Awkward scenario; what's the best icebreaker?

You could always ask "Do you like Ferraris." Very wide open question, and depending on their reaction you can go from there.

 

We were one of the sponsors for a golf tournament for soldiers here in Camp Arifjan (Kuwait) not long ago, and I took the Ferrari. I got there just before the buses showed up with almost 150 soldiers. When the buses unloaded, at least 50% of them went straight for the car. As I walked up to the crowd, I overheard one of the soldiers ask "Who owns this?" and another answer "Probably some rich Kuwaiti."

I turned to the guy who asked the question, keys in hand, and said "would you like to sit in it?" His response: "Well....what will the Kuwaiti say?"

I smiled and said "It not a Kuwaiti's...it's mine..." unlocked the door, and proceeded to have over 20 guys taking turns getting their pictures taken in the driver's seat...

We finally had to quit because the golf was about to start...but, I swear we could have stayed for two hours, and still not given everyone a turn who wanted to sit in the car...

It was a great day... (I won closest to the pin)!

Mike in Kuwait

 

I always just smile, reach for the door and greet the onlookers with something like "Hi, how are you?"

It's usually followed by a comment, like "nice car" or "is this your car?"

Depending on the time, place, situation, people, I often let them sit in the car. When there are children, I usually offer to let the kids sit in first.

 

I tell people they're welcome to look, but don't touch. It's a 348, and pieces of it are likely to fall off, quite literally, and possibly injure them.

Anyone remember my exploding quarter glass a few years ago?

 

My usual opening line is, "would you like to take a closer look"? Usually, I get "sure" as an answer -- then I spend as much time as they want showing them the car, and taking their picture with it and sometimes sitting in it. Always generates lots of smiles (for them and me).

- Eric

 

I keep getting ask if it's real??????? That's usually followed by a comment, like "I really know my cars" or "I have a friend that has a real one".

 

Depending on the people, I'll ask them if they'd like me to take their picture sitting in the car. I'll also tell them that when I was a teenager, someone did that for me, and I'll be returning that favor as long as I own the car.

Art

 

Often times people will be looking at the interior, or taking pictures. I just walk up, open the door, and say hi. If they have questions, I'm usually willing to answer.
Gas stations seem to attract the weirdest lookers though.

 

Just smile and give a polite nod if you're not in a sociable mood and, if they're actually blocking your path, say "excuse me" with a nice smile as you slide in, fire it up, and blast them with a puff of exhaust before executing a smoky burnout leaving them choking and gasping for breath OK the last part was a joke of course.

Just last evening I returned to my car and there was an early 30s guy and his (hot!) gf checking out the car. He saw me approaching and said 'and this must be the owner' to his gf while looking at me and graciously backing off to give me room to open the door. We chatted a few minutes as he asked lots of questions and then gave him a nice departure (at his request) to give him an earful of her symphony.

 

I used to walk up and say the owner must really have a small ***** to have to validate themselves with such a car. Then get in and drive off.

 

Too many Ricamabi parts hehe.

 

I don't know what it is about my (elderly) father and nice cars but he can't keep his hands off of them when he's admiring them. A couple of years ago I took him to my favorite event of the year, the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca. We were in the paddock area and I went to get a beer. When I returned there was dad leaning, actually half sitting against a stunning and priceless prewar Bugatti. I nearly had a heart attack as I observed the owner of the car from within his trailer staring at my father. I panicked and started to quicken my pace hoping to pull him off the car before the owner got to him. I was too late. When I got to the trailer, the car's owner (also elderly) was handing my father a glass of lemondade. He then invited us both into the trailer where we watched videos of his Bugatti in prior classic races. The owner of this car couldn't have cared less that my 82 year old dad was using his vintage racecar as a field chair. In fact, they spent almost an hour swapping stories about their WWll sports car days.
Ever since then when people congregate around my cars (sadly, not Ferrari) I go out of my way to make them feel at home, offer them a seat, take a picture or whatever. I've even taken little kids for rides. That's what the hobby is all about to me.
Cheers
Randy

 

I'm with you on sharing the car with interested folks, and I'm not implying you're encouraging leaners, but ain't no how I'm allowing folks to lean on my car I have already managed to put a couple very small dimples from levering soft body parts against the body Now, I don't even LEAN on it ANYwhere for any reason. Tough to train yourself to break that habit as when washing a 'regular' car, e.g.

