Red missed

As an enthusiast of all things automotive, in March I visited the Geneva motor show to see the latest cars, from the Up GTI to the Ferrari Pista and Mclaren Senna.

Anyone who has ever visited these shows will know that getting close to the ‘big’ brands is best avoided at peak times, but you can use this time to look at less popular models, such as the Kia Stinger GT S, or the aforementioned Up. The hours in the run-up to closing time are much quieter, and present the opportunity to look at the more exclusive cars more closely, and it was here that I experienced the very different approaches taken by Ferrari and Mclaren.

Mclaren could not have been more welcoming, allowing time for me to sit in the 720S and 570GT (my new favourite dream car), and get a close look over the Senna [above], while having friendly discussions with the staff about the cars. Ferrari, on the other hand, despite a very empty stand, would not even allow entry without an invitation or ‘current customer’ status, and dismissed us in a rather rude manner.

I have a great appreciation for Ferrari’s cars, and my brief drive of a 430 Scuderia on track will remain one of the highlights of my driving life, but I can’t help but feel disappointed with the brand and the manner in which it pushes its exclusivity.

Mclaren, however, has a new fan, and if I am ever lucky enough to be in a position to purchase a supercar, it will be a Mclaren dealership I head to first. David Green