Spotted

If one is just looking for a name, and not quality, then I guess your statement is true.

If the marque is all that is important, then I guess one will buy the name; no matter how much the model they buy sucks!

There are better performing cars out there, with better build quality than Ferrari, for a lot less money!!!

I think it's the name that inspires, not the quality and performance. God knows, I own, and have owned enough F-cars in my lifetime.

Today there are Subarus that are better than Ferraris in performance and build quality, at 1/10th of the price of a Ferrari.

Face it, it's the name that intrigues, not the car. Ferrari has lost its exclusivity over the years......in my mind, owning a Ferrari doesn't mean what it use to mean.

The mystique is gone!

 

Ferraris have what I call the "Italian Car Experience." It is a combination of performance, styling, sound, smell, feel, and driver involvement that I have experienced only in Ferraris, Alfas and Maseratis. It is as if the cars have a "soul." I have owned eight different Ferraris and three different Alfas but I have also owned Porsches and BMWs and driven many types of cars. The Porsches and BMWs are great cars and in some cases produce better performance numbers than Ferraris, but they do not provide me with the same overall enjoyment. And to me, owning a sports car is all about enjoyment, regardless of the performance figures or quality numbers. If I could have only one sports car, it would be Italian, and most likely Ferrari. In fact, my favorite car of all time is probably the least powerful car ever produced by Ferrari, the Dino 246GTS. I still question the wisdom of trading it in for my F355, but whenever I get too teary-eyed about that, I take my 365BB out and bury my foot into the carbs.

 

Andreas, did you notice that Steve has that yellow 355 Spider back in the shop? I wonder what the guy did to it THIS time!

 

Oh no! Not again. That car is becoming a gold mine for European.

 

I look at it more like a 'Work of Art'...especially,the Older ones,like we have. Sure,if I wanted the most "Bang for the Buck",I'd still be Driving a New Corvette,or better yet,a Dodge Viper.

And,I'm not really too impressed with the Newer Ferrari's. Oh Sure,I like 'em. They look nice. And,they are certainly very advanced,technologically wise. But,they don't give me that same "Thrill" when I see one,that I got when I saw one when I was a Teen or in my 20's. Whether it's Ferrari's "Fault" for not being as "Exotic" as they once were. Or,maybe it's because so many other Car Manufacturers copy Ferrari lines,in one way or the other,and it's kind of "Watering Down" the Look. "Jaded"..??? I don't know...

Thats why my First one was a 308. It had to be. I did not buy it for it's,(mine,now,23 year old) Performance. I bought it because I LUSTED for one for many years. I almost bought one 3 times previously in my Life,but,fate didn't allow it,for one reason or the other...mostly,because the car that I was looking at was crappy...(would have probably lost it when I Divorced my 1st. Wife,anyway... ) I could have bought something Newer,but,I wanted THAT Car. And,they don't make New ones,so,no alternative than to buy an Old one.

I definitely do agree with you about the Quality issue. If they want to charge that much for a car,it Damn well better be perfect,IMO. It's not. And,if they want their reputation to tarnish,thats another issue. But I guess that they don't care,because there are certainly enough buyers out there that don't mind,either. So,you either gotta Love 'em,or Hate 'em.

No,they certainly have their idiosynchrosies. Maybe that contributes to their "Mystique". I mean,how Boring would the Cars,(and FChat) be,if the cars never needed any work or attention? Can you imagine how Boring FChat would be if there weren't all of these threads with Tech Tips,Repair issues,B*thchin' and Moanin'? ....

 

Frank-

I totally agree......for once!

 

Skip,
GO TO BED, you are getting out there!!!!

 

Saturday morning (9/11), heading south on I-294, a black 308 and a red Boxer, caravaning with an old (50s maybe?) Mercedes convertible.

If the drivers are on here, that was me in the red Alfa Spider.

 

Chasking, do you by chance go to Holy Family Church? I was just wonderin because i saw a red alfa spider in the parking lot last sunday, might have been 2 sundays ago. Just checking.

I also see a black GT3 almost everyday now. The owner has a sushi restaurant right by a shopping center by me.

 

No, that was not me. But there are lots of red Alfas around. This afternoon I saw a car near Lawrence & Harlem that looked almost exactly like mine. (Saw an orange Lotus Esprit, too.)

