Ferrari FF and safety

[suigeneris]

I live in a nice area, however as is the case with many nice areas recently, there have been sparadic reports of carjackings happening on peoples driveways (someone drives in behind, gets out, threatens and takes the keys and drives off). Like all the problems in London, I guess these criminals see it as easy pickings. Even if you have a gated driveway, unless its some sort of double gate system (and who has that), whats to stop someone following you home and doing it as you wait for the gate to open or even sneaking in on foot as the gate closes. I didnt used to worry about this sort of thing as much and perhaps its having kids that got me thinking, but I dont live in Beverly Hills so its a fair consideration driving something flashy that youre going to pass though/past someone who thinks they'll have a go at taking it off you and this is more of an occurence nowadays than it used to be..?

At the end of the day though the car is insured, so you hope it doesnt happen and if it does, you hope you dont get hurt and you let them take it if you have to. However, all the its a totally different story if you have kids in the back.

I really want an FF (incredible value right now for what it is) but as its only 2 doors, if I got carjacked with the kids in the back, all the arguments about its positive merits go out of the window and its a nightmare scenario. Makes having such a car for family trips almost seem like too much of a risk vs something a big more discrete where you could take them out of the back quickly if needed - but how many criminals are going to wait while you put the seats forward, climb into the back to unbuckle them etc.

Have/do other FF owners considered/concerned about this and that in todays world youre driving around in something that says "rob me" or does it just sound like paranoia? Shouldnt be something you have to worry about when youve worked hard but this is the world we live in.. interested what others think.

[PompeyReece]

suigeneris said:

I live in a nice area, however as is the case with many nice areas recently, there have been sparadic reports of carjackings happening on peoples driveways (someone drives in behind, gets out, threatens and takes the keys and drives off). Like all the problems in London, I guess these criminals see it as easy pickings. Even if you have a gated driveway, unless its some sort of double gate system (and who has that), whats to stop someone following you home and doing it as you wait for the gate to open or even sneaking in on foot as the gate closes. I didnt used to worry about this sort of thing as much and perhaps its having kids that got me thinking, but I dont live in Beverly Hills so its a fair consideration driving something flashy that youre going to pass though/past someone who thinks they'll have a go at taking it off you and this is more of an occurence nowadays than it used to be..?

At the end of the day though the car is insured, so you hope it doesnt happen and if it does, you hope you dont get hurt and you let them take it if you have to. However, all the its a totally different story if you have kids in the back.

I really want an FF (incredible value right now for what it is) but as its only 2 doors, if I got carjacked with the kids in the back, all the arguments about its positive merits go out of the window and its a nightmare scenario. Makes having such a car for family trips almost seem like too much of a risk vs something a big more discrete where you could take them out of the back quickly if needed - but how many criminals are going to wait while you put the seats forward, climb into the back to unbuckle them etc.

Have/do other FF owners considered/concerned about this and that in todays world youre driving around in something that says "rob me" or does it just sound like paranoia? Shouldnt be something you have to worry about when youve worked hard but this is the world we live in.. interested what others think.

Probably a problem that applies to many car owners, not just Ferrari.

I guess it's possible for anyone to suffer from this but statistically it's very unlikely although high end cars are probably more susceptible? I guess it depends on your perspective in life - you can worry yourself stupid about it or just not give a flying one, up to you. If it did happen, why would a thief want your car with your children in it? My guess (although I'm not hardened criminal) is they'd want them out and it's a complication they could do without.

Personally I'd take some steps to mitigate the risk (install a camera to monitor your drive way - Nest Outdoor IQ are £320 each, really good and can be installed by yourself or a professional), get a tracker installed, a gate that can be opened from your car etc. and try not to worry about it.

[Zippee]

I'd echo what pompey said above.
Not quite the same as an FF but just as desirable, I picked up my new to me RS6 performance yesterday and had the same worries before buying. It's too long for my garage so will be living on the drive but I keep the keys out of sight and have just activated my cat 5 tracker subscription. Barr wrapping it in barbed wire and never driving it there's not a lot else I can do except enjoy it and try not to worry.

[Obi Wan]

A damn shame you’re having to think about this issue. Some people have suggested that you should always leave your keys downstairs so if someone breaks in your house, they can get to them easily without looking for them upstairs.

[Larry5.2]

Obi Wan said:

... Some people have suggested that you should always leave your keys downstairs so if someone breaks in your house, they can get to them easily without looking for them upstairs.

The point against that is that you dont want to encourage criminals to break in with the knowledge that all car keys are within easy reach of the front door.

[Obi Wan]

Larry5.2 said:

The point against that is that you dont want to encourage criminals to break in with the knowledge that all car keys are within easy reach of the front door.

Fair point but you wouldn’t display the car keys where everyone can see. An ideal place would be on the coffee table away from any windows. Windows with blinds would also help with added privacy.

[julian64]

To be honest I would spend on moving to a decent location way before I would spend on an expensive car.

its sad to say, but some of the big cities are not a nice place to raise a family.

[MDL111]

I actually thought about exactly the getting car jacked scenario this weekend at a traffic light - only in my case I was wondering what the chances are that they will let me grab my dog out the back (instead of kids in your case) …. I suspect the chances are remote
they can have the car for all I care, it is only a car

Can't worry about everything all the time imo. It is like worrying about trucks/buses coming the other way at 60 mph - if one crashes into you, you are likely dead. Chances of it happening are fortunately remote though

[anonymous-user]

I’ve had two FF’s, one GTC Lusso and three kids...

