Youโd expect a man with the same net worth, connections, proclivities, and web series as Jay Leno to own a Ferrari. And yet, despite boasting an incredible auto collection that reportedly features around 180 cars + 160 motorcycles, the retired late-night talk show host refuses to buy into the cult of the Prancing Horse.
โYou know, I like Ferraris. Theyโre excellent carsโฆ I just never liked dealing with the dealers,โ Jay Leno explains to Cars & Culture with Jason Stein.
โI donโt want to give a guy $25,000 in an envelope, you know? I donโt want to be told, โWell you must buy two Mondials before you can buy.โ You have to buy two crappy cars before I โ โYes.โ Just buy the car, you know?
โThen the idea that I have it for two years, then I take it back to get a certificate to prove that itโs actually a Ferrari โ thatโs $25,000. I just get tired of that.โ
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Jay Leno went on the compare his purchasing experiences with McLaren and Porsche against the flaming hoops youโd have to jump for the privilege of surrendering your hard-earned cash to the legendary Maranello-based manufacturer.
โThe smart thing about McLaren is the dealer service. I bought my McLaren, I paid exactly the sticker [price],โ adds the auto enthusiast-cum-comedian.
โBuying it was a terrific process, I had the car for six or seven months โ my MP4-12C โ and they called me one day and said, โOh thereโs an upgrade from 592 horsepower or something to 617. You want the upgrade?โ I said, โHow much is it?โ And they said, โItโs freeโฆ just come on in.'โ
โI brought it in, and like when I bought it I said I wanted to order the carbon-fibre brakes. The sales guy says, โDo you track the car?โ I go, noโฆ mostly street. He goes, โDonโt get the carbon fibre, save $20,000. You donโt need it.โ I say, โYou sure?โ He goes, โGuarantee it. In fact, the steel brakes are better on the street because they work right away, you donโt have to get them hot.โ And it saved me $20,000.โ
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โWhen I bought my Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche brought it here in a flatbed, they sent two mechanics to show me how to jack it up, the jacking points, putting the blocks in hereโฆ they sent me a jacket, hereโs a book on the car, hereโs a pen and pencil set. You know, right until the car showed up, I felt like a customer.โ
โItโs like rich guys that go to a dominatrix. โOh, she kicked the crap out of me, it was fantastic.โ I mean, some guys like that.โ
Jay Leno on purschasing a Ferrari
โ[Ferrari] are excellent cars, itโs not an indictment on the car, itโs just likeโฆ youโre spending a tremendous amount of money. You should be made to feel like a customer.โ
Hear that? Customer service is everything. Act accordingly.
Watch Jay Leno explain why he refuses to buy a Ferrari + the episode of Jay Lenoโs Garage featuring the 2021 Ferrari SF90 for yourself below.
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