Is there a Ferrari Owner that will have an interview with me?

Hi Max: I'm fairly new to Ferrari ownership as I've only had my 91 Testarossa for less than a year, but I'd be happy to help you if I can.....Charlie

 

Pm Pap348 or Eurospec they are fellow Australians they could help, maybe even email you some pics

 

Max, I would also try Ferrari Fixer, Scud or Stephens. The are all countrymen of yours, very knowledgable about Ferrari's.

 

I'm willing if you are willing to include a lowly twin turbo v8 in your project...

 

LOL... I've never heard anyone speak so humble about an F40.

 

Max
Why not post your question in the Australian regional section? There are some local owners in Adelaide that may be able to help you out.

Stephen

 

Im sure if you post the questionnaire here , you will get more answers than you can take.

 

feel free to send it to me also. I would be glad to help.

 

You can always post the questions here, I'm sure plenty of people will respond (unless question one is "how much money do you make to afford a car like that").

 

max, gladly.

 

Come to think of it i have a project due to =)

 

I have a few questions, but feel free to write as much as you want about your car.

Why did you buy a Ferrari over other prestigious cars?
Sound, feel, style and the fact that, as tall driver, I fit really well in the car.
What are the features that you like about your car?
Love the styling, the lines, the glass engine compartment cover, oh, did I mention the sound...??

Why did you choose this particular Ferrari?
This is my third and it was chosen to match the roads and style of my driving, the fact, as above, that I fit really comfortably in the car, both head and leg room and shoulder room as well.

Do you get much support from Ferrari in terms of service and maintenance? Did not buy new and use independant service rather than dealer.

What do you think of the Ferrari Brand, do you buy other products and/or merchandise? No

What does it feel like to own a Ferrari?
Its very interesting. So many people love Ferrari's and its fun to see/hear the reaction, which, in my case, has been very positive.

Are the running costs (including insurance) expensive compared to other cars?
Not other performance cars, but yes, high compared to Honda's etc.

When do you drive it, do you allow others to use it?
I allow people to sit in it for pictures, have taken strangers for rides but do not allow them to drive it. Friends,yes, if I am in the car!

What sort of reaction do you get from other people that see your car (eg. Pedestrians)?
Lots of thumbs up, lots of smiles and waves, and certainly a lot of admiring looks
Ferrari ownership has been a great experience, mostly because the car is so much fun to drive. There are lots of great cars out there right now, but Ferrari remains a top choice, and in my opinion, for good reason.

Good luck with your paper, John

 

Why did you buy a Ferrari over other prestigious cars?

the sound of the engine is unique, it is innovative (first to implement the f1 transmision amongst other firsts), the design is breathtaking. and on top.... it s a ferrari

What are the features that you like about your car?

that i don t get that "empty" feeling before 4000rpm. the minute that you touch the acceleration, the car starts to sound like a beast about to attack

Why did you choose this particular Ferrari?

well, in my opinion, the 355 is the best looking ferrari of the modern ones. that apart, if i had to pick one regardless of money i would go for the F40 any day of the week. you, the wheel and the kevlar....

Do you get much support from Ferrari in terms of service and maintenance?

yup. local ferrari dealer (greece) has been great. they really helped me so far with the car

What do you think of the Ferrari Brand, do you buy other products and/or merchandise?

nope, i feel like i have the ultimate merchandise item of them all.... the car seriously now, i have the odd item but they are gifts from friends

What does it feel like to own a Ferrari?

hard to describe. you don t feel something to actualy own the car. they look great and all, but you actualy feel great when you drive them. really hard to explain

Are the running costs (including insurance) expensive compared to other cars?

definately. i think many people buy a ferrari simply because they can afford it completely disregarding the maintenance... i should know... i own one of the most expensive as far as maintenance goes.... 355f1 spider

When do you drive it, do you allow others to use it?

just best friends and CLOSE relatives, and that only if i m next to them. it s not your typical every day car and many want to drive one just to feel it. they don t know what to expect

What sort of reaction do you get from other people that see your car (eg. Pedestrians)?

definately positive. my photograph must be all over athens...lol, i mean mobiles, cameras whatever. other than that pedestrians have stopped from crossing giving me priority and the like, i ve been asked by bikers to hit the 8000rpm mark and finaly, best of all, a girl has asked me to marry her with her bf next to her. needless to say, i didn t.

 

I love it when schools include projects regarding things we love. The best way to get students to learn in my view.

 

2000 360 6spd

 

I've owned a 328 GTS for about 4 years now. It was my first Ferrari, so keep that in mind when you read my answers. I am just an average middle-class working joe.

