What are these people smoking? http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea28ef/27 Now we have complaints that the shift knob is on wrong, that it's hard to get reverse, the e-brake is bad, there's no power steering ... and now some genius thinks a Buick Regal GNX is a better car. I think the 308 needs a PR rep. This is ridiculous.
The doors don't lock? With all the others stuff he is whining about, I think it may be time to fix it, sell it, or part it out. Anything but whining about your lack of maintenance to the world. Straightening out that shift knob might be a good easy place to start... The second post kills me too - he would rather have EITHER a GNX OR a Countach! Sort of time to make up your mind, eh?
Caroline who works for a car mag complains that she has to drop her cell phone and use both hands while text messaging due to the heavy steering. Prolly wanted to mention that she'd broken a nail while shifting just after a manicure too but thought about it first. I think the hidden agenda behind this post is the car lacks the room for numerous botique shopping bags.
True, there's one car guy at Edmunds. Not an encouraging ratio, but it is better than zero. I'm surprised we haven't been treated to a comparison of the cupholders in the Camry versus the 24-year old Ferrari. Seriously, I'm not exactly built like Schwarzenegger or Stallone, and I have no trouble driving/steering a 308/328. I made a note in one of my blog posts there ('billymay') that if she wanted to come down to San Diego she could drive a properly sorted 328.
Well, I'm enjoying this column. It's about a normal guy enjoying a very unique car. So he's not a gearhead, no big deal. he's writing about emotion, not DIY stuff. Ken
These people just don't get it. Can they even drive? "Don't plan on going fast because it doesn't have power steering or abs?" I'm just blown away with that comment. What the hell does power steering have to do with going fast, or abs? Oh No! The shift nob is loose. They could reposition it, and tighten up the screw on it. What really kills me is the "I couldn't get it into reverse" comment. All you have to do is put it into first let out the clutch so it grabs slightly and it will go into reverse just fine. I know of modern cars that do this.
Hope no one tells him how to fix the shifter knob. Next blog hell whine over how hard it was to cut the stick and glue it back in place. I would have gone for the $200 jeans if I where that guy. Look at it from the bright side, if every single person in the world was a petrol head, there wouldnt be enough Ferraris in the world for every one.
Seriously, is there any way ANYONE from FChat can get ahold of the producers of Edmunds and say "HERE READ THIS". All these "complaints" are clearly from people who have never done any research and want a 1984 308 to be as user friendly as a 2008 Honda Accord...... ain't happening. All they need to do is subscribe to OUR forum, and they'd be happy little clams. Seriously, someone needs to call them. I'll freaking look up the number if no one in LA/Cali can...... James in Denver
Maybe we can take up a collection and buy it back from those idiots? We could donate it to charity at a FCA or FOC event. Just think we could get it very cheap too. With that misaligned shift knob and bad reverse gear it can't be worth even $28K!
Give him an electric car a Ferrai is to exotic for him 2 pedals and a whell this is all this Blonde can handle
Folks, The woman that wrote the post seems like a soccer mom not a gearhead. She drove the car a total of 13 miles - probobly during rush hour. She was focused on the gear shift pattern being upside down on the shifter knob and was unable to select reverse. I'm not impressed. To me, it's the comments that follow her entry that I find entertaing, especially the ones that paraphrase to - 'see I told you Ferraris suck...' However, reading the blog entries from the various staff members makes it clear that some of them 'get it'. Jon, There is a comparison that is pretty close to what you mentioned: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=122612 Regards, Art S.
Guys, Don't let this bother you. Truth is, most people would not like a Ferrari even if it was priced like a Civic. That's OK with me. Even Ferrari has been making cars more "user friendly" with great success. Think of how much more popular they were when power steering was added and more popular still when automatics were added and space for golf clubs. Dave
Why would anyone want to take this lady's opinion to heart. It is the equivalent to me giving medical advice to a room full of MD's (I don't know the first thing about the med field). Why someone who can probably barely spell the word Ferrari is chosen to review a Ferrari is beyond comprehension. Maybe their point was to take a soccer mom who has no interest in exotic sports cars or cars in general and have her write up a review. Waste of time.
To most people, a Ferrari looks sexy and evil at the same time, so they have these huge expectations of what the car is going to give them as an experience. 99% of the time, that expectation is completely wrong because they haven't the slightest clue what an exotic perfromance car is all about. These are the bozos writing these comments. If I took that person for a drive and just drove the car as a regular sedan, they would come away with a similar negative reaction - no big deal, they'd prolly comment. Now, if I took them for the "E" ticket ride of their lives on a curvey mountain road they'd prolly puke when they returned, but they at least would understand what it is about these cars that makes them what they are and why they appeal to us. No cup holders, no power steering, no power anything really, bad sound systems, bad amenity package, hard to enter and exit, odd shift pattern, you know the complaints. And then they would realize that a Ferrari is just not for them. But they would get "it".
Better yet can someone stop by, and ask to buy it for 21K. Tell them that it is like all other cars and that after you pass it along there is considerable depreciation......after all who the hell wants a car with out ABS and power steering. Do you think these brain surgeons can offer stock tips too?.......F'ing idiots. (There I have said my peace and feel better. )
Thx Art, I read the Kia Sedona vs Ferrari comparison - done in the right spirit, I think. And yes, I'm sure it's a soccer mom, and I'm sure she hated the 308, and that's fine. I'm just trying to figure out why Edmunds would have a soccer mom be their blogger du jour. Now there's a new bunch of clueless readers who think that any Ferrari built before last year isn't worth driving. I'm kind of waiting for them to crash it and then complain about the wind noise from the broken window. It's about as useful as having me test minivans. I could write some pretty lengthy posts about how <insert minivan model name here> is an ugly piece of trash that wallows through corners, dives when braking and can't outrun a Ferrari.
I'm surprised at how many people are getting upset about it -- I'm pretty much just laughing quietly and shaking my head. Good for her. lol! I guess the car is a bit much for her and she can't handle it. lol! I hate to say it, but she's just reinforcing the stereotype of women drivers being incompetent.
Copied from the bottom of her entry: Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR?!?!?!? I'm hoping that Edmunds is one of those places were everyone has an important sounding title because to me this sounds a lot like EVP. Regards, Art S.
Here's what I found: Caroline Pardilla Born to sedan-loving gypsies, Production Editor Caroline Pardilla had always thought cars were used solely for the practical purpose of hauling the family unit from Point A to Point B. It wasn't until the spectacular demise of her hand-me-down 1999 Ford Contour one summer when, in her search for a new car, she was introduced to the alternate universe of sports cars. Of course, Caroline currently drives a 1998 Toyota Corolla but she has her heart set on getting either a Mazda RX-8 or a Mini Cooper S. Although her tendency toward flash didn't extend to automobiles at first, Caroline's career preference did. After graduating with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, she worked for Kim-from-L.A. public relations for several years and handled media events for the likes of Martin Scorsese, Larry Flynt and, yes, Donny Osmond. Looking for something more down to earth, however, led our young Caroline to the dirt-loving offices of Primedia (originally "Petersen-emap") where she got a job as a copy editor for Dirt Rider, MXracer and ATVRider magazines. After dirt biking and correcting grammar for two and a half years, Caroline wanted to move on to bigger and better things, namely four-wheelers. She found a home at Edmunds.com where she happily prepares content for publication, pens the occasional review and helps out with consumer advice. Caroline thrives and drives in Los Angeles. Regards, Art S. PS. If you want to see her picture, it's here: http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/editors.html
"Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 51,532 miles" I think it's her who has the 51,532 miles She's obviously never tried to drive a Countach in rush hour traffic
