John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 9:28 a.m.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/24/what-hath-the-economy-wrought-entry-level-ferrari-spider/

As the global economy shows signs of both recovering and getting worse, luxury and exotic automakers are hedging their bets more and more. Introducing cars like the Aston Martin One-77, Bugatti Sang Bleu and Bentley Muslanne made perfect sense -- in 1999. In today's unstable financial climate, you just can't be too careful. While most enthusiasts are salivating over the release of the new Ferrari 458 Italia with its auto-deforming front air intakes and 200+ mph top speed, the more rational among us are getting excited about the new low cost offerings from Europe like the Alfa Romeo MiTo, Fiat 500 and the just spotted baby Ferrari Spider (that's prancing horse speak for "roadster") pictured [below]. Set to be named the El Duce, Maranello's newest rag top will compete with the likes of Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4 and Chevrol... hey wait a second -- that's not a Ferrari!! That's some Starbucks swillin' hoser's tarted up Mazda Miata! Be honest... did he almost have you fooled into thinking this is an actual Ferrari? Us too! It's the attention to detail. Like the Prancing Horse emblem, the Ferrari badge and the Ferrari license plate frame. They don't just hand those out at half-priced day at Pick'n'Pull. Most convincing is the sign that states, "Ferrari Parking Only: All Others Will Be Towed." Because if it were actually, say, a Mazda Miata, it would have been towed already, right? Normally, only F355 owners go through the trouble of driving around with that particular sign in their trunk. And check out those Pininfarina designed mud flaps. Ferraritastic, no? How best to sum this one up? Ah, got it: Ten pounds of suck in a five pound bag. And you thought the BMW R8 is bad. Oh wait, it is! Thanks to Ryan in Seattle for snapping this photo and sending it in.

Ian F
Ian F HalfDork
8/24/09 9:39 a.m.

Just LOVE badge-engineering...

Another page in the "what the economy has brought" book: I saw a commercial last night for 1.9% financing...

...on Porsche's.

GregTivo
GregTivo Reader
8/24/09 10:50 a.m.

Oops.

I have a Ferrari badge on my Volare

Appleseed
Appleseed HalfDork
8/24/09 10:59 a.m.

I wonder how much that badge cost.

jstein77
jstein77 HalfDork
8/24/09 11:21 a.m.

$299,995 + gas guzzler taxes.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 11:25 a.m.
Carson
Carson Dork
8/24/09 11:38 a.m.

I'm putting Konigsegg badges on mine.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 11:50 a.m.

Okay, hands up for anyone who's run a Team Voodoo Pollo Rampante on their Miata at some point.

Rusty_Rabbit84
Rusty_Rabbit84 Dork
8/24/09 12:31 p.m.

i have some Ferrari badges if anyone wants to convert their Miata into one...

NYG95GA
NYG95GA SuperDork
8/24/09 12:59 p.m.

Back in high school 1970, I put Javelin badges on my 1959 Rambler, just for the hell of it. It was amazing how many people commented that they didn't think Javelins had been in production that long!

Now if I can just find some Viper badges for my Neon...

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 1:25 p.m.

I'm going to put the flag badge from a Nova on my MG. Seems appropriate.

John Brown
John Brown GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 1:29 p.m.

We put SRT10 vinyls on the fenders of A LOT of Ram 1500 Sports.

Rusty_Rabbit84
Rusty_Rabbit84 Dork
8/24/09 1:35 p.m.

my dad had a "Ya, its got a Hemi" sticker on his first gen Neon, everyone laughed at him...

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt Dork
8/24/09 1:51 p.m.
Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: my dad had a "Ya, its got a Hemi" sticker on his first gen Neon, everyone laughed at him...

I need a "No, it ain't got a Hemi" license plate frame for the Dart.

Rusty_Rabbit84
Rusty_Rabbit84 Dork
8/24/09 2:04 p.m.
MadScientistMatt wrote:
Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: my dad had a "Ya, its got a Hemi" sticker on his first gen Neon, everyone laughed at him...
I need a "No, it ain't got a Hemi" license plate frame for the Dart.

makestickers.com .....haha

mistanfo
mistanfo Dork
8/24/09 2:13 p.m.
Keith wrote: Okay, hands up for anyone who's run a Team Voodoo Pollo Rampante on their Miata at some point.

Raises hand. Too bad it was magnetic, and said magnetic material wasn't strong enough to hold somewhere above 60MPH.

cwh
cwh Dork
8/24/09 2:33 p.m.

Pollo Rampante- that would be a prancing chicken?

fiat22turbo
fiat22turbo GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 3:50 p.m.

Sounds like a Fiat X-1/9 (shared some trim parts and designer with ferrari's and lambo's of the time)

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 3:52 p.m.

NYG95GA
NYG95GA SuperDork
8/24/09 4:58 p.m.

On a different, but similar note, I have a T-shirt that reads:

"My Neon's daddy is a Hemi Road Runner. Your Honda's daddy is a Trail 90."

Fit_Is_Slo
Fit_Is_Slo New Reader
8/24/09 6:34 p.m.
Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote:
MadScientistMatt wrote:
Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: my dad had a "Ya, its got a Hemi" sticker on his first gen Neon, everyone laughed at him...
I need a "No, it ain't got a Hemi" license plate frame for the Dart.
makestickers.com .....haha

Do you remember "I stop for Skeezers!"?

ReverendDexter
ReverendDexter HalfDork
8/24/09 6:50 p.m.
Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: i have some Ferrari badges if anyone wants to convert their Miata into one...

I'd rather put 'em on either the Mustang or the Bronco, and see how long it takes before someone realizes it's the wrong horse.

neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
8/24/09 7:13 p.m.

It would probably take longer on the bronco as the hoarse is already up on it's rear legs.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/24/09 8:46 p.m.

Why doesn't Ferrari take the time to remove the letters from the casting?

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