Is that a kit car?

I always wanted to tell them, "Yes, it's a kit car but I put a Ferrari engine in it to make it more realistic."

 

Fact is that the general public is not very car savy. We (car nuts) assume that most people know what we know, or have a general knowledge of cars.... but the fact is that they don't.

I've gotten the kit car question. I get a lot of people who have no idea what a 308 is... I got person the other day who asked me if it was "the new one."

Most people don't have a clue... and if they do have somewhat of a clue they can't fatham that regular people actually own cars like Ferraris and they go to regular gas stations just like everyone else.

 

Question: "is that a kit car ?"

Answer: "hell yeah"

it saves you the time of them then asking to sit in it, and having you open every compartment, and of course the good ole, well do a spin out!!

I was sitting at a light the other day, and a guy drives up, and says "Nice Car" and I said thank you...

he then goes and states, hey man, do a burn out!

I dont get it.... maybe its just me.. does everyone else do burn outs on request ??

 

I forgot who said it here, but they put it brilliantly.

It went something along the lines of; When you have a fake, they ask if it's real, when you have the real thing, they ask if it's a fake.

Unreal.

 

How true!

So why is it some of you get so 'offended' with some of the questions asked?

What difference does it make if some think it's Memorex; it's no big deal!!

 

I got a nice compliment on my Lotus last week.





That would be my Lotus Dino 308 GT4.








Yeah, I know, all those wedges look alike anyway.

 

Just a thought: If you really want to throw them off, take off the ferrari badges and put pontiac fiero badges on the 308.

My car has pininfarina badges behind the doors, often people don't notice the other badges and tell me that they have never heard of a pininfarina car...

Art S.

 

Tell them the Fiero-based replicar is in the shop so you have to drive this instead!

 

I had one guy ask me if mine was a kit while I was sitting at a light. I turned it around and asked if his old Celica was a kit car..because it so rare to see one outside of the junkyard. He didn't like that too much..but I was in a really bad mood and had no time for dumbass questions.

 

You should reply...'no....my turn...is that a GLASS eye?'

 

If he actually thought it might be a kit car, what's the point of telling him its real.

 

Good question! Sometimes I find it tough to stomach posts that: 1) proclaim that owning a ferrari is only about enjoying the beauty and thrill of the car, but then 2) moan that commoners can't recognize how good their taste is. . .

 

I've never been asked if my 348 spider is a kit, but I have had people confuse it for a Testarosa and a Lamborghini (???)

I've been surprised at some of the people who actually knew what they were looking at and were able to (I dare say) accurately tell me something about the car. The first was a nice woman probably in her early 40's who approached me "Hey, that's a 348 Spider isn't it?" "Is it true that changing the timing belts is a real bear because of the longitudinal orientation of the engine?"

The MOST interesting one was at a gas station when a very young girl, well, old enough to drive, just kept walking around the car, circling it like a buzzard. She was looking underneath it, from the back, peaked over the passenger side door..she finally piped up "'94 348 Spider?" I answered: "Why yes it is!" (Wow, she even knew the year?!?!) Then she says "Yeah, I thought so, you have the black panel on your engine cover as opposed to it being painted body color like on the '95's"

What do you guys think when someone asks you: "Wha d you pay for it?"

That, I think is rude.

Mike

 

As one person mentioned most people don't know much about cars except that some are unique like yours and it catches their eyes. Instead of being disturbed, try educating them on the fine designs of Ferrari. Let's face it there aren't that many Ferrari's or other exotic cars driving around, especially in certain parts of the country. Many people wished they had one, so copying is a form of flattery, wish Ferrari understood that. People try to copy something that they can't afford. Just look at the number of copied items in your own home.

Instead of many of you being mad about copies of the Ferrari being driven around, you should take it as a compliment. The Ferrari has fantastic lines and many people wish that they can afford them but can't. Get off your high morals and just enjoy the pleasure that you are one of a few lucky individuals who can afford one. Get off your pedestals and share the experience and educate your fellow man.

I for one built and drive a replicar of the Daytona Spyder. Inexperienced, I persoanlly built one 15 yrs ago and drive it to this day. It's won more trophys than I know what to do with them. NCCC regional concours champion winner several times over. Now could I have bought a real Ferrari, Yes but a lower cost 308/328, but that wasn't the style that caught my eye, it was the Daytona Spyder, something I couldn't afford and most Ferrari owners can't afford. To this day many "Ferrari experts" complement me on my car and can't tell it's not the real thing until they really study it, reads my sign, or someone tells them. Then all of a sudden it's a "cheap kit car". I have my sign with my car when I display it stating proudly that it's a tribute to the lines of Ferrari, but has the dependability of GM drivetrain (Vette).

So once again enjoy your car, take what people say in stride and educate them. See you on the road to Pebble Beach!

 

I always give the same answer: 'Not sure..I havn't gotten the bill yet'

No one has pursued me on it after that answer

 

driving home from work-come to a light -the car next to me had 2 guys in it -they said -qoute -is that one of them new mustangs-i asked why-its got one of them horses -i said it was a ferrari-they said are you sure man-i said -your right it is a new mustang-ps it was my 360-the guys at work loved the story-always say how is that mustang-

 

I suppose if you tell people it's one of 'dem dare' new Mustangs they won't ask how much you paid for it! LOL

 

Always people want to know the gas mileage it does. I say "don't know, speedo/counter is broken" or "filling always costs a 100" but one elderly guy kept persistent and I told him 1:7 on longer trips (1 liter/7 km) and he was dissappointed and had hoped for a worse number so he could brag about it to his wife, how he made such a wise decision to keep the old but well maintained economy car.

 

when I had my 348

I once had two hot chicks at a bar tell me there was a lamborgini outside.

Then there were the guys at hooters trying to pick up the waitresses by telling them that it was their ferrari outside.

 

It can't be as bad as owning an original Shelby Cobra.

There have got to be thousands of Cobra kits for every original car.

Spend the $$$ on a real Cobra, and even car buffs assume your Cobra is a kit.

 

I smile. I finally gave in and put a small "Ferrari" oposite the Dino GT on my car. That stopped the "kit car" questions and sparked some very nice discussions. Lots of people wish and are not afraid to say so. I was one of them! It is fun to educate people.

There is nothing you can do about the "Burn Out" question. Just smile and motor on. You know that you can pass them eventually no matter what they are driving; or wish they were driving. Ferrari's are not dragsters; they are high speed road cars. Ferrari doesn't spend time on unbreakable clutches, transmissions and rear axels. Let the dragsters have their fun. We will have ours.

John

 

Good post! I agree completely. Nothing at all wrong with a replica, some are amazingly well done.

When I owned a 308GTB, I got the kit car question fairly often. With the Daytona, never. Then again, everyone recognizes a 308 but only real car nuts have a clue what a Daytona even is.



Terry

 

A friend has a real 289 FIA Cobra, and was asked if it was real.

He told the guy it was, but the guy turned around and called him a lier because his car was metal and "Everyone knows that real Cobras are fiberglass"

There's a braintrust for ya !