Ferrari Responds To Chris

After explaining one simple concept over and over again to a certain McLaren enthusiast in another thread I think I have it down pretty well

 

Ferrari is absolutely correct in her response. Surely they don't need to be held accountable for anything by some selfpromoting journalist? Journalists these days think they can get away with anything and start ranting when a company doesn't comply. People will either buy a Ferrari or they will not and I don't think the decision will be solely based upon stupid statistics. And if it is, they probably should take their money elsewhere.

 

Not to get too personal here; but until you have some skin in the game, your vote doesn't count. Sorry.

Dale

 

The Detroit News today apologized to Mr. Burgess,and he accepted his former job back.

 

I recall reading an article in C&D a few...maybe many... years back about them trying to source an F50 for testing. They contacted several owners and many were willing to loan their car until right before the test date. They all backed out due to pressure from Ferrari not to do so...



The owners stated that they warned that they wouldnt be on the "list" for a new model for loaning their cars. They finally obtained one from an Indy car team owner or something who actually owned the car outright without a lease or something (?), and it was slower than reported



That my recollection of it anyway, maybe someone else has the hard copy of the article to refresh my memory

 

You are correct. The owner was partial to serial number 3 cars and had a Jaguar among other cars with that serial number. He asked for and got the serial number 3 F50. He owned the F50 and did not lease it as other American customers were forced to do.
CH

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/archive/ferrari_f50-road_test

 

The magazines need Ferrari more than Ferrari needs the magazines, and as far as Ferrari changing their ways, when the checkbooks start chasing other things, then they'll respond.

Until then, it's just posturing.

 

Money talks, and b****** walks.

Dale

 

Harris comments were a bit unfair, as all manufacturers do this kind of crap but only Ferrari got the flak, but he absolutely has a point and I think it´s good that finally a journalist faces the problem.

In the end, probably Ferrari is right: Harris has only made harm to himself , as the income of magazines comes from the same manufacturers they have to criticize and his rant will go down the toilet in a few months.

 

Wow, you give Harris way too much credit. First, he didn't face the problem so much as just be a whiny b!tch. Second, calling him a journalist is a disgrace. He's a blogger. The telegraph (?) article was a great example of journalism and how you turn a single piece of information into an entire, real, story.

Rant is right.

 

As entertaining a rant as Harris' was, it really wasn't a revelation. Manufacturers have been stacking the deck with 'press cars', since the magazine road test has been around.

Ferrari may just take things to the extreme, but nothing new.

For a guy that makes his living based on the good will of manufacturers lending cars, he just may have committed professional suicide.

 

Well, yes. motor journalists are not real journalists, they are like film critics: just guys who write their (suposedly informed) opinion in the papers.

 

Seriously this discussion is so yesterday's news...

Hawkeye said it best. Ferrari should give the first test of any new car to Harris for all the publicity he would bring them.

 

A recent (Dec?) issue of CAR had a column touching on the issue of the relationship between manufacturers and the press. They acknowledge that some carmakers will try to manage the reviews and will call in"corrections" when a piece is somewhat negative but seem to view it as just a minor and somewhat humorous annoyance.

 

A desperate act to get publicity. No respect for the guy.

 

It's no shock that I brush my teeth with the Ferrari Kool-Aid, so you're right about that. But anyone who buys a Ferrari based solely on 0-60 times or lap times or any other singular claim, is buying a Ferrari for the wrong reason. So what if the actual number of a lap time or a 0-60 time is off by 0.2 or 0.4 or, oh em gee, an entire second? Did you buy a Ferrari because it's ONLY two seconds slower than a McLaren, but would never have bought it if you knew it was THREE seconds slower?

Jalopnik is today's NY Post with all of their "Hey! Look at me!" sensationalism, exaggerated claims, bickering and name-calling. And vintage and contemporary Ferraris alike are more than computer-regurgitated numbers and automotive wingmen to help you pull trim at Starbucks.

 

I like these guys (Harris, et al) because you can (sort of) get to know their personality through print and video, so when a car you like comes along you may tend to focus or value one opinion over another.

But the all the fun is tied up into the subjectivity of it all. Hand the keys to a 458 or McLaren for the first time to anyone on this board and the little GO PRO camera will record lots of smiles. But they don't get to live with the car and apply 5000 miles, which, in my opinion, is when a serious review could be written.

 

Had never seen this story till today....I know, some enthusiast!...how pathetic of Ferrari if true. I find Chris provides the best, real car views, and am inclined to believe him.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIKu7l7XT3s

 

what does ferrari do with those press cars? recondition them and sell them? theyre driven damn hard.
ed

 

When reporters are the story more than the story they write, they need to re-evaluate their priorities.

Harris still doesn't understand this. This would be a pretty interesting article except for the first minute of his ego getting in the way.

He is a really, really good reporter though.

 

I've never been a fan of Chris Harris or his reviews. Why? Because he is the stereotypical egomaniac. Chris Harris dresses up as a bum so the commoner lemmings that watch his reviews have someone to relate too, this is where he derives his popularity. Harris likes to give off the feeling like he is a fellow chump. The humble robin hood of the automotive world who drives a Ferrari yet skimps out on shaving blades. Harris enjoys when internet websites who cater to the bottom 10 percenters.(Jalopink) worship him as a folk hero.

There is nothing unique or entertaining about any of his reviews. He can drift. So can Clarkson.

 

Have wondered the same thing.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMmOgRSK1D0

Seem like he had more fun in the 458 than in the McLaren....

I usually like Chris although I thought his article about Ferrari and the fact that he makes a big issue now that he is "banned" from driving them absurd.

He should be honest and admit that all car manufacturers do more or less the same thing and move on. Focus on reviewing cars and not their "politics".