Why did you choose Ferrari over other exotics?

I would have agreed with you, had it not been for the existence of the 458. IMHO, It's a truly beautiful car that will stand the test of time. Compared to it, I find rival offerings by lamborhini and Aston Martin tame -- not to mention, the latter two makes have been suffering from a severe case of design stagnancy. lambo can't seem to break the mold created by the Countach, while Aston has been stuck in DB7 mode since '94. Other contemporary cars that match the stylistic flair of the Italia include the Porsche 918, and the Jaguar CX275 concept (which will go into production, hopefully sooner rather than later).

The point I'm trying to make is that in this day and age, automakers want to play it safe and regurgitate the same designs, afraid that if they create something too radical, it could result in a case of loss of identity. What I admire most about Ferrari (other than their racing heritage, of course) is that they seem to be one of the few companies that are willing to take stylistic risks. Some can backfire (see: the FF) but I wouldn't mind having an FF if it eventually leads to a car like the 458.

Just my 2 cents.

 

My list was short: convertible, 2-seater, amazing drive experience, memorable exhaust note, preferably mid-engine and naturally asperated...

Lotus Elise: fun, but even with the SC it's a bit short on power, the top is very cumbersome, and it was not the easiest car to get in/out. Easy to show the engine. Pricey in this part of the world.

Porsche Boxster Spider: without all the Porsche extras it looked like a good ride, though the top is the ugliest ever, and limits your top speed to ~120mph. Impossible to show the engine, and it seemed a bit claustrophobic the way the seats are. OK performance, but it was missing that certain something...

Aston V8 Vantage: OK it's not a cabriolet, but seemed powerful enough and looks really good. However, it's very claustrophobic in there, and the front windscreen was so far away it felt like tunnel vision. Biggest dissapointment of the group.

Mazda MX5 or RX-8: Simply not enough power. I did look into getting an MX5 and adding a Cosworth supercharger kit, but still it's not very powerful.

Jaguar (can't remember which): Probably a nice touring car, but too formal looking, and didn't appeal. Nice to sit in though, and the controls looked fun.

Lambourghini: I'm not a real fan of that chiselled/facet look and the pop colors, but the sound is amazing! The Murcielago I sat in (recently) was very uncomfortable.

Audi anything: I don't like the current models with their high sides. Feels like sitting in a old style bathtub. Also, the R versions don't seem to appear around here. The R8 looked good, but couldn't find a rep to let me sit in it, and I'm not an all-wheel drive sports car fan. I have a true 4x4 off-roader for that.

Mercedes SL55 (?): Not very comfortable, and it just seemed to need more time in the design studio. Seemed to be more a 5.0 Mustang competitor. Loud and crude.

Nissan's 350: Very like sitting in a bathtub, a large car pretending to be small. GTR's are not my thing, not looking for a 4-seater, and I'd rather avoid turbos.

(edit: forgot) BMW Z4: Don't like the long nose and the seats so far back. Not enough HP, and poor handling (apparently). M3: A nice 4 dr, but a bit too big.

I then realized that the upper price range (new) of what I was looking at met the lower price range of a used Ferrari at the local dealer. Went to look at a used 360CS, but the seat was quite uncomfortable for me, then the 360 Spider they had really grabbed my attention. It fit the list perfectly, and none of the above vehicles could match it for looks (top up or down), performance (OK, the Lambo), comfort, that wide open top-down feel, and non-claustrophobic interior. And bonus for the engine cover glass, and the NAME.

End of search.

 

Ferraris are gorgeous, sound incredible, and have a history unlike other sportscars. They also are the most fun cars to drive, better than anything.

 

you can now in the elise. but i would argue that most loti, and many other track oriented road cars today, are not very good at anything else. whereas, a 458 for example, can whisk your loved one to the opera in style comfort and class, and then show up for a few hot laps the next day at valelunga.

so technically you are correct that using my factory to track analogy, i should include the lotus, but my own bias resulted in my not going towards that one.

 

360 is beautiful, handles well, yet is truly exotic.

