Getting over Mileage Phobia (aka the Garage Queen is Dead)

You say yourself you love every little thing about your car.
So what's wrong with driving / enjoying the car as often as you can ?
All you have to do is walk in the garage, turn the key and off you go...

I know you have very long distances to travel in the states - so why not planning to do some travel with your Ferrari ? Although I understand it is pain in the butt to drive on highways with max. 70 mph in a car that can do 200... You can also take your car for short distances, leave a little bit earlier and go for some extra miles

BTW - my Speciale is 5 weeks old now and has 1500 miles on it...

 

I think all new owners have this phobia - I have had 5 Ferraris in the last 8 years - I think I got over it after the third car - now I don't pay attention to miles except for maintenance - currently have 2 F's with over 8,000 miles and a Mas GTS with over 10,000 mile - all put on by me - you will get much more pleasure out of ur cars when u get over this

 

I have a Ferrari FF, use it daily, kids school, work, supermarket etc, these cars are made to be used, I actually think that not using them is actually worse for the car!
People are worried about resale value etc, but then I ask why spend so much money and not enjoy?
Purchase art

 

I also have a 2012 (coupe) and during yesterday's Fcar run with the FCA just hit over 8,000 miles. For me, the trick to getting use and overcoming the mileage fear was to have planned events with other Fcar owners. If you did just one of these events a month driving 200 miles, you'd use your car 2,400 miles a year. Some Fcar runs are closer to 300 and challenge endurance and skills. There is an event from LA to Yosemite and back in May that will cover more than 600 miles in total.

In comparison, I ordered a new 355 spider back in 2,000 and didn't do these types of events. The car was a "garage queen" and after 18 months and with 1,200 miles I sold the car...because I thought "what's the point of having this car?" I still respect my 12 458, it's value, where she gets parked and worry that I'm putting too many miles on the car....but those worries seem to have far less impact then they did in the past. The result is that I get to use the car and enjoy it more.

The post is not to promote the FCA, which is a wonderful organization but to use that as an example of "an" organization that may allow you to go and drive your Fcar.

 

Mine is not a mileage issue it's a "where to park it issue"
That's the only consideration I have when deciding what car to take.
Eric

 

Me too.. I wouldn't park it on the street.
I always have to Search a closed Parking area.
But I almost drive her everyday, everytime I can.
Without giving care about miles/km.

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The best line I ever read on FChat about not driving your Ferrari to maintain low mileage or resale value is:

"It is like not sleeping with your hot girlfriend because you want to 'save her' for her next boyfriend."
(or something like that).

Priceless advice in my book!

 

My situation went backwords and I must blame it on Location. I've owned 5 F cars. My first was a 246Gt purchased in 72 and in two yrs put 35,000 miles on it. While I owned it when the 308's came out used it a lot ,but not like the 246 until I realized it was a much more comfortable car for daily use and sort of put the Dino away. The 360 was purchased used some time ago with only 1500 miles on it,but living in Co. with cold,ice,hail it was a psychological issue so it became a garage queen. I enjoy the car now that we have moved to Fl.,but have accrued on 11,000 miles. It is a keeper,but I think I want a 458 coupe.

 

I love my Italia. I put on 4500 miles during the first year. I don't mind putting on the miles. Any additional depreciation is just a cost of ownership.

I look forward to the end of the winter so that I can get the car out of the garage and go driving again. We already have a long road trip scheduled for early May.

 

I have owned 3 Ferrari's, the 458 being my 3rd. The first, a 360 bought in 1999 was sold in 2006 with 5,000 miles on it,, the second , a 430, purchased when trading the 360 was sold when buying the 458, February 2012, it had 5,000 miles on it, and as of today, around two years of driving the 458, I just crossed 6,000 miles ( a major milestone - did not know the odometer went that high -lol).

The back story goes like this. First and foremost parking the car dictates when driving. Secondly, with my first Ferrari , it was like purchasing a unique and rare piece of art, to be preserved and admired. When I was told the 430 was "technically" better than the 360 and I had to find out, so drove more aggressively but not necessarily more often. The reason for the low miles is the fact my cars are stored in one state where I enjoy driving them and I spend most of my time in another state driving other cars.

Things seemed to change with the purchase of the 458. I am "older", and realize if I don't drive it, my kids might inheirit the car is pristine condition (screw them - lol). Seriously, I suspect much of the mileage issue has to do with MONEY. I think those with enough money don't care about mileage, but there are still (arguably) the majority who wonder about resale and equate each mile with dollars. Best

 

Hi Guys,

Great thread. Of course the millage fears aren't purely Ferrari issues. Any 'exotic' with over 10k is considered high miles. Which is BS for modern cars.

I would suggest the issue with miles is more on the dealer side of things vs the owners. The dealers use 'high miles' as a excuse to beat the seller up when selling/ trading. Such is the way...

I am gearing up to add a 458 to the garage and may use the 'high miles' issue to my advantage and specifically look for a high miles car. One of the advantages is that I won't care about the miles!

A question for Europeans: Is the miles fear purely an American thing or do Europeans suffer the same malady?

 

I do not "suffer" this malady
My F430 has 50.000+ km, and it's still quite new.
If you love your cars and take care about her, she'll have a loooong life.




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To own a Ferrari and live in Rome....that must be magnificent.

 

As a first time F car owner I have already put 13,500 kms on my 14 Italia in just 7 months. Tracked it twice. I expect the driving to continue. I simply don't pay much attention to resale, as I figure I am screwed regardless, so I might as well drive it. We have a three year (unlimited mileage) warranty, might as well use the car without fear. Also if in three years the car is worth zero, I won't starve or any thing like that.

 

Yeah it is

Road conditions is a drastic problem for me.
A pebble can easily let me fly!
And it's not good to my ears..
And, I think that in Asia they don't have this kind of problem
Referred to our UAE friends


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I think you will see the "mileage issue" be less of an issue with recent more reliable, more daily driver-type cars like the 458. I drive mine as much as I can. The problem is I just don't have enough time!

 

A 458 is coming for me too, 8000 miles approximately.
I have a lot of miles to put in her


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It was James Glickenhaus (owner/builder of the P4/5 and "Napolis" on Fchat) that has written in his signature:

"Not putting miles on your Ferrari is like not having sex with your Girl Friend so she'll be more desirable to her next Boy Friend."

 

I agree. The whole ethos that a Ferrari (or really any modern car) isn't reliable is an out dated myth.

I am 100% guilty of living in fear of the millage troll. Yes, its because of the added value loss. That mindset has diminished the enjoyment and that sucks.

For that reason I will consider 'higher miles' 458s so I can drive guilt free.

 

Well for the record...Mr. Glickenhaus is (probably) a billionaire.

 

Yes that was it-- thank you for finding it!

 

Sometimes the "fantasy" is better than the reality , so with some relationships it may be a good thing (lol), just not true with a Ferrari. Best

 

Yes, I agree! Drive them. I am about to drive my 458 to PHX will put about 1200 miles driving both ways.