 

I have different opening lines, all of which seem popular. Here are a few:

"11 miles to the gallon."

'Guess how much it costs to change the power window motor?"

"It's like riding in a moving boiler room."

"There's a hole in the muffler the size of a football."

"Metal shavings in the transmission fluid."

I realize these are all rather negative comments, but they are delivered with humor and appear to do the trick. The gawkers leave feeling better about themselves and the choices they have made in life.

 

I usually just walk up to it and get in then say excuse me. Someone will say "nice car" or something nice and i'll just go out of my way to seem flattered and say "thank you for the kind words". I don't want anyone touching it. Don't want to seem mean but i'm more worried about someone touching the car than looking like a jerk.

The guy that gives me the thumbs up or just says "nice" impresses me the most. It's as if they have cooth and just wanna look and know you don't wanna hear anything stupid.

 

Lots of toll roads in Illinois. Some of my biggest fans are guys and gals working the toll booths especially in the more rural areas. These guys spend most of their days bored to death. When I pull up they're always asking questions and want to know as much as they can about the car. They love to say " Go ahead buddy. I won't tell anybody.Step on it. Lets hear some noise and see some smoke. My daddy always told me to be polite to strangers. So............

 

You should have offered to swap rides for the weekend....

Jack.

 

So what do you suppose owners of Garage Queens say?


"Yep - she's pretty hot. I hear they're fun to drive"

"Fast car that - she can hit 173 I'm told. Of course, I don't actually drive it"

"I see you like my car - I heard the engine run once - it was COOL!"

"You think the CAR is hot - check out the jack stands holding her off the floor!"

Jedi

 

This happens to me ALL THE TIME. I usually hang around the site until they leave, not wanting to make them uncomfortable.



I mean, how would you feel if you were admiring someone's car and the owner came up? I'd feel awkward, so I try to relieve them of that feeling by just waiting.

 

I usually apologize for the car being so dirty.

 

depends on whether or not I am in a hurry

I usually just watch, I'll walk up , say excuse me, and slip in unless someone obviously has a question then I'll talk to them

If you are friendly and offer them to take a photo and they act wierd its their issue, not yours

 

"You've got to hear this baby start up!" works pretty well to get past the crowd to your car.


Pealing off the magnetic shields and giving them to the youngest kids in the group works, too.

 

A few thoughts from a non-owner; I have been 'caught' a few times admiring someone's car and have always been pleased and impressed with the owners. Usually we'll pass a couple of comments and that's it. A few months ago my 11 year old son and I were admiring a 575 in a service station car park when the owner arrived. He was very happy to chat to us and was impressed thet Joe knew it was a V12. He opened the drivers door and got Joe to sit in the car. Then he handed Joe the keys and got him to start the car and rev the engine! When he asked Joe if he wanted a ride and he refused I asked if I could have a ride! He said yes and I expected a quick lap of the carpark. Instead we went off onto some country roads and were gone for a good half hour which was loads of fun!

Just wanted to let you know that us non-owners really appreciate it when someone spends a bit of time helping to feed our passion, so on behalf of all the people you have allowed to sit in, take pictures of, and ride in your cars I say THANK YOU!

 

I can't take credit for this idea but a year or so ago this topic came up and someone posted that they keep few matchbox Ferraris in their car and when people with kids are checking it out, they give the kids one of the matchbox Ferraris. I loved this idea and ever since, I always keep 5 or more Ferrari hot wheels (99 cents at Target or Walmart) in my car at any time and have given out maybe 5 to 7 so far. I try to find red ones and they are usually enzos (but I drive a 360). I buy lambos too to give my friends who have Gallardos so they can do the same and they liked the idea.