Echo the comment above, if you live in an area where this type of car will stick out like a sore thumb on your driveway, then you’re probably asking for trouble - even just to get it keyed...

FF is definitely not a “keep a low profile” car. Noisy, attention grabbing looks etc. But even if it had 4 doors and you got carjacked are you going to say “hang on a second, my kids are in the back”? It won’t make any difference 4 doors or 2 doors. IMO.

Having said that, if my kids were in any car I’m not getting out and letting them drive off. But I guess that’s a different debate/decision.

[Algarve]

Zippee said:

I'd echo what pompey said above.
Not quite the same as an FF but just as desirable, I picked up my new to me RS6 performance yesterday and had the same worries before buying. It's too long for my garage so will be living on the drive but I keep the keys out of sight and have just activated my cat 5 tracker subscription. Barr wrapping it in barbed wire and never driving it there's not a lot else I can do except enjoy it and try not to worry.

I suspect an RS6 is significantly more desirable than an FF to the type of person who might drag you out of it at gunpoint.

You can't use an FF as a getaway vehicle in a bank robbery and it'd look pretty out of place following a JCB to a cash machine...

[MPC09]

This is a somewhat of a sad post to read if you feel like this is a possibility where you are - no matter how remote the chances of it actually happening.

If you are genuinely that concerned I would still buy the car but I would change my habits:

Pay attention and see if anyone is tailing you on the way home, if they are - don't pull in the driveway and drive past, do a loop
If you have a gate, don't pull the cars' nose to the front of the gate and wait for it to open (effectively putting you in a dead-end) - click the gate to open but leave your car in a position to drive away if required
Same thought process goes if anyone is standing by the gate who look somewhat suspect

I use some of these practices in South Africa when I'm there - might seem a little extreme/spook-like behaviour to some but precautions never hurt anyone.

[Zippee]

Algarve said:

I suspect an RS6 is significantly more desirable than an FF to the type of person who might drag you out of it at gunpoint.

You can't use an FF as a getaway vehicle in a bank robbery and it'd look pretty out of place following a JCB to a cash machine...

Note to self - do not let the wife see this reply....

[Fulmentaljack3t]

Get an anti-hijack system installed. Whenever the car is started or drivers door is opened, you have to perform an action which will prevent the engine from cutting out (after a specified time). Never ever tell anyone about it. If the worst happens and someone does steal the car, if they don't know what to the car will cut out half a mile up the road and not restart.

[Gio G]

OP I was car-jacked many years ago. An interesting thing that the police told me at the time was that thieves generally avoided coupe/two door cars more, firstly because they like something fast and ability to get more people in the back easily for robberies, secondly the risk of kids or other people being in the back if it's a coupe/2 door. They also mentioned how the criminals tried to avoid car-jacking cars with highly tinted glass, as they could not see the occupants..

Every time I hear about car jacking, I often ask how many doors the model has, generally they seem to prey four door cars..However I have never looked at the statistics in depth.. I am sure an FF sticks out more than your average RS6, which do well to blend in...

G

[Zippee]

Fulmentaljack3t said:

Get an anti-hijack system installed. Whenever the car is started or drivers door is opened, you have to perform an action which will prevent the engine from cutting out (after a specified time). Never ever tell anyone about it. If the worst happens and someone does steal the car, if they don't know what to the car will cut out half a mile up the road and not restart.

Any recommendations? Its got this tracker fitted already which has Remote cut but only on request of the police. https://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/stolen-vehicle-t...

[seawise]

Algarve said:

I suspect an RS6 is significantly more desirable than an FF to the type of person who might drag you out of it at gunpoint.

You can't use an FF as a getaway vehicle in a bank robbery and it'd look pretty out of place following a JCB to a cash machine...

Absolutely agree, i would worry more about someone following the misses into our driveway to pinch her Golf R than i do my Fezza (not that i do worry, thankfully) - thieves want uber fast Q cars to commit further crimes in (like an RS6 or fast Golf/BMW) not an attention grabbing supercar. They probably couldn’t work out how to get an FF started and into gear to be honest, they aren’t the brightest of our species.

[Cheib]

I would think an FF is more likely to be stolen to order rather than for some scrotes to use it as a getaway car. That means that if you do get spotted out and about you’re most likely to get followed home rather than actually car jacking you....most cars have auto locking doors etc. So doing a loop as advised above is definitely a good thing. I am pretty sure I was followed home in my GT3 a few months ago...noticed a van was possibly following me so I pulled into a side road, van drove past me. I waited a minute and then carried on towards home and low and behold the van was coming back the other way so had clearly turned round....so I think my hunch was right.

The other thing is don’t get in your car and sit there with the doors unlocked while you are say plugging your phone in or setting your Sat Nav...lock them as soon as you get in. Most cars the central locking only locks after you have driven off.

I suppose the other thing is privacy at home, if you have a garage use it rather than leaving it parked in the drive if it can be seen from the road.

[South tdf]

As above, someone I know had their house broken into whilst they slept, the thieves knew how to override their gates, got in the house with minimal damage and took a few things that were downstairs including the keys to his VW Amarak and his daughters Golf which they drove away. They left behind his 488 and his wife’s Macan.

[Algarve]

Surprised they never took the Macan. Reasonably quick, reasonably anonymous, and you can drive it across pavements, fields or whatever else if you need.

I've never done a bank robbery but I'd choose a Macan over a Golf if I was going to try it

[WCZ]

it's hard to anonymously shift ferrari parts or move a car if not stripped down

the main factor in why an exotic will be stolen these days is simply for joy riding and some monetization of instagram videos of driving fast in stolen cars