Ferrari and Apple

Me too.
Been an iPod + iTrip man for the last year...
Works great.

 

I've spent a fair amount of time in Europe, and have always noticed a huge disparity between the way European and American Ferrari owners use their cars. There are exceptions, of course, but few Americans use their Ferraris as touring cars- most are either concours nuts of track rats. Now IF you're using the car for trips, I fully agree that a nav system beats paper maps hands down, but I suspect that a small precentage of US owners use their cars in that way.

 

I got a fair ration of grief from my 'friends' in the Ferrari community yesterday because I took my car in to have the power antenna looked at, it wouldn't go down. I need a new one. "You listen to the RADIO?" Yes, I admit it. When I'm commuting in my car, stuck in traffic, I use my radio. Let the thrashing begin.

I got my wife an iTrip for Christmas and she loves it. Now she can carry her music whereever she goes, and it works very well in the car. Why bother with more hook-up gizmos that are factory installed? I don't need steering wheel controls when I can just pick up the iPod and use it to change songs at will.

 

Your responses are just pure opinion and your entitled to them, but be serious, do you think someone who listens to music in their Fcar cares that you think the engine is the music? LOL, you think Ezno is flipping in his grave......... I think Enzo just want people to drive and enjoy the cars, which is what I do.

So to recap:

You like music in your fcar - great
You don't like music in your fcar - great
You like Nav in your fcar - great
You don't like Nav in your fcar - great
You like Ipod in your fcar - great
You don't like Ipod in your fcar - great

I'd like to see the developement of a touch screen lcd for the control of a connected Ipod via firewire.

 

Most of the 13k KM I've done since I got my 360 last year were driven between Switzerland and the UK, France and Italy... I think we agree about Nav Systems.

So most US drivers just take their garage queens out once a week for a tour of the block? Isn't that sad? Wouldn't Enzo want his cars to be driven (preferably hard)?

 

Yes, it's silly. You'd be surprised (and appalled) at how few US Ferraris are regularly driven.

 

Sad indeed!

Any explanation on why usage patterns differ that much across the pond? Americans are usually very practical people so why buy a car and not use it??

 

My theories: (1) High crime rates, at least in big cities. I've never driven a Ferrari downtown- why be so conspicuous? Besides, although there's little absolute poverty in America, the disparity between rich and poor is huge, so why stir up resentment among those less fortunate? (2) American Ferrari owners all have multiple cars, so most use something more practical day-to-day.

 

At the risk of taking this thread in a social analysis direction here are my thoughts:

My impression is that 'socioeconomic hatred' in many European countries (like France) is very high, probably higher than in the US [which might explain why French F-sales per capita are so low]. Successful people in Europe tend to be much more ‘low key’ than their US counterparts for that reason.

But keep in mind I was referring to 'touring', NOT ‘cruising’ downtown (which doesn't add KMs nor necessarily requires maps!). Most of the touring KMs are done in empty-ish roads far, far away from inner cities!

Furthermore, I do not think that 'multiple car ownership' differs dramatically between Euro and US f-car owners. I personally do not know a single other owner who does not have multiple cars.

 

Now that we've completed the hi-jacking of this thread(!):
I agree that European wealth is more subtle than American, for the most part (it's largely relatively "new" money here, which has always been my theory for why Americans tend to be "showier"). Italians do seem to show their money pretty conspicuously though, in my opinion (I go to Monaco every May for the GP, and it's fairly easy to pick out the Italians strolling around town during race-week by their dress and jewelry).
I don't pretend to know for certain, but I'm pretty firmly convinced that the perceived disparity between rich and poor here is a huge issue, largely because the less fortunate are bombarded daily with televised images of folks living impossibly affluent life-styles- they probably conclude that such things are vastly more common than they are. I'm not saying that similar issues don't exist in Europe, but the problem seems to me (purely subjectively) to be less extreme.
As for the multi-car issue, you may well be right, at least as regards Ferrari owners. I suppose the difference is that in the US it seems as though every middle-class family (at least those who don't live in the middle of a big city) has several cars, albeit not necessarily high-end ones.
Okay, enough sociological ruminations- I'll shut up now.

 

What do you think?
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Since nobody is complaining (yet) let’s keep the highjack.

