I thought my neighbor was a "car guy."

There are as many "car guys" as there are types of cars.

But people like us can often find ourselves alone in our own world.

Heck, the only Ferrari guy I've ever met who understood, appreciated and enjoyed these cars the same way as I do was the guy who bought my Mondial.

 

Lol... Funny story, goes to show never judge a book by the car they drive.. I am guessing you won't be extending further car bonding outings to that neighbour.. Smile

 

Alden, sounds like you should indeed fit a proper car stereo in you Ferrari, and it should be fitted not with speakers but headphones. So that next time you can pop the headphones on him and play the serene country sounds of birds singing, bees buzzing and snails shagging, keeping all that nasty motorcar noise out. ;-)

 

MR2 Case Closed.

 

Actually think about it from his perspective
he worked in the jet industry and they all want to make the jet ride quiet

he probably thinks for the money a Ferrari is supposed to be a "QUIET" luxury car



remember most folks think a Ferrari is EXPENSIVE and not the chump change a Mondial goes for

also I would've asked him how in the hell do you shift without clutching?

 

I shift with no clutch in the cars I am comfortable and confident with for all gears. Upshift and downshift (minus 1st of course). No wear on the clutch or throw out bearing. But different people like it quiet and some like it loud. My Alfa Spider is quiet but the Sprint GT is very very loud.

 

Thank you, Wade. The love and appreciation for the mondial grow every time I drive it. Learning about the car and all of its quirks is something that never gets old.

 

it's all about knowing your cars friction point and rev range. when you have it down, the car will want to jump into the next gear with little effort on the shifter, I would not recommend learning this technique on a Ferrari, but maybe a neighbors MR2. Triumph's were the easiest transmissions I know to perfect this methods.

 

I am very sure there are people that can shift without the clutch. But for me, I use the pedal on the left. They have it there for a reason.

 

Its about matching engine speed with gearbox speed. I used to do it on a Honda crx I had and some motorcycles. It's a fun trick, but not one I'd do all the time, kind of like how the guy I bought my 348 from would always start out in 2nd gear...doable, but not a very good long term plan if you ask me.

 

I agree. Honda or Toyota would be easy too.

I know how to do it, (simply a case of rev matching, which is a little harder than it sounds) but given the price of making a mistake one too many times, I am not going to practice on the Ferrari. If the clutch craps out, I will get it home, but other than that, 3 pedals are better than 2!!

Regards,
Jerry

 

Take on his offer for the insulation, it will hide the gearbox crunch when you shift without using the clutch

Best
Jurgen

 

I had a Morris Minor and could shift all day without the clutch. To get moving, turn off the engine, put in first gear and hit the starter. Boom, you're moving. When ready to up shift, ease slowly off of the gas until the shifter slides out of gear with light finger pressure, ease ever so slightly more off of gas and select next gear with finger pressure. To down shift,same to disengage but increast engine speed rather than decrease to make the shift. However, what racers do is a slam shift by stepping off of the gas for an instant and going for it. I definitely would not try it in the Mondial. However, I have practiced clutchless Mondial shifting just in case of a blown slave or master.(and for fun). It is more difficult in the Ferrari.

Edit: the Ferrari gear box will not crunch under the first technique I mentioned, it just burns up the sincros until you get it right.

 

My plan over the coming winter season is to make a replica MR2 out of the Mondial. My thoughts are that now is the time to reverse the usual trend of converting MR2's into Ferrari replicas.









PS: Speaking of winter, the above should be taken with a pinch of road salt!

 

My first F Car was a Mondial, i also shifted without pressing the clutch many times. If you are experienced in that, it wont harm the transmission or clutch. best -e-

 

I prefer using the pedal.

If you say MR2 in french you get something else than a ahum-ahum "fine motorcar".

My neighbour and I were earlier today talking car-stuff, when he claimed his brother had his Mercedes E 220d (2010?) chipped and tuned with extra turbo and 'other things he couldn't remember' to a wopping 780 HP.
I almost choked in my beer. I know the car and his brother. I'm pretty sure nothing in that matter happened to that car. Next time I'll see the guy, I want to see under the hood. I know I'll only find original diesel lump in there.
Some people take car-talk to a whole new level. 😳

 

I've also noticed that many "car guys" seem to hate more cars than they love. Always find that odd. I had some stranger post a picture of my mondial on the local cars & coffee Facebook page, only to have ten others post how "mondials suck". Of course, not one had spent time around a mondial (let alone driven or owned one). True enthusiasts will find something to love in just about every interesting car, even if it isn't their cup of tea.