| Author | Message | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 320 Registered: 9-2001 |
Good thing to note Ken, I have owned a 92 and now my 89. The "safety features" of the 92 made moving around in the car a pain for rear passengers. Front shoulder harnesses came out of rear center console and front laps came from outboard floor. For me with 2 kids, having them get into the rear was almost always met with a fly in the spider web feel. Good news is, most models for sale are 89s... - JMG | ||
| WMontgomery (Fiorano1999)
New member Username: Fiorano1999 Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2002 |
JMG, No apologies needed - as we know these cars are all somewhat unique even with sequential serial numbers. A lot depends who who you have working on it. I solely used the FNA dealer who probably thought I was a PITA with the roof thing but there were times I could not get it latched, had a bolt shear on the scissor mechanism (about the diameter of a toothpick) and broke one of the dogs on the latch. The first time I decided to put it down was along an interstate and after plenty of futility and reading the manual just left it up. I think there is one key sentence in the manual that unlocks the secret to the top. The service guy in fact broke both of my vertical fiber pieces that say "mondial t" between the front and rear windows. I imagine you had your top aligned properly versus mine being totally out of asjustment. He who has the best mechanic is the victor! I sold mine with 18K and change on it. My kids grew legs and I could not drive with the steering wheel in my chest so that they could sit in the back. There really is not that much leg room overall. It was an excuse to get a two seater at that point. Thoroughly enjoyed every mile. Only stuck once due to hot start. The 89's did have the hot start recall/upgrade and about the only real difference between 89 and 90/91 were the seatbelt mechanisms and the lack of an underdash knee bolster on the latter ones. If you are tall and want more knee room, look at the 89's. The 89's did not have the rear seat console either as I recall which the kids said was a pain in the hips on the 90 model. FYI this was the model used in "Scent of a Woman" and also chosen as the Pope's ride during a trip to Modena/Maranello. Will | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 319 Registered: 9-2001 |
WMontgomery, due allow me to apologize for any zeal in my responses. This thread got caught up in a converstaion I was having with another buddy about the merits (or lack thereof) of any Ferrari that seats more than 2 on Sunday AM. Of course, he has a PCar and says that the exhaust note of mine would be worth trading out of his for the price alone but still thinks all Ferraris should seat 2. After looking back, I know I brought a bit of that to the table here. Mea culpa...I should have let it go when I discovered he was driving the auto-stick or whatever they call it in their models. - JMG | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 318 Registered: 9-2001 |
15650 on mine. Around 7500 when I purchase a year ago...a garage queen no more. - JMG | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1826 Registered: 9-2001 |
with install - I could see 2k. It should be less but some charge more - what can you do. most of these should be the same except no little horse in the plastic window  | ||
| WMontgomery (Fiorano1999)
New member Username: Fiorano1999 Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thanks Tom. Great prices! $2200 was just the fabric and window installed over the original structure. This place typically does Corniche and Azure tops so maybe they had their own inflation factor! And it was a dealer to dealer price as well. I guess they are used to raping him for his Brit inventory so might as well get him on this one too. It is a quality top but you can tell it is not factory. Will | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1824 Registered: 9-2001 |
I think italiancarparts has them for about 1200 | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1823 Registered: 9-2001 |
http://www.autostyles.com/ferrari.htm http://www.atrim.com/Pager15.html apoligies as it looks like the cheapest ones are in the 600 range. Inflation! | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1822 Registered: 9-2001 |
these guys have them for 875, I have seen them for less, I think Robbins ?? makes them also. http://www.gahh.com/FERRTOP.html 2200 should be an orginal or maybe it included all the mechanicals not just the fabric???? | ||
| WMontgomery (Fiorano1999)
New member Username: Fiorano1999 Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hey JMG, I believe you! These cars are idiosyncratic and I suspect yours is aligned much better than mine was. How many miles on yours JMG? A current replacement - non factory, new window - on a friend's with only a rip on the sail panel and no hardware damage a very short while ago was $2200 - I saw the invoice. His dealer quote was $5500+ as it included the hardware. Not sure where you are finding them for $500 Tom but please post the vendor's name in the thread for archive for future ref. Let us know how you make out Ken. Will | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 316 Registered: 9-2001 |
