| Author | Message | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 463 Registered: 1-2002 |
John. Sounds like others have had more luck than me. Right now i took out the back seat cushions to allow more room. Have toyed with the idea of taking out the big armrest in middle. Putting the carseat there. Should be plenty of room for all then. Again my wife is tall. Plenty of room if no concerns about front passenger. Though definetly rear facing seats will not fit in back. Augustine thanks for the kind words. Seeing how this is my 2nd Mondial in as many years, who knows! | ||
| Norm (32storm)
Junior Member Username: 32storm Post Number: 83 Registered: 5-2003 |
A mondial cab "ugly". I guess this is a classic case of to each their own. Personally, I like the styling of the Mondial QV and 3.2 cab's. but, I'm not wild about the "T" rear inlet grill treatment. The cab's with the top down have more curb appeal and certainly will draw a better, cleaner line. Point of contention can be the black bumpers on the QV's, you either like it, or you don't. But, these were pre-body-colored bumper days, which was a styling treatment across the Ferrari model line. The coupe is not a bad looking design, but the lines only seem to work well with dark colors. But, I still wouldn't call it ugly. | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 681 Registered: 4-2003 |
Attn: Dave Monk, When you decide to sell you car (if ever) I would like first shot.  -Augustine | ||
| Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member Username: Azzuro328 Post Number: 680 Registered: 4-2003 |
I prefer the 3.2 Coupe to all of the Mondial models. In particular, I got to see Dave Monk's '88 Coupe when we met for the Morristown show last month and I fell in love with it. It's awesome. I am really kicking myself now that I know what he paid for it!!! Oh well. Maybe I'll get one as a daily driver in the future. With all of the maintainence that my 328 is forcing me to learn, I'll be a pro with the 3.2 engine by the time I would be ready to add the Mondial! | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 605 Registered: 9-2001 |
Well Lucas, the design is an acquired taste that appears to establish love/hate teams. It certainly looks heavier than other models due to the lengthened wheelbase but when I see the "length" on the Coupe, I see it on the Cab as well. - JMG | ||
| Lucas Taratus (Karmavore)
Member Username: Karmavore Post Number: 440 Registered: 12-2002 |
I think the Mondial 3.2 would be an awesome daily driver and have thought about it too. (Though I have never driven one, I like the way they look a lot!) re: cab/coupe - Doesn't anyone, well, how do I say this... doesn't anyone think the cabrio is ugly? I think the coupe is very slick and bruiting, but the cab ...not. Luke. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 604 Registered: 9-2001 |
I retrofitted SParco harnesses in my cab...you could also purchase the complete three point setup from Ferrari and use that in the back but I suspect it would be a lot more work. (Center console, package shelf vs. package shelf alteration. - JMG | ||
| Andy Barre (Abarre)
Junior Member Username: Abarre Post Number: 92 Registered: 7-2003 |
Don't let the seat belts in the rear deter you. I have a '88 3.2 cab and bought it specifically to put my kids in the back. I'm 6'0" and my wife is 5'7" and our 3 and 5 year-olds do fine in the back. I did change the seatbelts with cheap old-fashioned non-retractor-types for about $20 and bought new car seats for about $60 each. Works great! I'll send pictures if you like. Get the Mondial, you can ALWAYS get an M3 later, they are $.10/dozen. | ||
| Russ Turner (Snj5)
Member Username: Snj5 Post Number: 645 Registered: 2-2003 |
I'm 6'3 and took daughter in booster seat on road trips up to age 6 in an 88 3.2 coupe used as a daily driver for years. I fit just fine with headroom to spare. While I have an extreme opinion, the Mondial coupe is the best small Grand Touring car Ferrari ever made, and the best mid engine 2+2 ever made by anyone. The more I am around other 2+2 Ferraris and other makes, the more I like my Mondial 3.2. Car seats fit ok, but the little booster pads really work nicely. Have fun rt | ||
| Gary Green (Mr_green)
New member Username: Mr_green Post Number: 39 Registered: 10-2003 |
Brian, In Los Angeles an M-3 doesn't get the time of day. | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2003 |
Davem, I am 6'1" and my wife is 5'9", will we have trouble fitting 2 kids in car/booster seats in the back? | ||
| djmonk (Davem)
Member Username: Davem Post Number: 461 Registered: 1-2002 |
John I paid 27,500 last November for a 88 coupe. Nero mettalico 17k miles in great shape. Im with you, have a 20 month old I put in back seat. To be honest though its a tight fit as usually my wife accompanies us an she is 6.0 tall. IMO black, metallic or otherwise is the best color for Mondials, blends in all the black trim. Love X1/9s had 3 of them a while back. | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2003 |
Uhhh Dave, "...She seems to like the car better than me actually." She likes the car better than you like the car or she likes the car better than you ;) Thanks for the info... | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2003 |
Casey, Cost is not the reason I want the coupe over the cab. The primary reason is that the car would be used as a daily driver year round. The second reason is that my daughter's booster seat requires a shoulder belt and I don't think the cab. has shoulder belts in the back seats. Is this correct? Oh, the third reason is less chassis flex for track events. | ||
| casey slattery (Mondialcab)
New member Username: Mondialcab Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2003 |
An '88 black coupe is much lower...I would think mid 20s. I would not buy it though. I have driven the coupe and the cabriolet and there is a world of difference. The coupe is great, but theres nothing like driving a ferrari with the top down! Save a little more and get the cabrio and you wont be sorry...but if it comes down to this mondial and an M3..go with the mondial; the M3 is just another car but the mondial is a FERRARI. | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 702 Registered: 1-2002 |