Every office manager and princess soccer mom has an M3 or other bimmer, I'm not that blue collar 40-50 something with a paunch... so a corvette won't do it. ;-) And I'm not an ex real-estate developer or his wife.. so any jag is out of the question. DB9 is nice but too conservative perhaps as my next DD once they depreciate to under 45k..

 

A few years back I had reached the age and time of my life (age 50-ish) when I truly wanted a top-end sports car. At the time I was 99% sure it would be a Porsche of some ilk. The search and shopping excursions began. To be brief, I was basically ignored at the Porsche dealerships who clearly sent the message that they did not consider me "serious." Perhaps it was the car I drove in with -- my cherished 1980 Volvo 242 in absolutely perfect condition, mind you. I was basically given the impression that if I didn't want what was on the lot, then they had no time for me. In fact, I didn't want was on the lot which was a parade of sameness of silver, grey or black cars with black or grey interiors. I wanted something much more lively. I offered to place an order for a new 911 C4 cabriolet or a 911 turbo. Made the offer at 3 dealerships. Was never contacted back by any of them. The dealer experience soured me on the brand, despite the excellence of the cars.

Vastly different experience when I walked into our local Ferrari dealership. Greeted warmly, and everything went perfectly with them explaining the Ferrari experience, each model and each individual car available at the time. It was clear that I was now dealing with true car guys and enthusiasts, and not merely inventory managers. They also noted that they adored my Volvo, and that it was the mark of a true car guy. Later, after my purchase, the general manager of the dealership told me that he also figured that since I had not purchased a car in 25+ years, I had a lot of money saved up ! I was hooked on the dealership. A car was eventually found, a purchase made, a passion for exotics stimulated, a new circle of wonderful friends ensued. Sadly, that dealership has now changed dramatically, with that original crew of true car guys now long gone.

During the search I had also considered Aston martin. Again, the dealership experience in our area was fantastic. Te right car and situation were just not there, whereas at Ferrari it was. Nonetheless, I am still close friends with the guy who was the local Aston rep at the time, even though he has moved on to other areas.

So, there are many fine and exotic cars out there to serve a multitude of tastes. For me the overall experience was the defining factor. This is a splurge, and not a necessity for any of us, and so the whole package should be fun and rewarding. I chose Ferrari for that reason, and it could easily have been Aston. My experience at our Ferrari dealership was all of that and more, and cannot be repeated today.

Mike

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8YZzGaprtA[/ame]






PDG

 

Fiat/Bertone X 1/9 was my gateway car to Ferrari.
I burnt the rings in X1/9 and went car shopping with budget and specs to carry 4 trunk space for groceries and "drive right" after looking at and test driving Lotus Elise, Dodge Charger, etc etc etc none met specs and budget. Was on ebay looking for Fiat or Alfa sedan coup or wagon and found the Mondial 8 4 years and 13k miles later it still puts a smile on my face as fun to drive car even if the daily driver Crossfire has a bit more top end and is roadster.
Have always liked mid engine cars since got Porch 914 when in college in 78 kept till got insurance bill as 20 year old single male lol.

 

I had no intention of buying a F Car, hell I'd ridden in Dr Who's experimental Mustang with the Whore House Red interior. That would lead someone to believe that you needed a wide Fedora and a Purple Leisure Suit to own one. But I had fallen in love with the pix of the 360 and the good Dr found me a slot in the build cycle.

Yes, I'd gone thru the Boxter's, SLK's, SL's, etc. and was looking for a new "drug". Still looking for a mid-engine 400hp car that weighs 1 ton.

 

My dad was a fetus in 1912, I was in 1949.

 

I was 50 in 1957. I am now 104.

 

Because I dont find any of the others attractive. Pininfarina does a great job designing these cars. Besides the FF that is.....

That and watching Ferris Bueller when I was 8 made me want one since.

 

:-O

Not sure what to think of that. If you are serious, then wow! Not many people who are 104 would be posting on the internet.


PDG

 

My mom was 3 in 1957.

 

As a child I remember getting woken up early on Sunday mornings by my father revving his 512BBi in the garage. Ferrari's were a part of my childhood

 

Wow! My father, uncle and brothers generally had taxis, Ladas, farm tractors and Pontiac Strato Chiefs to repair. Ferraris were part of my childhood primarily from Rob Walker and R&T....

