Been away for awhile, thinking about selling....talk me out of it.

Four years might never come so if you still love the car then keep it. If you cannot afford your sons education sell it. Seems pretty simple.

 

If you really need the money then you have no other choice. Sell something else!

 

It's a personal priority kind of things. To me my kid's education have higher priority than any of my hobbies which the Ferrari is one of them.

My daughter's yearly college expense is highter than the cost of a QV, My son's college expense is going to the same in Fall. and we foot 100% the bills. That's the reason I only have a 328 ;-)

 

1) see what kind of educational loan rates you can get, through banks, school, etc. Might be worth doing, as you'll lose money on selling the QV and you'll later pay too much rebuying some sort of F car.

2) who says college should be FREE?? Learning a little 'work ethic' while going to school could pay off quite well down the road for kids. Better yet, have both kids work enough to cover QV payments/maintenance
You can cover the rest for them.

 

It sounds like you don't drive the car enough, the only time I have such thoughts is when I haven't driven it for a while. I try to drive it every time I'm home and I have no such thoughts. If you don't drive it too much you might as well sell it. On the flip side you don't know what they willl cost in 4 years. They might be the same, less, or double. Have you son go to a local school, work part time, etc. If he has some skin in the game he will take it more seriously and get more out of it. I was fortunate, I had tuition and books covered. Transportation and living were on me. I worked full time though much of college. It sucked, but I did it. I'm not suggesting he work full time though college, you miss a lot. I'm just saying there are ways besides debt if there is committment.

 

I've had no doubts about anything since I bought my Ferrari last year. Every time I hear that engine running behind me it makes me feel like nothing else. Thats why I never plan to get rid of her.


PDG

 

Interesting subject - My folks offered, and didn't want to subject them to the strain. Also, I did take school very seriously knowing the college was cashing my checks.

 

Sell the wife...it will work out cheaper in the long run

 

just don't sell, you will regret it.

 

These are diffficult economic times for most of us, so owning an Fcar comes into even more stark relief. Like you I have two in college (sons) and the costs are intimidating to be sure.

In my opinion, the issue here is primarily psychological - we have to be able to go to sleep at night with a clear heart and head. You have worked hard to raise what sounds like two responsible young adults and you deserve a little reward for that success. However, if these next few years a truly going to be very difficult financially, then sell the car and rest easy that you can buy one in a few years time.

If the economics are going to be difficult but not impossible then keep the car and drop the guilt. Owning an F-car can be costly, but more often than not owning a 308/328 can be very manageable if not reasonable. These cars are more visible than a lake or beach house and that may stir some guilt feelings for most of us who don't have an unlimited pile of money. But if you love cars and you love Ferraris, then get out and drive the beauty and smile the whole time.

Congrats on the success of your children.

 

ill talk u out of selling
u sell and we will burn yr house down
lol

 

Sorry, but it is just a car. As most will say, don't go into debt over a toy. It is not as though a red QV is a difficult Ferrari to find.

 

I think the worst thing you can do in the world is give a kid a FREE RIDE thru college.


I didn't. My brother didn't. My parents didn't.

My son ain't getting one either.

 

On the practical side, it is the WORST time in modern history to sell one of these cars (anyone want to buy a great 328???).

On the other practical side, is your son going to buy you one when he graduates??? I paid my way through college using GI bill, loans and a job.........just a thought

 

It really is a decision you have to make on your own...it is completely dependent on the circumstances and there are too many variables to consider. I worked myself through college with a full time job and full time class load. Wasn't much fun but doable if highly motivated, which I was after working construction for a while.

I believe in a hard work ethic and I didn't really expect to want to put a child through college without making them work for at least part of it...but my daughter is highly motivated by academia and I do want her to dedicate her to school 100% and accomplish all that she can...so I may find mself in the same quandry very soon...

 

I remember at my high school graduation my father speaking to my girlfriends father and he said, "I've done the best I can to raise him right and now that he is a man I have to have faith in his ability to make the right decisions and lead his own life"

My Dad has always been there for me, and this statement didn't mean this, but it was mostly a financial "cut bait." On the month of my 18th birthday my Dad paid 1/2 month child support for me and my mom charged me 1/2 month rent. I learned the value of money early.

 

I put myself through school, as well. There are plenty of ways to get through college without draining one's parent's financially. Alnong these lines, I owuld asky yourself this: If my son weren't going to college, would I still sell the car? If yes, then by all means, sell it.

 

I think it was Big Tex who reminded me early on that, "It's just a car." Go out and drive it and enjoy the time warp back to the early 80's with low tech, passionate Italians cobbling together another beautiful car for the roads. Life shouldn't be boring and driving these cars is never boring.

Either way enjoy the "ride."

Chip

 

I dropped out of college countless times only to eventually give up on it. (I could never figure out what I wanted to do.) Anyway, if my parents had sold a Ferrari to help me out, I still wouldn't have a degree and they would be short one Ferrari. I vote for keeping it.

 

I hear ya on the psychology thing. I really believe the happiest F-car owners are those that can either wrench on the car's themselves, or those for whom money really isn't much of an object. I.e. if it breaks, I'll just fix it myself or pay someone and not worry about it.

I understand where you're coming from. I think that one reason why there are so many F-cars for sale at any given time falls in line with the old adage, "Having is not so nearly a nice thing as wanting." The point being that many things in life can be great but still fall short of our expectations. The other half of this is: "Familiarity breeds contempt". That is, you can get used to pretty much anything, which is another reason why F-car owners tend to go in and out of cars; if we could do it more simply with women we probably would! LOL!

So...you're certainly not alone in any of your feelings; it can be a rather complex issue. The point is that if you're simply not driving the car that much, nor finding a reason to do so, it might be time for your to exit the ownership arena at least for right now. Who knows what the future will bring; if you want to own another F-car some day...well...where there's a will there's a way. Am I the king of cliche's and adages or what?!

 

I understand RMally. I had been thinking of selling for over a year and finally listed my mondial. I love the way she sounds, the joy when I drive her and it does look good in the garage. But that is the problem! It should not stay in the garage; I do not drive her enough. Too many things going on to make an excuse not to take her out in the road. Its time for someone else to enjoy her.

 

I think this is the key. Driving more will soften (or solidify) your thoughts of selling. Driving more will also lessen your fear of the car breaking down. At any rate, try driving every day for a week. If you don't still have a smile on your face, maybe selling is a good idea and you can move on to the next thing.

 

Presuming money is getting tight and you are looking at potentially either having to take a loan to pay for your son's college, or asking him to, than, to me, this is a no brainer. Sell the car. As much as I hate to say it, it's only a piece of metal and it can be replaced someday when you aree ready. This is your son's future and your financial security. You have owned the car and gotten to live the dream most people can only imagine. If you keep the car you will probably resent it and if it breaks down, you will be stressing over it.

On the other hand, you have the opportunity to give your child the gift of graduating college with a smaller financial burden, which in these tough times, is no small feat.

Good luck either way, but, as much as we love our cars, at the end of the day, they are not flesh and bone.