Might be in the market for one. Wife says if we finish the basement, she will take all her stuff out of the garage...giving me more space . Most of the sportscars I have owned are basically 2 seaters...and having 3 kids makes it really hard to take a ride. I understand they are very slow...but it is a convertible. Can an nice one be bought in the 20's? 308's can be bought in the low 30's without any problems, and I would think a mondial is worth way less. Do you think that, IF 308's start to appreciate...modial convertibles will also? Numbers wise, I believe thay made less mondial convertibles than 308's. I never really like the car much...but laelty they have been growing on me...
Ebay to the rescue. That will be your best source for values. you can search for closed items too. I agree that Mondial's are worth less than the comparable 308 - go figure. I paid under $20 a few years ago for a Mondial Cabrio with some issues.
I can't speak for earlier mondials but the t is not slow. A good one will set you back quite a bit though.
A Mondial 8 might be cosidered slow(er). But I would not characterize a Mondial QV as particularly slow. And how fast do you want to go with 2 (baeause that's all I think you can legally fit) children in the back anyway? I'm sure any of them will put a grin on your face. Some will just put a bigger one, that's all. But if you're looking for a potential upside too, then look no further than the GT4. It's not a cabriolet. But it will be much better on your precious little ones ears, than the backseat of a Mondial cab. And there's also the Mondial coupe to consider! IIRC, There's a black beauty (QV) in Arizona that you might be able to get. PS: Either way though, the QV is far and away the better (i.e., more reliabe and therefore less expensive) car all around. REMEMBER: The sticker-price is just the cost of "admission". The "real" price is, the cost of maintenance. Even more so when you're savvy enough to buy a car in good enough condition, or rare, or popular enough, that you can sell it for the sticker-price, when you're done playing with it. That's why they say (over and over and over), "Buy the best example of the model you can afford, that you can find. And be prepared to spend some money to sort it out and put it in order". If you're interested in a well sorted QV, with about 20K miles, that is no longer the garage-queen she once was, PM me. I have a friend who might be interested in selling his. But it won't be in the $20's.
Yes, you can get a good Mondial QV or 3.2 in the mid to upper $20k's. Evaluate your willingness to have a Ferrari before buying, or be prepared to take your time selling it. BT
Wow, what enthusiasm! Ever seen one in person? They are pretty nice looking cars. Many more people comment on our blue Mondial than on the red 308. I'm not sure if it is because they assume a guy in a red 308 is arrogant and so they won't speak to him??? But when I'm out in the Mondial, tons of people say nice car and ask when year it is. The Mondial is nice because it is cool and a little funky without trying too look too exotic. It doesn't scream "I'm a Ferrari!" like a 308, but it's still small compared to normal cars and has those intakes on the side. Being a 4-seater means it's not as much a sportscar, but more of a sporty family car. Being able to put the kids in the back is a bonus! Oh and they have gone up in value. One meeeelion dollars!
Eeek. I apologize for the spelling errors - it hurt to read my own entries... Don't get me wrong, I think the mondial looks cool - but very few people agree with that sentiment. It is a slow car from every report I have read (not talking about the "T"), but it looks cool, and it is a convertible. I know that the mondial t's are better...but for $40-50,000, there are other cars out there I would consider first. Part of the attraction of the basic mondial convertible IS that it costs less than a 308... I am still surprised how much fun I have with my 914. The thing is quite slow, on paper at least. But it is a ball to run, shift, and toss into corners. I enjoy this car more than just about any other I have owned, and its the cheapest car I have ever bought. As they say, its more fun to drive a slow car fast, then a fast car slow...
Actually...they would be . I was going to look at carbed 308's too. I already have a testarossa, so I am already a "believer."
Good lord you have a 914 and you say this: "I never really like the car much...but laelty they have been growing on me..." about a Mondi? Oh my. That is a bit hard to take for sure. (and that is coming from a guy who owned a 1973 2.0L 914 non-appearance group).
When you first get "into ferrari's"...you usually desire the stuff you see on posters and read about in Road and Track. Hence, in terms of ferraris, I have always wanted a testarossa, and secondly a 308. Once you learn more about the cars, you broaden your interest. So, with the passage of time, I am starting to appreciate the mondial. It definitely isn't "the" ferrari that got me interested in the marque. The 914 is a great car. Also, not the car that got me interested in porsches. But having owned a bunch of 911's/996/boxter s/944 turbos, etc...you eventually try the other cars in the group. And, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the 914. It really is a go kart. I still want a 928, and might look at those. I am just looking for another cool car to enjoy for a year or 2. I have nothing against the mondial, but my primary attraction to it is the 4 seats. The fact that its a ferrari, and in particular a ferrari I haven't had a chance to experience yet, is an added draw. The other part of the attraction is the low cost (relatively speaking). I am not slamming the mondial, but it does represent the lower end of the totem pole. But then again, so does the 914...
Try a 400i 5-speed. I'm with you; a 914 is indeed like driving a go-cart. When you're doing 70 it feels like a low flying jet. Loads of fun!
1. 308s in the low 30s have plenty of problems. 2. Don't buy a Mondial as an appreciating asset. 3. If you don't like the car - don't buy it. If you want a Ferrari that you can use as a daily driver, and you like the style, then a 3.2 Mondial is a great car. I drive mine every day - I pick up the laundry, go to home depot, grocery shopping, and if I have something to haul that won't fit in my wife's Lexus, I put the top down, put a blanket in the back seat, and haul it around, whether it's a Christmas tree, bedroom suite, or whatever. When my son and grandson are in town, we strap the carseat in the back and take off. It's not a racecar - but it sounds better than anything I come across on my daily commute of 30 minutes each way to work and back. If you want to drive faster, follow the girls in a Honda putting on their makeup talking in the cell phone . The cops don't bother them somehow. They would love to bag a Ferrari convertible doing 5 over the limit. It's 100% reliable - I would put it up against my wife's Lexus - and drive it anywhere, anytime. Even the A/C keeps up with the Alabama summertime once you give it a few minutes in the middle of the day after leaving the car outside in 100 degree heat for a couple hours. No way would I sell it for less than $40K - sorry.
I sold what I consider to be an excellent example of a Mondial QV for well under $30K. Just be very careful. Test all of the electrical circuits. With the headlights and radio on, roll down both front windows at the same time. If the car does not stop in it's tracks, it is probably sound in that regard. I cannot stress how important it is to have the lower cam drives done before you buy a car of this vintage. Everyone talks about belts and clutches, but the lower cam drive bearings will absolutely kill you. Ask me how I know There is a lot to be said for the room provided by this four seater. Even when you are not dragging the munchkins around, you have room for a second set of golf clubs, suit cases, groceries, etc. The full convertible top allows a free path for the exhaust rumble and the whine from the overhead cams to your senses. I find the styling of the Mondial very appealing, even today. Be prepared for those Ferrari owners that are not true Tifosi (IMHO) who will choose not to associate with you as an owner of a lower class model. Consider them as what they are, snobs.