Since Ken is looking, I decided to go out and time the roof up/down sequence today. Local chatters can verify my roof was up on Saturday since it was a bit wet outside. (Like Noah's Ark wet...) Roof down, tonneau snapped in place. 2 minutes, 18 seconds. I wasn't running around the car and I did put all of the windows down. Roof up, tonneau folded and back in truck, 50 seconds. Ok windows were still down... Not the kind of thing you want to try at a stoplight but not the end of the world. - JMG | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1812 Registered: 9-2001 |
I think you can get a new top (non-factory - which are prob no longer available) for about 500. plus about 500 for install. The top is not that bad once you get used to it. I usually only put mine up and down 3-4 times a year. Cars are alot of fun. IF you need the extra seats go for it | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3225 Registered: 5-2001 |
A friend of mone just bought a 1990 Mondial T and had it on the track in Homestead driving against the Mondial 3.2 from another friend. The T has definetely more power and quicker pick up. I am still amazed how they actually fit the 348 engine into the small bay of the Mondial. Yes it rolls more than a 2 seater but then you usually do not track a 4 seater cruiser but drive it under normal conditions. Mondials are agreat choice to drive open, especially if you need the additional seats every once in a while. | ||
| WMontgomery (Fiorano1999)
New member Username: Fiorano1999 Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2002 |
I don't think that I ever was able to get the roof down and secured in less than 15 minutes. Nor was my FNA service rep or sales rep. Maybe I was overly careful with it or just plain stupid. You can always get the drop over tonneau cover if it is not with the car but the security is provides is meaningless. I honestly just kept the top down at all times and only put it up for long potential rain drives. Kept it covered when down of course. The key I believe was the middle bow and aligning the scissors in the boot. Some cars did have a canvas boot cover by the way. My car had 18,000 miles on it when I sold it, I had it since new, and the 1-2 shift when cold was still not a wise thing at that point and according to FNA going to be characteristic of that design till the cows came home. The exhaust sound was fine and very distinctive with a stock system. There was no question among the car guys in my neighborhood which car I was driving that day. To dump a tubi on a used Mondial wouldn't make much sense to me unless you can find a used tubi or similar system. I would think on a long drive it would be monotonous like riding a thump thump Harley with shorty pipes or a 930 with BB exhuast which I have done and did not enjoy. Very tiring. Great on Main Street in first gear like the BMW guys but hell on the interstate. A titanium Cavallino shift knob, pedals and gate kit was nice and SpeedLingerie makes a front end for it. My top didn't leak but for the front and read window interface points in driving rain. As I said earlier, even though it is a heavy car, with the 300 bhp it will not really disappoint you unless you are used to driving a Viper. It does have the stigma of being a "perfect starter Ferrari" if that means anything to you. All your choice and taste, plus you can always sell it. It is nice to have more than the space behind seats for storage. Cowl shake - it is still a tube frame and never will give the hewn out of a single block of metal feeling - but so what? Will | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 315 Registered: 9-2001 |
HP is 300 with a curb weight of around 3600lbs. Refviews of the period suggest 5.9-6.6 seconds 0-60. Outside of a few specialist minivans (Kenny Brown), you will not be looking at their taillights. I do not know what the specs are on the 308QV but the Mondial T Cab is of similar acceleration to the 328. Handling is not nearly as nimble as the 2 seaters. I find the ride better based on the extra wheelbase. Top is an engineering disaster but once you learn the correct steps to raise and lower, not that big an issue. I don't mind putting it up or down whenever I am going somewhere in the morning/evening but I tend not to change configurations when I am running into a store for instance. Check to see if the 91 you are looking at has the factory Tonneau which makes life a bit better for marginal situations where you want to keep the roof down. It is rainproof in my experience. Cowl shake is less than most 4 seat cars but higher than most 2 seaters. Structurally, the tube frame helps when compared to unibody designs in this respect. Given the era of the design, I would rate the cowl shake excellent but not what is available on the market today with the BMW 3 series for instance. I would respectfully disagree on the Tubi and shifter comments. The exhaust note is nothing to remember in stock form but pure Ferrari with a Tubi installed. I find my shifter works nicely in all gears from start but then again, I drive mine almost everyday so it is pretty well sorted. - JMG | ||
