Broke Down in So Cal | FerrariChat

Broke Down in So Cal

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Stew, Jan 13, 2011.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Stew

    Stew Formula Junior

    Apr 16, 2006
    547
    Los Angeles
    From the title you might be thinking why is this post not in the Southern California or Technical section. Here goes.

    Yesterday was an incredible, beautiful, Southern California day. Blue sky, 70 degrees, slight breeze, sun shining. I went to run an errand and have lunch and decided to take my Fcar. It's been raining and I've been busy and the Fcar has been sitting for the last three weeks. Top down, red 360 spider and life is great. I'm two blocks from my house returning home on Ventura Boulevard, a pretty busy commercial street, when I see an incredible cloud of smoke coming from the engine compartment. A coolant hose by the thermostat housing burst. No big deal but lots of steam as the coolant hit the exhaust manifold. I pull over, I open the hood and see and smell green coolant in the engine bay. I realize it's not oil or a fire. Big relief.

    Two guys stop and ask me if I'm ok. The two guys offer to call their friend who is a mechanic. I tell them it's ok and thanks very much for stopping. Another guy comes out from the business (hair salon). He is a Ferrari lover and is asking me the typical questions you get when out with your Fcar. I called AAA for a flatbed and I'm waiting. The parking meter guy stops, sees the car is still steaming and the hood is up. He tells me not to worry about the meter.

    Pretty nice so for right.

    As I wait the normal twenty minutes or so for the two truck no less than four different people driving by yell "Ha Ha" or heckle in some manner.
    One guys yells "serves you right " .

    I look at the hair salon guy and ask "did you hear that" ?
    He replies "yes" with a look of embarassment.

    My questions are. Have we grown that divided and cynical ? Is having a nice car so provacative ? Does seeing someone broken down on the side of the road with a cool car even the score somehow.

    I choose to focus on the first people who were willing to help.

    Regards,

    Stew
     
  2. kaisen

    kaisen Karting

    Nov 15, 2005
    223
    Minneapolis
    With so many people effected by our current economic climate, it's common to lash out at those who seem better off. A shiny red Ferrari is like a bullfighter's cape, a target for that animosity.

    Just remember that it's about the symbolism, not the person. Them or you :)
     
  3. 5800RPM

    5800RPM Formula Junior
    Owner

    Apr 21, 2006
    503
    Sarasota, Florida
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Jerks will be jerks. You likely would have been heckled no matter where they would have seen you (manhood size jokes at the red light etc...).

    It is the price you pay when you drive a car that is only a dream for most. Everyone wants the dream, few are willing to work for it, therefore few have it.
     
  4. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    #4 Wade, Jan 13, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2011
    It's unfortunate tho not unexpected.

    The Rise of the Have-Nots
     
  5. 5800RPM

    5800RPM Formula Junior
    Owner

    Apr 21, 2006
    503
    Sarasota, Florida
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Don't worry "have nots" your saviour B.O. is on the job. Soon we'll all be "have nots".
     
  6. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,126
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #6 Rifledriver, Jan 13, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2011
    Its not the economy. It has always been that way.

    Seeing an expensive or worse yet exotic car broken down or having trouble allows some to feel superior that they made the correct decision to drive whatever it is they drive. You're rich, you're an *****, you deserve it, if you were smart and a loyal American you would have a Corvette etc.


    In all the years I have worked on these things I have been stranded on a number of test drives. It is always the same. A few car guy types a little over eager to help the guy in the really cool car that is probably too rich to know what to do about it himself and a bunch of neanderthals laughing, honking and yelling.
     
  7. Modenafan

    Modenafan F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 19, 2004
    12,069
    Moorpark
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #7 Modenafan, Jan 13, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2011
    This seems typical, unfortunately. I flatted my CS in the canyons years ago. I received the same type of response. Can I help you, you okay, and the laughs. It is what it is. :)

    Btw Stew, it serves you right for buying a Ferrari. :D Glad it was nothing serious.
     
  8. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    So, what you're saying is, everyone else without a $100k toy car is basically lazy?

    PS: I know what you're saying, it just sounds a little presumptuous.

    RMX
     
  9. lukek

    lukek Formula 3

    May 2, 2003
    2,085
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    LK
    I once had the Ferrari on the flatbed. A co-worker knew that it was mine, and made the predictable joke about "your precious high dollar toy let you down, you poor soul!".

    But I told him, that no, it did not break down. This is what the dealership does for customers when it is time for an oil change and routine service. Which was exactly the situation I was in.
    A lot simpler than a loaner, or giving customers rides.

