Has this happened to you?

This has never happened before (at least not to my knowledge) but it happened twice in the last 2 weeks. Once at my mechanic's shop and once at a detail shop. I had stopped by the garage to check on the progress of a repair when I noticed one of the mechanics opening the door to my car and letting some guy sit behind the wheel. When I walked over to the car, the mechanic looked a little flustered and quickly introduced me to the guy sitting in my car as the owner. I just went into my usual spiel on what type of Ferrari this was and left it that way.
Then 2 weeks later, I am going to pick up my car from a detail shop. I notice the car is parked outside, ready for me to pick up. Then I notice there is a family(husband, wife and son) taking turns having their pictures taken behind the wheel of my car. As I am walking up, the husband meets me about half way from the car saying, 'I hope you don't mind but we just had to get some pictures of your car.' All the while, the wife and son are climbing in and out of the car taking pictures of each other. I say something like, 'Go ahead, I know the feeling.' But inside I am saying, 'I just wished they had asked'. Now I have never turned down anyone who has asked for a ride, photo or sit in the car. In fact, it gives me joy to see the smiles on their faces. What are your feelings or experiences.

 

I couldn't have agreed more.....

And yes, it has happened to me before....No harm done. I just wish to have an opportunity to "share" rather than being taken.

 

Branko,
This is not Ferrari experience, but it is related to your question.
In 1990, my wife and I bought a 135 year old Victorian--an 'Italianate', and VERY needy. I brought my crew in and we began to work the place over. After about 8 months, the old girl began to look stunning, attracting attention in many (sometimes embarrasing) ways. After 2 years, we had restored the 5 acres of gardens and lawns, too.
It was not uncommon to find a family of strangers picnicking alongside the creek--my backyard. Beer cans, BBQ, trash, cars parked on the grass, kids running around screaming.
It was not uncommon to find strangers strolling the grounds morning, noon and night, sometimes even peeking through the windows to look inside.
One time we were eating lunch, and I hear the front door open, then voices in the foyer. I go look--it's two women I've never seen before. Surprised, and a little put-out, I asked them what they were doing. "Just looking." one replied. "Oh, really?", I said, "This is my home!" 'That's O.K.", they replied, "We won't be long!" I guided them both out the front door with some angry comments.
My wife and I are both very generous people and we love sharing the place with photographers, artists, magazine/newspaper reporters and--yes--even Joe-Blow (as long as he doesn't just 'show up', and as long as he hasn't brought along 5 kids and a couple of dogs).
You sound like a generous guy, too, offering rides, etc. to strangers and the curious. We ended up having to put a 6' fence around all five acres, just to get some control over who was on the grounds, and when.
I don't think my problem is/was too distant from yours. You need to get some control, too. I would suggest that--before you turn your car over to any service shop--you make very plain to the owner of the shop who it is that owns the car, and your concerns.
Sorry for being long-winded.

 

NOBODY gets in my cars w/out invitation- any where, any time, any how. I extend that to all my sportscars. I only have them in 2 shops.

 

Gotta agree with Karen. No one gets in my car without my permission!
That being said I have let countless numbers of kids [young and old] sit in either seat and have their pictures taken. I have also never refused anyone a ride and have even let a few [known to me] folks put my car through the paces.
Standing beside have a picture taken but if my mechanic let folks get in the car without my approval I woudl have a serious discusion with them, second time I would be finding a new mechanic, detailer, etc.

 

I would never dream of doing such a thing, but you know people.....
Its never happened to me and I'm not sure how I'd react. you don't want to alienate people and reinforce the "ferrari owners are aholes" opinion but then again its your car and they didn't ask and...."Hey, WTF you doing in my car?!?!?!?

 

I have had them take pictures standing beside my car which was no problem. But for them to "invite themselves" into my car without asking is a huge problem. I haven't had it happen yet but people should have the respect to ask and if they don't, then, make sure they KNOW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wow, you guys are a lot nicer then me.

The last house I owned was on 2 acres backing up to some undeveloped land and the previous owner used to let kids with their dirt bikes and ATVs roll through to get access. I tried to put a stop to that. My main concern was liability in the event of some kind of accident. I'd just see people walking through my backyard out of the blue and got pretty good at chasing them down and confronting them. Like you, I eventually had to erect an 8ft high fence around the property, complete with security cameras and commercial motion spotlights. That took care of the problem but cost me a lot. If someone would have opened the door to my house while I was there, things would get nasty. Get a big dog.

I used to have problems with people when I owned an NSX. People are generally rude and you need to make it known when you drop the car off that you will not tolerate any garbage. I'm not much for kids, so if I saw someone's kid climbing around the interior of my Ferrari, watch out.

RMX

 

Quarter, do you have any pics of this house of yours?

RMX

 

And he asked. NOT. See if they would be as happy w/ a photo WITH your car- not in it.
Roger Mandeville w/ my Miata
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Let me consider this.
I need to run some errands. Check back 2:30-3:00 Pdt.

