What do you say when someone finds out you own a ferrari?

I've been quite fortunate to avoid that question so far.

 

I dont tell anybody that I own a Ferrari.

 

Well, I read through ALL the responses before throwing in my two cents, to make sure I wasn't repeating anybody. Here goes:

I live in Portland, Oregon. It's a city, not a small town like some of these other posters. Still, the culture here is anti-money and anti-brand names. President Bush has called it "Little Beirut," new Starbucks have been firebombed, people stage rallies to protest new Wal-Mart sites, etc. etc. etc.

Adding to that, I saved up for 5 years and bought my '78 308 when I was 26 years old and working as a cashier at Safeway. So not only am I driving a Ferrari in this town, I look awfully young. [don't worry - I just finished my MBA and can now afford to get it serviced! ]

Holy cow, do people hate me here. Some of you have said you've never heard a negative comment. Every single time I get on the freeway here, somebody flips me off. I've heard 'em all: "Gee, I wish MY parents were rich." "Daddy let you borrow the car, huh?" "Must be nice to not have to work." "Careful you don't scratch it - daddy will get mad."

I pulled up to a bar here called Sabala's, to see a good punk band play. I was lucky enough to get a spot directly in front of the door...but when I tried to buy a ticket, the bouncer wouldn't speak to me, wouldn't get out of my way, and just sneered at me. I finally had to ask "Is there going to be a problem here?" before he spit on the sidewalk and let me in.

It's just nuts...and the craziest thing is that all these people assume that I've got hordes of adoring fans just around the corner. I've had so many people talk about how I must get all the girls, or how all the guys are jealous of me...but really, pretty much everyone is rude to me.

 

I just tell them that everyone is entitled to have one extravagance in their life -- and the Ferrari is mine. It subtly gives them the impression that I don't necessarily have a lot of expensive things, nor do I care or need to, and that I only bought it after having worked hard for many years (all three of which are true, not that it matters).

 

No Ferrari clothing.
I don't mention the make when talking about my car in a public space.
When someone finds out I own one I always ask if they want a ride.
Bring along the kids too. That's what the back seat is for.
When asked about the car, talk about the sound, the feel, the design, the 'personality'. Always relay the gut feeling of driving a Ferrari instead of the status of owning one. Everyone can understand emotions. When you explain the car in terms that non-car people can relate to it takes a lot of the edge off.

 

The least favorite response is "heck, you can get a 308GT4 for as little as 12K or so".

People like to think that these things are "unobtanium", restricted to the "evil cheating rich demons": It's their excuse to not own one, themselves.

 

Whenever I get the comment that many inexpensive cars are faster than my 328, I ask what was faster in 1987? This results in a blank look.

 

I just tell people that I dabble in flipping exotics while driving them in between purchase & resale, a white lie that is easier than explaining to others. People only see the price of the car & omit the fact that I got married later in life & worked ( & still do) 90 hours a week.

 

Same thing I say to women with big boobies... is that real?

 

... are pretty much in line with a lot of those referred to earlier in this thread - unfortunately.

Here in Norway it is not politically correct to drive a Ferrari, and most of the people seem to assume that the only reason to drive a testarossa is to show off.

During the last years I have experienced that people throw empty bottles at me when I drive by (luckily they missed by a few inches). Further, I have experienced a really unpleasant stop at a petrol station when I was afraid of actually being attacked by two guys that seemed 'not so nice' - to put it mildly.

The occational raised finger from other drivers as they pass me (yes, I usually keep to the speed limits) are at least a weekly happening, and some other drivers very aggressive driving style when they see a Ferrari always puzzles me. Why do they do that ?

Further a ferraridriver is no longer taken seriously when advocating taking care of the environment, as everybody assumes that I do not care at all about the environment. And of course the idea that the car is paid for by hard earned money is incomprehensive, and is laughed away...

All in all, I receive two negative responses for every positive one, but still it does not make me regret owning (and of course regularly driving) my ferrari...

 

I had a guy ask me how much a car like mine would cost, not what did I pay but a back way around to getting the price. Before I gave my indirect answer that didnt answer his question, he said "I know new ferraris are a million dollars +". Its that mentality that causes ferrari owners grief.