Ferrari: aspirational or cringeworthy?
Discussion
I just made the big mistake of looking at the LaFerrari video on this very website.
Oh dear. Oh dear. What has happened to Ferrari?
I truly fear for the future of the company. Not because of their products, which are generally excellent ( loving the new California ) but because of how the company sees itself at the most senior level.
Ferrari are drinking too much of their own kool aid. Believing their own hype. Being ruled ( I fear ) by a management team where PR people have as much of a say over things as engineers. In the long term, this ain't good IMO.
For me, the rot started with the La Ferrari. The stupid, stupid, stupid name of that car was a warning. A warning that Ferrari are disappearing up their own behinds and believing their own PR machine.
To have true credibility, Ferrari need a bit less of the Miami nonsense, a bit less of the stupid model names, and a bit more of the engineering achievement please. There is plenty to love in terms of their engineering - after all, N/A engines that can put out the power they do is a marvellous, marvellous thing.
But, for this car enthusiast at least, I find the way Ferrari are positioned is becoming more cringeworthy than aspirational. I think the 458 speciale is well named - it is a special car with a lot of very interesting tech. But it is all getting crowded out by the BS that surrounds the brand.
Or is it just me and I am being unnecessarily grumpy today?
Oh dear. Oh dear. What has happened to Ferrari?
I truly fear for the future of the company. Not because of their products, which are generally excellent ( loving the new California ) but because of how the company sees itself at the most senior level.
Ferrari are drinking too much of their own kool aid. Believing their own hype. Being ruled ( I fear ) by a management team where PR people have as much of a say over things as engineers. In the long term, this ain't good IMO.
For me, the rot started with the La Ferrari. The stupid, stupid, stupid name of that car was a warning. A warning that Ferrari are disappearing up their own behinds and believing their own PR machine.
To have true credibility, Ferrari need a bit less of the Miami nonsense, a bit less of the stupid model names, and a bit more of the engineering achievement please. There is plenty to love in terms of their engineering - after all, N/A engines that can put out the power they do is a marvellous, marvellous thing.
But, for this car enthusiast at least, I find the way Ferrari are positioned is becoming more cringeworthy than aspirational. I think the 458 speciale is well named - it is a special car with a lot of very interesting tech. But it is all getting crowded out by the BS that surrounds the brand.
Or is it just me and I am being unnecessarily grumpy today?
I think all supercars are going this way; only focusing on the absolute top end, minute production numbers, even 'choosing' who they deign to but their cars. Would I buy one if I had oodles of cash? Possibly a 458....but probably not. It'd be an Aston for everyday and a classic sportscar for fun.
To be honest, the traditional Englishman is not a vital demographic for Ferrari. Their PR machine will pander and focus on the geographics and demographics that offer the greatest returns.
You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
DonkeyApple said:
To be honest, the traditional Englishman is not a vital demographic for Ferrari. Their PR machine will pander and focus on the geographics and demographics that offer the greatest returns.
You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
The UK is Ferrai's biggest EU market. 677 cars last year. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/18/mo...You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
They have produced some fantastics cars.
Only thing that may make one cringeworthy is if some prick is driving one, but all car brands are like that.
I wonder how long it will be before someone posts "I could easily afford one but....." then doesn't even have a car in their profile.
These threads seem to attract them.
Only thing that may make one cringeworthy is if some prick is driving one, but all car brands are like that.
I wonder how long it will be before someone posts "I could easily afford one but....." then doesn't even have a car in their profile.
These threads seem to attract them.
M3DGE said:
I think all supercars are going this way; only focusing on the absolute top end, minute production numbers, even 'choosing' who they deign to but their cars. Would I buy one if I had oodles of cash? Possibly a 458....but probably not. It'd be an Aston for everyday and a classic sportscar for fun.
I probably would not buy one even if I had oodles of cash. I like your idea of an Aston for everyday and a classic sportscar for fun. Impasse said:
DonkeyApple said:
To be honest, the traditional Englishman is not a vital demographic for Ferrari. Their PR machine will pander and focus on the geographics and demographics that offer the greatest returns.
You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
The UK is Ferrai's biggest EU market. 677 cars last year. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/18/mo...You can imagine that in many key markets the people would not see what you and I see when we view such comedic tripe.
For starter's the UK hasn't grown but the EU demand has collapsed due to their far worse economic situation.
The next factor is that we do not know how many of the 677 units were bought by British people? One can assume that the majority were bought by people working in London and at the same time we know that the majority of high end London earners are not British.
And finally, 677 is less than 10% of annual production. I would hazard that purchases by British passport holders would be a noteably smaller number. And if you take the original specifier in my post of 'traditional Englishman' then I doubt the figure even represents 1% of global annual production.
DonkeyApple said:
It's a slightly twisted statistic.
For starter's the UK hasn't grown but the EU demand has collapsed due to their far worse economic situation.
The next factor is that we do not know how many of the 677 units were bought by British people? One can assume that the majority were bought by people working in London and at the same time we know that the majority of high end London earners are not British.
And finally, 677 is less than 10% of annual production. I would hazard that purchases by British passport holders would be a noteably smaller number. And if you take the original specifier in my post of 'traditional Englishman' then I doubt the figure even represents 1% of global annual production.
Why did you have to that? I wasn't calling you out or trying to make you feel small, I just thought a bit of up to date information might help. For starter's the UK hasn't grown but the EU demand has collapsed due to their far worse economic situation.
The next factor is that we do not know how many of the 677 units were bought by British people? One can assume that the majority were bought by people working in London and at the same time we know that the majority of high end London earners are not British.
