Any exotic car owner would be furious to see their car scratched or damaged after returning from an outstation trip, and that is what happened to the owner of a Ferrari 488 GTB in China.
Notably, the supercar, worth 3.6 million yuan (US$530,000), was left exposed to the elements and curious kids instead of being safely parked in a garage, as one would expect.
The 488 was parked in what looked like a common parking space with no enclosure or cover over the supercar, leaving it vulnerable to mischief.
Security camera footage shows children approaching the red supercar with bamboo poles before climbing on top of the car.
Owner Finds Cracked Bumper and Numerous Scratches on His Ferrari
Footage of the incident went viral on social media, which shows the kids using the Ferrari as a playground as they climbed onto it from the front and rear and even walked on the windshield.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Zhang, from Kunming in Yunnan province, parked his 488 GTB and went on a business trip. However, a neighbor told him later that four boys had used his Ferrari as a slide.
Upon returning, Zhang found that his Ferrari had scratches across the bodywork and a cracked bumper. Being a father himself, he decided not to have Ferrari fix his supercar because that would be too expensive for the parents of the boys.
He said Ferrari would quote no less than 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) for the repairs. Instead, he approached a local workshop, where the repairs ultimately cost 29,360 yuan (US$4,321).
Parents Refuse to Pay Full Amount
However, when Zhang presented the boys’ parents with the receipts at the police station, their response made him furious. The parents of the boys who damaged his Ferrari were only willing to pay 5,000 yuan (US$735). Not only that, they did not even ask their children to apologize to Zhang for what they did to his car.
The children’s ages have not been disclosed, but they are reported to be under ten years old. Zhang said he was only claiming the cost of repairs and that he would sue the parents if they did not reach an agreement.
Under Chinese law, children under the age of 14 who violate public security regulations don’t face detention. However, the police may order the parents or guardians to discipline and educate their children.
In the case of Zhang’s Ferrari, the children’s actions could lead to civil liability, meaning their parents or guardians may be liable to compensate Zhang based on the vehicle’s current market price.
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