| Don Vollum (Donv)
New member Username: Donv Post Number: 38 Registered: 1-2002 |
I don't know if the top on the T is different from my 3.2, but it's not that bad on my car. It does leak, but I've never had much of a problem putting it up or down by myself, once I learned a few tricks. In my car, it is *essential* that you do the right top latch first. If you do this, it goes up with no problems. I don't know if this is specific to my car, but it works. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 763 Registered: 3-2001 |
A '91 is the T-cab with the 3.4 liter engine, isn't it? I would think it's pretty quick with the 348's drive train. My guess is that you'll leave those Dodge Caravans in the dust.... at least the ones with the 4-bangers. | ||
| WMontgomery (Fiorano1999)
New member Username: Fiorano1999 Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2002 |
The top is a contraption. One of the single worst designs I have ever seen. Quite a few have been damaged by forcing them down. It is quite a learned technique to get it down and then be able to put the boot on it. If you get it wrong, force it and rip the top your friendly FNA store will take about $6,000 from your wallet to replace it. The boot cover costs about the same from them. You cannot buy single components except for the wihdshield latches - which you can count on breaking if you use them enough or misuse them. They DON"T pull the top in to the windshield header, they just secure it once you use your fingers to pull the top to the header which is a pa.in Try to crank it and about $300 later you have a new one. They are very delicate. The vertical posts behind the front windows are usually broken on every car you look at from someone who forced the top down as well. Look closely - horizontal cracks are usually present where it says mondial t - they cost $1,000 each to replace. Look for rips in the boot cover where the fasteners are. The top is always a two person operation in my opinion. I am sure you can practice and get it alone but I never wanted the repair bill. A friend of mine let someone take his out a month ago. It came back with a hole in the top from trying to put it down. He had a knock off made at a high end shop for $2200 but it was not the same as teh FNA version. You cannot make the 1-2 shift for about ten minutes after driving. 1-3 is the norm at first. You will not be passed by mini-vans - it is the 3.4 V8 after all with 300+/- bhp. Stay away from Corvettes, Mustang 5.0s, etc and you'll be OK. There is a fair amount of room in the car and the back seats are as usable as the 456's. The trunk is fine as well and the front well is nice if the optional spare tire and wheel are not present. The driver's footwell gets very hot on er drives. Metal throttle pedal is hot to the touch. At higher speeds, 155 indicated at one point, it was very unsettling and floaty. A lane change at that speed caused a rear end waggle. Running at 100, 125 is fine though. Ride is decent too. The cowl shake is very noticeable on anything but the smoothest roads - not annoying - just something you get used to. Sounds great with the top down with stock exhaust. No need for Tubi. Seat belts on 90-91s are a pain. A/C was no Chevy. Paint was thin overall but especially on the hood. 89s had a hot start problem and upgrade. Not sure if 90s and 91s had that fixed from teh factory. All in all, not a bad car in any way and fun to own if you need four seats. If you don't, you're better off with a 348 Spider. I think Frank Parker has a nice one up for sale on the board but it should be more than what you are looking at for the t. Values will likely linger around $50,000 to $60,000 for decent ones with miles under 20K and current service. Seems 20K+ miles is the criteria for under $50,000. The ones around $40,000 must be junk. I would not hesitate to buy one again if it was nice enough and well documented. Symbolic, FLosGatos and Harris have been sitting on some for quite awhile. Will | ||
| Ken Ross (Kdross)
Junior Member Username: Kdross Post Number: 175 Registered: 2-2002 |
I will be looking at a 1991 Mondial Cab. later this week and would like some input before I do. While I know that the Mondial T is not a speed demon, I do not want to be blown away by mini vans. Does the Mondial T cab. have a decent amount of power where the car can move at a good pace? Will the car be any quicker than my 308QV? Also, how does the Mondial T Cab handle? Is there a lot of cowl shake? Finally, how much of a pain is lowering and raising the top? Thanks. Ken P.S. Anyother comments or input would be greatly appreciated. |