise.
We were talking about new car sales and marketing and I said Ferrari is elitist in the way it sells and markets cars. It's part of it's alure.
How often do posts come up from "enthusiasts" asking bout "why won't Ferrari product a $100,000 car in the vain of the Dino or XXX"... It's because Ferrari doesn't cater to those owners in it's new car sales model.

I'm not slamming or dissing owners... Jeeze. Get over it. I said Ferrari is an elitist brand and it is not concernd with the average car buyer. WHAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT????

 

NO, it's not. It's how you interpreted it. I said Ferrari was an elitist company and doesn't care about average consumers with its new car sales. Tell me otherwise??????

 

What part of elitist isn't this??????!!!!!!!

 

OK.... That's a joke. You say you "don't want to fight with me" but you say some crap like this??????? The first thing you say is offensive and ugly. *( You know about ugly... You condem using the word to discribe something as such, until it's pointed out that you use it all the time to discribe things you don't like)

Listen, I've read your posts enough to see how hypocritical and self rigteous you can be in your posts, but this is just stupid.

I'm talking about an elitist brand that sells new cars for $200,000+. I'M NOT TALKNING ABOUT THE OWNERS THAT BUY THEM(I have quite a few friends who do). I'm talking abou the company and if you think that Ferrari SPA cares at all about you or how to market to "YOU", you're sadly mistaken. If you get out of line, there are a hundred people behind you who will jump in and not care about who's place they took. It's an elitist company. Maybe you think differnetly, but it is....

 

Hey Piper,
No problem.
BUT.... I never said I had attitude or a problem with it!!!! I just said it's what Ferrari does. I don't care, it is what it is. I chose my path and if I can afford an "X" I'll get an "X". I won't ***** that I can't afford and "X" and that therefor it's wrong.

For the record..... I have NO PROBLEM with Ferrari's pricing or allocation strategy. It just makes it an elitist company. Why do so many people have a problem with that????
Is it a product of the current ecomony?


NOBODY here (not myself anyway) said owners, owner's wives, owner's children, owner's friends, fans of the brand, fans of the movie CARS, who really liked the scene where the Ferrari when into Casa De La Tires.... No body said the owners were SNOBS or elitist in attitude. Man.... get over it. You're reading too much into it. It's one of the most elite brands in the world.....sheeesh....

 

Yeah, okay. Welcome to my ignore list. There's room on the left next to Mattyrae.

 

Some interesting sales stats and marketing direction in this article...

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111128/CARNEWS/111129939

 

Thanks for that. Interesting insight into the 348 / 355.

 

You've certainly clarified your position. I think the confusion comes in because most people refer to an elitist as a person and not a company. So when you say "elitist brand", some people may take that to mean that only elitists buy the car.

I think it would be invaluable for someone to interview the engineers that actually design the car. I wonder if people's suggestions or complaints ever get to them - or if they are filtered at the door. If someone's definition of an elitist company means not listening to customers, then there are a lot of companies that meet the criteria.

 

Great article. Fascinating historical perspective, but I think that it should come with a warning that it is not to be read by 348 owners.

Thanks for posting.

That was interesting about renting space to store unsold TRs. Also that in 93 they only had two cars, the Testarossa and the 348.

 

As the guy who tarted the thread, I want to say that I approve of companies that make super finely made items like Leica cameras, Krieghoff shotguns, etc. In fact when i was touring the shotgun maker in Germany, and saw them hand carving the center section I asked "What happens if they make a mistake?" and the guide said stone faced "They don't make mistakes." I will never be able to afford Lobb shoes but what I like is that a company exists that makes a wooden form of your foot and you can order shoes made to fit your foot specifically. So I think Ferrari is one of the companies building cars for those who want the ultimate available in drivable performance and styling, and some would order them even if they had no name badge, no prancing horse insignia. For those who want less choice in the market, who see no need for expensive things; for things made well no matter how much that cost to retail them; all they have to do is remember East Berlin when the wall was still there.

I'll wait until the next preview I don't get invited to before I throw the next cherry bomb toward this subject of no show is the best show (ironically Ferrari in Italy wanted to invite me to the FF preview but was intimidated by Ferrari USA who wanted the event very exclusive)

 

John Lobb shoes look cool.

Anyone have any of their boots?

 

great post. this should have been the end to an absolutely ridiculous thread.

 

Wedding Crashers!! Ha HAHA I love that scene.

 

Actually I have to disagree with bitzman. I can bet you something like 75% of Ferrari buyers who buy the car new or slightly used are not enthusiasts and would not buy the car without the prancing horse on it. The users on this forum are the small percentage of the owners who actually care for the car as not a status symbol.

 

Sure thing!... So increasing production by becoming more global while limiting supply to maintain exclusivity in production numbers seems like a good strategy given the glut of cars Ferrari was buried under during the early '90's. Ferrari have learned their lesson well it would seem.

What this says is that Ferrari can reach every one of its buyers simply by holding exclusive boutique showings of their new offerings rather than having to participate in a major US auto show to draw them in. Looking at it from the other side, the major US auto show probably needs Ferrari to draw in the crowds more than Ferrari needs the auto show to cultivate the appetites of seven year old future customers. This all most likely makes perfect sense to the bean counters.

And, oh yea, that 348 thing. We're gonna need a whole new thread for this one! I will say that it is apparent that Montezemolo certainly wasn't afraid to call his baby ugly back then. Unfortunately his current comments just affirm where the 348 is in the Ferrari market pecking order today.

 

Tell me how you interpret "average" customers. If I ran the company, I wouldn't give 2 cents to a guy who can't afford more than used Nissan. Why should I? I don't run a charity. I run a business.

So, is that average to you? If so, you're right. They don't care about people who can't afford to walk in the dealership and buy a new or used car (earth to etip: Neither does Rolls Royce or Bentley or Lamborghini or other luxury brands).

But, in their market (luxury cars), there's a lot of average luxury owners that they cater too all the time. If they didn't, they'd go out of business.

I don't see why servicing it's existing and potential new customers is "elitist". It's being realistic.