John, I have a 99 M3 and a 89 328 GTB, so here is some comparison: Performance wise, no contest the M3 will out accelerate, out brake and out handle the 328. Reliability and expense. Hey, the Ferrari is an exotic, the M3 a car. These vehicles could not be more different. Both have great motors, the M3 very smooth and torquey, the 3.2 a willing, noisy rever that needs revs to be responsive. So the question is why do I have a radar detector in the 328 and not the M3? Why when it's time to take a ride on a twisty road or the track do I reach for the 328 keys? The M3 just doesn't inspire me to drive fast. At heart, the M3 is just a car. Ferraris always seem to be race cars at heart tamed enough to be streetable. M3's are cars at heart with performance added on. I don't get any looks in the M3 although my wife says kids want to race her in it at lights. She seems to like the car better than me actually. Dave | ||
| Adnaan Rasool (Adnaan)
Junior Member Username: Adnaan Post Number: 115 Registered: 4-2003 |
The man who has a chance to buy a Ferrari but doesnt, needs shooting! Just buy it! | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2003 |
The car is a black coupe... | ||
| casey slattery (Mondialcab)
New member Username: Mondialcab Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2003 |
Is it a coup or the cabriolet? That makes a huge difference price wise. Also, you will usually pay much more for red. Some people will price them higher if the car has had very owners and a complete history. I would think for a red '88 cabriolet with 22k a "good" price would be somewhere near the 33K mark. Some people will value them much higher, some much lower. On my mondial search I found them priced from 18K all the way up to 40K. | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks everyone! Looks like I can't go wrong either way. A very nice '88 Mondial came up for sale recently in my area - 22K miles, recent belt change. What's a good price? | ||
| Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member Username: Yelcab1 Post Number: 730 Registered: 11-2001 |
My everyday E36 M3 four door, four seats for the wife and 2 kids, is fast, reliable, fun, stops faster, with cold AC, and is a absolute no brainer to drive and own. My GT4 with 4 carbs is fun, is loud, gets looks, and an absolute joy to drive, pees a gallon of oil on the garage floor and needs a tune up every other week. My wife hates it being too loud, my kids cannot stand the noise in the back seat. And nobody can stand not having an AC during hot days. Way different cars, for way different reasons | ||
| Armin Wichmann (Mondialt993)
New member Username: Mondialt993 Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
i owend a BMW MZ3 3.2 321 HP and it was a graet car with excellent performance and top speed, and if you push down the accelerotor pedal on the autobahn in the third gear the acceleration is unbeliveable. comfort, enough storage room yes you can drive it all day but one thing you cant have the "feeling" that gives you the ferrari is completly different !!! sure the ferrari is much more expensive, only 2 seats, not that comfort and so on... but all this considerations will you never let drive a ferrari. In germany a BMW e36 M3 is nothing special, i think also in the USA ? a ferrari is an eyecatcher doesn�t matter wich model armin | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 602 Registered: 9-2001 |
Depends what you want out of a car. Something reliable? Something different? Something to get you blood flowing? If you want reliability, go for the M3. Not a dig on my Mondial breathern but being realistic, the M3 is a car that can be driven everyday with relativley low costs whereas the Mondial T Cab can be driven everyday with somewhat higher costs. I know, I drive mine everyday and no sensible person would say that the costs are low. I have driven both...in fact, almost purchased an M3 when my first T was totaled but in my neck of the woods, they are relatively commonlplace where as the Mondial T Cab is pretty rare even at Ferrari events. So for exclusivity, the Mondial wins hands down. I can live with things like slow windows and chasing a leak in my windhshield pillar for 3 months (fixed it...) because the emotion of driving the Mondial T on a back road with the leaves changing color and the engine screaming behind me makes all of that pain go away. - JMG | ||
| Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member Username: Kennedy Post Number: 583 Registered: 3-2002 |
> An M3 is just ignored. Hardly. I get far more looks in my Estoril Blue M3 with upgraded wheels than I do in my 911. In fact, I get almost as many looks in my M3 as in my 360. However, I don't get the crazed, wowed, or drooling looks that I do in my 360. However, my 360 is a much less head-turning color (Titanium), than the "wow, that's really blue" M3. I have absolutely loved my M3 for the 5+ years that I've had it. I have tracked it and autocrossed it and it remains our family sedan. It has been super-reliable, can carry a ton of stuff, and has amazing handling. With all that said, it brings me nowhere near the thrill that my 360 does. Now I've never owned (or even driven) a Mondial, but if it brings the same kind of passion that other Ferrari's do, then I would say the M3 won't create near the passion that the Mondial will. But I do love my M3! And it is a GREAT daily driver.  | ||
| casey slattery (Mondialcab)
New member Username: Mondialcab Post Number: 29 Registered: 9-2003 |
For performance the M3 is better, but the Mondial says so much more about you. These two cars are not even close to being in the same class though so its hard to narrow it down to a few points. The BMW will be much less work and is a better car for transportation, but the mondial (at least the cabrio) is MUCH more fun and people will admire you more. I dont even think the BMW looks interesting..kinda unfun and aquward looking. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 639 Registered: 8-2001 |
Not an expert. Love the M3. I found the Mondial to be more exciting to drive while the M3 is more practical. Both are fun, but I found the Mondial to be more fun. Using a Mondial t as a daily driver. Do not have enough experience yet to make an accurate evaluation. In a business situation, people will assume you are more successful with the Mondial. I get thumbs up and comments like nice car while driving down the road. An M3 is just ignored. Much depends on what you want. | ||
| John Lagerquist (X19er)
New member Username: X19er Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
Can anyone compare/contrast these 2 vehicles from both a performance point of view and suitability as a primary vehicle. The car would not be my only transportion, but would be a daily driver. Thanks, John |