    His response was:

    "Oh"
     
  10. Stew

    Stew Formula Junior

    Apr 16, 2006
    547
    Los Angeles
    Serves me right for going to Auto Gallery Service.....

    Took it to Eric Sandor at Autogallery. He said the motor mounts were fine without even looking at the car. Just kidding ;)

    Everyone at AG were great. Eric took the time to check my car throughly. Then he took time to show me a couple of 328 engines and a Dino engine he is working on because he knows I'm a hopeless gear head at heart.

    Regards,

    Stew
     
  11. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
    Full Name:
    Wade O.
    Yeah, and he called me a "have not" ;)
     
  12. 5800RPM

    5800RPM Formula Junior
    Owner

    Apr 21, 2006
    503
    Sarasota, Florida
    Full Name:
    Jason
    LOL!

    Ok, you got the idea, even if the delivery was a little off... *off to remove foot from mouth*
     
  13. KKSBA

    KKSBA F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    15,300
    SBarbara-La Jolla CA
    Full Name:
    KKSBA
    Eric is a great guy!
     
  14. m5guy

    m5guy Formula 3

    Aug 17, 2008
    1,627
    Ventura, CA.
    Full Name:
    Greg
    Hi Stew, I think you pegged it right there on the last sentence: You broke down in the San Fernando Valley. If you had been on the other side of the hill, the kind and well-mannered people of West L.A./Pacific Palisades would have brought you a cold drink and perhaps offered to have their personal masseuse work on your back or feet! (Just kidding - I grew up in the Valley :) )
     
  15. Stew

    Stew Formula Junior

    Apr 16, 2006
    547
    Los Angeles
    LMAO !! I went to Grant HS... way back when


    Regards,

    Stew
     
  16. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    There are dickheads everywhere Stew. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
     
  17. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,962
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    +100 - Had a similar incident when I had the 328 and that was well before the economy went bad in 2005
     
  18. daytona355

    daytona355 F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Mar 25, 2009
    12,655
    London
    Full Name:
    Sid Korshak
    U were lucky to be in the US. In the UK, all you would have got is the Neanderthals, no one will stop to help and no one will attempt to talk nicely with you, most of the UK people are too reserved to make friends, and the others are either Eco-mental or jealous
     
  19. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    LOL ... it's all good. Haha. :D

    RMX
     
  20. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    This is it IMO......

    I have had some pretty serious vandalism, I just fix it...on the breakdowns I try light hearted banter, telling them "My GPS has already notified Maranello and they'll dispatch a Pit Crew immediately!

    *secretly punching up my on call towing on speed dial*

    That answer only increases the mystique of the Ferrari brand, and most of them don;t realize the only electronics on board an old 308GTB are the stereo!! ROTFLMAO!

    Sorry to hear of your troubles!
     
  21. Masher44

    Masher44 F1 World Champ

    Jan 15, 2008
    12,674

    Outstanding!!!! LOL
     
  22. sk8rpatty

    sk8rpatty Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2010
    316
    So Cal
    Full Name:
    Patty H.
    #22 sk8rpatty, Jan 14, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Happened to us on the 101. We're on the side of the road just after hitting a stove, yes I said stove, that some idiot dropped off the back of his truck. It broke into hundreds of pieces that scattered across the Fwy. We hit a piece of metal that punctured both the front and back tires and bent the front rim. We were devastated as we were on our way to the Concorso Italiano for the first time. The car was purchased only one month prior. The site of the 355 parked on the side and the 360 on the flatbed seemed to be a source of entertainment by some a-holes driving by.

    The good news is that we managed to find a used rim and the replacement tires, at a shop 60 miles south of where we were. We arrived in Monterey at 2:00am and made it to the event.

    The officer in the photo was awesome and the 2nd tow truck driver too (1st guy to show up was clueless), so like you we tried to focus on the people that went out of their way to help us and forget about the idiots honking and yelling as they drove by.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  23. raptorduck

    raptorduck Formula 3

    May 18, 2009
    1,166
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Mr. Raptorduck
    I have found this to be unfortunately very true. Seems people get a kick out of exotic cars breaking down, as if their reliability is supposed to be proportional to their cost, where we understand that the inverse is true. Just the other day my R8 broke down and I got that reaction AND nobody would stop to help despite my waving for it (middle of nowhere with no cell phone).

    It is as if they are saying "see showoff, my Prius is running great and I am saving the planet while you are killing it so you got what you deserved."
     
  24. UpNorth

    UpNorth Formula 3
    Owner

    Sep 30, 2006
    1,769
    Quebec, Canada
    Full Name:
    Francois
    +1
    And forget about the rest of the planet! Life is just to short.
     
  25. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Sorry to hear Patty. :(:(
     

Share This Page