Perceptions of arrogance

[Mannginger]

Now I'm not in the financial position to be able to afford a Ferrari or any other supercar for that matter, but I was wondering this morning whether the perception of Ferrari as arrogant has ever put anyone off from buying one of their products.

By this I mean things such as their behaviour within F1 for example with team rules or only allowing certain people to buy one of their hypercars.

I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press.

Phil

[430 Spider]

I guess for those with a Ferrari, the answer would be no.

I'm not a big fan of Ferrari in F1 given the antics of Todt, Brawn Schumacher and Whiting - and in fact am a McLaren fan through and through, but it hasn't stopped me owning one of the road cars. From experience I would say there is not as much overlap between Ferrari F1 fans and Ferrari road car fans as you might imagine. But if I could afford a McLaren F1, I would buy one.

Having an arrogant dealer would possibly impact my decision, but again from what I've heard (I've never owned one), Mercedes dealers can be pretty bad in this regard.

>> Edited by 430 Spider on Sunday 26th March 08:08

[3200gt]

Mannginger said:

I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press. Phil

I don't think that this is encouraged by the manufacturers, lets face it, the majority of manufacturers are as remote as you can get from the their end user's. I believe that it is generated by the dealers to a much greater extent. Assumed elitism. When I bought my 3200gt I went to a well known and much respected dealer to see what stock they had. The fact that I had just finished some decorating, was covered in paint and turned up in my work hack should not have given them preconceptions as to my ability to afford the car I was after. On entering the showroom, I couldn't even get a salesman to talk to me.
After I sourced my car elsewhere I was curious to find if it was just my face that didn't fit so returned to the said dealer, in my new car and wearing a suit. I was greeted with a "good morning sir, would you like a coffee and how may we help you this morning". So I spent several hours wasting their time just for the heck of it. Childish I know, but it made me feel better.

[430 Spider]

Once you get hold of a dealer, they're usually quite friendly, but they're often busy when you walk in. Saying that, they did call me sir when I showed up in the Fezza. I really don't think wearing a suit would make that much difference - especially an off the peg suit, whereas an expensive pair of jeans or a winter suntan probably would - sad times.

[360stimo]

3200gt said:

Mannginger said: I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press. Phil I don't think that this is encouraged by the manufacturers, lets face it, the majority of manufacturers are as remote as you can get from the their end user's. I believe that it is generated by the dealers to a much greater extent. Assumed elitism. When I bought my 3200gt I went to a well known and much respected dealer to see what stock they had. The fact that I had just finished some decorating, was covered in paint and turned up in my work hack should not have given them preconceptions as to my ability to afford the car I was after. On entering the showroom, I couldn't even get a salesman to talk to me. After I sourced my car elsewhere I was curious to find if it was just my face that didn't fit so returned to the said dealer, in my new car and wearing a suit. I was greeted with a "good morning sir, would you like a coffee and how may we help you this morning". So I spent several hours wasting their time just for the heck of it. Childish I know, but it made me feel better.

didn't you waste your own time too ?

[crikeymikey]

Mannginger said:

Now I'm not in the financial position to be able to afford a Ferrari or any other supercar for that matter, but I was wondering this morning whether the perception of Ferrari as arrogant has ever put anyone off from buying one of their products. By this I mean things such as their behaviour within F1 for example with team rules or only allowing certain people to buy one of their hypercars. I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press. Phil

As 430Spider says, if you're in the market for that sort of car you already know your own mind.
It's a good question though, and it's true that Lambo's do seem get treated better than Fezza's.
I wonder. Has Marranello licenced it's logo to so many merchandising companys that it's become devalued in the eyes of the man in the street.
Example: I can't look at a St George's Cross with out thinking "bloody football", which is shame, as "Ing-gur-lund" has replaced any true sense of national pride that our flag used to represent.
Back to Ferrari. The Prancing Pony can be found on all manner of (mostly irrelevant) merchandise which must annoy owners enormously. I, for one, am happy that you never see Lamborghini's Raging Bull anywhere but on the nose of a Lamborghini.
I think Ferrari's marketing department has done them an injustice.
Just an opinion.

[Mannginger]

But a good one. I must admit I wouldn't have thought that Ferrari's ad men would have to do too much to enhance the brand, maybe it's a case of "too many cooks"?

