On Ferrari Ownership

"Ryan A." (rba) 08/18/2015 at 23:25 • Filed to: None

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Ferrari is the most iconic manufacturer of sports cars. Their bright red thoroughbreds are recognizable by nearly everyone, including those who are unable to distinguish between an M5 and a 320i. Nearly every Ferrari produced has attained high status as a luxury item as well as a properly respectable bit of engineering.

Despite their abilities on the road and track, Ferraris spend most of their time covered in a garage plugged into battery tenders. The Ferrari owner must wait for the perfect situation to drive: weather, traffic, destination, etc. And, assuming all of those are good, he must then determine depreciation costs. Is the drive to the beach worth the additional 200 miles on the clock? Those miles add up. Ferraris lose their value rapidly as they approach 40,000 miles.

The joy in owning a Ferrari is much like a prized trophy, a symbol of hard work and success. And, for some, there is the enjoyment in wearing a Ferrari shirt or those heinous Ferrari-branded Puma sneakers, just hoping someone will point out that you look like a dork and that you probably don’t even own a Ferrari. But then, you can say that you do own a Ferrari, and even pull out your big red key.

Ferrari ownership is difficult because you must decide between enjoying something near perfection and preserving that limited resource. Trust me, I know what it’s like.

I don’t own a Ferrari, but I did receive something quite similar for my birthday: a few packages of original (pre-Papermate) Mirado Black Warriors. These pencils are carefully crafted and supremely smooth. Much like the hand-built Ferrari 250 GTO, these pencils are a bygone work of art. The pencil sharpens perfectly evenly — the lead is dead on center. The branding is printed and embossed with precision — the paint is found only in the embossment. The paint doesn’t hastily run into the ferrule, which has a perfectly even red stripe.

These details are no longer found on the Mirado Black Warrior, which is now manufactured by Papermate in Mexico.

These classic Black Warriors are precious like the Ferraris of the 1960s. They’re used with care and only on certain occasions. I want to carry one in my pocket for every day use. But I can’t bring myself to do it. I usually go through a pencil every week and a half. I wouldn’t want to use up the few that I have; I may never have the chance to buy more. So my Black Warriors sit idle in their packages on the shelf next to my desk.

For years I thought that it was silly that Ferraris sat idle for weeks on end. I am now able to empathize, thanks to a few leftover packages of pencils.

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CAR_IS_MI > Ryan A. 08/18/2015 at 23:35

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I drive my Ferrari to the grocery store. Your argument is invalid.

911e46z06 > Ryan A. 08/18/2015 at 23:38

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It actually kind of bums me out that my Porsche has appreciated so crazily. I used to drive the shit out of it, but now I’m too scared. I expect no sympathy from any of you.

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > Ryan A. 08/18/2015 at 23:46

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Thanks, interesting perspective and well said. Reminds me of the chalk article from Gizmodo a little while back: http://gizmodo.com/why-mathematic…

Unlike the pencils and chalk described above, though, Ferrari is still making Ferraris. As much as it pains me to admit, I can understand preserving (read: rarely driving) a true classic. But I cannot understand buying a late-model Ferrari just to park it in the garage.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Ryan A. 08/18/2015 at 23:47

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I do the same thing with sneakers. I have pairs I bought years ago but never wear. I’m not even a collector, just some obsessive wierdo I guess.

At least owning Ferarri may get you laid. “I married him for his sneaker collection”, said no women ever. : (

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > 911e46z06 08/18/2015 at 23:48

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Yeah. None. I wish I could say that. Nice car though.

911e46z06 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/18/2015 at 23:52

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Thanks man

PS9 > 911e46z06 08/18/2015 at 23:52

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Sympathy? No. What you actually need now is mercy. You won’t be getting any of that either!

