money & family

Different situation here. I'm not the only person in the family who talks about Ferrari. My mom, dad, and sister talks about them all the time. There are time when we would chill out in the garage looking at our Ferrari and talk about them. I don't see anything wrong wanting money in order to buy things that you enjoy.

 

We talk about Ferraris not because we're obsessed with money. We talk about Ferraris because we're obsessed with FERRARIS.

I've been obsessed since I was 13 years old. So, my family and friends know it's about the cars. Within the next 2 years, I plan to have my first Ferrari. So, it took me a little over 30 years!

Mike

 

I have the same dilemma to a degree. When you're talking to people who are similarly ambitious or 'dreamers' (not in the bad sense), then such discussions go well; with the cautious, "sensible" or otherwise risk-averse then it tends to alienate people and make you look like a braggart even to say you want/will obtain something like a Ferrari/yacht/mansion/jet/etc. My parents are opposites in these respects so I get both of these responses if I don't temper my delivery and choose my subjects. It's hard at times because when things are coming together well you want to share your goals and dreams. I just had this same subject blow up in my face last night at Christmas dinner when I was baited into the 'when will you get a Ferrari' question... I played it down and even threw out something much farther in time than my actual goal; there was protest and eye-rolling and they were obliged to lecture that houses, student loans and whatnot should be paid off.

My advice is to be selective with what you share. If your parents want to hear that you'll have retirement savings and a paid-off house then emphasize those aspects of your success. If they are cool with the "I'm going to get a Lambogotti Fasterossa that does 200mph" talk then let it all out.

While there isn't anything wrong with talking about cars, they are worried you are more consumed by the luxurious material than the important things in life (ie. family, relationships, and service). If they're assured that the car is not the be-all/end-all of your life, then I think it will improve.

Attaining money and wealth can be consuming though, so beware of that fixation. Success may not always equal the money - and your parents may want you to acknowledge that.

 

After I got my first Maranello, my mother just happened to see an article about them in a magazine. When she read the MSRP, she dropped it on the table and yelled at me!

I was more satisfied by that than the elevator in my house.

 

HAHAHAHA!!!

 

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

Well said.

BTW, talk about it enough in aspects beyond price and it looses that association. For example, that is what happened in my family, as it is now "Oh that red thing he likes and knows too much about," and not $$.

 

LoLL

 

Dont worry, my Mum still yells at me about the amount of dollars I spent on buying a car. Then I have to reassure her, that is not just any old car Mum. It's a Ferrari!! She then proceeds to eyeball me till I walk away. My Dad is cool with it. He couldnt care less.

I am the only one I knock around with here that talks about Ferraris. Maybe because my 348 is the only Ferrari here. I think they are all getting sick of me talking about Ferraris all the time though..........

 

I was 30 and had about $10mil in the bank cash before I EVEN THOUGHT I could buy a Ferrari and look my father in the face. He had more cash by far, but did not like to ever spend it....

Go figure....

 

Wow, that's inspirational right there. Cheers to you friend!

 

ARE YOU SERIOUS??

 

I'd have a pissed off look on my face too if I had to cosign so many checks....

 

What do your mates with their skylines and commos think of your Ferrari?

 

Well, about 90% of them just want to race my 348, just to "see how it goes compared to a Ferrari". That is coming from guys with HSV Clubbies and 12sec Skylines. They all love my car, but they just to be the 1st to say they smoked a Ferrari over the 1/4mile. I tell them to f*ck off and will happily race them around a track. We dont have a track here, but would certainly race them around a track if we had one here. Would leave them for dead in the 348. Straight line racing is boring unless you have 2 evenly matched cars so that it all comes down to the driver. That or 2 9sec cars would be nuts too!

 

I think it would be wrong to discuss such things with your parents if you were living off of their success. In other words, if you have made your own way in this world it is fine to discuss a high end purchase with your parents. I would never discuss such things if I could not afford them on my own.

Relying on my parent's wealth to get me behind the wheel of a Ferrari would prove tremendously humiliating and embarrassing.

 

Oh yeah, that'll earn you lotsa bonus mileage around here.......
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I would never say the F word outside my immediate family, and even then sparingly.

There is no point in it.

 

OK. Let's say I do.


Me: "Wow! Look! A Ferrari Enzo"

Wife, reading magazine, 5 sec after car passes: "What?"

Daughter, with iPod things in her ears: "Huh?"

Other daughter: "She hit me"

3rd daughter: "She hit me first"

4th daughter: asleep.