If you are a Ferrari salesman, do you own one?

I think a Ferrari salesman should own one. It doesn't really matter which model, but IMO he should - it shows he has the passion and he is not just a salesman, kind of like he backs the product he is trying to sell.

 

I would think everyone's situation is different. Affordability for one. There are many people with passion, few with deep enough pockets.

 

if i got to drive them as much as the salesmen i know,i'd have something else...

 

If thats how you make your living and put food on the table. I believe thats what you should be driving. You don't have to buy the most expensive new toy on the menu. Today, you can find some pretty good deals on older f cars. Especially if you represent the dealer taking them in on trades.
Henry Ford used to walk out to the employee parking lot and see what cars his people were driving. The ones who weren't driving fords found a pink slip on their desk the next day. My father for many years owned trucking companies that transported ford cars all over the country. Every two years he bought himself a new ford lincoln. He felt it was just the right thing to do.

 

I could be wrong, but I think that you won't find many Ferrari salespersons that own Ferraris.

 

But you'll sure find a some that have owned a Ferrari Owner or two over the years!!

 

Still, it's an exclusive product and not for everyone. The guys who build Rolls-Royce or Ferrari cars likely can't afford them either. You can still have the passion and be a successful salesperson without a Ferrari in your garage.

Lots of real estate agents sell homes they can't afford to buy.

My $0.02,

Neil

 

You make some good points Neil. But I'm not necessarily talking about the guys building the cars. More to the point is the salesmen selling the cars. True, ferraris are an exclusive product. But pricing has gotten to a point where you can buy an f car for the same money as a bmw 3 and or 5 series. I agree, having the passion is definitly important. But a great salesman understands the everyday quirks and issues a current owner has to deal with. I just don't think you really get there until you own one. Many real estate agents and brokers sell homes they could never personally afford. But almost everyone lives in a home and experiences the same issues. All homes are basically alike. Just more expensive to maintain and more rooms. While I've nevere driven a ferrari that felt like any other car. Nor have I ever driven two ferraris that ever felt or handled the same as the one driven previously.

 

They don't need to buy one or own one, the dealership should have a few fleet cars as demos for potential buyers and for salesmen to drive home and other things. My local Lamborghini dealership works this way.

 

The Ferrari salesman I deal with owns a 355.

 

I know of at least two salesmen that own or have owned 308/328s until recently. Also one dealership owner with a 328 (I think he still has it.)

 

Given the low purchase price but high maintenance requirements of some so-called entry level F-cars, I'm inclined to think Ferrari techs would be more likely to own one than a salesman. At least I think it would be less of a finnancial burden. If the powers that be at a given dealership believe as you do they would be compelled to pay pretty darn well so their sales force could buy AND maintain their cars. If they do you can sign me up- I'm ready for a career change .

 

Speaking from (brief) experience as a Ferrari salesman...

With what our pay scale was, you have to first buy one and then become a Ferrari salesman...

It all depends on where you work. Some dealers pay a flat on each cars sold, some commission, some a salary plus flats.

 

Guys that sell Gulf Streams don't own one. Are they any less passionate about flying?

Guys that sell Ferrari's may not be able to afford or justify even a used one.

As an example... Does owning a 308 prove that you are any more of a car guy than owning a race prepped Mitsu Evo that you track on a weekly basis? Are you a brand whore if you buy the 308 with mediocre performance compared to the Evo just to show that you are a Ferrari guy?

Does your sales guy need to know the diameter of the intake valves on a 365/GTB to earn your business?

I think there is a balance between being a good salesman and having a passion for the product. When you get to the price level of a Ferrari, having one in the garage or not should not be an indicator of their level of knowledge and dedication to the brand. Find a sales guy that is a true car guy and ask them which cars they have driven and which they would like to own. That may be a better indicator of what they know and what they like and, more importantly, whether it is going to be of any help to you.

 

If you count dealership owners, then our local owner has at least 20, including 288GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, etc.

 

How about a 1955 Merc Gullwing or Porsche Speedster? Those things are plugs compared to the Evo. I wish all those Mercedes and Porsche brand whores would wake up and smell the Mitsubishi.

I would say you're "more of a car guy" if you can extract the best performance from your car, without the aid of computers, traction control, ABS, stability control, flappy paddle gearboxes, etc., on a proper track (one with curves).

If you need all of those goodies, I would say you're "more of a video game guy who happens to be out for a drive using a lot of technology to look like a better driver than you are."

 

True, they're usually in a different tax bracket.

 

There was an article in the local paper a couple of years ago about F-B.H. and how the ;kist; works as well as the salesman on staff. It said that the 2 top guys drove 1) a 10 year old Toyota and the 2) some other beat POS. Both of them said they did not make enough to buy an F-car.

 

Yep. You gross $20-50K on a deal and you get paid a flat $500 for the deal. You have to pay for the privilege to sell Ferraris.

 

LOL

 

Dyed in the wool salesmen generally don't own anything they sell for more than a few months at a time, whether it's cars or stereos or real estate. When they can make as much money on private deals as on the job, they keep the stock moving.

 

I never understood this, I have a passion for Lamborghini's and Ferrari's and I will do anything it takes to get into a position where I will be able to afford one, I cannot imagine having a passion and not pursuing it.

 

I work for a wholesale Ferrari dealer if that counts and I own 4, 76 308GTB, 87 Testarossa, 90 348TS, 00 360 Modena.