Has Fchat decreased your desire to own a Ferrari?

So true! I bugged my dad to take me downtown to the Ferrari dealer when I was 12 so I could see one in person. They had a silver 308 gtbi and the salesman was nice and gave me a little picture of one with the specs on the back which I still have. My room had pictures of 308's, Countach and Testarossas everywhere. Kids are spoiled today with all the info on the internet. I remember buying a magazine because it had one little picture of a Ferrari in it and poured over any little bit of information I could get.

 

It's confirmed my experience is not unique: Ferrari treat people like garbage and couldn't care less if I buy a new one. Which is to say, yes, it has eliminated all desire to own a new Ferrari.

The vintage stuff is different of course. But I think you'd have to neutralize your pride or enjoy serious masochism to buy anything from this arrogant sleazeball brand.

 

Guess what? There is no Santa Claus either.




I think these forums are great for the whole idea of "informed consent". I don't think the forums are designed to perpetrate myths. Or delusions.

 

Its probably unfair to throw F-chat under the bus by itself. F-chat (or any chat site) is simply a tool/device/portal for people to voice their opinions and thoughts without ramifications from the safety of a keyboard.

F-chat was a motivation for me to buy a ferrari based on similar reason mentioned just previously. There are people here to help and there is a lot of knowledge and experience to be found here. F-chat is truly a resource on many levels.

OTOH as mentioned in my first comment, a site like this (or any for that matter) simply brings out the base line traits in human beings when they are left without ramificaions. As humans perhaps our most significant base line trait is to survive, and as such we are selfish and self centered.

The interent empowers people. Rich or poor, fat or skinny behind a keyboard we are all equal.

 

With the help of spill check of course.

 

There is some real BS in some of the above posts - I have really enjoyed every Ferrari I have owned - would never be without one - eat your hearts out fakers!

 

Fchat hasn't dampened my enthusiasm at all. Owning one has, though, and not because it's high maintenance (it hasn't been) or disappointing (the opposite, in fact). It's because now when I see one on the road or at a show, it's not special anymore. I don't want to look under the hood, examine the pininfarina curves in minutia or look at the little details in the interior. Sure, I still stop and look but I don't get excited like I used to. I'm not entirely sure why, and it's a bit of a downer. I still love my car, though.

 

I'm confused. I feel like for 6 out of your 8 are actually the opposite of the common perception of ferraris. For example my retarded cousin the other day said to me "why are you going to buy a ferrari, the tires cost like 8000 to replace". *facepalm*

 

I BELIEVE IT!!!...but then I DON'T post 18 times a DAY, so My opinion is not diluted...Alex

 

Apparently common perception is defined by some here as their own individual perception, regardless of relevance to reality.

 

AGREE 100%!!!..Everyone on FC has an opinion of "1". I WISH some people/person would QUIT acting as a unsolicited spokesperson for "ALL" of FC...Alex

 

You poor soul.

 

I've been lurking on this site for a couple of years. My original dream after owning many P-cars was to buy an F430 3 pedal car. I realize that obtaining research through an Internet forum isn't exactly perfect, but I was interested in what REAL owners were experiencing. As the OP said ... Not all is perfect with Ferrari nor did I expect the cars to be perfect. The issues with maintenance is really what scared me. At my age (51) ... I don't have the patience to deal with exhaust manifolds, shrinking dashes, paint, crappy dealer issues, expensive routine maintenance, etc. Etc. I ended up with an R8 V10 6m and the car has been easy to own and fun to drive. I still want to get a 458. I still frequent this site a lot since you guys have a lot of passion for your ferraris.

 

Been on here for 10 years now and I still love Ferrari just as much as I did when I first fell in love with both them and Porsche at around the age of 6 or so. Car guy all the way and Ill never lose my love for these two brands....

 

I'm about to buy back a Cayenne Turbo S I traded this spring, not your 911 kind of Porsche lover here but I do love my Cayennes, three so far. If I get her back, I'll never let her go. Don't feel quite as passionately about the Ferrari though. I want to experience several more, but I don't feel the passion you do. They're fun. And all the info here has been helpful to put it all in perspective, slow down the obsession to have the latest or even ever aspire to buy new.

