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

move to a bigger town.

the more fish in the pond the better, it will dilute the currious.

 

I usually say yes but tell them it's old, slow and cost less than a new 1-ton 4x4 diesel Ford pickup.

If they still give me crap I tell them I have the Ferrari instead of a boat/motorhome/snowmobiles that sit around 11.5 months of the year.

After that they usually see the logic in that and relax a little.

BTW, I live in a town of 12,000 and I usually get a thumbs up from people more than anything else. Maybe it has to do with the fact that there are more race cars, hot rods and customs per capita than anyplace I have ever lived.

 

Seriously, one needs to move because they have a Ferrari?? That's a little extreme I think.

Ken

 

Now and then I run into a car guy at a gas station or wherever and end up chatting cars but for the most part I find people to be judgemental when it comes to Ferrari owners. I'm finding owning a Ferrari (when it comes to others opinions) more annoying then positive. I hear: He must be a drug dealer or what a joke to pay that much for a car like that when you could buy a WRX STI that is faster for a fraction of the cost or what a show off.

I was filling up last week and a guy pulls up in a M3 coupe. His girlfriend said to him isn't that a Ferrari? He said: Ya what a waste of money. His girlfriend said: Aren't they really fast. He said: There not that fast, there just for people that want to show off.

Makes me think about buying a black Porsche instead of a red Ferrari sometimes.

 

I would just acknowledge it and move on. If nosy people persist (and depending on what model you own), you have several options. When I got mine (a '77 308), it was delivered to my office. One of the big bosses came out and made a sarcastic comment about paying me too much. I told him, "Nope, this car cost me less than that Dodge Durango you drive!" He thought it was brand new! I've used that line with other people and sub'd "Dodge Durango" with "Honda Accord", "Toyota Camry", etc. depending on the situation.

Or you can just say "Yep, thanks! It's a fun car!" with a big grin on your face.

Or you can do what you did. None of them is wrong, just depends on what you're comfortable with.

Nothing wrong with not advertising it, just as there's nothing wrong with owning it. Just don't ever let anyone make you feel guilty about it!

 

Don't be annoyed, Drew, the problem's theirs not yours. IMHO, BMWs are like trucks - many (not all) guys drive them to compensate (i.e. for all the wrong reasons).

 

Oh, and the key there should be M3 coupe - now there's a show-off machine if I ever saw one. BMW owners/drivers can hate me if they want, but the number of *good* BMW drivers I've met, I can count on one hand. No exaggeration. Sorry 'bout that.

 

I don't announce it, but if asked i will tell them. If they have a problem with it i don't care thats their problem

 

The Testarossa you have was a VERY expensive car when new, and most people assume that is still very expensive.

I always downplay the car, but it hard not to get noticed in a Red Ferrari.

 

This actually sounds more like, as a doctor in a relatively small community, you're embarassed to have people know that you are making a ton more money than they are. Well, wake up and smell the cabbage, Doc. Yes, you are in the upper levels of income groups. And yes, you are going to make a lot more money than most folks in your community.

So, if you're doing well and have the disposable income to enjoy yourself, don't be embarassed. You worked for it. You don't have to stick it in anyone's face, but no reason to hide it either. If you are that concerned about your image in the community and don't want to look successful, sell the Ferrari and the Porsche and the whatever exotic, and buy a Chevy. If you don't care what other people think, drive whatever the heck you want and enjoy the heck out of it.

Life is too short to drink cheap wine. And if you enjoy exotic sports cars and you have the means to drive one, don't worry what other people think. Chances are, the car costs you less per year than a lot of other doctors on staff are spending on their country club memberships, or their wives' spa days, Gucci, Prada, face lifts and Botox injections.

And the next time some jealous f*$& asks you an obnoxious question about the car, just say, "Yeah, it's mine. I love it. Want me to take you for a ride some time?" That will shut them up real fast. You didn't steal the car, you earned it. No excuses. Enough said.

 

Likewise and yellow is just as bad.

