What to say when asked how much?

"Just enough to have acquired it, but not a penny more than that."

 

Tom,
Right after I bought my F355 from a fellow Fchatter in Boulder, I stopped at Massa Grill to buy a friend lunch (after driving me all the way up from downtown Denver to pick up the car). Immediately after I got out of the car, a couple of kids came up and started asking all kinds of questions but the first two were: how fast does it go and how much? I was kind of taken aback and without really having a chance to think of a good answer, I just blurted out "enough that I have to buy my wife a lot of shoes." And I just liked how it sounded and anytime I got the question again, that's what I said everytime someone asked the question after that. Besides, putting a number on it really ruins the mystique.

 

I know; I know...

I just have an STi. But people (generally younger ) ask me these types of questions. I've just found that the easiest thing to do it just say how much it costed. They can easily go and look it up anyways. They asked me, I tell them. I guess subconsciously we just don't want to come off as a prick. I suppose I think of it in a way to just know that I'd rather know how much someone paid over some whitty remark.

Just me, but I will still do that if/when I own any exotic.

 

10. Not too much

09. Too Much

08. Enough to give me a permenant limp!

07. Twice what I thought

06. It was cheaper than you think, but then I needed a tune-up!

05. Well half of the cost went to my driving instructor, Roland!

04. My marriage!

03. Twice as much as a faster car (insert other brand here i.e. Porsche, Subaru, Mitusbishi, Corvette, Mercedes, BMW, Oldsmobile Alero), but you are not asking them!!

02. Ferraris are like women you can spend lots of money but once you are inside them it puts a smile on your face!

01. If i had a nickel for everytime someone asked me that, I would buy another one!!

 

I had a beggar in Vegas ask me for money.
I said that i didn't have any.
He said "you're driving a ferrari man"
I repied, yeah, but it's a rental!

 

I had a beggar in Vegas ask me for money.
I said that i didn't have any.
He said "you're driving a ferrari man"
Thats why I don't have any money..............................

 

Nice!


I used to get upset at this question when I first had my 308. I struggled with the answer... "A fair price" was once response.

Now, I try to encourage ownership. I defer the question, but I say that "good ones can be had for" {some amount} and then the obligatory caution that proper service on them is not cheap!

The best was getting emissions tested... Nice college girl was working there. "Aren't you a little young for this car?"

Never too young!

 

Oh the stereotypes!

I'm not, but then thats because I AM old.

 

I've always been amused by people's reluctance to answer the "how much" question. It's not a secret what these cars cost. Anybody who really wants to know can find out after doing a few minutes of digging on the Internet.

I think the reason most people don't like this question is because the real answer will not impress the questioner (ie, it actually cost a lot less than the questioner was imagining). Just my theory.

btw, have you never asked anyone with a rare classic or collector car how much "a car like that" costs?

 

Honestly, I don't think Enzo owners say anything different. I think it's just that a lot of times the people asking this aren't as fortunate as some of you guys are. when you say that your car costs more than their home... You would probably feel guilty. Just say it because they asked... no games.

 

The gentleman's way:

Q: "How much did you pay?"

A: "More than I wanted to."

 

People who ask are really just curious. Usually the answer is a lot less than they already think. With 308's for instance you can often hear them thinking "I can afford that!". A guy in a Petsmart parking lot (looking at my 328) remarked to his wife that the car was worth 150K. I was approaching and said "sorry, only about 50K". Sometimes they are disappointed. They really want to see very expensive cars.

 

i got pulled over in my 355 spider once. within a few days of getting it. a statie on 95.

he says to me "how much do these things go for?". not wanting to piss off the cop who hadn't yet decided what to write me up for (apparently) i said "125 to 150 thousand".

he startled at the number and said "you can buy a HOUSE for that!".

i almost blurted out, but thankfully bit my tongue: "not where i live!".

judge4re has the right answer - i'm gonna use that one.

doody.

 

A guy asked me "what did that car cost?" I thought for a second, and said, "Less than a divorce...so far."

 

When I get asked - mostly it is younger kids who ask (Teens or so)... I usually say it cost me 4 years of college and a few good years of hard work... And they can easily have one if they apply themselves.

If an adult asks - I usually say:

1.) I have no idea - just stole the darn thing
2.) I have no idea - It is my Neighbors - I am house sitting - and I just couldn't resist taking it out.
3.) I have no idea - It is my bosses - I am just taking it out to get it washed
4.) I have no idea - It is my wifes - i just borrowed it for the day
5.) I am an undercover cop - and the station (name your local police station) pays for it.
6.) Just about what the kids college fund was - until they ticked me off one day.

 

"Cheaper than therapy!"

 

The other day, someone I didn't know asked me in a parking lot what my 550 cost. I wanted to ask him, "How much did your house cost?" but I didn't think he'd get the point (or he was renting) From now on, I'll say, "They vary. You can see them on eBay". Then, as I get away from them, I'll mention that "based on my own experience, they cost about $1/mile in maintenance and $1-2/mile in depreciation"...and then get it in gear and go!

 

Nine inches.

 

You wish
Roland
F40LM

 

I went to a Ferrari event with NetJets (private airplanes) last Saturday and took my new 612. A very nice lady came up to me and said she really liked the car and asked how much it cost. I asked her if she really needed to know and she said yes. So I pulled out the window sticker and showed it to her.
Afterwards she came up to me and apologized, she said she didn't know I owned the car and thought I was just the salesman. Hahaha!
Roger.