 

"Has Fchat decreased your desire to own a Ferrari?"

No but my goal of owning one has diminished extensively over the past 20 years.

 

It's my dream to own one... not my primary dream, but certainly something to tack on the bucket list.

If anything, I want to own one more. I used to hear "They're terrible! Fast but need to be rebuilt! Way too unreliable!". And here you guys are saying how you're using an FF as a daily driver... !

That's the one I'd want by the way, an FF.

 

I have some pretty amazing cars. It's a serious bucket list of
iconic cars. You know which are my favorites? The Ferraris. And nothing anyone said here or elsewhere was a factor in that. My ownership experience has been what I've made of it. I often see people post comments on models they have never owned and know so little about. You have to find the right sources but more than that, you have to walk the path yourself and make up your own mind as you go.

Also, I have realized is that even though I'm in my 30s, I don't like any of the cars Ferrari it anyone else is making today. They are great cars in so many ways but just don't have that special feel or character the older cars do. I'm doing an early 911 Hot Rod right now and might pick up another early Ferrari. That's just what I like. If I listened to people here who are too afraid to take the plunge into owning old cars, I might never have gotten into them. I would be driving a 458 and wondering to myself "is this it?"

There's nothing worse than sitting on the sidelines and not following your heart because of fear. That's no way to live.

 

Ive always loved the history and look side of the old stuff so I havent really been phased by the controversies surrounding F1 and what not. That said though I could buy an F12/FF/458 without a 2nd though.....

I like cayennes as well and understand why Porsche made it. I would of done the same if I was running the ship. Ive been seeing a lot of nice GTS around my area.

 

I would say it has for me. I know a lot more about Ferrari's now than I did several years ago. Combined with taking my boxster to the track and the general folks I run with out here, I have seen plenty enough of Ferrari's in the flesh, driven them, and had the opportunity to go see them any time I want that the symbolism of owning one is gone. Owning multiple cars in the city here is hard enough, so that doesn't help either.

There are benefits to owning a more mass-produced car like a Porsche ... more precise engineering at scale, more people in the wild that can work on them. Owning a Ferrari can be a bit of self-induced masochism that either you really have to enjoy for its own sake, or be willing to sacrifice some time and money to take care of it. In fact, one might say the same of even a cheap old track car ... but this is at a different level.

 

I think it makes perfect sense. Look at what I said. 90% of the responses about the current direction of new cars were in agreement to my issues.

And, I wasn't anti- brand. I was anti-direction of the goals of the machines they are currently making. Those are two different things.

My point is that Fchat has not damaged in any way it's current reputation of what people believe about them. It reinforces it in most cases and dispels a few myths.

"Hey! I hear they need a $25,000 brake job!". I heard this many times when I had the 458.

It's stuff like this that Fchat does a good job in setting the story straight.

 

I agree with this completely (well, except for the pontiac bit... ) purchasing my 308 fulfilled a childhood dream and i love driving it but in those moments that i think about selling to experience something different its as much the ferrari community as the car itself that stops me and to the point of the thread, fchat is a part of that. Sure, there are complaints galore, but also remarkable knowledge and endless passion for these cars

 

I've been here 10 years now, through law school and the early years of my career. I've met several hundred people in person through Fchat, some of whom have become my closest confidants. I've gotten to drive some amazing cars and ride in all the "super" cars in various settings, except an F50. I've been blessed that so many people are so generous with me.

I would only say that my time spent here has at least taken some of the edge off of the anticipation. I'm much harder to impress these days. In 2003, I would have driven an hour to see some 360s at a Cars and Coffee. I hope I can finally get one in the next year, but who knows - I've been saying that since 2007 and all that seems to happen is I spend more and more on employees, advertising and rent. And then this summer I almost did it, and ended up trying to be "sensible" getting an old Porsche to tinker with in the mean time.

 

When it comes to living a dream, there comes a point in time where you have to say "screw the world," be selfish, and jump in the deep end.