I own a 1984 Ferrari 308, and I absolutely love it. A great car, very deserving of the appreciation curve it's on in my opinion. One major issue is that I have a wife and 2 daughters. My kids like to ride in the car, but we can never do it together. On top of that, the aforementioned appreciation curve makes me nervous...what if I damage the car? What if some moron does something to it? Not that big of a deal, but in the back of my mind, it looms. I've always been fascinated with Mondials, particularly the 3.2 versions. Anyone ever sell a 308 for a Mondial, or own both cars? I'm curious the thoughts on the differences. I realize that driving a Mondial is going to be a different experience, but I've heard plenty of good things about them. Any comments - pro or con - are appreciated!
Not exactly what you are looking for http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/mondial/460351-real-reason-i-have-mondial.html despite what you may have heard ....for the common driver the handling and power is the same as the two seater 3x8s.....besides how crazy you gonna drive with your kids in the car? however your life will dimensionally expand as your family time has increased with every drive Con: your 308 will sit cause you drive the Mondi more! Happy Fourth!
The Mondial is a great daily driver to own. I have had mine two years and going on 11,000 miles and I can't keep out of it! Never once towed in off the street. And the 3.2 is way faster then a 308 (two valve?). Handling is probably a bit more docile because of the longer wheel base but I will soon need my third set of tires anyway. I live in the N. Georgia mountains and there are only about five miles of straight roads within two counties. It is next to impossible to avoid 40-50 mph curves one after the other and it is next to impossible for me not to drive them under 4,000 rpms. The Mondial interior has many advantages. First and foremost in my mind is LOTS of head room. I can wear my cowboy hat. Second, and this is appropriate to your question, it has very large parcel shelves behind the front seats cleverly designed to look like passenger seats. How old are your children? Are they much larger then miniature poodles? Can they cross their legs while sitting on the floor? Do not buy a Mondial until you drug your children into semi-unconsciousness then use crow bars and rubber mallets to see if they will fit. Seriously. At least for the coupe. If you can fit them in the back without a visit from Child Services then you are good to go! The Mondial is otherwise the cat's meow. Fast Elegance in Motion!
The back seat in a Coupe isn't bad for kids. I actually put my 27YO back there during test drives. In my 85 Coupe, the back seats don't fold down (I think they do in the CV), and I think pre-teens would fit just fine. Sid
To me the Mondial has very similar handling characteristics to the 308 (here I'm comparing a '78 2V 308GTS to an '88 4V 3.2 Mondial - although in my mind nothing beats the sound of the earlier carb cars compared to the later injected ones). The Mondial gives a more spacious interior feeling than the 308, although as mentioned the rear "seats" are glorified parcel shelves neatly trimmed in leather. You may be able to accommodate a little more rear leg (foot?) room on the passenger side with the pax seat a wee bit further forward than you could comfortably have with the driver seat. I do find the Mondial is more unforgiving than the 308 if you fit other than standard width tires and wheels, especially when turning at slow speed (due to the lack of power steering). Both the 308 and Mondial are enjoyable to drive and I have always felt they both give some warning when you mis-behave and push the handling limits (compared to the 512 which will try to kill you without a waggle warning first!)
I don't have any kids and thus entirely defer to actual experience. One thing about having no kids is that no matter what else I do. Whatever else I drive. Whatever political stand I take on anything at all I am just about as GREEN as any Prius-Priapic Patriarch from the Sierra Club! Entire absolution from any and all Green nonsense. I don't do the following thing but can fantasize, I suppose. A Sierra Club guy in his pedal car approaches my Ferrari regarding CO2. And I say "OH YEAH? How about THIS!" Then I drop my pants and show him the vasectomy scar! Echos of the movie Jaws where Quint and the young guy are comparing shark bites. Then Quint closes down the conversation. "This one was from the Indianapolis sinking in WW2. Fought off sharks for a week. Most of us died. But before that we delivered the bomb."
The guy who recently bought my 3.2 Coupe did exactly what you're asking; sold his long-term 308 then flew down for my Mondial. Him and his wife then drove it 1000 miles home to northeastern PA. You may know Dennis (decardona) already.
Kids are not infants, but we aren't big (I'm 5'6", my wife 5'2"). Definitely looking for a cabriolet, not the coupe. Without question a late model 3.2 - what sort of price range might I be looking at?
My first F Car, 92T, it rides so smooth, I guess cause of the long wheelbase? No kids but lots of room for folding chairs for the car shows.
I keep forgetting... every time someone says that they're looking for a Mondial it always means a Cab.
Yes, in a way. But it took some time, lol. I went to the Ferrari dealer in Atlanta in 2000 specifically to buy a 308 they had on the showroom floor. I was finally going to get "my Ferrari." When actually climbed in the car, I realized that it was way too small for me! I am 6'4", 200 and the steering wheel was touching my knees, no way I could drive it. So now, 15 years later, I have a Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet. Plenty of head and legroom, and usable luggage space too! Alden
Thanks Don, so do I. It's like sending your child off to college, sweet sorrows, and wishing that they could have stayed instead.
Had a Gt/4 and still my Mondial. Biggest reason i kept the Mondial was its roomier still, and better for longer drives. The Mondial will work well for you.
I used to own a 328 (pre being a dad), got priced out of getting back into one and landed a late 88 3.2 cab last year.....and so glad I did. What makes the whole experience of ownership now is taking the kids out (6 and 3). Sure, a faster run on my own is more exhilarating, but the journeys with the boys on board are truly magical. Would be a tough decision to lose a 308, but I suspect the thrill and enjoyment from both kids coming along in what is a fabulous Ferrari will outweigh that loss.
The change from my 308 to the Mondial was dramatic. I had a 1977 308. Very raw and an excellent driving experience. The sounds of the carbs and the handling of a go kart is something I found very exhilarating. The Mondial I purchased from Wade was a much more civilized car. It drives better, it's more comfortable, it's roomier, it's a Euro version so the horsepower is higher ( about 30 more than the non cat 308). Although I didn't need 4 seats, they have already come in handy. Overall, if the driving experience is what you want, stick with the 308. If you want a better experience driving, I would highly recommend the Mondial. I wanted a coupe although it seems most prefer the cab. If you do make the change try both if you aren't leaning one way or the other. If you are in the area, I will be at the Morristown C&C tomorrow. I would enjoy talking about this further.
Your child is doing well at its new school! Knowing how hard it was for you to part with it makes me that much more thankful you decided to allow me to be its newest caretaker. I will do all I can to keep her happy! I'm hoping you are taking more time with the 348. My wife loved it and has the bug for one. Maybe one day.
A comparable mileage & condition Mondial should be at least $5,000 cheaper, so there's your maintenance budget for the 1st 3 years. I have a coupe & wouldn't trade it straight up for a soft top. It's waaaaaaay more usable in daily driving, I believe.
With the pricing on the mondials i wouldn't sell a 308 to buy the Mondial i would keep it and buy a mondial, i have 3.2 that i bought to take my daughter as the other cars where 2 seaters and she loved the idea of going out with me on my cars, she loves the. Car and I'm happy. With the appreciation of the 308 you can tell your wife another car is an investment
Like other said they are very different cars. I still have my 308 and sold the Mondial. I had the two cars for different use. My 3.2 cab was for the open top fun. I liked the Mondial a lot and would buy another one anytime if I could. Would I sell the 308 for a Mondial? No way! Keep the 308 and buy a Mondial. Now that I don't have mine anymore I think the Mondial are worth buying and KEEPING them. I sold mine to buy the Testarossa, if I would have known the future I would have kept the Mondial and buy the Testarossa.
