Exotic Car Protocol and Etiquette

[Wanderer]

Enough of the “us older types” grandpa! There’s a few who haven’t hit middle aged and maybe one or two that still have hair.

I still got my hair and just a little grey! In fact due to lockdown etc I've not had a haircut for ages and look like some ageing rock star, shoulder length hair, Wrangler Pro-Rodeo jeans and Dunlop Green flash pumps, sweet.....

Beard is bit shiiit tho, not managed it - it's just like Berry Merrifeld's, 'during the war'......

 

[Doctor Houx]

Odd the that Maserati's (I don't know every model) is easy to get into, not a skate on wheels, suited to us older types, same for Aston, whereas Ferrari/Lambo etc for me I'd need a doctor present before I attempted to get in and team of helpers to get out.

Proves Masers only generally come to those 'of an age' which could imply self-made. I'm doing ok, but 60 in 3 months and on cheapo QP5, no top of the range GT for me! When were kids we didn't have one penny to rub together.....

Until I was nine I didn't even have any clothes, until my Dad bought me a cap so I could look out the window.....

I know, I churn these out a lot but they are funny af lol!!

I’m 58 this year and have just bought a GT40. How mad is that.... good news for my osteopath though who is looking forward to lots more business. This photo of it next to my Vanquish shows just how low 40 inches to the roofline is in reality!

 

[FIFTY]

Sure if anyone wants to talk to me I'll have a chat but it's usually not more than "nice car", "lovely colour" and the occasional "does it give you much trouble"?

I did have a kid on a high street in some town in Wiltshire shout "poor man's Ferrari" at me once that was quite funny (quoting Clarkson I believe)

Although I am convinced Masers get less attention than Ferrari's and as I have recently learnt with my Alpina when you have people hunting you down constantly to look at your car it can get tiresome if it's your daily/regular driver. That said unless someone ***** me off I remain polite

As for Ferrari owners there is this stereotype:

But all the owners I have got to know are sound

 

[Wanderer]

I was queueing for the Eurotunnel in the QP and was ignored, whereas the the guy in the open-top TVR in front of me got calls from a car (Golf) full of lads 'TVR W@nker!!' - all in good nature and funny but still, ignored.

And at Dublin port guy on gate said 'Maserati? Doesn't sound like one' so as I was in neutral I gave it the beans and he said 'Ooooh, now it does....'

Understated!

 

[FIFTY]

I was queueing for the Eurotunnel in the QP and was ignored, whereas the the guy in the open-top TVR in front of me got calls from a car (Golf) full of lads 'TVR W@nker!!' - all in good nature and funny but still, ignored.

And at Dublin port guy on gate said 'Maserati? Doesn't sound like one' so as I was in neutral I gave it the beans and he said 'Ooooh, now it does....'

Understated!

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati at the Eurotunnel whereas in my former 318d company car they always told me to wait in that layby and swobbed my steering wheel then told me to go

The immigration staff must reckon if you drive a maser then you cannot be a terrorist either!

 

[Wanderer]

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati at the Eurotunnel whereas in my former 318d company car they always told me to wait in that layby and swobbed my steering wheel then told me to go

The immigration staff must reckon if you drive a maser then you cannot be a terrorist either!

Straight on for me and I was worried about the clearance for the top deck ramps where the ones in front where going but they guided me lower deck, nice!

 

[Gazcw]

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati at the Eurotunnel whereas in my former 318d company car they always told me to wait in that layby and swobbed my steering wheel then told me to go

The immigration staff must reckon if you drive a maser then you cannot be a terrorist either!

I always get pulled over for extra checks! I guess I must look like a crim.

 

[Gazcw]

Straight on for me and I was worried about the clearance for the top deck ramps where the ones in front where going but they guided me lower deck, nice!

Plenty of space up top. Always wind my mirrors in though.

 

[Saigon]

Normally somewhere in the conversation “bet you don’t get many miles to the gallon” crops up.

 

[Oneball]

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati at the Eurotunnel whereas in my former 318d company car they always told me to wait in that layby and swobbed my steering wheel then told me to go

The immigration staff must reckon if you drive a maser then you cannot be a terrorist either!

I was on the bike getting on the tunnel in Calais at about midnight and had the full treatment, was chatting to the only other bloke in my carriage on the way back, Orthodox Jewish guy who’d been to Holland to collect a wardrobe in a Volvo. They did the same to him. We wondered whether they were bored that night or thought he was in a disguise!

 

[CatmanV2]

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati

I've been stopped. It's Mrs C. She basically screams 'stop me' as she's totally incapable of not feeling guilty in any kind of check situation. Going through airports is an utter nightmare

C

 

[Doctor Houx]

Normally somewhere in the conversation “bet you don’t get many miles to the gallon” crops up.

As if that's the main concern when running an exotic car! Drivers of everyday supermarket Euroboxes always worry about MPG, but that's the least of our worries.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Interestingly I never get stopped for "extra checks" in the Maserati at the Eurotunnel whereas in my former 318d company car they always told me to wait in that layby and swobbed my steering wheel then told me to go

The immigration staff must reckon if you drive a maser then you cannot be a terrorist either!

I got pulled in the Vantage in Portsmouth on the way to France. The customs lady said she just wanted to have a look and take some pictures for her son.

 

[Zep]

I got pulled in the Vantage in Portsmouth on the way to France. The customs lady said she just wanted to have a look and take some pictures for her son.

Yes, but what about the car?

 

[Felonious Crud]

Yes, but what about the car?

Oh, she wasn't interested in that. Just wanted some 'trunk open' pics.

Whilst I was slightly troubled that they were for her young son, it seemed ungentlemanly to decline.

 

[P5Nij]

I’m 58 this year and have just bought a GT40. How mad is that.... good news for my osteopath though who is looking forward to lots more business. This photo of it next to my Vanquish shows just how low 40 inches to the roofline is in reality!

View attachment 83225

That GT40 is just gorgeous.... is the one that was for sale at Headturners....?

 

[Doctor Houx]

Taxed the newly delivered GT40 from 1st April and took it out for the first time on Friday to put some petrol in and get used to driving a new car with no rear visibility and a rod change right hand dogleg gearbox with no synchro! They offered a central placed H pattern synchro box as an option during the build but I wanted originality. Doh! It’s the country roads of Norfolk, not the Mulsanne Strainght at La Sarthe!

Anyway, talk about interest in it. Many of my cars attract a bit of attention now and again but this was on a different level. Rubberneckers in every car coming the other way, flashed headlights, thumbs up etc all over the place. I was mobbed at the local Esso in Kings Lynn......even women. I blame Le Mans 66 film as they lost interest when fat old me got out (a challenge in itself even with the removable steering wheel), not Christian Bale!

 

[Andyk]

I bet it turns head. It certainly cuts a dash on the drive way and the road. Enjoy.

 

[rivarama]

I got way more attention with the Land Rover in the 2 months I had it than over the years owning the Ferraris.

Theory number 1 - good looking women were waaaay too intimidated by my ravishing good looks and flash cars to say “hi, nice car”, while I am now much more approachable in my 50y/o landy

Theory number 2 - people in general love traditional and classic British cars much more

 

[Andyk]

I got way more attention with the Land Rover in the 2 months I had it than over the years owning the Ferraris.

Theory number 1 - good looking women were waaaay too intimidated by my ravishing good looks and flash cars to say “hi, nice car”, while I am now much more approachable in my 50y/o landy

Theory number 2 - people in general love traditional and classic British cars much more



View attachment 83813

Must be number one surely ......