A return to form: Say hello to Banana MK2, the Italian Prancing Horse (Ferrari 458 Italia)

owning the 911 those years back it certainly created jealousy amongst people as there was a few occasions where a member of public or another driver on the roads would give a typical hand gesture and no one ever really tried to ask questions, unless a petrol head and a car meet.

That's because they all look the same to the untrained eye and everybody has one - I don't look twice at a Porsche these days.

I've seen a few Ferrari's around where I work, no Lamborghini's though sadly!
 
So getting a Ferrari I was expecting similar, but nope, the reactions are many and they have all being positive, its very similar to owning the Mustangs, people want to ask questions and know about the car and few request from Dads or Mums if their child can have a photo with it, normally happens in petrol stations and it does not bother me at all as everyone has being so polite and genuinely interested, so though it gets a lot of attention, it has been very positive.

It is weird how some cars do this.

Dad would occasionally get people knocking on his door, or stopping in the street whilst he washed his XKR, asking questions etc.

That has since amplified since getting a DB9 - with two people offering to wash it for him.
 
owning the 911 those years back it certainly created jealousy amongst people as there was a few occasions where a member of public or another driver on the roads would give a typical hand gesture and no one ever really tried to ask questions

Well doesnt help that every porche model ever is identical ;)
 
It is weird how some cars do this.

Dad would occasionally get people knocking on his door, or stopping in the street whilst he washed his XKR, asking questions etc.

That has since amplified since getting a DB9 - with two people offering to wash it for him.


From my experience of cars and the brands I've owned and driven is that Porsche seems a hated brand, owning a Porsche makes you a hand gesture or have small genitals as far as the public is concerned, apart from people who have maybe driven a Porsche or owned one people just do not seem to get them, particular the 911. I will say again out of all the cars I test drove a 991.1 GT3 RS gave the 458 a true close call, on driving both I found it so difficult to separate them, the Porsche was winning on running cost (until I discovered Ferrari FREE servicing) and the Porsche is typically a more robust car or believed to be. Though the GT3 engine in the cabin is arguable the best in cabin sounding engine I have ever experienced, it was hard to experience on the road whilst remaining legal, as 7000rpm in 2nd gear is around 60mph, it is at around 7500rpm the noise turns godlike and the limiter in 2nd is 80mph something. Handling seemed mixed the 911 felt so connected and confidence inspiring but at same time the grip was low in wet/cold but in fairness truly communicative, but the 458 just felt way more special and not a single big wing in sight. Drive a 911, they are truly sensational, GT3 is absolute best of the bunch followed by GT4, the Turbo models do nothing for me, driven a few 911 Turbo's and well I'd rather take a GTR its more engaging.

It does seem the British public absolutely love Aston Martin and Jaguar, having owned two Jaguars and having access to a V8 Vantage I can say the comments are always the same, WOW what a beautiful looking car. People love British cars, knowing people who own Mclarens they report similar responses.
The Saleen Mustang got potentially the most attention of any car I owned, but back in 2006 I think it was a Mustang was an incredible rare site in UK, a Saleen Mustang was even rare US side, the response was hugely positive, the only negative response was from Police officers giving me speeding tickets. :D

The new Mustang also developed lots of random conversations and interest as I was one of the first in the UK to get one, plus it was grey not even a bright colour but in short people were like WOW, how much was it, well 35k, YOU WHAT, WHAT THE HELL, I thought it was a 60-80k car, of course the Mustang is now pretty much a 50k car, but in got a lot of positive attention.

Lotus is same, people love them even if they are not particular comfortable.

It is German cars that people seem to interpret badly, does it come from as far back as WW1/WW2? I don't think so you can buy an Audi R8, that is German too and for whatever reason, women in particular all of a sudden want your babies it seems if your single and what want women to throw their panties at you as you drive along, well its the car to buy, all the R8's I've driven, white, red, blue every women on the street was staring, yes its a good looking card but maybe its the ironman stigma. But Porsche, BMW M will get attention from petrol heads but generally negative attention from the public.

Ferrari and Lambo seem to just inject joy into people, Lamborghini the attention is unreal, but I think for many Lamborghini is the true poster car, the boyhood dream and when people see them they just fall in love and want a chance to ask you about it, the Ferrari gets a lot of attention too, the positive thing it always seems all very positive. :)
 
I don't think so you can buy an Audi R8, that is German too and for whatever reason, women in particular all of a sudden want your babies it seems if your single and what want women to throw their panties at you as you drive along, well its the car to buy, all the R8's I've driven, white, red, blue every women on the street was staring, yes its a good looking card but maybe its the ironman stigma.

