My new pride and joy

Having owned a 328 some years ago (which had to go due to the arrival of my now 5 and 2 year old children), I managed to convince my wife that I once again deserved my dream since I was a child of Ferrari ownership. And here’s where I might initially get boo’d by you guys, but please keep reading! Whilst searching for another 328, here in the UK, prices were literally jumping £5k a month, if not more. Concluding that owning a 328 was now way outside of my budget, I started with earnest investigating the Mondial. Anonymously hovering around this forum, you all managed to convince me that this wasn’t as unwise as some motoring press rumours would have the uninitiated believe and I tentatively travelled to see an 88 3.2 convertible in rosso with crema (sorry, but I had to have the colour combo from the child dream).

As soon as I saw it in the flesh, I fell in love. Photos of Mondials just do not do them justice – what a magnificent looking car. As soon as I smelt it, I knew I had to own it! So, much quicker than my wife expected, she was mine (sorry, ours!). My love of the Mondial (particularly with the hood down) was echoed by all my friends and family with a unanimous “oh that’s much nicer than your old one” on seeing her. Extraordinary when you think an equivalent 328 is now roughly three times the value of the Mondial.

To me, and contrary to those rumours, the Mondial is absolutely a Ferrari through and through. From memory, I don’t even find the performance that dissimilar to my old 328 – I’m sure the published 0-60 time is inaccurate or not a particularly flattering statistic to truly measure the performance. Through the gears it roars and howls exactly as my ownership dream asked, pulls like a train, cruises with ease, is simply a joy to drive and brings a concoction of spine tingling sensations that only a Ferrari could.

The car came fitted with 18in wheels (the standard wheels, albeit without the TRX tyres, were included) which at first I was hesitant about in that it removed the original authenticity of the car. But I’ve grown from accepting them to liking them and feel it improves the stance of the car. I’ve managed to fold the hood down and get the boot cover on, up to and including the engine cover Tenax clips. I’m wondering if that gets me honorary membership of this forum for a first timer hood operator? I think the boot cover has shrunk a little after 26 years and I’m ploughing through all the threads related to replacements. Availability for items like this seems far easier in the US than UK.

So my advice to anyone hovering around this forum debating the purchase of a Mondial - go and see one, smell it, drive it and then see if you can actually bring yourself to NOT buy one!

One pleased as punch new owner. Do I own a Mondial when I really wanted a 328 – heck no! The best thing that happened to me was 328 prices going through my convertible roof!

Thanks for unknowingly getting me here folks and thanks in advance to the questions I will no doubt throw at you over time. Here’s a couple of pics (not the greatest ones but worthy I hope of sharing).
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Thanks for the replies folks.
Ron - it is a truly distinctive and addictive smell. I'm thinking if I mixed oil with leather, I could maybe market a Mondial aftershave?
I would definitely be in on any group buy for the boot cover. Mine is compromised around the engine cover Tenax and my local leather speciailist was honest enough to say any sticthing repair would simply make it worse. There seem to be wildy differing prices for these, anything from $450 to $1200.
Whilst we're talking parts which suffer on these cars, I was reading up on the B pillar replacement posts from some time ago but couldn't work out where the story ended - was the conclusion that this part was too difficult/costly to recreate? My drivers side has a break where it has been damaged/repaired. I can live with it, but given i intend on keeping this longer than the children, it would be comforting to know something is availble if this deteriorates.

 

Hi Dave M - the wheels are 18 inch with a tyre profile to closely match the original rolling diameter. I'm afraid to say I'm not sure who makes the wheels (and am away from the car at the moment) but will check the inside of the rims to see if it has the make and/or check with the previous owner if you'd like me to.
My posts are being delayed before they appear on here (for moderator approval?). Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or that's how this works, but apologies if I'm out of sync on replying.
Two things to learn now - the car and the forum.

Edit - and now this one posts straight away! (but an earlier reply to Ron still hasn't posted yet). I'm sure I'll work this all out, it can't be as complex as the roof.

 

Hi Michel
The tyre size is 255/40 rear, 215/45 front. The salesman assured me they were near identical on diameter to the original TRX set up, but haven't personally made that calculation myself (although the speedo seemed very accurate when travelling with a motorway full of other cars subject to a 50mph time and distance speed camera recently). The wheels are "DVR Split Rim Alloys" - they seem to be a Belgium manufacturer but looking at their website, I can't see my exact alloy in their 2014 range.

There are plenty of threads on here about replacement wheels. I know many owners have put 348 wheels onto them which also look great. If you search on "Mondial wheels" I'm sure there's lot of information from folk more technical than me.

Here's a few more pictures of my car (from the original sales advert). The look from the rear is particularly more aggressive with what I think is a significantly wider track than the original set up.
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Without having driven the car with the original alloys, I can't compare the ride quality but it feels fine on all but the worst of the UK roads. My 75 year old father commented on how comfortable it was and he's understandably pretty picky on being comfy in a car these days.

Scotts - they're 18 inch (and given you also seem to own a F430, you're very welcome to be my brother )

I initially considered non-standard wheels on a 26 year old Ferrari sacrilege, but all your supportive comments have happily convinced me otherwise!

 

Switching between a F430 and a Mondial sounds a bit like my idea of heaven.
I hired a 360 for a weekend 8 years ago as part of my pre-wedding “things to do before becoming a family man”. Found it over-whelming and my senses just couldn’t keep up! You must not need to take the kids to Disney for thrill rides!

Thanks for your and everyone else’s contribution and comments to my first post. Glad I shared and much appreciated guys.