What aproximate % of Fchat members make up Ferrari's demographic?

Here is a post by FChat's owner. Old but I'm sure it is still relevant.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/99927-post16.html

 

That thread/post was 9 years ago, and Fchat's user base has probably grown 25x since then. I'm user #6,xxx from 2004, while the current user ID#being issued is about #153,xxx.

I also know my local dealer/salesman once said "what's Ferrarichat?" back in the day, while I noticed they signed on as a sponsor this year!

All that being said, I would guess Ferrari S.p.A. continues to follow their own imperatives and probably will for at least the next decade or two. Ferrarichat maybe has reached the level of a recognized auto journal and they'll pay enough attention to know roughly where user sentiment is going; but beyond that, it's like the old joke about the phone company ... "we don't have to care."

As far as % of demographic, we have 153,xxx users right now, and there have been maybe 170-180,000 Ferraris produced (based only on where the current serial numbers are and allowing for some known gaps). Most users are not owners and a few owners account for several Ferraris; but still I would bet that Ferrarichat registration accounts for double digit percentages of actual Ferrari owners. Whether that is 10% or 50% is kind of hard to say.

This poll from 2007 said 2/3rds of responders were Ferrari owners.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific/151752-do-you-own-ferrari.html

However, remember that is self-selecting (I would expect owners would be more interested in responding), so we still don't really know the percentage of users that are Ferrari owners. Even more difficult, would be assessing the percentage of actual and prospective Ferrari owners.

 

I would just say that there are a tad less than 170-180.000 cars produced, as the last serials are in the 198.500 range just now (who will get c/n 200.000?), but until 75000 they were using only uneven production numbers (except for the Dinos), so probably about 165.000 (?)

Rgds

 

There was a thread recently about "owners" in the 308 section and I was surprised it only turned up a tiny fraction of the produced car numbers (from memory about 300 Fchat owners out of over 3000 cars produced). I think Fchat is largely about 'enthusiasts' rather than 'owners', which is fine. It's a different outlet than the clubs which are (in Australia at least) for owners only (except in special circumstances).

 

My sense is the number of FerrariChat owners relative to the ownership pool out in the real world is small, less than 10%. Just a hunch based on local car events, FCA events, etc.

-F

 

And I function in the circles where many owners reach for cars that look like $XX,000 instead of $XXX,000. Ferrari would rightly not care what I think. I am a Ferrari owner but not part of the companies demographic.

 

We've got close to one hundred GT4s listed on our thread.

 

From Ferrari's perspective, the important statistic would be how many new Ferrari buyers are there on Fchat. My guess is not a whole lot though it would make for interesting poll.

Dave

 

Very few people I know personally who have bought new Fcars are here. The forum is much better suited to those who buy used and need info on problems, fixes, etc.

Dave

 

Venders are also very interested in opinion makers. Those "experts" that buyers consult.

Plenty of "experts" here.

 

I think they care,
I think they care a lot.

Used cars are very important,

Even if this forum does have more members that purchase used, rather than new, it is very important that used cars hold their value, this just makes the new ones look like or perhaps are a better value.

If you know you can resale your 458 as an example after owning it 2 years and lose 10% of its value, do you think that is going to affect what brand of car you will purchase?

Ferrari does the same thing Patek does, at the end of a model run they make a new version or special, usually at an increased price with very limited numbers. (for what the market will bear)

This drives up the value of the standard model as now its used price is a bargain.

And like Patek, the older much lower production number cars have become investments.

These older cars are also a great promotion aid in selling new and used cars.

Plus even more money is made in selling parts than in the new car itself.

Henry Ford is quoted as having said he would giver away his cars if he could be guaranteed all the replacement parts sales.