What compelled you to buy your first Ferrari?

SHEEEEEEEEEEIIIT !!! You don't know him like us Aussies know him!!!!

 

Mine was a dream come true after wanting any Ferrari when I could afford one. Had a good career and some extra cash and a big ego. The deciding point was when I got cancer so I felt it was now or never. The rest was history and after 14 years had my fun and gave it to another care taker.

 

You don't mention which model you own but I'd guess you just got a lemon. I've owned 8 and never had one die on the road on me even though a few had, shall we say, indifferent maintenance.

Dave

 

Unbridled lust. I lusted after a Dino for almost 30 years, and then, when the time was right, I plunked down $42K and bought one.

Oh for the good old days...

D
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1988 3.2 Mondial, completely rebuilt by Norwood a few years ago. I've only been able to put about 2500 miles on it in 4 years of ownership because every few months it's got some issue that keeps it from running. Finding a Ferrari shop that will take it is a huge hassle, and I usually have to wait several months to get it in. I live in the city and don't really have space to do my own maintenance. I don't drive the car hard at all; when it actually runs I try to give it regular exercise once or twice per week.

When I first got the car, I got stuck in an enormous downpour. The water caused the ignition system to arc all over the place, burning tiny holes in the distributor cap and causing the car to run like a lemon colored dog. It wasn't that hard of a fix but WTH? What kind of car does that?

About six months after that, the ignition switch gave up the ghost and left me stranded. Had to trailer the car. Took me about a year and a half and two different mechanics to figure out the issue. Once we figured it out, we discovered the part is NLA. We managed to find an alternative but the car mostly sat until March 2015 before it ran again.

Last summer, on a short drive across town, the distributor drive gearing physically broke in two pieces--something I've never seen happen on a car in my life. That one took several months to get repaired. Again, WTH?

Yesterday afternoon the car almost left me stranded again, this time it was sudden, severe power loss. It reminded me of symptoms I've seen before when an alternator dies and the battery finally drains off--the car was difficult to turn over and had very little power. I limped home, put it on the trickle charger, and managed to get it to start today.

Anyway, I'm not trying to hijack the thread, I'm just tired of the maintenance issues. You guys may like that kind of thing, but it's not really my idea of an enjoyable ownership experience.

 

Cheers mate, appreciate the kind words.

Quiet you and get back under your rock!

 

Grew up a car nut and from as long as I can remember Ferrari was the pinnacle. Kept a picture of a 308GTS above my desk for 20 odd years (across several jobs and countries) before I finally got the car in 2002. Fell in love with it the first time I drove it (6months and many dollars after the purchase) and have never hankered for another car since.

 

Unfortunately all brands produce lemons - sorry you found one. Complete opposite of my experience where (apart from battery failure) I've only had 3 breakdowns in 14 years. Maybe you just need to sell that one and try again?

 

Lust!

 

I was at a local dealer looking at a 997 GT3. Frankly never entertained a Ferrari
since I thought the ones I liked such as the 360/430, were way out my
budget......

The sales lady showed me a 360 saying: For what you are going to spend on a GT3
you could get this Ferrari .....did not buy that one but a few months later had a 360

 

You've certainly had more than your share of troubles and I understand the frustration. If it were me, I'd sell it and find another car.

Dave

 

You have no idea how tempting it was to post the infamous shorts pic in response, but eventually good taste won out over harassment.

 

Have you ever second guessed the decision or has Ferrari ownership met or exceeded your expectations?

 

I was similar but put down 8K for a beater that I felt was would be a fun project to work on (then again, I as only 21). I was "all in" for 18 grand thanks to some friends of mine who owned one of the few Italian car repair shops in Phoenix at the time.

I did love the looks of that Dino -- but I've moved on. It's funny in the 80's the Dino was so unappreciated for it's looks, it's badging, it's hot interior, its crudeness of construction, and it's V6 engine. The "Magnum" car was the one to have. The little Dino looked 20 years old.

Today it's the opposite. The world has turned upside down.

 

Always wanted one. I love cars, I love the marque, words can't accurately describe my passion. I told my wife we'd be buying a Ferrari before I turn 40 well before getting engaged.

 

Only thing I regret is not holding out/ finding a manual car......

My car has had no trouble, just battery replacement and is a joy
to drive. Still long for a GT3 to add to the stable, but have a C6
Z now for stick shift and track fun.

So no regrets overall.

 

Hot Rods and Modifieds are always more finicky then their siblings.

Refresh my memory, are those Webers or IDA style FI throttle bodies (hopefully the latter)?

Timing as it is... yours is THE Mondial that I wanted a few years ago. But Russ wasn't selling at the time, nor was anyone else giving up their 3.2 either.

 

Always a sports car fan and having lived/being stationed in Holland for three years during the 80's, even more so.

Then I was headed off to war and they were predicting 10,000 US casualties during the first ten days. My promise to myself, if I survived, was to own a Ferrari.

Promise kept just a couple of years later.

 

I think I was 3 or 4 when I got a toy Can-Am Ferrari. Hot Wheels and models filled my childhood. I was 12 when Magnum PI threw the 308 onto the TV screen. 15 when Christie Brinkley drove one across the big screen. I knew I wanted a Ferrari before I even knew what they were.

 

Thankfully, when I bought my first Ferrari (328) back in the '90s, it was not about hype or showing off. It was all about the mystique of the brand and being able to master a race car for the road.

That 328 would be considered puny in terms of power by today's standards. But, it was also a car that you drove - not some computer.

The salesperson gave me a great, spirited test drive and there is nothing quite like that manual, gated shifter. That did it for me.

 

+ "Clack-Clack."

 

Yes Magnum PI drove me to buy my old 246 Dino,as at the time I didn't have the $$ to buy a 308.. and then my 308...and Miami Vice my old 512m...

 

It was a short list for me-
Gilles Villeneuve and F1
Performance
Visceral experience

 

Lol, glad you didn't.

 

I had 3 fiat 850s in high school to keep one running. When I first moved to Boston after college 20 yrs ago some guy parked a 308gt4 in the state st garage and Nobody even knew what it was-a badged Dino. Most folks still don't know (love that) but they know somethings up when they hear it