I like the story about the count...
La dolce vita meets German engineering
Rocco, who divides his time between Italy and Toronto,
drives a Smart fortwo cabriolet in Italy. He has driven different versions for the past decade; its compact size and handling are ideal for tight, narrow Tuscan streets.
And he notes there's a big difference between European and North American car owners. “In North America, very wealthy people will drive expensive cars. In Italy, they don't care, especially in urban settings.
“We had a meeting with a count – a famous family. We [gave] him our address and he was coming to my place. I didn't know how he looked. My wife and I are waiting and this Mercedes pulls up and we approach this guy, ‘Massimo?' and he says, ‘No.'
“A minute later this … Panda with rust all over it pulls up. This guy comes out and he says ‘David? I'm Massimo.' “A week later we went to his villa in the country and he had millions of dollars worth of art alone. “The mindset in North America is to drive an expensive car because it's a reflection, a statement.
“I don't really care what I drive. I'm not going to overextend myself to get a fancier car so I can impress someone on the street. I'd rather spend it on clothes, food, and travel. In Europe they're less concerned with the car they drive.”
Rocco's best driving memories are in the Smart. “The scenic drives, especially in the Amalfi when you're coming home from the beach, the roof is down and the weather is perfect. It's so surreal, it's incredible.
“The Amalfi coast is my favourite road. It's a driver's road – the curves are really, really fun. The salt in the air, the smell of the sea. It's romantic. It makes you feel alive,” he says.
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