Can I sit in your car?

but school is only the basement

 

When I had my brand new 2002 Corvette Z06 in Germany, I let two people drive it around the Nurburgring, and anyone that was interested in it, I offered to give them a ride. I gave many people rides around the 'Ring. No matter how expensive, it's just a car and you can't take it with you. Create memories, not stress.

 

Offering to let small children sit in your car at a show is of course a kind thing to do. But be wary of the potential for unintentional damage.

For example, I've heard secondhand about an owner who did this with his 308, and the kiddo ended up pulling off the (known to be fragile) turn signal lever.

DM

 

Of course. I try to get a read on the behavior before I make that call.

Or worse, the guy who let a kid rev his car and put a hole in the block. I make sure I have the keys in my hand before anyone gets in the car.

 

I think if you go to a car show or car event you are kinda asking for it. If you are out and about that is a different story.

I have never had any one ask to sit in my cars but I have volunteered and they seem blown away and take a ton of pictures. I even help set up the shot so they look cool.

I also give it a big rev if they signal for it or have their phones out filming.

 

I don't remember if I previously posted in this thread as it's quite old, but I feel the same.

I can't believe how many stuck up tools are on here. Let's see, you buy a car that attracts gobs of attention. Then you bring it to a venue to show off..... then you snub people that have a genuine love for this stuff. They may or may not be able to achieve what we have. However, the least I can do is open the door and share it, if they are nice and respectful. Sharing is part of the hobby and you don't look like an ass.

I have had adults and kids in 308s, and TRs, to an F40... and if they are really nice, I'll take them for a ride. When I'm done with them....

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I have let people sit in my f430. If it is someone I know I will give them a ride.

 

It's all about giving back. We are so fortunate to have these machines. So, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche...doesn't matter.

My driver's door and corresponding seat is always open and available for anyone with the passion and enthusiasm.

 

Interesting, I let anyone who asks sit in my car. Hope to give them a reason to buy an exotic someday,. Of course my cars aren't perfect,

 

Yeah, i even let an almost stranger drive my car, with me in it, but he curbed the wheel while trying to park. So i guess i deserved that lol. But honestly, i let everyone sit in my car and even go for a ride. These cards are meant to be shared in my humble opinion.

 

This^^^...and:
Today at 3:21 PMNEW
It's all about giving back. We are so fortunate to have these machines. So, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche...doesn't matter.

My driver's door and corresponding seat is always open and available for anyone with the passion and enthusiasm.
Gary Sandberg

This^^^

I NEVER thought I'd attain Ferrari ownership then in '07 @ 50YO I did ...to date, therefore sharing is my way of paying forward.

 

In a world that increasingly pits the "haves" against the "have nots" it is important for us to show that most Ferrari owners are not stuck up types who inherited money but rather hard working types who earned what we have AND that it is still achievable even when you have humble roots.

Secondly, we need as many ICE enthusiasts as possible to ensure future generations can enjoy cars like we enjoy. I'm all for clean energy development and I gotta think there is room in the future for gas powered sports cars that use sustainably made fuels. We need young people not to jump on the electric-only Kool-aid being hawked by politicians. What better way to slide folks our way than by letting them share a bit of the Ferrarista experience by sitting behind the wheel of a super cool Ferrari?

 

I agree. I recall at a major car show, I overheard a young woman mention to her boyfriend, as they walked away, that my yellow TR was her favourite car of the show. She had never said a word to me. I caught up with them and asked if she would like to sit in the driver's seat and have her boyfriend take some pictures. The smile was priceless.

However, I do find that I have to be somewhat forward as many people of course are reluctant to ask. So, if someone says to me "beautiful car", I always reply, "if you have nothing sharp in your pockets, would you like to sit inside?".

The look of astonishment, then the smile, makes it all worthwhile.

 

Contrast this with an incident I had many years ago, and had posted in the "Funniest, Stupidest" thread.

I was at a local informal car show run by a rotary club to raise a little money. It's a small time event, but it's fun, everyone is nice and there's great car talk.

As I was talking to some people next to my car a boy about 10 years old was really interested in it. So I opened the door and told him to sit in the drivers seat. His face lit up and he sat there for only a minute and then got out. His father then said to him, "well that's the only time you'll sit in a Ferrari". I was caught dumbfounded and just said something like you never know, he may have one some day.

I'm sure the father probably didn't realize the message he was sending to his son. He didn't, and I didn't, use that opportunity to say something like see what hard work or education, and not wasting your money on junk will get you, or something encouraging along those lines to his son.

I did tell this story to my wife who was a school psychologist for 33 years. I said the father must have crushed that kid. She said you never know, some kids will take that as a challenge and will be inspired to get that car. Years later a member here (I wish I had flagged his post) said he was that kid. Not literally, but had the same thing happen to him. He now has his house almost paid and was saving the money to buy his Ferrari and was almost there.