 

I think you handled it well with the people. The SHOPS, on the other hand. I would have let them have it. If you can't be comfortable leaving your car there, you can't do business there. That type of behavior is completely unnacceptable. If I leave my car, any car, at a shop, I fully expect them to be respectful and only let people in the car that need to be. Not leave it outside, unnattended, open for anyone to sit in, climb on, vandalize, steal things out of, etc...

 

See link below.
We haven't lived in the place since we opened as a B&B about 1993. We stopped that craziness/fun last year when we decided to retire and sell. Otherwise, I wouldn't do this. Under the circumstances, I can't see the harm.


http://www.bnb4sale.com/sale/california/whiterosemansioninn.html

 

I dont want to imagine how much of a prick i would turn into if i saw complete strangers letting complete strangers walk around, touch and, God forbid, GET INTO my car. Whether it was my Ferrari or my Honda. They have no right PERIOD.

Eye for an Eye.. I would return to the shop with some friends of mine, and walk into their private accounting offices and go thru their desk drawers and play with their safe, all the while taking pictures. They would have no leg to stand on. Let them see how it feels. I bet they wouldnt like it much.

I love creative revenge. Its more fun then yelling.

 

I parked my Ferrari at the far end of the Best Buy parking lot one afternoon,
and it was nice out so I left the windows rolled down.
When I came back, I found that a homeless family had moved in.

 

I would cease to do business with them for that...write them a letter explaining why. When you put your suit in the cleaners do they let anyone
try it on? No. It was completely unprofesional what that detail shop did.

 

My toy car is a 356 Porsche speedster replica.Even though is not a Ferrari it attracts A LOT of attention. People are taking pictures all the time,asking questions,and some times i have give rides to a few.Up until today every body has been very nice and polite.Now if I see somebody is seating in my car with out my permision,well.............he better be a very good runner.I will just tell him he has 5sec to desappear and If I am able to see him after the 5 secs I will chase him down.You got the point.I would't take my car there again.You did got.You were nice about it.I will let the shop have it.

 

You need to have one of these signs for your car.
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So have the pride to detail your own car and no pesky families will be swarming around it.

 

It'd bother me that the shop didn't bother asking if I cared. But honestly, it's nothing that I'd worry about. I've never owned a Ferrari but with my Maserati when people wanted to sit in it and take pictures it made my day. The feeling of making somebody else happy in my opinion is the greatest feeling in the world. Again each person is different. I know people who would throw their keys to their Ferrari's and say have fun with her. And there's others who will get onto me if I sit in it the wrong way. They paid for their car so they can make the decision but when it comes to me, I'm all for letting other people enjoy the sight, sitting in it, giving rides, etc pretty much anything but driving it.

 

Well, I definitely enjoy letting people, especially kids, sit in my 328. But without asking permission?

What I would say to anyone doing that is something like:

"If you had asked me first for permission to sit in my car, I would have gladly said 'yes'. But since you didn't, I have this to say to you: you don't EVER get in ANYONE ELSE's car, exotic or otherwise, without first asking permission. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

 

Weird comment.

How about I walk up to YOUR car, open the door, screw with the dash, press all sorts of buttons, move the seat, and THEN act like nothing is wrong when you walk up to me and ask me what I am doing.

A good detail job can take an entire day. Ever consider that not everyone has the time to do this? What's so strange about paying someone to perform a service for you? It's called a car detail, not car detail + sit-in car show for everyone and their uncle.

Have the pride? What are you even talking about? Lol
Ok, [/dose of reality]


As for a funny similiar story. Back when I had a C5 vette I once had a funny thing happen when I went to grab my car from a parking lot inside the French Quarter. As I get about 30ft from the entrance to the garage I hear some really loud rap music. As I get closer I see the hood of my car. Then I get a little bit closer and I see that my driver-side door is open. What a minute! The obnoxiously loud rap music is coming from my car! So I walk up and see the garage attendant sitting in my car absolutely jamming to some music. Singing, moving around, the works.

I approach the car and he turns the music down(not recognizing that this was my car he was sitting in). I go, 'hey man, that's a pretty nice car!' He replies 'no **** dawg, this car is on fiyah'

I just laugh, pull out the ticket stub and say, 'aight, well you mind putting that fire out and letting me in my car? I gotta get outta here, Im starving!'

He quickly turns off the music, embarrassed, and gets out. I kinda thought the whole thing was hilarious because the guy meant no harm and felt really silly. Funny thing was that I knew that song on the radio. So as I shut the door I just said, 'hey, any idea when this CD is coming out?' He just goes, 'oh, you want it, my boy already burned it to CD and I can hook you up for 5.'

But that's another story

 

Regardless, it's not the kind of business we want at First National.

 

Very lovely home! But no matter how lovely a house, I still can't believe nor accept the notion that someone would tresspass thoughtlessly. Some people, likely proletariats, have this notion that anything nice should be public property!

 

can i get an invitation to the back seat ??