Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 512TR and 308 values in general...

[bglarson (bglarson]

Indeed, Rick makes about as pure and obviously true observations about Ferrari ownership as can be cobbled together.  If you’ve acquired a Ferrari through legal means, it’s yours to enjoy however you see fit.  To most of us, making a game of buying and selling cars is part of the fun.  But if one simply buys/sells without thinking, call it a roll of the dice, there is plenty of room for that…..witness the market place.

 

 

From: Ferrari [mailto:ferrari-bounces+bglarson=transystems.com [at] ferrarilist.com] On Behalf Of Larry Bard
Sent: Saturday, May 2, 2015 8:37 AM
To: HQ-Brian Larson
Cc: Ferrarilist
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] 512TR and 308 values in general...

 

Well said.

Still, for those owners -- relatively few, I hope -- who purchase primarily or solely as an investment, in the hope of future appreciation: what a shame, having such a beautiful (well, some of them; but in their eyes . . .), well performing (some) car that is an unused garage queen.  (Again, I'm talking about those that are purchased for investment, not for admiration by the owner; we all can think of models that we'd love to park in our living rooms, so we don't have to occasionally visit our garages to admire.)

It's like having beautiful art, purchased solely for investment, and keeping it in storage, out of sight of even the owner.  Pity.

But, yeah, they are entitled to do whatever they want with their money, and what they do with it.  But what's the point if they neither drive it regularly nor derive great value (at least in their eyes) from enjoying it visually?

---

Date: Sat, 2 May 2015 07:41:18 -0500
From: richardolindsay [at] gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] 512TR and 308 values in general...
CC: ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com
To: larrybard [at] hotmail.com

There are more reasons, and valid reasons, to own a Ferrari or Dino, than, "...drive the wheels off of it..."

 

First of all, 'why' one owns the car is personal and it doesn't matter one bit why. If I want to spend every day on the track at redline, that's my business. If I want a blue blazer at Pebble Beach, that's my business. This justification attitude smacks of the complaints about 'one-percenters'. That's just envy. Who should give a damn about what others have or why they own this Ferrari or that, or why they own it?!

 

I own two Ferraris and rarely drive either one of them. They still have wheels on them, and I enjoy them very much...driving or sitting pretty in the garage. 

 

Second, what one pays for a Ferrari, or even what one sells one for, is also personal. Assuming otherwise is price fixing! These cars are bought and sold with discretionary money, not grocery money. BTW, just HAVING discretionary money is a sin to socialists (and anyone having two cents less than you). Greed and envy are ugly things but unfortunately, they drive the free market. Greed says, "I want it all...", and envy says, "...and I don't want you to have any." Yea, capitalism is ugly...but its the only system that works. And it works because its based upon Natural Selection.

 

So I own 10 cars, including two Ferraris, because I want to own them, including the two Ferraris. Why is of no concern to others. The fact that prices are climbing is not a Ferrari thing. Its a sports car thing, especially older sports cars. Take a look at TR3s or E-Types. All of these cars are a finite supply market and discretionary cash is increasing. (Not because of Obama but rather, in spite of him!)

 

So what's my 308GTB worth, or my Testarossa, or E-Type, or... Who knows?! But they are worth far more today than I paid for them. Then again, I think there is something to what Erik says. His point is that the cars are not worth more, the dollar is worth less. In reality, neither end-member is completely correct. Its just a fickle market driven by emotion rather than rational thought. Drive the wheels off it, or polish it in the living room, doesn't matter. They're wonderful either way.

 

Whew! Goofy morning.

 

-rick

 

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