Unfortunately the closest most of will ever get to driving a Ferrari will be to buy an item in the merchandise range. These symbols of style and grace are for many a dream car but many owners find themselves wishing they had not bought the car in the first place. A Ferrari for many men and women is the ultimate driving experience; sadly with the increased traffic on the roads the experience can be wholly disappointing. Maybe it would be better just to buy some merchandise and let people believe you own Ferrari instead.
After all for most that is all a Ferrari is; a status symbol that lets people know that you have the wealth to drive one of these exquisite cars. Ferrari owners seem to adorn themselves in merchandise, caps, coats, pens and cigarette lighters. Surely if you have the money to own a Ferrari you should not feel the need to show the entire world through an extensive merchandise collection, although if i owned a Ferrari i probably would.
Ferrari drivers in many cases are resented anyway. Seemingly it is only car nuts and young boys who are amazed when they see one of these impressive motors in the street. The majority of people see Ferrari owners as arrogant and in many cases, 'making up for deficiencies in the rest of their life'. This shouldn't put people off buying Ferrari merchandise however, if you don't own a Ferrari, its not such a crime.
This said, not all Ferrari owners buy their car for purely status purposes. There are many out there who own a Ferrari for the marvellous driving experience. These true car nuts would far prefer to take their pride and joy onto a race track rather than the city streets. Speed and handling are the ethos behind every Ferrari; being Italian they also include sumptuous styling.
There is of course an exception to the rule that most Ferrari models cause resentment amongst the general public. If you want a Ferrari and still feel the need to be respected by your fellow man, buy a classic. Classic models seem more likable to the general public; models from the sixties are probably the best way to do this but will cost you a fortune as they are less seen as cars but more collector's items. The high expense of classics for us mere mortals however means buying a miniature model from the merchandise range will be as close as we can get.
For those of you thinking of buying a Ferrari the most affordable model would be the Mondial from the early eighties. Not as aesthetically pleasing as other models it is widely regarded as the cheapest Ferrari for enthusiasts to purchase. Remember however that a Ferrari will cost a great deal more to run than a normal car. Servicing must be carried out regularly while spare parts cost a small fortune. Ferrari's also go through tires like most households go through milk, at a few thousand pounds a tyre, this is a great expense.
Buying a Ferrari may not endear you to your fellow man and you will only succeed in impressing adolescent boys. If purchasing merchandise try and keep it low key, a watch or pen will suffice to let people know you are a member of the Ferrari fraternity. There is no doubt that owning a Ferrari is one of the greatest pleasures in life, but remember there is a time and a place to drive like a lunatic.