 

My dad had pulled that crap on me at the New York International Automobile Show. At the roped off Ferrari stand, the Ferrari rep let the 10 year old me behind the ropes and sat me in a Giallo Daytona. My old man immediately informed me that I would never sit in one again. People like me never achieve things like that and I should face reality. If I had listened to my parents and their proclamation of what a loser I was and that I would never amount to anything... I would be pushing a shopping cart, living in a tent and talking to myself. As soon as I could, I told them to 'F' off and made something of myself.

Sometimes you have to consider the source and realize that most people are full of crap and we are only limited by what we can dream.

 

When i had the f-car i asked if they want to seat on the car but only to nice genuine persons that asked questions about the car ... This comes ftom When I was a collegue puke i remember a guy on a brand new shiny Porsche pulled into a food bar thinking that he'll ignore me asked'im how he managed & actually the guy was cool & gave me pointers that solidified my ideas

 

This is why people **** on Ferrari owners.

It IS just a car. And if you don't want people touching/looking/sitting then don't bring it.

Don't put a sign on it, you're not a dealer. That's just tacky.

I don't understand being enthusiastic enough to bring your car to a meet/show, around other like-minded people who have an appreciation for cars, only to be weird about it. Just stay home.

But that's just like, my opinion, man.

 

My inside and outside signs. I had to find them again for this weekend's show.


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Not exactly a 'sitting in the car' story, but last Sunday I had the McLaren out to attack a few twisty bits and fracture a traffic law or two! On the way home I passed by ASU (Arizona State University). Turning from a side street I saw a couple in a newer beetle convertible (enjoying a beautiful sunny Sunday morning), point at the Mac as I drove by. I watched them weave through traffic to get glimpse. When I got stuck at a light, they pulled up to my driver's side. I could tell they were staring, so I looked over and smiled. The guy proclaimed that one day he was going to have one. I told him that he would...... just stay in school, find something you love to do, become the best you can be at it..... and don't ever, ever let anyone outwork you. The light changed, I waved and continued home. I hope to see that young man in an exotic a few years from now, enjoying a track day.

 

I’ve never told someone they can’t sit in my car, they’re almost always kids in my experience. I would have killed for that opportunity when I was a kid!

 

I'm glad the consensus is to let people sit in the car.. but there is absolutely no upside. You think think there is this magical moment when they sit in your car and that sets their life on an upward path. Or it's this mystical moment that redefines their lives..

It's not. A million other things will define their life and their ability to own a Ferrari. For most it's a status symbol they don't even drive. Sitting in one at a cars and coffee didn't do that. It didn't build that wealth. We might want to think that having someone sit in the exotic is this inspiration that we had in life.. it's not for them, it's for us.

After some 30 year old dude tore the leather on my racing seat I've stopped the sitting and politely declined. They didn't offer to fix the seat that the bottle opener in their back pocket poked a hole in.. I paid for that. So what benefit did it give him? What did it give me? 10 years later I saw him out last week still working at the same job now reeking of weed (didn't recognize me). I never sat in a Ferrari before I bought mine.. but I knew I wanted one and she is everything I expected.

It might sound like "stuck up tool" but A) it's not the life changing event to many sitting in a fiat and B) it's only potential cost and risk to the owner. I like being generous with my things but I'm a little more careful as I get older.

 

BS. That kindness that the Ferrari rep showed me at the NY Auto Show changed my perception of what might be possible vs. the bleak crap that my parents dumped on me. Plus, sharing is just plain nice. I suggest you stay home, polish it with a diaper and grumble because some 30 year old was a putz. I'll get more out of sharing.

 

I would not let one bad experience shade your entire outlook to be pessimistic.

So maybe that experience didn’t lead that one guy to change his life and do something amazing(by your standards), but you don’t know that your generosity in the future could change somebody’s outlook down the road. That would be the optimism. That’s a risk I’d be willing to take.

Look, bad things happen to all of us, but how you respond to it as what defines you.

people will remember you by your generosity in the face of adversity, not because you had a Ferrari with a leather racing seat without holes in it.

you choose.

 

The only other thing I can add is that these are only material items that we can enjoy in our lifetimes. Yes, want to reduce any potential major damage.

On the other hand, enjoy the development of the Ferrari (or any other collectable) patina. 2 examples....
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My best experience was with a car guy mate who was restoring a Lotus Europa.

I had some time on my hands and said to him lets go for a quick run in my 330,when I had it,

So we ripped off for about 8 miles and then pulled over,stopped and got out of the car...quite quickly.

"What's the matter..something wrong?"

"Your turn".......................the look was priceless.