I know this topic does not pertain to this board specifically and for that I apologize. I saw my first Ferrari event at LimeRock racetrack this past saturday. I was in awe over how many Ferraris there were there. Three Enzos alone! I was very impressed with the Ferrari owners. I thought "What do these guys do for a living to have such an incredible budget to afford such a car?" For all Ferrari owners out there: What do you guys do for a living? I know this is a personal question, but I am just asking what general career field you are in (i.e. doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur, corporate America, airline pilot, etc.) You get my point. I am a college student majoring in Finance and am just curious to see what line of work you are into. Thanks. Joe
Joe, Your not the first to ask this question. In fact I've seen a thread started as recently as two weeks ago asking the same thing. So, I suggest you do a search. Also, most fchaters, I've learned don't like to answer such an outright question. What I can tell you is that there are is a broad range of Fcar owners here. Most everyone is friendly and if you continue to be a member I'm sure you will see for yourself. Welcome and good luck - E
it's a very good question that I'd love to ask everyone on here but it is personal and some people may not like to divulge it. You can do a lot of things in life and make the money you need to afford a car like that, you just have to work hard and know your goals. As I was once told "the guy who wants it the most, gets it". Do well in college, get a good job after, and you will have your own some day. I'm 20 and in college as well and that's my goal.
Remember: you spend an hour or two commuting to work, and eight hours working. Get the career that you like and will be good at. Ferraris run from several million for a classic 250GTO down to maybe 10K for a GT4 "fixer upper". Buy the Ferrari you don't mind parking at the office, so you can use it to commute. If you buy a classic you're afraid to drive, you'll have an expensive garage decoration. Ferraris are very very very nice cars, but it's just a car. It shouldn't be the focal point of your life. Your self image will come from the quality of your work and from your family life. If you have to drag race in the streets to feed your ego, you won't own any car for long.
I good friend of mine said that there are only three ways to make money; 1) Steal it 2) Marry it 3) Inherit it This begs the question how did those people you marry into get their money? 1) Steal it 2) Inherit it Which in turn begs the question how did those people who inherited get their money, what did their parents etc do? 1) Steal it 2) Marry it (see above) In short this means the only way to get money is to steal it - not surprising people don't want to tell you how they got the money to afford a Ferrari! Me - I just worked like a dog day and night
i had a gentleman ask me that same question while he and his young sons were checking out a recent councours,and while pointing at the kids i stated "because i dont have any of those running around draining me pockets" There are lots of ferraris that are affordable,the key is to be realistic,and avoid becoming a slave to the car payment syndrome.
to be wealthy - work really hard to be really wealthy - work really hard and be your own boss / get stock rather than salary Or you can try to guess the Mega Millions numbers.
What a terrible thing to say even if it may be true for your situation. I'm afraid you missed a golden opportunity to make a liflelong impression on some young kids. Why not instill in them the hope that they could someday own one of these beautiful cars? I recently spent a whole weekend with a bunch of Ferrari's and their owners and I will say to a man that not one was a snob. I will also say that one of the most memorable moments of the weekend for me was when a father and his young son were looking at my car and the one next to it. I saw the look in the young boys eyes and asked him if he'd like to sit in the drivers seat of my car. His first reaction was to shake his head no. I'm sure his father had told him not to touch any of the cars and he was sure not going to sit in one! I assured him and his father that it was alright and he got in. The look on his face was GREAT! As he climbed out I reached in a gave him a small sticker and told him that when he grew up he could drive one just like this. While I'm not suggesting that this was a life-changing event for him I'm sure it did leave a POSITIVE impression. Maybe it's a good thing you don't have any of them running around draining your pockets!!!
I agree with you totally John. I came out of the gas station last night with a 6 pack of Corona to find a mom standing there with her 8-10 year old boy looking at my Viper. I told him to jump in. He couldn't believe it. I took him for a very spirited jolt around the shopping plaza across the street. The look on his face when I fired up my 600 hp beast. I know I heard the little guy say sh#t. Oh, so as not to hijack. I'm a home builder married to a Dr. A wife that works really helps.
I can still remember the first Ferrari I ever saw...a Red Testarossa on our way to Lake Winnepausaukee in NH. Ever since then I have been hooked. But instead of saving and being patient to get my hands on a Ferrrari I just got a job at a place that owns one I drove my first Ferrari 2 weeks ago, a 99 355 Spider...it was better than I even imagined, but some of the previous posts are correct. It is still just a car......