I am not sure the new/old money issue is the only factor between the US and Europe. You forget that there is no such thing as a ‘European dream’. The American guy who sees a Ferrari in the street is much more likely to say ‘I’ll work my butt off and make money to get one too’ than the average European. In Europe (especially in socialist countries like France and Germany) the typical reaction is ‘that rich bastard is making too much money, the government should increase taxes on them! (and increase my unemployment benefits with the difference…). Economic success in Europe is frequently frowned upon!

Re MC GP: I go there myself regularly and I think it is not very representative in general. People feel more at ease showing off there than they would in their home countries/cities. The concentration of ‘nice’ cars is amazing anyway. My main observation during those weekends has more to do with the taste differences between northern (mainly German) and southern (mainly Italian) people. I have to admit I prefer the Italian style ;-)
Maybe also because Italians give more importance to the ‘bella figura’ (broadly ‘looks’) than the Germans and that could be interpreted as ‘showing off’.


Nevertheless I still don’t see your point about middle-class multi-car families and Ferrari usage!! Since we agree that most Euro F-owners are also mutlicar how would it explain differing usage patterns?

Nor have you addressed the point about ‘cruising’ and touring and how F-cars should be used which how we got into this in the first place!

 

I have had a 'Denison' cradle for my 360 for months now - http://www.everythingipod.co.uk/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51F3447590&rnd=3976711&rrc=N&affl=&cip=81.154.161.81&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=icelink3g4g&cat=&catstr=&bbcam=adwds&bbkid=denison+icelink&x

 

Again, I'm a lawyer, not a sociologist, so I don't pretend to have the answers. I do concede though, that the US-Europe disparity is more than just a matter of new v. old money, although that's a factor. There's also, among other things, the fact that the US is vastly less class-conscious. It's a young country, and eveyone's family came from somewhere else within the last few generations, and that makes our society more egalitarian. Money talks here, not social background, and most Americans like it that way (which is not to say that money is a valid arbiter either, but that's another story).
Your northern v. southern Eupoean point seems well-taken, and I also concede that GP week is probably not the most representative time to analyze this question.
As for touring v. cruising, I fully agree that touring is vastly more satisfying than cruising, but between marginal roads and low speed limits, most Americans are content to just cruise. My honest opinion is that we're more superficial, and making an impression is entirely too important- see comments above re. money v. social class (cruising allows you to flaunt your pricey car and thereby demonstrate your status). Form is more important (and more attainable?) than substance to many folks, including far too many Americans. Maybe that's why I personally don't much care about showing off a car and am really only interested in track events, aligning myself more closely with the track rats than the concours nuts!

 

Ira and ddemet:

Fascinating discussion you're having! May I comment?
First, to get the iPod buiness out of the way; my GTC has only a ca. 1967 'hifi' radio (which I paid $$$$) to repair/restore, and after testing it, it has only been turned on by the concours judges. No chance of steering wheel iPod buttons on this car!

I too am curious about how little 'touring' is done in the US, as opposed to 'cruising'. I do think there's an element of status-seeking involved, but somehow I think there is some other reason Americans chose "the other car" to drive some distance. Is it family size? Is it because we have too much s**t, and we need to carry it with us, so we take the SUV? Are the roads too crowded? None of these sound like real objections tho...
At the risk of annoying many, I'll make a (probably unpopular) assertion: we newly upper-middleclass Americans are not yet comfortable with displaying our wealth (different IMO than "flaunting"); we're uncomfortable when asked (as too many will) "so, how much did that thing cost?" "Man, you must be (too) rich"! Few casual encounters discuss style/technology/balanced performance; it's always "how much?" Club outings (tours) are safe, because everyone is a member of the same tribe. I know there are many more (and more accurate?) reasons, but this may be something to comment on......
Comments? (flames?)

james

 

@Ira: I am not a sociologist either but I find your points valid, which unfortunately reduces the relevance of the social-hatred argument with regards to the EuroAmerican usage pattern diffs. I myself am much more of a track rat (although apparently less than you) than a concours nut (I practically never do that!).

I see the point of getting a Ferrari just for trackdays or races (especially a challenge version) but the vast majority of Ferraris are not trackday specials and I doubt they ever get close to a pit lane (whether in Europe or the US).

