Looking for my first

Welcome Ryan. This forum and other 308 sub forums are going to be your best source of info on the cars. This is the 'big daddy' of Mondial info although there are regional sites with some specific info. I'm not sure what you are searching for so I can't tell you specifically what to look for?

The combined variants of the Mondial had a pretty long production run from 80-94, covering four sub-groups. Parts availability has never been a problem, except for some obscure parts the price is rather high. We have pretty good owner support, and what I would call decent factory support for cars which in some cases are now 35 years old. The engine and drive are basically the same as the 308/348, the brakes are 328/348 sourced, and steering shares with either the 328, or the 348. Body panels, and trim are unique and those are the bits that may be hard to source although we do have a breakers yard in AZ with a fair amount of stock.

We would all like to say that future values are improving, but I've owned my car for more than 10 years, and I haven't seen any appreciable increase in value. The Mondial reputation in Ferrari is really rather bad, and we are often subtly shunned by the more glam models. The Mondial is clearly the bargain play of the marque to buy in, but of course the maintenance costs are on par with the more upscale neighbors.

My advice if you are buying a Ferrari for YOUR pleasure and that of your young family, the Mondial is outstanding value and enjoyment. If you are buying a Ferrari for what OTHERS will think of you as a person, the Mondial is not well suited, and you would be better with a 355/360.

I have never owned one so take this last bit as informed speculation but the 355 has a reputation for seriously costly faults due to some poor design issues in the valve train and exhaust. Again, not an expert, but one hears things.

 

Feel free to call me, I have owned all those (12 Mondials, 6 348's and a 355), as I can help answer all your questions with one call, rather than spend 2 hours writing a long post. Free consultation advice

 

Welcome Ryan,

From an engine and transmission perspective the 308/328 and Mondial of the same years are practically the same. Only the body is different.

I think if you want indeed a 4 seater then the Mondial is a perfect vehicle. In my opinion you would need to make a first choice if you want the earlier type of engine in a Mondial or that you like to go for a Mondial T (348 has the also the T engine)

Mondial earlier engine till 1988
- Major service can be done with engine leaving in the engine bay
- Cheaper in maintenance.
- Old type (edge wing arches) fenders front and rear.
- Up to 1985 the Mondial have a two tone (Black/body color) bumper.
- From 1986 untill last Mondial T it has a bumper in body color.

Mondial T new engine from 1989.
- Major service the engine needs to go out of the engine bay
- Parts on the engine/transmission are more expensive then earlier Mondial model.
- Redesigned interior
- More modern fenders (Flat arches)
- Lower gravity point then earlier mondials.

These are the significate differences between the earlier and modern Mondial.

Tons of info here to find and you are at the right place for seeking answers hope you will find what you are looking for!

and I would certainly give Stephane a call

HTH in making your first choice
All the best,
Tijn

 

I thought the same about getting a t model as well. Then I started looking at all the extra stuff that goes with it, and the mx involved and I rather like my 3.0QV.

Of course, I'm a DIY guy so the extra mx is important to me, but for someone who uses a shop for service, the t offers some improvements in ride and top speed. Just for me, the marginal performance and visual changes were not enough to justify the much higher service costs.

 

It is very exciting to look for one's first Ferrari. The people here are amazing as a resource.

One spot with a tremendous amount of articles is Paul's site- mondialt.com

It has links to several excellent PDFs that will interest you.

Also check out the buyers guide available at one of the sites.


All of the cars you are looking at/considering are great,each with pro's and cons. I picked up my mondialt for 1) convertible and 2) back seats. With my little guys it's hard when they fight to go with Dad in the F430.

Last advice that always sounds trite but isnt- buy the best example of whatever you decide- don't choose by price point, good examples with service records, maybe less owners, but at least with owners who did the maintenance and service. These cars get expensive very quickly.


Keep us in the loop we love to see the cars........



Scotts

 

Kount Kustoms is a stand up guy and a good friend. He is going to work on one of my cars soon. Great reputation here in Vegas.

