Exotics and safety...

I think the R8 is a sweet car and I'd love to have one. Personally I think it looks exotic, but not "beautiful".. but that's just me. Very cool car.

I found as many have posted that once you have a Ferrari, you start to worry about where you park it.. will some one key it, is it safe, is it going to be abused etc. wherever you park it. This for me is the one down side of ownership. I have "safe" parking spots in town that I use, where I feel comfortable parking it. Granted, Charleston is a smaller city than SF, I have never once worried about being jacked or robbed in the car. I just don't go to the really sketchy places in it, and if I have to drive throught them, I do so quickly.

I have to ask WHY someone would jack you in the FCar and not the Porsche? Strikes me that if they want your $$$, the Porsche is just as likely a target as a Ferrari. Why would someone want to steal your car?
Parts? If sold elsewhere perhaps, market is too small in the US and seller would be known if suddenly a red door pops up on ebay.
Joyride? Most likely.. but how far will they get in a Ferrari before they're seen or spotted?
Steal to export in a container? Put in a GPS unit with a perimeter fence warning.

The Ferrari will get you WAY more attention than the Porsche, most of it good. I wouldn't let the fear deter me personally. Granted I don't know SF area that well...

 

Welcome Richie

There are a very large number of Ferrari owners in the Bay area. To many of us, jacking is not a concern.

My personal philosophy is "you pull a gun in front of my car, I floor the gas and duck." What happens after that depends on whether I am luckier than you or not. Life goes on.

 

I was a little concerned about getting my car keyed when I first bought it since I drive it to work daily and park it on campus (UCSB), people here at work said you can't drive a nice car and park it on campus, some jealous kid will key it. I was pretty worried the first week or so, now I don't give it a second thought.

First time I took the 360 to the grocery store, I was pretty scared that a shopping cart would roll into it and scratch it, after a few times I stopped worrying (but I still park near the top of the hill).

Its just a car, drive it and love it and that fear will go away as you realize its just a car and most people ignore it, a few appreciate it and even fewer have negative comments to make about it. If you worry too much about the car you will stop driving it and leave it in the garage, its too awesome a car to not drive regularly and daily.

I don't think a car jacker will go after a Ferrari over a Porsche, they just want the car for whatever money they can get and the smart ones would actually go after the more common Porsche because it would be easier to dispose of or part out (at least that is my way of thinking that a Ferrari would be harder to dispose of or part out without getting caught). And about muggings, to a street thug if you get out of a car that runs you must be rich, they dont care what kind of car, they want your cell phone and wallet.

 

hold your breathe and go for it, you wont know how it feels until you experience it~~ an italian auto can be troublesome but worth the energy spent, never wasted

 

The Ferrari will get a lot more attention than the 911. I know. I have both.

If you are looking for a Ferrari I would suggest a 458 or newer model (F12 if you want a front engined V12). The 360/430 models are neither classics, having been produced in large numbers, nor very modern cars as they have been eclipsed by the 458 which is a faster, more elegant and a much more sophisticated car.

 

I have been driving Ferraris for almost 30 years in all types of situations, and only had one issue. I was followed home by a couple of dirt bags who obviously had designs on me. Fortunately, I am a firm believer in the second amendment. When it was obvious they were on their way into my garage after being warned not to, I drew on them and they were gone.... I am sure they had a bit of a laundry bill!

Stop being paranoid! Go buy a Ferrari, and enjoy it.

 

I would suggest that you join your local FCA and/or attend some of their events. Ask to ride shotgun during a few drives. Nobody is going to say no. There is no better way to figure this out than experiencing it yourself and asking a number of owners directly for their experiences.

I can say that in the more blue collar neighbourhoods it does cause quite a stir but so does a Porsche. I have never thought my life was in danger or worried about being carjacked. In an upscale neighbourhood nobody seems to care much.

Color is a big factor on how crazy people get. Don't get a bright color like red or yellow if you do not want the extra attention. Go with more subtle colors like blue, silver, grey, black, etc. to blend into traffic more.

 

If you have a locked garage and are properly insured, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't generally take my car to run errands or anything like that, but on occasion I'll drive it to a friend's house and have to park on the street or in a public parking lot. I just make sure to park it properly and on an end spot if possible and don't worry about it. I haven't had any trouble. Don't be one of those d-bags that takes up 2 spots or puts your car on display and I doubt you'll have an issue.