As to other points, I guess it's a fair point that all owners didn't let it affect their decision - maybe I should have posted this into General Gassing?

Phil

[Mrs Triple S]

Mannginger said:

Now I'm not in the financial position to be able to afford a Ferrari or any other supercar for that matter, but I was wondering this morning whether the perception of Ferrari as arrogant has ever put anyone off from buying one of their products. By this I mean things such as their behaviour within F1 for example with team rules or only allowing certain people to buy one of their hypercars. I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press. Phil

We often visit Ferrari dealers just to 'window shop' and we have always beeen treated with respect. I always make it quite clear that I love Ferraris but couldn't afford to buy one, but they always find time to talk to us.

We had a similar experience to 3200GT in a well known TVR garage- we were ignored when looking round the dealers. When we bought a TVR ( from another dealer, obviously)we went back to the first dealer in the TVR and we were still ignored. I would never use or recommend that dealer to anyone.

I have found though that some Ferrari owners are not at all friendly ( present company excepted of course ) and this can often get the marque bad press. IMO.

Lorraine

[simonspider]

I think its sad that occasionally driving a Ferrari you will get the odd hand signal or shouted at if you are out on a night in it.I get this with the 360 from time to time but most of the reaction is generally positive. But in 18 months I have never had one negative remark about the Murcie..whether this is because of the look of it or they don't know what it is I dunno.

[dealmaker]

I agree with Simon - it's an interesting phenomenon - out in my pal's 360 (and 355 before that) you often get negative, how should we say this,...gesturing? I've also experienced this in some of my louder Porsche's - What a complete contrast to the reaction by EVERYBODY to the Murcie (and Diablo before that) - only smiles, thumbs-ups and positive comments !!

Maybe everyone who gestures to Ferrari's has also visited a Ferrari delaership at some point, and remain scarred by the experience!!

[3200gt]

360stimo said:

3200gt said: Mannginger said: I think a lot of it is perception / bad press rather than fact, but you don't see Pagani or Lamborghini get the same kind of press. Phil I don't think that this is encouraged by the manufacturers, lets face it, the majority of manufacturers are as remote as you can get from the their end user's. I believe that it is generated by the dealers to a much greater extent. Assumed elitism. When I bought my 3200gt I went to a well known and much respected dealer to see what stock they had. The fact that I had just finished some decorating, was covered in paint and turned up in my work hack should not have given them preconceptions as to my ability to afford the car I was after. On entering the showroom, I couldn't even get a salesman to talk to me. After I sourced my car elsewhere I was curious to find if it was just my face that didn't fit so returned to the said dealer, in my new car and wearing a suit. I was greeted with a "good morning sir, would you like a coffee and how may we help you this morning". So I spent several hours wasting their time just for the heck of it. Childish I know, but it made me feel better. didn't you waste your own time too ?

No, as I said it made me feel better!

[Davey S2]

simonspider said:

I think its sad that occasionally driving a Ferrari you will get the odd hand signal or shouted at if you are out on a night in it.I get this with the 360 from time to time but most of the reaction is generally positive. But in 18 months I have never had one negative remark about the Murcie..whether this is because of the look of it or they don't know what it is I dunno.

I think it's because the 360 is seen as being the typical footballers / lottery winners car - Someone suddenly finds themselves with a few quid and immediately goes out to buy a Ferrari because thats what you do when you have lots of cash.

Lambos seem to say 'enthusiast' more than 'poser' for some reason despite the fact that they are more expensive and if a 360 followed a Murcie through a busy town centre no one would even notice the 360.

Lambos are also far more rare. 360's are not that uncommon a sight in most major cities nowadays where a Murcie is still a rare sight.

One of my earliest supercar memories was when I was about 7 coming out of a hairdressers with my mum in a small village on the outskirts of Cardiff when there was this immense noise like rolling thunder.

I turned around and rumbling through the centre of the village was a bright red Countach. Even though the place was only busy with retired people at the time everyone just stopped and stared. Even my mum who has no interest in cars at all just stared and said "wow"

A Testarossa wouldnt have had the same effect.