 

Un-fricking-believable.
Maybe we should print some business cards to hand to people who say stupid things like that. Print something along the lines of "Do you practice at being an idiot or does it come naturally to you?" on them.
Really sorry state if it's a superior(!) asking the question...Don't leave town. Start rumors your buying big chunks of it or running for office..

 

Why? People like that obviously don't understand. Which is fine. Nobody is obligated to like Ferrari's. If the feel the need to make any negative comment's, well that's than their obvious frustrations.

 

I understand where you are coming from Phillip but I can also substitute BMW for any number of other highline performance cars. I think the key is WHY people buy these cars (Ferrari included), many to boost their egos. The rivalry is always going to be there, Lambo/Ferrari, Subaru/Evo and even in the domestic ranks, Chevy/Ford/Dodge.

I drive an old (crap, everything I drive is old!) 5 series BMW because I like the look, driving characteristics and engineering of the car (V8 with dual overhead chain driven cams, hydraulic cam followers, electronic port injection). I bought it for me just like I bought my Ferrari for me. I don't need crutches for my ego, it's healthy all by itself.

If somebody tries to slap the "attitude" on me I let them run with it, most people pick up on it and that someone ends up sounding like a fool..

 

Now that's just a plain ignorant comment from him, maybe a little jealousy as well. He thinks a BMW doesn't stand out, let alone an M3? That's the one thing I'm nervous about when I get my 330ci. I don't want the hate and other attention that I think will come with it. Probably why I'm deciding against white and something more subtle to blend in.

I mean my truck does stick out like a sore thumb, but I really hate any attention I get. Luckily everyone that's talked to me about it, have been kind and just said I really like what you've done with it. I'm not big on words so all I really say is thanks.

I don't like to stick out, but when you're a car guy or girl you're just going to.

 

I get the same crap, "you must be rich" my neighbor said I must have won the lottery - the first time I met him! He came off on the wrong foot but maybe I did too just for having the car hidden in my garage. People see them, you cant hide for long if you have one stashed away. Too bad but there will always be negative comments, thoughts and preconcieved notions about people that own one. Ive had one for 5 years now and Im still not used to hearing the crap but Ill put up with it because its too much dam fun blasting around at stupid speeds! Screw the jealous bastards.

 

Good man! Next car I'll get will be a white TR to compliment my white 328.

 

My response is usually that yes, it's my Ferrari, I have loved the 308 since I was a kid and I finally got one. I think it's the coolest car ever made. If they don't like that, who cares. Most people can dig it if you are really a nut about your "baby" like that. I used to make excuses, "oh the car cost less than an Accord" and all that crap, but I finally stopped. I don't care if they think I'm rich, stupid, arrogant, obnoxious, or whatever. I don't need to make excuses for my hobby. 99% of the people who insult your car or you because it's a Ferrari are just jealous anyway.

 

i think that would be the best idea... Downplay the car, tell them it's old and temperamental, but that you have patience and always wanted one as a kid... Tell them you couldn't afford it ten years ago (whether you could or not) because they cost so much, then add that nowadays, you can pick one up for the cost of what everyone else in middle class America is paying for transportation... Hell, brag about how little a GT4 costs; open their eyes to little-known facts about "cost-effective" Ferraris...

This also raises another point though... And i don't want to get political, but this certainly ties in... A lot of people on this board (i'm not saying you, Bo) like to make presumptions about other people... The folks selling replicas on eBay or many of the folks whose pictures or websites are posted in O/T... Many people are quick to presume someone's gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) or crazy or stupid or whatever, solely based on some obscure picture or whatever, posted on the internet... This is the same frame of mind that people use to judge Ferrari owners... They take one look and drown in assumptions... Just a thought...

 

Well said.

 

Amen with some people its not just the Ferrari they can always find some part of your lifestyle to comment on thats why I like the Eagles song "Get Over It" I sometimes exercise my darker side when I am in a store and some smart ass looks at my shirt and says so do you have one or just wish you had my retort is actually I have two!

 

Try saying "It is??? I thought it was a Mustang!"

 

Just tell them you used to trade in white slavery and it was very lucrative. Then ask them if they have a daughter.

That usually ends the questioning.



Terry