I am excited to announce that I've picked up my first Ferrari recently! I've been wanting one for about 30 years now. I grew up with a number of cars on the wall - F50, Diablo, Viper, but Ferraris were the ones I always wanted. Collected the models, the hot wheels, watched F1, and spent my childhood car spotting. My dad rented us a 348 on vacation for a half day when I was 12, and I was hooked. It came down to the 360, F430, Cali, and 599 for me. I really wanted the V12 of the 599, but the prices escalated a little too quickly over the last year. I did have a chance to drive a 458 on a track last year, and loved the high pitched wail behind my head, so I eliminated the Cali and starting searching for 360s and F430s. I ultimately landed on the 360, partially due to sound, but also since it was the car that was out when I was in high school. I took the advice of @tomc and asked my wife what color I should look at, and she said "all Ferraris should be red", so I started narrowing in cars. I did really want a loaded, unique spec (I had fallen in love with @jimshadow 's 599 in Rubino Micalizzato), but she thought Rosso Fiorano was too dark, and I didn't really want Rosso Corsa. Finally one day I stumbled upon a 2001 Rosso Barchetta over Cuoio beauty that Matt @ScudMarks had for sale out in San Francisco. Matt was awesome in helping negotiate the deal, and Kathleen over at San Francisco Motorsports was great in helping out with the PPI and some post purchase work I had done. Highly recommend both! A short drive from California to Texas and I had my car. Here she is! My two boys are just excited as their father Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Congrats, and welcome to the madness! @SAFE4NOW is the leader of the local FCA chapter, there's lots happening. Come play!
Wow, that is an awesome looking car, awesome looking kids, and best of all, happy wife, happy life! (Although I don't agree with her that all Ferraris should be red, but then I don't have to live with her ) Congrats and I wish you good luck with it. (I know tomc and you were wise to take his advice.)
Kid in the driver's seat wants the keys! I believe the words " hey dad can I borrow the car" are incoming shortly. Congratulations.
Congrats. We expect to see you at the FTW Cars and Breakfast in February. Beautiful car. The kids are cute too. They'll love you in the carpool line.
When I bought my 458 Spider my wife told me I could get any color I wanted. As long as it was red. Enjoy, Rob
Thanks! I've had the chance to meet Steve on a couple occasions. He gave my kids Ferrari pins the first time we met! She had a red mustang GT while we were in college - has a thing for red sports cars. Yes, only a matter of time! Thanks! I've been attending for some time now, getting an education on some of the nuances with options on different cars. My current problem is 1 seat, 2 kids. Not sure how to work that one out yet. I've been bringing the best 'dad sports car' that I could find, which you might recognize, though its pretty hard to notice in the pic below! Image Unavailable, Please Login
it's the memory! Your kids smiles are just so lovely! Enjoy the car memory with the kids in it, I promise you it will mean a lot more. Congrats.