Interesting you say that, part of the reason I didn't bother with the R8 in the end was the image. IMO Audi have a terrible image problem and it even affects the R8, it is the chav brand of choice not to mention drug dealers etc. The RS3 has become the oik wagon of choice and it somehow extends all the way up the tree. Parking the 4C in Lidl is no problem, an R8 will be surrounded by hoodlums in no time.

I've never met a woman interested in cars really, but they know how expensive they are ;)
 
Interesting you say that, part of the reason I didn't bother with the R8 in the end was the image. IMO Audi have a terrible image problem and it even affects the R8, it is the chav brand of choice not to mention drug dealers etc. The RS3 has become the oik wagon of choice and it somehow extends all the way up the tree. Parking the 4C in Lidl is no problem, an R8 will be surrounded by hoodlums in no time.

I've never met a woman interested in cars really, but they know how expensive they are ;)


When I met my Mrs I had the F-Type, once we started going out and she discovered it cost me £80,000 she was like WTF and responded with its a nice car but I thought it was like a 40-50k car tops, not a 100k plus car new, that is a womens perspective who likes cars but has no real knowledge or understanding. When I asked her about 911's her comment was they are boring and shocked also at how much the special models truly are. She also did not stuff like M5's can cost 100k but believed all Range Rovers were very expensive until I showed her you can pickup an SVR one for around 50k used and regular cooking model for like 5k.

So I think it depends on the women, they value cars differently.
 
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When I met my Mrs I had the F-Type, once we started going out and she discovered it cost me £80,000 she was like WTF and responded with its a nice car but I thought it was like a 40-50k car tops, not a 100k plus car new, that is a womens perspective who likes cars but has no real knowledge or understanding. When I asked her about 911's her comment was they are boring and shocked also at how much the special models truly are. She also did not stuff like M5's can cost 100k but believed all Range Rovers were very expensive until I showed her you can pickup an SVR one for around 50k used and regular cooking model for like 5k.

So I think it depends on the women, they value cars differently.
My other half thought my first e38 728i a very expensive car, she thought the 735i V8 I replaced it with at a considerable premium an old banger (!) thinks my current Mk 3 Focus Titanium X is "a bit basic" and thinks my truck should run on petrol "because it's got a big engine"

Leave 'em to fashion, cars are just a means to the shops........
 
My other half has about as much interest in my cars as I do her hobbies..

Well she likes cars and enjoys going for drives and she loved Santa Pod and the VMAX days we did and she is eager to do some track days too. I’m planning to book her in for some Caterham drift days to really improve her skills behind the wheel she will be scared at first but then love it, but she enjoys the driving and cars as much as I do in fact she can be a bad influence on car parts scene and mods lol.

I guess I’m lucky that our hobbies we share them as she is a gamer and reviews computer hardware for a living and so we have plenty in common or would hope so now we’re living together.

Yes I leave fashion to her I mean she sorted my socks issue out. ;)
 
I wouldnt mind her being into cars to be honest, but she thinks the M3 isnt all that and the escort awful. So I got no chance. She won't even come to the ring with me!

Shame my Mrs was not keen on the M3 either she felt a bit nervous in it lol no doubt because I drove it sideways a lot and skids but she keeps encouraging me to book track days and really enjoys the car scene.

She enjoys the Ferrari but she misses the comfort of the SVR and it’s heated seats and so do I at this time of year lol.
 
Think that's the problem I got, I tormented her with so much of my sketchy driving she's had enough!

What track days you thinking of this year? I fancy doing a few in the m3 and maybe the escort if it's built.

Do you miss have a track dedicated car?
 
Think that's the problem I got, I tormented her with so much of my sketchy driving she's had enough!

What track days you thinking of this year? I fancy doing a few in the m3 and maybe the escort if it's built.

Do you miss have a track dedicated car?

Donnington as soon as weather improves and I don’t miss the track car as the 458 does the track bit better whilst being a far better road car.

When I had SVR I used to enjoy jumping into the M3 but once I got the 458 the M3 sat being unused as it just really did not offer anything, the 458 is just a hugely thrilling car to drive as for me I like a drivers car but at the same time I don’t want a true all and all our drivers car that is raw and wants to kill you say aka 996 GT3 or Lotus Elise etc but I did want something that felt relatively light with big NA power and I’ve said it many times but the 458 is just so much fun to drive at all speeds and feels extremely special.

If I change it the only car I can think of is really a 991.1 GT3 RS or a Performante both are incredible but are not as engaging at slower speeds and it’s the weakness of most cars these days they got too easy to go so fast. It’s why I quite liked SVR it also felt a bit edgy even though it was AWD but the 458 is vastly more so.
 
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