For you owners, I've gotta ask

In order:
1. I smile or wave.
2. I often notice people looking at my car, and why not. It's beautiful.
3. I have NEVER had a negative comment about my Ferrari except last evening a 4 year old told me he prefers Lamborghini.
4. No. Why should I feel guilty? I didn't steal my car, I saved my money and bought it.
5. I find myself next to plenty of people in ordinary cars. They either ignore me or give me a thumbs up.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I do NOT live in New York or California and I am not "under professional care", so that explains most of my lack of negative experiences associated with owning a Ferrari. YMMV.

 

I have a 308, so around car guys, its the "Honda priced Ferrari." But when I'm not around car guys, they seem to think it costs a million bucks. I get lots of "Hey Magnum!" and lots of thumbs up. I would say overall the reaction is positive, although there are times when I'll also feel completely invisible, should I stumble out around the high end part of town. Guilt isn't something that I get with the car. My own hard work paid for it. I always let kids sit in the car, let teenagers IG/FB the car etc. I rarely get jealous attention, unless someone's g/f is oogling my car at a car meet/show.

 

I haven't received any negative attention yet that I am aware of... But the car gets TONS of attention (people making comments, taking pics in traffic, following you, etc.) and I'm not sure I'll ever fully get used to it.

Doesn't bother me a bit and I'm prepared for negative comments if they ever come.

 

I haven't received any negative attention. One time, one guy said to his buddy as they were walking by my car "Hey, let's go take a piss inside that Ferrari!" His buddy was like "No way dude, that's not right!" So, that kinda worked itself out.

So far, in my 1 year of F car operation, the comments have been very complimentary. People who have even a passing interest in cars go out of their way to let me know they like the car.

Camera phones and video clips are the norm. One guy yesterday thanked me for making music from my engine, he was driving right behind me with his windows down to hear the car. A school boy stood by the side of the road recording video of my car coming down the road as I neared my home. I can't say I'm used to the cameras and stuff, I'm still very aware of it. Don't know if that'll go away. Whenever anybody else rides in my car, they always point out people who are taking pics and stuff.

I never feel guilt, but I guess if someone insulted me related to my car, I'd probably feel kinda bad.

Ahhhhhhhh guilt... This is the emotion that the masses want us to feel because we've attained the position to enjoy our passions. Not me man!

 

Ignore the negative comments, they don't make me feel bad or guilty, and smile or laugh along with the funny or complimentary ones.

 

- I've gotten used to the looks enough that I can enjoy my car without constantly noticing people around me, but I still take in peoples attention to the car. You notice when people are checking it out. Going on 4 years and comments/attention has always been positive.

Why on earth would I feel guilty about driving my car? The only people that I can imagine feeling "guilty" are those that don't feel they should be in the car in the first place. And in that case, they probably shouldn't be. No guilt here. I worked for it, I put the time in.

 

Most of my experiences with people have been positive. You will always run into the few who believe that life has not been fair to them and that they deserve better. Life is not always fair and what you think you deserve has little to do with what life hands out. We all have to live with the hand we are dealt both the good and the bad. Spending your life judging others is a wasted life and feeling guilty for what you have or have not acquired or accomplished in your own life even more so. However, rubbing other peoples faces in what they consider as being overly expensive self indulgent toys and who are less fortunate than you is inexcusable. I also believe in giving back to the helpless and the needy in your local town or community if you have the means.

 

You are right, Speed Racer.

This thread is a variation of, albeit a much more positive one than. the recent "Dont you just love that look ..."

 

I make it a point to pick my nose while driving..The looks I get are priceless..The roll and flick is even better..

 

It never gets old.

 

I think you get used to it. When I first got my car, I was seeing people take pictures of it all the time and/or admiring the car. Now I can go weeks with no one taking a pic or paying attention to the car. Either they got used to seeing the car everyday or I got used to the cellphones taking pics and don't notice. I think I got used to it.

 

Nope. He may be a multimillionaire and is living very modestly. OTOH he might not be a car guy, or.. he might be making meth and is currently out after his 3rd conviction.

You don't know.. but I wouldn't feel bad at all.

 

You're driving a freakin' Ferrari. Of course people are going to stare. They're designed that way from the start. I mean, if you saw an Enzo or LaFerrari in the flesh, what would you do? I know I would stare. If owners didn't want people to look at their great looking cars they should just buy a Porsche and be done with it.

Guilt? Feel bad? Just the opposite. I'm happy when owners actually drive their Ferrari's. It makes my day when I see one on the street.

-F

 

I have yet to have a negative comment.
Guess they don't know that its a Ferrari.

 

Only 1 negative comment so far. I posted about it in another thread.

Other than that, all positive stuff. I always try and respond to peoples comments politely, as to not be "snooty" about owning the car.

One thing that annoys me though, is while driving ( I always have my windows down) is when people drive by and beep their horn. I am really sensitive to sharp noises like that, and I've been startled on more than one occasion already lol.

 

All positive so far, had mine only for about a month. Unlike in Europe, where I have lived the better part of my life, people in the US mostly give me thumbs up and compliment me. In Europe people are just jealous and envy you for having a nice car, it's sad.
I'm always nice, respond politely, and it makes it happy when other people enjoy seeing a nice car. I myself enjoy seeing a nice car, and always compliment people on it, whether I'm in my Ferrari or not.

Guilt wise, meh. Not really, as stated by many above. I worked hard for it, so I could realize a dream of mine. I'm also the first one who would work at McDonald's flipping burgers if I had to. I cleaned toilets during my college years, and rode a bicycle I have no shame in going back to that if I had to.

And so far, I thoroughly enjoy all the comments from people, thumbs up, camera phones on the highways and attention. And lets be honest, I'm sure we all do, otherwise we would all be driving a Maserati or a Porsche etc...

 

When I show them the engine and they see the 6 carbs they always say, that must be impossible to keep it tuned. I respond with it's just like me, it has its good and bad days.

 

I'd say that the best way to deal with people making negative comments is to just agree with them and tell them that they're right!

This diffuses the situation by instantly taking away the element of confrontation, whilst at the same time baffling them as to why you would be agreeing with them! (It's very hard to argue with someone who's agreeing with you! )

 

I am the one giving shakas and thumbs up to everyone who has a car that cares for it. I feel like the lucky caretaker of an art masterpiece and I can tell when someone is proud of their car too!

I try to be hyper aware of the road conditions / surroundings that could have a negative impact on my ownership experience so sometimes the people nearby get dropped off the radar real quick. Things like road conditions, cops, waste haulers, safe passing areas, etc take top priority. It's these times I don't notice other people.

Most cars are much higher than these cars so if you are in a coupe and tall it is difficult to make eye contact with other cars nearby without craning your neck.

Caring for an extra special car is also a very big burden so if someone doesn't have the same passion for their transportation I sometimes get jealous of them! They have more time to do other things while I am dusting off my car for 45 minutes after a drive and fussing over every detail!

 

The positive comments have outnumbered the negative ones by a huge margin.
But why should I be worried about the comments of the uninformed?

It's actually funny when someone says, "Wanna trade?", and you have to tell them that their vehicle costs more than an old 328.


I've also noticed that the comments taper off, after a while.
I drove my 328 to work daily in summer, for a couple of years.
People got used to seeing it.

 

The more you invite people to look, and even sit in your car (while parked); the fewer negatives the population base will emit.

 

A long time ago, someone took me for a ride around Bellevue WA for
about on hour in a 250 SW SEFAC hot rod. Even in those long ago days
the car cost 3.4 M$. It had a subdued paint job. No one noticed it.

 

Only positive reactions over two years of ownership, no guilt here as I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.