Ferrari strong arm?

[Xer0]

GT3's kinda meh...

I think their pretty cool in that ultimate boy racer sort of way.  Thankfully, they have plenty of go for all of that show.  Also, I recall Lebowski really likes the 911.

[93JC]

You guys missed the best part about this.

So, here's the original link, right? http://jalopnik.com/5938170/how-ferrari-is-losing-a-generation-of-buyers

This Maduri guy published this on his blog, http://doubleclutch.ca/.

http://doubleclutch.ca/about-us/

Check out who the "Chief Automotive Journalist" is...

[AutobahnSHO]

I don't recognize Mr. Desai....

[93JC]

Our old friend Treppy!!

[AutobahnSHO]

Our old friend Treppy!!

Huh. !?!?!!!!!!

[93JC]

'Huh' what? It's TheIntrepid! Pretty much the only person who ever got banned from here because people found him so incredibly annoying they couldn't stand to have him around anymore.

[AutobahnSHO]

meant more like a

"hmm....        you don't say! "

[Cookie Monster]

Wait Trep said that he started doubleclutch.

I was deceived again.

Also Elan Shi was eThirteen here.

[Laconian]

Good catch, 93JC. This activated my bullshit alarms. From the Ferrari article in question...

http://jalopnik.com/5938170/how-ferrari-is-losing-a-generation-of-buyers

"I consider myself to be a moderately successful guy. I purchased my first Ferrari for my 27th birthday. Many would consider that a pretty young age to achieve that status."

Pics or shens Maduri! Make sure to photoshoop out the floor mats!

[Madman]

I remember reading the Jalopnik article but now I've noticed it contains this interesting statement at the end.....

"UPDATE: This story has since been retracted by Maduri ."

Also, I see no evidence of this article on that Double Clutch site.

So what, exactly, is going on here?  Was this whole story about a guy being snubbed by his local Ferrari dealer pure fiction?

BTW, I vaguely remember Trep.  Wasn't he the one always blathering about how his Intrepid was the greatest car ever?

[AutobahnSHO]

BTW, I vaguely remember Trep.  Wasn't he the one always blathering about how his Intrepid was the greatest car ever?

After he got busted claiming some really cool car ownership. And 'reformed'.

[Laconian]

Yeah, he was prone to a particular pattern of prevarication regarding preposterous purchases. This story fits the M.O. perfectly.

[2o6]

Good catch, 93JC. This activated my bullshit alarms. From the Ferrari article in question...

http://jalopnik.com/5938170/how-ferrari-is-losing-a-generation-of-buyers

"I consider myself to be a moderately successful guy. I purchased my first Ferrari for my 27th birthday. Many would consider that a pretty young age to achieve that status."

Pics or shens Maduri! Make sure to photoshoop out the floor mats!

Funny, its been retracted.




The creep probably still stalks this forum.

[Laconian]

How Ferrari Is Losing A Generation Of Buyers
Robert Maduri, Double Clutch
(Robert Maduri is looking for a new car to add to his stable, but the stodgy and stuffy Ferrari buying experience is making him look at a newcomer to the scene. ? T.O.)

Time. Many people view it as an enemy, ready to snatch every person, thing and object at some point or another. Others view time as a companion, making sure we cherish each moment.

I view time as a constant, something you can use to learn from and adapt. History has a tendency to repeat itself. The foolish are the ones who feel the rules no longer apply to them.
One lesson learned, most successful businesses eventually fail. The most unstoppable juggernauts come to a halt. Empires fall. It's a natural progression in life.

Arrogance can be one of your biggest faults in this battle. And trust me, business can be an intense battle.

I consider myself to be a moderately successful guy. I purchased my first Ferrari for my 27th birthday. Many would consider that a pretty young age to achieve that status.

That Ferrari 360 was something I had my mind set on. It was a moment of achievement and accomplishment. I knew what car I wanted, what options, colour and model. I knew all that before stepping foot into the dealership. I ended up purchasing it private but that was attributed to the inability to fill the order in the time I wanted it.

But it's been a few years and it's time for something new. This time, I don't have a clear picture in my mind of what I want. It's more of a Picasso painting. It has bits and pieces spread throughout and only at certain angles it looks to be complete.

The draw of an Aston is always ever so present. The craziness of a Lamborghini cannot be ignored. Maserati presents relative value for the dollar.

So in a moment like this, it's time to hit up the dealerships and see what the cars are like in person. And that's when the generation gap has never been so evident to me.

I just celebrated my 31st birthday. I've had a solid four years of Ferrari ownership under my belt. It's been a fantastic period and not for a single second am I considering the sale of my prized 360. This is more of an additional purchase.

I spent a day going around dealerships exploring my options. I'm a free agent, a single man, seeing what the landscape is like.

At Ferrari of Ontario I've come to accept the fact that I'll be ignored. I've always wondered why that is. Alex in Parts is a fantastic person to deal with, but I can't say that about anyone else because I'm like a ghost in that dealership. I never imagined it being so hard to give my money to a company.

