It’s better to be late than never
Publicity is publicity. This is a mistake that David Lee discovered the hard way. The LA Times published an article about him in 2017 that mischaracterized his ongoing conversations with his dealer regarding purchasing a Ferrari LaFerrari Perta. This article ruined his relationship with Ferrari. He paused his talks about purchasing a LaFerrari Aperta while explaining all of it to his dealer.
Ferrari is known for being selective when it comes down to who can buy its supercars. The LaFerrari Aperta is no exception. Ferrari intended to make only 200 copies of the car. Lee, a real-estate magnate and boss of Hing Wa Lee Group (a luxury watch store), wanted one just as any Ferrari fan would. After the article was published, he hoped that his growing relationship with Ferrari would lead to him getting a car.
This issue was triggered by the way the article described Lee’s ongoing negotiations to buy the Aperta. Lee was asked by the reporter if Ferrari had given permission for him to buy a LaFerrari. It hadn’t. Lee replied honestly. These talks were ongoing. The headline of the article was ” He has a dozen
A hybrid LaFerrari Aperta uses a 6.3-liter V12 engine and an electric motor to produce 949 horsepower (708 Kilowatts) as well as 664 pound-feet (901 Newton-meters). The supercar can reach speeds of 218 mph (351 km/h), and 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.8 seconds. To make quick shifts, the rear-wheel-drive Ferrari uses seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Five years after its launch, the only LaFerrari still available for purchase on justRED.com. That’s because it’s so rare.
Lee met with Ferrari to resolve the matter and eventually returned to Ferrari’s good graces. Although it took some time, Lee’s support of Ferrari helped and he was finally able to get his LaFerrari Aperta. The article was published five years ago, and the misunderstanding is now behind us.