Why did you buy a Ferrari over other prestigious cars?

The phrasing you used implies I bought it for the prestige. That's not the case for me. I bought a Ferrari because I always wanted one, specifically a 308. As a child of the 80s, I saw Magnum PI driving one weekly, I saw one in "National Lampoon's Vacation" with Christie Brinkley, and it was the car of choice for posters and such. The 308 has a primal shape to it that just screams "sportscar"


What are the features that you like about your car?

It's loud and handles like a gocart. Certainly there are faster/cheaper/better/ ways to get around, but the Fcar puts a smile on my face.

Why did you choose this particular Ferrari?

I own a 328 GTS in Grigio (charcoal grey). I chose this car because I was smitten by the color. When I started looking, I thought I'd get a red one, but the color really made the lines of the car pop out. In addition, the car was a local machine, in my price range, and was well-known (in a good way) by the local mechanics. I originally was looking at 308s, but moved to a 328 for the additional power and evolution of the design.

Do you get much support from Ferrari in terms of service and maintenance?

No. In my experience, the dealers don't have an interest in those who are running older, but not historic, Ferraris. I take my car to a local independent. The real support for the DIY type comes from independents and from Ferrarichat/similar boards. The internet has made ownership easier -- I couldn't image trying to run one of these cars without the community of users here and the sponsors.

What do you think of the Ferrari Brand, do you buy other products and/or merchandise?

Shirts and ballcaps are fine. Ferrari logo'd alarm clocks, lighters, teddy bears, laptops and the like really annoy me.

What does it feel like to own a Ferrari?

People who have only driven the cars think they get it, but they don't. I still always look back at it when I'm walking away. Driving it is a thrill, but there's always a bit of Russian Roulette feeling too when you consider that someone else's mistake on the road might leave you searching for an Unobtanium part and looking at at 4 or 5 digit (or more!) repair bill.

Are the running costs (including insurance) expensive compared to other cars?

Insurance is the same as my normal car, and so is gas mileage/costs. The maintenance is very expensive due to parts costs and a more aggressive maintenance schedule.

When do you drive it, do you allow others to use it?

My 328 is my primary vehicle. I use it for commuting, shopping, socializing, etc. I put an average of 10,000 miles a year on my car.

On a very limited basis I allow others to drive it.

What sort of reaction do you get from other people that see your car (eg. Pedestrians)?

My car is subtle for a Ferrari. The grey really helps it blend in. I haven't noticed any particular reactions.

 

Here are a few more answers from a 55 year old teenager.

> Why did you buy a Ferrari over other prestigious cars?

Always loved Ferrari. Lamborghini is great too but perhaps a little too cutting-edge flash for me. Besides, Ferrari's in F1 and I enjoy and participate in F1. Porsche builds a great car but there's three on every street corner. Then again, I bought another prestigious car too. My daily driver is a late model Mercedes SL500. Great car. 100% trouble free - just the way a daily driver should be.

The only sound better than an early Ferrari is a first generation Countach. Come to think of it, both use Webers and the carbs make more good noise than the exhaust!

> What are the features that you like about your car?

Reliability and elegant, if dated, styling. Pretty nice power too. Oh, BTW, I drive a '79 308GTB - silver with blue leather. #28133 Have a look in the gallery section on Robert's 308GTB Register: http://www.308gtb.de/

> Why did you choose this particular Ferrari?

It is a European specification car, originally delivered to Germany, complete with dry sump, carbs and deep chin spoiler. I prefer the berlinetta over the pseudo-spider. Complete service history back to first owner and a good PPI bill of health.

> Do you get much support from Ferrari in terms of service and maintenance?

Absolutely. No noise about it being a "Euro". Great people in service. Every older Ferrari 308 owner learns that the drive train is Ferrari and the rest is, if beautifully designed, Fiat and Alfa Romeo. The secret is to buy the Fiat and Alfa spares at 1/3 the cost of the same part in a yellow Ferrari box.

> What do you think of the Ferrari Brand, do you buy other products and/or merchandise?

Ferrari makes more money on its brand than it does on its cars. That's okay with me because they put the profits back into R&D. What else do I own in red? Oh, a couple of shirts and a jacket or two. Wife has a red umbrella with a prancer on it somewhere. Was more into that early on.

> What does it feel like to own a Ferrari?

That is a really tough one. How does one describe a "feeling"? The biggest thing I remember about that is when I bought my car back in 1997. This is what I thought, "Wow. I'm driving a Ferrari. Wait! I'm driving MY Ferrari!" Somewhat intoxicating.