May I ask another question (which I should know better and only ask in the politics forum), are you a Democrat?


@James: welcome to the highjack! I see your point but as I was saying in previous posts I very much doubt that Euro upper middle class are more comfortable showing off than US ones! Furthermore, if I understand well the point you are trying to make, US drivers are neither touring (bad roads, speed limits) nor cruising (too self-concious) therefore all they get their Ferraris for is trackdays and concours? SAD!!! ‘These cars were made for driving’ to paraphrase Nancy S. ;-)


Regarding speed limits, check the European section of Fchat. With the exception of German highways speed limits are pretty tough over here too and quite heavily enforced (there goes another argument…). Cars are being confiscated and auctioned off, prison sentences, year-long licence losses…


One possible explanation why Euros ‘tour’ more is the opportunities. Europe is much less dispersed geographically than the US and the terrain can vary very quickly (as well as the type of the destinations). I remember driving back to Switzerland after a trackday at Spa (Belgium) and on the way back (a 6 hour drive) I drove through FIVE different countries… (Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Germany and Switzerland).

Another example of trip I do several times a year is the drive from Switzerland to the Mediterranean which is only a few hours long and offers quite interesting roads and scenery.

 

I thought Ferrari already provide music with its engine sound....

 

I think you're really onto something here; in California/Montana/Texas/etc., you can travel 6 hours, and still be in the same state! Yup; 6 hours, 5 countries. I'll go for that.
Also, as you note, the roads/scenery are perhaps more unique/varied/changing. North America has really succumbed to the "strip mall" virus; every city/town/village looks about the same: McD/Exxon/Walmart/etc.
Why drive hours to be confronted with the same thing?
As for me? I live on an island: no McD/Exxon, total road length of <100miles, and a $35 ferry ride to 'America'. But I am only 1 hour from another country (with McD/Exxon/etc.)
On related note, I've done the trips you describe numerous times, in the seventies at the wheel of minibuses carrying student tour groups, and on my own driving a succession of rent-a-Renaults. Great scenery; not a memorable driving experience!

sigh........

 

James/DDEMET: You both make a good point. It's quite true that one must make a real effort to see different scenery, much less any cultural disparities, in the US. We've become quite homogenized, whereas you really can cross various types of terrain much more easily in Europe. Maybe that does make touring more attractive to Europeans- you don't have more opportunities DDEMET, stricly speaking, but they ceratinly are better ones.
I've been a Ferrari fan since childhood and have owned them for many years, but I still don't claim to fully understand the mystique. I honestly think that many US owners buy the cars just to be able to say that they own them- I guess that makes them feel: (i) racy; (ii) rich; or (iii) both! Driving them, to any significant extent, almost seems secondary to some folks (yes, a sacrilege I know).
Sorry to take so long to reply, but I've been away from the computer since last Friday, and am leaving at dawn tomorrow for the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, so I'll have to abandon you for now. By the way, as for my party affiliation, I'm an Independent, but that's because the Democrats are too right-wing for me! I'm still a relic of the 1960s/1970s despite an affluent upbringing, and should, by all rights, have turned out to be a Republican.
Ira

 

Mine has the best stereo: STEBRO.

 

@James: you should certainly try it again now with a proper car! Plenty of enjoyable trips to be done around here.

@Ira re: show types. There are plenty of guys like that in Europe too. They get the car to feel rich and show off and don’t care about driving it. Sad! I have to admit I don’t see the point of getting a Ferrari if you wont drive it. If I lived in Greece for example (I am Greek) I wouldn’t get one. A) because it is way too flashy there, the only Greek dealership sells half as many cars as each one of the ten dealerships in Switzerland (and Switzerland is half the size of Greece). B) no adequate roads to enjoy it on anyway!

Anyway, I still haven’t heard a convincing argument clearly explaining why American Ferrari owners drive their cars less than European ones. BTW do we have any credible statistic to base this statement on or is it just a ‘general impression’? Maybe we should launch a poll here on Fchat to check?

re: politics. You did sound like that ;-) For my part as a European I don’t understand US politics. Socially (abortion, guns, religion) I feel closer to the Democrats but Economically (taxes, unions, social security, protectionism) I feel closer to the Republicans. Anyway! Enjoy your anti-Capitalist spirit…

 

You are joking - right?