Taking Full Advantage Of Your Car

As owners, what does it mean to take full advantage of your Ferrari? What is the ideal?

I am extremely curious.

Thank You,
Crisp

 

To take full advantage of my Ferrari, I will:

Drive it like I stole it at times, especially when I’m feeling like life has gotten a little too predictable

Realize that money is a construct, and exists only to afford us a chance to live well as a reward for working hard and being lucky enough to own one

Do my best to keep it in almost perfect condition so when the guy (or kid, or gal) who pulls up next to me and says “you’re driving my dream car” they actually see the car of their dreams and not some ratty run-down version of it

Balance the incessant smile on my face with the realization that I am luckier than any man has the right to expect, and that my wife supporting me getting my Ferrari is probably the luckiest part of that

Stop worrying as much about where I park as I did when my car was new, although I’ll still refrain from allowing that goofy kid in a valet jacket to park it

Let my wife drive it at least once (at an undetermined point in the future...), while also keeping my wincing and moaning to a low level while she does

Choose at least one great road per year to drive it for a weekend trip

Pour a dram of single malt, walk into the garage and just admire the car at least once a week while I toast to the marvels of Italian handmade artwork on wheels

Not take too much pleasure at the look of dismay in the eyes of 6-series BMW drivers when I pull alongside

Thank Prius drivers whenever possible for saving the gas I’m burning

I’m sure there are more, but this is my starting point.

Best Regards, Bob H

 

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my question. It was just the type of answer I was looking for. You seem to be doing it proud! Good stuff.

-Crisp

 

To take full advantage of your car requires you to take it to the race track and run the living snot out of it. You simply cannot do on back roads what you can do on race tracks. {And believe me I've tried.}

 

To take full advantage of your car requires you to take it to the race track and run the living snot out of it. -Mitch Alsup

Words to live by

 

Bob H you are my new hero, love the Prius comment too

 

Flippin classic - Nicely done!

 

Thanks for the compliments- re tracking, my addition to the list would be to take someone else's to the track so I could have some fun without the need for new brakes & tires. I'll even provide my own helmet and buy the gas...

Bob H

 

You're welcome. But I suppose the gas I'm saving goes towards the extra gas for my Ferrari.

If you don't just look at your car in the garage now and then and think how amazing it is, and that you own it and drive it, then you just don't get it; I'm talking about my 328, not my Prius.

Rick

 

Ha!

Ferrari and Prius. Can't have one without the other.
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For the Ferrari & Prius, I was thinking more like this... Bob H
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The BEST! Well said

 

In an ideal world I would have a 50-100 mile rin of fast sweping roads with some straights, so i culd play the road with bends btween 70-120 mph and 160 mph straights.

As it is i get a run like that of maybe 4 miles, in fact this reply has inspired me to do an after dinner drive, bye.

 

Very well said,couldn't agree more!

 

touché

 

In my opinion, the first key to Ferrari ownership is in Napolis' signature. They need to be driven, period.

The second key, is to stop being afraid or intimidated by your F-car. It is a car. It won't melt in the rain, become valueless if it gets dirty or be impossible to work on by someone other than a Ferrari dealership. (Obviously the caveat is something on the newest models that absolutely requires a dedicated computer that only a dealer has.) Working on your F-car, or standing with a good mechanic learning your car is a very fun way of dispelling urban legend, getting a respect for the design, and taking pride in ownership. Plus there's nothing like driving your F-car in the pouring rain and showing people that it is as robust as any Toyota or Honda...just more fun. Driving it hard and fast is definitely a must.

The third key to getting the most of Ferrari ownership is to create a new generation of F-car fans. Take kids for rides, let them shift the gears and when the car is parked at car shows, let the kids (and adults) sit in the driver's seat and have their picture taken. Some of my best experiences have been taking kids for drives and seeing the smiles on their faces...as well as offering adults at car shows who obviously cannot afford a used car of any kind, much less a Ferrari, who are amazed by my car sit in it. ("Really? Are you sure I can sit in it? THANK YOU SO MUCH! THIS IS AWESOME!") It gives people an experience they will always remember.

Being an ambassador for your car, the Ferrari brand and its owner community is part of getting the most out of it.

 

Great thread!

 

Agree 100%. While I'm blessed to have one, these cars are meant to be shared. I've been on the other side of the window, looking in. I remember several F car owners who wouldn't give me the time of day, or talk about their car except in condescending terms. Not all, but some. I always smirked a little because I knew one day, my dream would come true. Besides driving it, hearing it and looking at it in the garage, sharing the "experience" with others is just as satisfying.

Great words too, Bob. Thanks for sharing your rules of ownership.

 

Driving with friends.

-F