> Are the running costs (including insurance) expensive compared to other cars?

Running costs for my 308 have been minimal. I change the oil and filters. I need to do the cam belts now. That will be about US$100 and done in my garage at home. I believe the recommendation is a change every 3 years or so. My A/C needs a charge but it is an R134a system now (read: resupply from WalMart) so the cost is cheap - and that is typical of any older hobby car. Insurance is LESS than for either my M-B SL500 or my wife's Land Rover.

> When do you drive it, do you allow others to use it?

I haven't driven it as much as I should but now that I live in Houston, I will drive it more. I allow others to drive it but not borrow it. A great part of the Ferrari experience is in sharing the enjoyment. Because the older cars have no rev-limiter other than the right foot, the engine can be easily abused by the careless driver. In first gear, my 308 will go from idle to red line in under 2 seconds! We're just not quick enough to adequately prevent damage in that scenario - at least I'm not. And I am sure, someone else driving it for the first time isn't either!

> What sort of reaction do you get from other people that see your car (eg. Pedestrians)?

One usually gets the question, "Nice car dude. How much did it cost?" I answer, "About the same as a house." No one has ever offered to race me and of course, I wouldn't do it anyway. One big misconception is that girls are attracted to Ferraris and their owners. Such is NOT the case. Teenage BOYS are more interested in my car than any other demographic group - and I am definately NOT into boys in that way. People do seem to love the 308 when it is on the street. I don't enjoy the attention at all but I do like sharing the excitement that the car causes.

That's it.

regards,

rick
'79 308GTB silver/blue

 

I have a few questions, but feel free to write as much as you want about your car.

> Why did you buy a Ferrari over other prestigious cars?

I love sports cars, and Ferrari seems to have a purity of purpose about it that no other marque does. No SUVs, no sedans -- just fast, sexy, expensive, rare sports cars for no other reason.

> What are the features that you like about your car?

Aesthetics and the driving experience, in particular the sound. It's a very visceral experience. Most modern cars work hard to make you forget there's an engine along for the ride. Ferrari seems the opposite - you revel in the sounds, smells and sight (Ferrari engines always look beautiful) of the engine.

> Why did you choose this particular Ferrari?

I went with the 328 GTS because it typifies the Ferrari 'look' to me -- very low (44 inches tall), curvaceous, and free of all the electronic gizmos that dilute the driving experience on newer cars. It also has a reputation as a well-built Ferrari, and while cars are my hobby I also have a career and can't really have the car in the shop every week. The 328 has proved reliable, despite its somewhat dated performance numbers (0-60 in 6 seconds is quick, but all manner of newer sports cars will have it for lunch on the straightaways.)

> Do you get much support from Ferrari in terms of service and maintenance?

No, but I have an independent technician who does the work for me. I have bought several Ferrari parts, so in that sense I suppose I look to Ferrari UK for spares.

> What do you think of the Ferrari Brand, do you buy other products and/or merchandise?

Not sure quite what this means, but I think it's fine to have things like caps, coffee mugs, polo shirts and such with the logo.

> What does it feel like to own a Ferrari?

Very privileged, knowing you're having a bit of adventure in a rare and beautiful car while everyone else is taking the safe road through life in Japanese sedan. You also have a fraternity of owners who understand the experience. Any other car I've owned has been easily bought or sold, but the hunt required to find the 'right' Ferrari, and the attachment you develop with it after attending to its various needs, makes it more special than, say, my ex-Porsche or Mercedes, both of which were excellent cars.

> Are the running costs (including insurance) expensive compared to other cars?

Yes. Not so much insurance, but maintenance is expensive. However, the 328 is an older car, so there are some items that have required replacement due to age, not simply due to the car being a Ferrari. The $3K-$4K triennial timing belt service is a bit much to swallow, but this is common knowledge and anyone who has done any research should know this going in.

> When do you drive it, do you allow others to use it?

No, although I'd allow another Ferrari owner to drive it. It demands mechanical respect, the sort of thing most everyday-appliance drivers lack.

> What sort of reaction do you get from other people that see your car (eg. Pedestrians)?

Usually a stare, occasionally a 'nice car' comment when I'm stopped in it and have the top off. I suspect most men have thought at one time or another about buying a Ferrari, so when one of these cars rolls around it wakes something in them. Oddly, people who know zero about cars, and probably haven't ever driven a standard gearbox, are sometimes in awe of it just because of the brand.