TO THE LIONS WITH YOU.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > 911e46z06 08/18/2015 at 23:58

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I saw a classic Targa a few weeks back and it confirmed my wants for one.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Ryan A. 08/19/2015 at 00:02

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I know the feel in an even weirder way. There’s this Lego motor that was in 5 sets from 2002 to 2006. I bought one a few months ago but I don’t want to use it for anything because I’m way to scared to break it. Anyway, now you know that I have absolutely no life whatsoever.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > PS9 08/19/2015 at 00:21

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That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?

Goggles Pizzano > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 00:31

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It’s okay...there are no real lions.

:-)x

911e46z06 > PS9 08/19/2015 at 01:03

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Mmmmmmmm. Your Haterade sustains me.

I was actually very jalop today. I drove the 911, z06, e46, and caddy today. Please dont send me to the lions.

PS9 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 01:04

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Nah. How can lions eat him if they’ve all been shot to death by dentists?

911e46z06 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 01:04

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Yeah. Mine’s a convertible. Gotta have that wind in the hair. Makes classic Porsching a million times better.

PS9 > 911e46z06 08/19/2015 at 01:04

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I can’t. The dentists got them all.

911e46z06 > PS9 08/19/2015 at 01:08

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Well thank god for that. I need to seek out this dentist and buy him a beer. I’m sure he’ll receive the well-earned adoration of a grateful nation for his heroic deeds.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Goggles Pizzano 08/19/2015 at 01:13

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I figured there weren’t.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > PS9 08/19/2015 at 01:13

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Too soon.

BoulderZ > Ryan A. 08/19/2015 at 02:05

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Mortality is the most willfully ignored inevitability. While many things age well, none last forever. The prized pencil, unused, may as well have never existed. The fine wine never tasted, never was bottled. The exquisite automobile never driven should never have been assembled.

Drink the wine.

Drive the car.

Write passionately with the pencils.

Make no apologies and stand firm with your convictions and the consequences.

sebdel > Ryan A. 08/19/2015 at 02:23

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Sounds dumb, but this happens to me with coffee. Every time someone I know goes on vacation I ask for coffee, so they bring me a little 400g of coffe from anywhere and sometimes is really good and I don’t want to use it all, but I know It’s open already so I have to use it all soon, even if it’s sad to see it going away..

sebdel > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 02:35

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$74! Are you kidding me! the only lego thing I’ve ever bought in my life has two of those connecting the rear tires, I haven’t use that car in years. My idea was to by some sets and have enough pieces to build anything, but legos are so insanely expensive here I couldn’t do it.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > sebdel 08/19/2015 at 10:11

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I got one that was $50 and free shipping. You can usually get them for about $35 on specialty sites like Bricklink. But if, you know, you want to sell that...

sebdel > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 11:14

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I’ll give you the motors and the whole thing for an oppo sticker, but I’m in Ecuador and I don’t trust regular mail, specially if you’re in the US (things get lost going and coming from there for some reason). There’s dhl, but that’d be over $150 for shipping, wich I think is more than the whole set cost. But If you’re ever in the neighborhood...

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > sebdel 08/19/2015 at 11:19

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The sets seem to be going for about $200 on Ebay. I’d say keep it.

sebdel > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/19/2015 at 13:37

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Cool, In my next trip to the Us I’ll listed somewhere in the internet. I had no idea.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > sebdel 08/19/2015 at 13:40

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If I see it on eBay, I might bid.

Ryan A. > Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop 08/20/2015 at 19:35

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There’s the Blackwing 602 that has a similar following! I think they’re great pencils, too. I just like the Black Warrior best because I’m a creature of habit.

Ryan A. > sebdel 08/20/2015 at 19:38

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I never really thought of applying the same idea to a perishable item.

Ryan A. > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 08/20/2015 at 19:39

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Do you keep buying the same ones? If you do, it wouldn’t actually be a bad idea to stock up. I used to wear only Adidas Sambas, but switched after I found that the quality had decreased. I really wished I had bought a few extra pairs.