 

Like a Ferrari, nothing beats great genes!

 

Fiat owns at least 85% of Ferrari. Ferrari, as in Piero Ferrari, only owns 10% of Ferrari.

 

I was 5 years old and had just moved to Montreal from Reggio Calabria with my family. My cousin Lorenzo owned a garage called Auto Oggi at the time, which specialized in anything Italian.

My father and I pulled up in our 86`Pontiac Sunbird and all I can remember is being amazed by the Maserati`s, Alfa`s, Fiat`s and Ferrari`s. I immediately fell in love with his 88 Milano Verde and later the Alfa 164. The Maserati 228 was quite special too.


From 1987 on, I dreamt of owning an Italian car, and Ferrari is the best of the Italians.

In 2004 my dream came true when I bought an 89`Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5 Gold.

The next car will be a Maserati, followed by a Ferrari.


A true Alfista, Maseratista and Ferrarista.

 

meh, ...



buy one of each of what you really want.

 

I bought a 77 308 because:

guys my own age were dying - and i had no "passion", i had a great family and work, but no passion.

I had been a car guy from high school, rebuilding and modifying my first car, an MGA, but now had no passion.

I had been a Prosche guy, 66 911 seriously modified for auto xing long ago, that morphed into atrack only speedster with discs and slicks. I then bought my only new car, a 72 914-4 and proceeeded to pump it to 2.4 litres, vented discs all around, flares, front thermostatically controlled oil cooler,

so i knew what i wanted in an ultimate car: 8 cylinders, one choke per cylinder, headers, 4 wheel discs, double a arms front and rear and a body designed to slip through the air.

by that time, i was a bit older, (and dubiously wiser) and added GT capabilities to the list: nice interior, AC, significant production numbers to enable me to get parts to maintain the car, - and simplicity of design, so i could maintain it myself, because my wenching on the car was a major component of car choice, i really wanted to be able to immerse myself in the car.

I also wanted to be able to get the car on the track, not seriously competitively but doing track days - i wanted to persue my old joy of getting sideways at speed, but with comfort,repairabilityand parts availability.

This ruled out anything 78 and up, (cats and progressively more smog, design limitations and electronic complexity/choking).

Coincidentally, one of my oldest and best car buddies sent me a bunch of old Road and Track's and i found the article on "An Affordable Ferrari".

Seriously interested, i cruised the web and hit on F-Chat. I read and read and read, really consumed with the involvement and dedication of the afficionados and started searching.

A 76-77 308 seemed just about right - very simple, elegant, 4-2 barrel webbers, almost no smog - and afordable, ($30k).

I searched and searched, found an ebay car that didn't sell in Santa Barbara, went down to visit my dad, (but mostly to check out the car) and bought it.

I would do it all again, in a heartbeat, there is no other car that fits my odd wants, desires and meager financial ability.

Not a fearsome track car, but it can hold its own and it is the most fun i can have with my clothes on.

Viva Enzo,
chris
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In 1957 I was a mere twitch in my fathers loins...

 

Chris, nice car.

A 308GTS was my first F-Car and I still have memories of it like it was yesterday; I picked up the car during Stampede week, in Calgary, in July of '92. The emotion that it evoked was indescribable.....it was passion with a huge smile; from the inside out.

I would buy one of these cars again, and based on your commentary, look for a 76-77 308 GTB.

 

Was looking at Jags (E-types - nice cars and all that) but had never seen a Ferrari up close other than on the track. This was Pittsburgh in 1980 after all.
Stopped at the Auto Palace in Pittsburgh to look at the Alfa in the window and was shown a 330 GTC. Tried and failed to buy it (long but somewhat funny story) Why would anyone buy a Jag when a Ferrari could be had for almost the same price! So Ferrari it was from then on!
Finally found my 330 GT and still have it.

Cheers
Warren

 

I've seen a lot of cars in my life. To see a Ferrari in person....it just calls to me. Pictures don't do them justice. I appreciate just about any car made, but my passion is certainly Ferrari. It chose me