 

Having owned a QV Coupe AND now owning a t Coupe, the t Coupe is worth the extra mx and aggravation, hands down.

It's way more than 40 bhp difference. It's power steering, better suspension, better ride/handling balance, better build quality.

For there to be so little difference between values, the t has it all over the earlier cars...

 

Shameless plug: mondialt.com

 

I just think as a first Ferrari, if you're looking at the "T's for the better performance, power steering, etc, the cabriolet is the way to go if you plan on putting your kids in the back.
Yes, the coupe is extremely rare and all, but if you plan on driving kids around, their level of comfort is important. I also like the sounds of the engine when the top is down. I miss my T valeo cabrio for that reason.
The reason I have a coupe now is the kids are no longer an issue, they are all grown, and I had the valeo when I bought it.
By the way, it's Stephane, not Stephanie

 

ProCoach, didn't I read that changing even the accessory belts (water pump, alternator, compressor) on a Mondial T require engine removal? I could be wrong, but that's what I remember. The power steering of the T would be a huge plus, as I understand it makes the steering significantly fewer turns lock-to-lock (and thus its faster). My biggest complaint about my 3.2 is that the steering is slow (well, compared to my Europa TC).

BTW: I have owned a 3.2 coupe for 12 1/2 years & have enjoyed it immensely. It was my daily driver until summer 2011. For a Ferrari, it's fairly easy to work on by yourself, and regardless of which model the OP gets, Ferrari Chat is an absolutely superb resource; fantastic people who will answer any question (even my dumb ones!) and help each other at the drop of a hat. Frankly, if not for FChat, I might have unloaded the Mondial 5 or 6 years ago.

OP, I hope you enjoy the Ferrari brotherhood.

 

Yeah, it's not so much anything to do with HP. The t is a more refined chassis with newer systems. Like the variable shock rate setting for example.

It depends on what floats your boat. The early cars are pretty simple to work on. The most complicated part of them is the Motronic ignition, and they are pretty robust.

If you aren't going to be doing any of your own work, just be prepared for some service bills. The 'major' service on a QV car is prolly about $3200 baseline with no surprises. The major service on a t is going to be well over double that baseline. A $10k major service is not out of line on a t, but would be pretty hard pressed to spend that for a QV or a Mondial 8. There are shops which will recommend engine/trans removal on a QV. It's not necessary, and can even be counterproductive. On the cabrio version the front of the engine is accessible easily through a service hatch in the rear firewall. I've done cam timing with a dial indicator, and valve lash adjustment by sitting in the rear seat on a QV cabrio. On a t model, you can't even think of doing this work before getting the whole package out first, and then putting it back in.

Both are good cars, decide what's important.

 

One of the guys had a water pump go bad on his T and as I recall it required engine out. Plus the shop had the car for weeks if not months he was in a state of rebellion at the shop. All the 3.2 accessory pieces I know of are accesible with engine in. And any good mechanic can replace them.

I scattered the cluch on my 3.2 and [with step by step illustrated instructions from birdman] took the stack of print-outs to my local guy up here in the North Georgia mountains and asked him if he could do that. He does a lot of his own hot rods and is a very good builder. I think he a ball doing the work, having never had a Ferrari in his shop prior. Even asked if I wanted him to replace the belts! And I suspect he did a better job then an F shop would have done. Probably at half the price as well.

The heavy stearing takes a lot of getting used to in the un-boosted cars. Do not plan on a lot of parallel parking. However, even very slow speeds make the steering useable around parking lots and the like. I am used to it by now. But I wonder at the potential down time and expense of repairs of power steering and sort of doubt it can be driven with a failed sytsem.

Interestingly, power steering was a delete option at one time or another.

 

Yes, on the t there's a single cambelt that drives both cylinder banks along with the water pump. So the motor needs to come out for repair.

Interesting, the 3.2 steering at low/no speed is very easy compared to my 348.