Ferrari Mailing List: The Second rule of Italian Driving

[ken rentiers (rentiers]

An Italian gentleman walked into a bank in New York City and asked  
for the loan officer. He told the loan officer  he was going to Italy  
on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. But that he  
was not a depositor of the bank.

The bank's loan officer told him the bank would need some form
of security for the loan, so the Italian handed over the keys to a brand
new red Ferrari.

The car was parked on the street in front of the bank. The Italian
produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer
agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for
having to charge him 12% interest.

Later, the bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh
at the Italian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a  
$5,000 loan.
An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's
underground garage and parked it.

Two weeks later, the Italian returned, repaid the $5,000 and the  
interest
of $23.07.

The loan officer said, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your  
business,
and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little  
puzzled.
While you were away, we did a background check and found that you are
a multimillionaire.   What puzzles us is, why would you bother to  
borrow $5,000?"

The Italian replied, "Where else in New York City can I park my car  
for two
weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?"