And finally, 677 is less than 10% of annual production. I would hazard that purchases by British passport holders would be a noteably smaller number. And if you take the original specifier in my post of 'traditional Englishman' then I doubt the figure even represents 1% of global annual production.
Impasse said:
DonkeyApple said:
It's a slightly twisted statistic.
For starter's the UK hasn't grown but the EU demand has collapsed due to their far worse economic situation.
The next factor is that we do not know how many of the 677 units were bought by British people? One can assume that the majority were bought by people working in London and at the same time we know that the majority of high end London earners are not British.
And finally, 677 is less than 10% of annual production. I would hazard that purchases by British passport holders would be a noteably smaller number. And if you take the original specifier in my post of 'traditional Englishman' then I doubt the figure even represents 1% of global annual production.
Why did you have to that? I wasn't calling you out or trying to make you feel small, I just thought a bit of up to date information might help. For starter's the UK hasn't grown but the EU demand has collapsed due to their far worse economic situation.
The next factor is that we do not know how many of the 677 units were bought by British people? One can assume that the majority were bought by people working in London and at the same time we know that the majority of high end London earners are not British.
And finally, 677 is less than 10% of annual production. I would hazard that purchases by British passport holders would be a noteably smaller number. And if you take the original specifier in my post of 'traditional Englishman' then I doubt the figure even represents 1% of global annual production.
Impasse said:
Why did you have to that? I wasn't calling you out or trying to make you feel small, I just thought a bit of up to date information might help.
An excellent fact followed up with multiple assumptions based on nothing but prejudice. The fact is more Ferraris are sold in the UK than in any other European market but, rather than accept how fortunate we are to contain so many of these incredible machines in such a small island the poster tries to dismiss the figures and question the nationality of the purchasers. Small minded jealousy I'd say.Thankyou4calling said:
Impasse said:
Why did you have to that? I wasn't calling you out or trying to make you feel small, I just thought a bit of up to date information might help.
An excellent fact followed up with multiple assumptions based on nothing but prejudice. The fact is more Ferraris are sold in the UK than in any other European market but, rather than accept how fortunate we are to contain so many of these incredible machines in such a small island the poster tries to dismiss the figures and question the nationality of the purchasers. Small minded jealousy I'd say.toppstuff said:
I just made the big mistake of looking at the LaFerrari video on this very website.
Oh dear. Oh dear. What has happened to Ferrari?
I truly fear for the future of the company. Not because of their products, which are generally excellent ( loving the new California ) but because of how the company sees itself at the most senior level.
Ferrari are drinking too much of their own kool aid. Believing their own hype. Being ruled ( I fear ) by a management team where PR people have as much of a say over things as engineers. In the long term, this ain't good IMO.
For me, the rot started with the La Ferrari. The stupid, stupid, stupid name of that car was a warning. A warning that Ferrari are disappearing up their own behinds and believing their own PR machine.
To have true credibility, Ferrari need a bit less of the Miami nonsense, a bit less of the stupid model names, and a bit more of the engineering achievement please. There is plenty to love in terms of their engineering - after all, N/A engines that can put out the power they do is a marvellous, marvellous thing.
But, for this car enthusiast at least, I find the way Ferrari are positioned is becoming more cringeworthy than aspirational. I think the 458 speciale is well named - it is a special car with a lot of very interesting tech. But it is all getting crowded out by the BS that surrounds the brand.
Or is it just me and I am being unnecessarily grumpy today?
They are Italians. Hope that helps. Oh dear. Oh dear. What has happened to Ferrari?
I truly fear for the future of the company. Not because of their products, which are generally excellent ( loving the new California ) but because of how the company sees itself at the most senior level.
Ferrari are drinking too much of their own kool aid. Believing their own hype. Being ruled ( I fear ) by a management team where PR people have as much of a say over things as engineers. In the long term, this ain't good IMO.
For me, the rot started with the La Ferrari. The stupid, stupid, stupid name of that car was a warning. A warning that Ferrari are disappearing up their own behinds and believing their own PR machine.
To have true credibility, Ferrari need a bit less of the Miami nonsense, a bit less of the stupid model names, and a bit more of the engineering achievement please. There is plenty to love in terms of their engineering - after all, N/A engines that can put out the power they do is a marvellous, marvellous thing.
But, for this car enthusiast at least, I find the way Ferrari are positioned is becoming more cringeworthy than aspirational. I think the 458 speciale is well named - it is a special car with a lot of very interesting tech. But it is all getting crowded out by the BS that surrounds the brand.
Or is it just me and I am being unnecessarily grumpy today?
Thankyou4calling said:
Impasse said:
Why did you have to that? I wasn't calling you out or trying to make you feel small, I just thought a bit of up to date information might help.
An excellent fact followed up with multiple assumptions based on nothing but prejudice. The fact is more Ferraris are sold in the UK than in any other European market but, rather than accept how fortunate we are to contain so many of these incredible machines in such a small island the poster tries to dismiss the figures and question the nationality of the purchasers. Small minded jealousy I'd say.BritishRacinGrin said:
They are Italians. Hope that helps.
Actually, it does. I love the country and have been there on numerous times and locations. It is always apparent that I am really not wired the same way as they are. This may explain things... I need to find my inner Italian.... must be there somewhere... Whatever they're doing it seems to be working (for the shareholders). £44m from merchandise alone - approx 25% of profit - and now the most powerful brand in the world. http://brandfinance.com/news/press_releases/ferrar...
Impasse said:
Whatever they're doing it seems to be working (for the shareholders). £44m from merchandise alone - approx 25% of profit - and now the most powerful brand in the world. http://brandfinance.com/news/press_releases/ferrar...
Uncanny!I just posted this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
About why being financially successful seems to be used as a catch-all defence against things getting worse.
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