 

Mike, I saw you in your red 328 as I was going into New Trier. What a way to start off the day. Also saw a red 360 spider on monday on skokie blvd. And I talked to the owner of a cl65, pretty sweet and sounds awesome.

 

Saw the same 308 I saw a few weeks ago on Lake-Cook again going west. Could see that it had Florida plates.

RocketBoy

 

Yellow 308 GTB headed Northbound on I-294 on Saturday Afternoon,around 3:30PM-ish....? Around Dempster. We,(My Son and I ) were headed Southbound after leaving the Wheeling Car Show.

Could this have been our new Friends from last weeks Hooters Show on Higgins???

 

Spotted what appears to be the same Red 550M going eastbound on Higgins Rd. by Woodfield Mall a few mornings this week. Then saw the same car heading west near Roselle Rd. / I-90 later that day. Maybe someone in the South Barrington area?

 

Althoug I don't recall being near Woodfield Mall this week, I frequently take my Red 500 to Medinah CC which is not too far from Roselle Road. I hope my friendly parking attendants at the Club aren't pulling a "Ferris Bueller" on me while I play 18!!!

 

Could have been me, was it Saturday and Sunday? If not would really like to see another 550/575 in the area.

RocketBoy

 

My office is in Oak Brook near the Mall and I live in Wheaton. Haven't participated in any "F" events and don't know any other local "F" owners out there. I have had my 550 for almost a year - great car!

 

Today around 1pm entering I90E from 355 spotted a red 456gt convertible.
I didn't even know they made those...? Also around 12:30pm spotted a black
360 pulling onto Higgins from Meacham.

 

fivefiveo,
Thanks for chiming in -- I agree with Frank and others last month about this thread,
"it's just a "Fun Thing" to see just how FEW Ferrari's that are out there Driving around...very special and unique cars that not everyone else has...like the 3 to 4 dozen C5 Corvette's that I see out during that same drive... So,it feels good to be "one of a kind",..."

fivefiveo, RocketBoy,
Anyway, spotted the 550M this past Monday & Tuesday morning around Woodfield Mall. The gentleman driving had the windows down and had sunglasses on if that helps.

By the way, also spotted a Red 355B yesterday (Thursday) at around 6:45pm making a left turn from Meacham Rd. to Higgings Rd.

 

fivefive0-You have GOT to join us on some Drives! Everyone else out there,too!! We have alot of fun, Great Photo Ops. Stop and Eat. Whatever! And,general Comaraderie of going out and DRIVING Your Ferrari with other Ferrari Owners and Enthusiasts... The Few...(Very Few).....The Proud....

Sheet! I can LOOK at my Car everyday. I want to DRIVE IT!! As Enzo intended. It's not a Sculpture,(although,it is a Work of Art... )

Our Driving Season is all too short. And,everyone has obligations with Family,Job,etc...all Summer. So,we try to get out and Drive when we can. We'd Love to have you,and anyone else who wants to come along,with us. Just keep checking here on FChat for info.

Because,before you know it. We'll have Snow and that dreaded Road Salt all over the place...And,everyone will be like "Oh Man,I can't wait until Spring comes so that I can drive my Ferrari...." Yeah. Right. I don't even want to hear that B.S. We still have a couple months of good driving Weather,NOW. So,I urge everyone to come on out and play,while we still can!!!!! Or.you'll be regretting it in,oh,a couple months from now...

 

I saw the infamous "trucker's 360" while I was downtown today. It was on Michigan ave right in front of John Hancock/Water Tower. In person, with all the gold, umm... I won't say anyone's taste is right or wrong but it didn't go down all too well with me. Very much overkill to the point of being out of place. Heard more laughs than, " Ohh a Ferrari."

I give the guy credit for being different.

RocketBoy

 

We saw him on Saturday night. My wife and I spent the night downtown--I know, we LIVE in the city, but it was a free night at the Ritz w/dinner--but as we walked down Michigan, I saw a 360 coming towards us. My wife said she wondered if it was that guy, and it WAS!! Too funny.

I actually give YOU credit for giving HIM credit, if that makes sense. Sometimes I'm just not too convinced that being different is a good thing. I mean, I could go throw a bucket of purple paint on my car, and that would be different. I'm not a fan of the pin-striping and such.

 

It's like painting some "Elvis Sideburns" on the Mona Lisa.....