 

You should be fine especially when you're moving. When stopped or parked just be a little more vigilant. Driving between your two places should be pretty secure.

 

I guess I'd be more concerned if you were living in a slum somewhere, but Carmel isn't the roughest place I've visited.

My experience in living San Diego has been that Ferraris aren't all that rare anymore, so it's mostly your perception. (When I lived in Cleveland, you would almost never see one.) I also found black metallic to be less of an attention magnet than red would have been, so you might consider some restraint in the color choice. I didn't take the Ferrari when I knew my trip involved parking downtown.

Finally, a new Porsche 911 or Audi R8 can easily sell for more than a late model used Ferrari or Aston Martin, so unless you're doing something like a 250 GT SWB or Daytona Spyder (which are unattainable for practically anybody) you're not really going that far up the food chain.

I would buy what you want and just plan your drives.

 

Also depends on the type of gun and whether the shooter is just a drunk or someone with serious training.

But I agree Ferraris aren't an unusual sight in the Bay area. I wouldn't spend life worrying about the random lunatic.

 

Looking out for your own personal safety is always a good idea

SF is not a super car friendly environment but Carmel is

I'd be worried about the SF Enviro loons vandalizing your car but if its garaged it should be good

I almost never leave my exotics alone anywhere. They are either garaged, at mechanic, or w a valet w instructions to leave it out front

 

I have lived in your neighborhood all my life and driven Ferraris in it for most of them.

SF is full of Ferrari's, you just don't see them out and about too much.

I grew up in Oakland and there are a few parts there, Richmond etc I wouldn't go but I wouldn't go in my pick up either.

No offense but you are being paranoid.

 

Buy a gun!

 

If you want a low profile, just get a color other than red.

I've had people unable to identify my fairly common 328, simply because they expected all Ferraris to be red.
(I even had one person doubt it was a "real" Ferrari, because it didn't have Lambo doors. )

The general public doesn't really recognize Ferraris all that well.

Avoid a "Magnum" or "Miami Vice" car, and you'll probably be surprised how many people have no idea what it is.
It's certainly less identifiable than a 911.


There'll be a certain amount of hostility, especially in Cali, against anything that isn't a Prius or Chevy Volt.

But, even in (blue) MA and the DC metro area, the positive comments about my lowly 328 have out-numbered the negative ones by at least ten to one.


I would argue that a "common" car is *more* subject to straight theft than a Ferrari.
Ferrari owners are a pretty close-knit and well informed group.

Boost a beige Camry, and it's one of a zillion of 'em floating around. A chisel to the VIN, and it's off to resale.

But people here would instantly recognize a bogus Ferrari VIN, and anyone trying to sell the car would get fingered pretty quickly.
Even unloading the parts would be tricky, as the only people buying parts would likely be aware of the recent theft.

The "chop shops" tend to avoid the exotics. Too easy to identify, too small a market.

My limited edition Celica GT-Four ("AllTrac") wasn't listed by the insurance company as a "high theft vehicle" until it was old enough to be mistaken for a common Celica.


Those films about "container ships to south america" were written decades ago.


You don't have to keep an arsenal to avoid the guys following you. If someone is tailing you, just drive to the local police station ... or donut shop.

I was going to (jokingly) suggest "move out of California". But, these days, those two probably go together.

 

having some knowledge in this realm, the historical reason cops are so closely associated with donut shops is they were just about the only thing open 24 hours a day, and had hot coffee (or something resembling it) all the time. Donut shops started staying open because of the prep time necessary for the AM rush, and the Winchell's Donuts in LA established the 24-hour habit in 1948 - or maybe it's in a cops DNA, as seen here...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orYXKaqkAsM[/ame]

FYI, the Randy's giant donut in the video has been in more than a dozen movies, and can be seen from the air as you land at LAX. It was built the year I was born, maybe that's why I like it...

Bob H

 

Exactly on point. These aren't special here. There are thousands of them in the Bay Area. On one commute home, across the golden gate bridge, there were three Ferraris in line. Drive the car. Don't let the gun nuts scare you. I'd be more worried about the cops than getting jacked.

Art

 

+1

I live in the South Bay and second the comments.

Kai

 

I have relations in both locals except Carmel BTS. Only thing I've cared about is my RADAR missing the laser tag and getting sighted for no front plate in the city: backstreets now.

BTW R8 is a great car, but you should experience a Ferrari at least once.