I showed up in a brand new 2012 Range Rover Sport Supercharged, picking up parts for my Ferrari from the part department and wearing a limited edition Audemars Piguet Chronopassion watch. Still not good enough. Four years, same old story again and again.

Across the street from Ferrari of Ontario is McLaren Toronto. In many ways, the enemy to Ferrari, the main rival in all things namely F1, but most recently street legal cars like days gone by.

It took a little persuading by a friend but I agreed to stop by. Why not?

I'm glad I did. Once I entered the dealership I felt like I was home. The design of the showroom floor felt like it was tailored to my generation. I didn't feel like I was stepping on people's toes, or hanging out with my father's friends.

It was ?Me' time. The second I walked through the door a salesman greeted me, showed me around and asked what he could do to make my day a better one.

Isn't this the way it's supposed to be?

We got onto topics that I'm used to chatting with my friends about. Sleeping in, going out for drinks, F1 talk, and discussing other car brands and their models.

Finally a place that doesn't pretend they're the only company that matters in the automotive world.

Real talk.

I notice a MP4-12C on the showroom floor. Optioned almost identical to what I would build. I asked how much it was and before I could answer the doors were open on the car and I'm told to get a closer look. No concept of ?don't touch.'

They handed me one of the nicest brochures I've ever seen, detailing the build process, the technology behind the car, paint samples, and every piece of information you could possibly need. I've never been offered even the most basic brochure at Ferrari for any model.

It was getting late so we scheduled a follow up for next week. I didn't really consider McLaren that morning but it's funny what customer service could do. Make me feel like a million bucks and I might spend a million bucks.

It's a crazy concept but it works. And I'm left with this undeniable feeling that I'm not alone in this thought process.

Sure, I'm a successful guy that loves wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the summer. I love my cars. I love having fun.

Gone are the days of needing to wear a suit to portray a certain image. I simply don't dress like my father. And if Ferrari of Ontario doesn't change their outlook on their customer relations I find myself thinking they just might lose an entire generation to the more hungry competition.

The dinosaurs went extinct afterall, how crazy is it to think a dealership might eventually meet the same fate?

UPDATE: This story has since been retracted by Maduri .

This story originally appeared on Double Clutch on August 1, 2012, and was republished with permission.

[2o6]

People with money like this (self made as he claims) don't have time to live the lifestyle he describes.



Pathetic. This guy actually gives me the creeps.

[2o6]

This site is a fake.



His reviews arent even real, they read as composite reviews from other places. The Ford Fiesta review is a joke....clearly he took a photo of a green Fiesta at a gas station.



All of the reviews are from him....

[2o6]

lololol

http://doubleclutch.ca/590/kizashi-gesundheit/


Read the 'other drivers'


"2nd gear in the CVT bogs the acceleration"

[Raza]

Oh Trep.  I thought people grew out of lying on the internet. 

[Laconian]

Adi@DoubleClutch.ca ? a month ago ? parent −
I completely agree, and it isn't because of the cars. Frankly, a 458 appeals to me more than a Gallardo, but the dealer experience at Ferrari turns me off to it. I guess importing one from the US is the only way to do it now...

[SVT666]

Lawsuit.  Ferrari is suing.  That's why the story was retracted.

[Laconian]

LOLsuit!

[Rupert]

Wow. Maybe/hopefully Trep's bullshit finally got him in trouble, eh?

[AutobahnSHO]

I tried to post a reply on jalopnik linking that Kizashi 'review' (the CVT bogging in 2nd gear) but it kept looping on the login back to the comment page back to login..

[MX793]

lololol

http://doubleclutch.ca/590/kizashi-gesundheit/


Read the 'other drivers'


"2nd gear in the CVT bogs the acceleration"

Does the Kizashi's CVT have a sport mode that simulates fixed gears?  That may have been what he was talking about.

[2o6]

Maybe we should invite him back!

[Lebowski]

After he got busted claiming some really cool car ownership. And 'reformed'.

Was it a toureg that he claimed to own?  Was there anything else?


Maduri guy sounds like a douche.

[Colin]

Maybe we should invite him back!

I think not.

What intrigues me is just how they manage to source quite so many cars to "review", especially when the prime reviewer is still a student. When Iffy was doing his reviews, it was in his capacity as a journalist for a well known newspaper, not an enthusiast's website. All the stuff that gets reviewed on Themotor.net comes either from (paid for) rentals, or loaners when the writer's car is in for a service, which is why we get such a random collection of stuff. 

[eThirteen]

Couldn't resist commenting on this one; especially since I'm involved.

'Huh' what? It's TheIntrepid! Pretty much the only person who ever got banned from here because people found him so incredibly annoying they couldn't stand to have him around anymore.

Yes, it's the very same Adi. He's doing well; studying law now. We became close friends a few years ago (when we both were still regular posters here).

Yeah, he was prone to a particular pattern of prevarication regarding preposterous purchases. This story fits the M.O. perfectly.

Wait Trep said that he started doubleclutch.

I was deceived again.