My Ferrari came naturally, I never aimed to own one in life. Used to work at gas station for 3 bucks an hour, a dude asked me to fill up the tank and checked the oil on his Ferrari (he probably tried to show it off to a poor kid), then one day I had more dough than I thought I could. so I just fullfilled my dream when I was a kid. I think a lots of it has to do with luck. /td
Here how to obtain what you want Find a field that interest you and that you are good at (or want to become good at). If you are not very skilled in your field, find the most succesfull person or company and go to work for them. Absorb as much as you can from this experience, you can learn more working for a few months with a great buisnessman (or woman) than you could in 10 years of college. Save your money to start your own company with your new knowledge. Work long and hard. Come in early and leave late. Strive to be the best in your field. Reinvest back into the company as much as possible (the real money comes later). Work long and hard. Treat everyone you do buisiness with respectfully, even people who you think "wronged" you, you never know when you might need to "use" them (ie dont burn any bridges if possible). Be honest and upfront with your customers/suppliers etc., even if the truth may upset them. People get twice as pissed if they find out that you lied to them. If you are good to people they will tell 1 other person, if your bad than they will tell 10 others. Treat your employees better than they deserve, help them within reason whenever you can. This will pay off in spades over the long run. Work long and hard. Be the best at what you do.
If you are starting off and considering various fields, here's my advice: Pick something that doesn't require you to generate every penny, and that will eventually allow you to be your own boss - i.e., you are the equity owner of the concern. It is VERY tough to make significant money working for someone else. Example: Lawyer. Most people think all lawyers make a ton of money. It's just not true, the average is actually much lower than you think. If you work at a firm and are on a salary, your income will be limited. It will be ok, but limited. If you work on your own, there are only so many hours you can bill, and you have expenses, etc., so you are limited again. (You can make a lot of money as a lawyer, but generally you need to be the one generating the business that others do). My parents live in a very wealthy beachside neighborhood. There are not a lot of Drs. or lawyers there. A few, but not a lot. The vast majority of people living there are what I would call "producers." They own a company that produces something. One, for example, started a company that makes the labels that go inside shirts. He sells millions and million of them. He doesn't have to physically run the machines himself. He does have to make sure his salespeople get new accounts. But he is living in a $3 million house and is always outside playing with his kids. Others have cabinet companies, contracting companies, etc. My parents are 2 high school graduates who own a small business that is very successful. They believed education was the most impt thing for their kids, and did well in that regard. I am a professional with an Ivy League graduate degree. I have been successful the past 15 years, working in a couple of the largest, most prestigious firms in my field for many years, and later on my own, but it would be a challenge to match their small business success!
Wow....after reading this thread I saw a lot of inspiring stuff. I'm currently 20 and I'm absolutely in love with 360 Modena's. Coming from an Italian family I grew up hearing the greatest color any car can ever be is Ferrari Red. I work during the summer 7 days a week. I have a 9-5 updating spreadsheets and databases at a large company during the week and on weekends I work at a local gas station. During the school year I work every weekend. I save just about everything I earn and I'm currently using some of that money to make my monthly college payments so I have my entire college fund when I graduate. Being only 20, and half way through my college experience I'd have to say one of the greatest things you can do is make contacts early in the field you want to be in. Try to get internships (paid ones are a bonus) or a part-time job somewhat related to what you want to ultimately be doing. Take extra time to learn absolutely everything you can about what you're intending to head into. My father currently owns his own wireless communications company. He's been working since he was 12 and bought out a company he was working for back in the 80's. He's completely self-made. He never even graduated college. I guess you can say the one thing he instilled in me was an excellent work ethic. I do whatever needs to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible and then some. Just be willing to be flexible and go that extra mile. Be willing to work hard and long hours. Try not to also be too unrealistic about things. I intend on having a family one day after I'm stable and able to support it. If that takes priority over owning a Ferrari then so be it. If I can afford both, double bonus. Hah! I babble a lot... Anyways, when I went on the running of the bulls we stopped at a gas station and all the kids inside came out and their jaws dropped. They got pictures with the cars and so on. Pretty much every single Ferrari owner I've met has been really friendly and outgoing and not stuck up at all. Nothing like portrayed in the fast & the furious. I drove my first ferrari about two years ago. It was my friend's dad's 328 quatrovalve. It was a rush!
Your damn right, what a great book, i am so glad i read that at my age. Also, read "Wisdom for a Young CEO" it gives you alot of advice on what you should have in your personality that will help you succeed. Ill give myself as an example, im 16, and all i think about night and day are Ferraris. All i can think about is owning one and driving it everyday. But then i realize that dreaming about them isnt going to get me one, i have to work my ass off. Thats why i maintain a 3.9 GPA, participate in alot of school activities, and maybe most importantly maintain a strong social stance. Like many other guys on here have said a Ferrari is just a car, i have come to realize that lately, its better to just have driving as a hobby more than a lifestyle, IMO. I do want a Ferrari alot, but one is not going to be handed to me, and i dont want one handed to me, thats why iam working my ass off to get into the college i want, then i want work my ass off their, then hopefully get a great job, meet my wife, have kids and finally get my Ferrari. That would be the perfect life for me but it not going to just happen, so i say just work hard, enjoy what you do, and just remember to have a little fun. sorry if the writing is a little rough ive been awake for a while and im really tired.