[hosedoctor]

I have to say having owned both a TVR and a 360 is that people seem to give you a lot more thumbs up ect than they do in a Ferrari,i.e letting you pull out of a turning and so on??

[dealmaker]

Davey S2 said:

I think it's because the 360 is seen as being the typical footballers / lottery winners car ............ Lambos seem to say 'enthusiast' more than 'poser'.........

Oh dear......whilst I agree wholeheartedly I feel you will have upset some of our scarlet wearing brethern!

>> Edited by dealmaker on Tuesday 28th March 13:41

[Davey S2]

dealmaker said:

Davey S2 said: I think it's because the 360 is seen as being the typical footballers / lottery winners car ............ Lambos seem to say 'enthusiast' more than 'poser'......... Oh dear......whilst I agree wholeheartedly I feel you will have upset some of our scarlet wearing brethern! >> Edited by dealmaker on Tuesday 28th March 13:41

No intention to do that. I really like the 360 and love the 360CS and F430. A red Ferrari just unfortunately plays into the hands of peoples perceptions.

I have a friend who drives a Boxter and people either ignore it (especially at junctions) or shout abuse at him and give him the coffee bean sign whereas when I am in the Exige I get completely opposite reactions.

One is seen as a poser and the other an enthusiast.

[anniesdad]

Davey S2 said:

dealmaker said: Davey S2 said: I think it's because the 360 is seen as being the typical footballers / lottery winners car ............ Lambos seem to say 'enthusiast' more than 'poser'......... Oh dear......whilst I agree wholeheartedly I feel you will have upset some of our scarlet wearing brethern! >> Edited by dealmaker on Tuesday 28th March 13:41 No intention to do that. I really like the 360 and love the 360CS and F430. A red Ferrari just unfortunately plays into the hands of peoples perceptions. I have a friend who drives a Boxter and people either ignore it (especially at junctions) or shout abuse at him and give him the coffee bean sign whereas when I am in the Exige I get completely opposite reactions. One is seen as a poser and the other an enthusiast.

Hi Davey,

Funny that. I've never got any reaction other than positive ones, when out in my Boxster. Either people just ignore you (it is grey after all) or it's a well intentioned thumbs up or suchlike. It's sad to think that some people would view you as an enthusiast and not I.

I'm sure I can get over it though, when coccooned in my own little grey and black world.

S

[ade355]

yup, out of all the cars in the world, the boxster is the winner in attracting the most negative reactions IME. Perhaps not so much these days (I dont know), but when I had one back in 2001, it was vandalised several times, never let out at junctions, hand signals all the time. Terrible experience, had no idea it was going to be like that when I bought it.

[430 Spider]

I never had any negative reactions to my Boxster.

I generally get more stick in the F430 Spider than I did in the 360CS, but about 90-95% of comments are favourable, and usually fall into the nice car/wanna swap? variety.

[Davey S2]

430 Spider said:

I never had any negative reactions to my Boxster. I generally get more stick in the F430 Spider than I did in the 360CS, but about 90-95% of comments are favourable, and usually fall into the nice car/wanna swap? variety.

Again for some reasons spiders seem even worse. People seem to look at the owner and imagine he got a soft top just to be seen in rather than drive.

Unfortunately that can often be the case. We have a bloke in Cardiff who has has a 355, 360 and now 430 - all spiders. I dont think any of them have been out of 3rd gear. All he does is drive slowly through town and rev the engine at traffic lights. Everyone I know who has seen him referrs to him as a to$$er.

Hi Steve - glad you have had good experiences in the Boxter but most Porsche owners (of modern models anyway) seem to get a fair bit of stick from time to time.

[crikeymikey]

We seem to have a bit of a consensus that Fezzas do get unfair stick off people.
I've only ever driven the 355 and 360, so not exactly an exhaustive experience, though both were over several hundred miles each. Both times I got huge hassle off people, even though I was driving reasonably sensibly.
I've done 6500 miles in my Gallardo a paltry amount compared to Simon's Murci I know), all in the UK, and not once has anyone given me the finger.
Which is made all the more remarkable by the fact that I am occasionally prone to drive like my ass is fire!
I don't think we can blame the F1 team for public reaction to Ferrari's road cars, though.
I'll stick with over-saturation of a brand. Sounds fancy!