Also Elan Shi was eThirteen here.

Robert (Bob) started DoubleClutch as a lifestyle/auto-tainment site a few years ago in '09. He and Adi got together and were approached by some members of the press to start reviewing vehicles. Adi pursued this and they are getting tons of vehicles to review. For all intents and purposes, Adi and Bob co-founded DoubleClutch for what it is today. I'm the head photographer and manage covering local events (tons of content is being held back to put up in the winter) and a team of a couple photographers. There are other people involved who aren't listed on the site as well.

lololol

http://doubleclutch.ca/590/kizashi-gesundheit/

Read the 'other drivers'

"2nd gear in the CVT bogs the acceleration"

Dude, he's talking about the simulation gears in the fake CVT manumatic mode. I guess it might not be that clearly worded.

People with money like this (self made as he claims) don't have time to live the lifestyle he describes.

Think again. I know Bob personally.

This site is a fake.

His reviews arent even real, they read as composite reviews from other places. The Ford Fiesta review is a joke....clearly he took a photo of a green Fiesta at a gas station.

All of the reviews are from him....

"Quick Shots" are a section we made for rental cars that any team members have for a day; even if we're on personal trips. No time for actual reviews, just a quick picture. Hence the Fiesta being gassed up before being returned. The reviews there aren't fake. Press fleets in Canada typically rotate cars on Mondays for 7 days, and Adi doesn't have class Mondays.

I think not.

What intrigues me is just how they manage to source quite so many cars to "review", especially when the prime reviewer is still a student. When Iffy was doing his reviews, it was in his capacity as a journalist for a well known newspaper, not an enthusiast's website. All the stuff that gets reviewed on Themotor.net comes either from (paid for) rentals, or loaners when the writer's car is in for a service, which is why we get such a random collection of stuff.  

Canadian press fleets work quite differently. If you rent cars here, unless you go super premium (Affinity Car Rental, Exotics, etc.), all you'll get are Sonatas, Fusions, Impalas, Malibus, Focus, etc. Before the guys started getting cars from manufacturers, they did a couple full-length reviews of rentals as well. I don't think these are on the site anymore, for what its' worth.



It's funny how even though it's been a few years since Adi was banned, you guys still feel the same way. He and I spoke about this, and he definitely still has tons of CarSPIN members on his Facebook (Raghavan, Ro510, Clay, Hemi666, Wimmer, Dazzleman, i'm sure there are more). It's not my say whether he gets welcomed back here or not, but come the hell on. It's been nearly five years. According to his profile he was 18 when he got banned from here. He's 23 now. He hasn't even had that Intrepid in a couple years. Everyone grows up... let's not mock someone just cause they did some stupid stuff in the past huh? Especially when the facts aren't in order.

[2o6]

I KNEW THIS GUY STALKED THE FORUM STILL.




No one wants to hear this noise.

[2o6]

Couldn't resist commenting on this one; especially since I'm involved.

Yes, it's the very same Adi. He's doing well; studying law now. We became close friends a few years ago (when we both were still regular posters here).

Robert (Bob) started DoubleClutch as a lifestyle/auto-tainment site a few years ago in '09. He and Adi got together and were approached by some members of the press to start reviewing vehicles. Adi pursued this and they are getting tons of vehicles to review. For all intents and purposes, Adi and Bob co-founded DoubleClutch for what it is today. I'm the head photographer and manage covering local events (tons of content is being held back to put up in the winter) and a team of a couple photographers. There are other people involved who aren't listed on the site as well.


Members of the press? You do realize that reviewed vehicles come FROM THE MANUFACTURER and are by a manufacturer by manufacturer basis? For example; Jalopnik IIRC has a rocky relationship with Lotus, so they don't get to test Lotuses. When ifcar finally got reviews from other manufacturers; he didn't get them all at once. IIRC, for awhile there he only had Hyundai and Kia's as long term testers. Then Suzuki, then a few others. IIRC, he STILL doesn't have the backing of some manufacturers.


Dude, he's talking about the simulation gears in the fake CVT manumatic mode. I guess it might not be that clearly worded.


Think again. I know Bob personally.


"Quick Shots" are a section we made for rental cars that any team members have for a day; even if we're on personal trips. No time for actual reviews, just a quick picture. Hence the Fiesta being gassed up before being returned. The reviews there aren't fake. Press fleets in Canada typically rotate cars on Mondays for 7 days, and Adi doesn't have class Mondays.

So you review one a day, upwards of 50 cars? Where's the manpower? How do you form a valid opinion? Especially since it's only ONE PERSON doing the reviews.



Canadian press fleets work quite differently. If you rent cars here, unless you go super premium (Affinity Car Rental, Exotics, etc.), all you'll get are Sonatas, Fusions, Impalas, Malibus, Focus, etc. Before the guys started getting cars from manufacturers, they did a couple full-length reviews of rentals as well. I don't think these are on the site anymore, for what its' worth.

That first sentence was a horrible deflection. Explain how this works, because it sounds hella fishy right now.