[Foxxtron]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11593310/

Maybe because it's that I'm not rich, but I just don't get what's all wrapped up on what's now mostly a brand name, a style, and all of the conrived statements of how "Ferrari" is something so darn great. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Their older vehicles were definitely in a highly defined breed, but now, their just a different breed by being not that much better (that's if they are better). I enjoyed Michael Schumacher while he was winning, but the world is much more than just Formula 1, and my go cart from over 20 yrs. ago is engineered much more like a Formula 1 vehicle than some street legal sports car vehicle.

Pardon my harsh analysis, but I'll rest now and wait for those who have something to chip in with.

This post has been edited by Foxxton: Mar 10 2006, 02:42 AM

[jensend]

I've had somewhat different experience with the Ferrari people I've met. There are certainly some who see themselves in terms of the success and status involved in acquiring both the means and the car. On the other hand, I've also met several Ferrari owner who were cordial, skilled, and enjoyable people.

Wouldn't make a blanket statement, but I think the deciding factor is how they approach driving. Those who might be called snobbish or aloof rarely seem too genuinely interested in exploring the car's full performance potentail. By contrast, those who are seriously interested in performance driving are able to appreciate perormance and skill regardless of its source or a driver's relative status.

If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Bob Coates and his original one off NART Ferrari, you won't find it hard to see many Ferrari owners/drivers as "car people" just like most you know. Bob's car is an irreplacable car with a storied race history which he tracks regularly with cars of varied values and little or no "history". He is skilled , gracious, and courteous on track. Owners like Bob have as much enthusiasm and affection for their cars and driving as any of us.

In the end, I think it comes down to an individual's basic character. The F-body guy who sneers at sharing the track with Civics and Neons is every bit the snob as the Ferrari owner is who finds sharing the track with M-3s distasteful. Character weakness not the badging makes the snob in my view.