Mondial owners, help settle dispute

After a spirited discussion with my brother(forever lover of Porsche)...his view is the Mondial is not readily recognizable as a Ferrari especially if is not red...that people would always ask "what kind of car is it" ... i disagreed...he said let's ask the owners...steak dinner is on this

PS...this came up because a Mondial is one of the models i am considering

 

I think ANY ferrari save the 308 and the TR, would not be instantly recognizable as a Ferrari if it is not red. Most of my neighbors--none of whom are even remotely into cars, thought my car was a Lamborghini. I stopped by a Pep boys with my Mondial not too long ago. All the service techs came out and the one thing EVERYONE said is, we knew it was a Ferrari a block away. My point being, assuming the viewer can hear, he will know a Mondial is a Ferrari if he is even moderately into cars. In the end, Porsche only made a couple of body styles, but a ton of cars that have saturated the world market over the last few decades--- all of whom share a very strong family resemblance. Ferrari made a handful of cars in a variety of body styles, only a couple of which are iconic. Most people who see your car will assume it is either a Ferrari or Lamborghini, because that is the standard guess when a layman sees and hears a car like he has never seen or heard before. If there are 7 billion people in the world and only 3K mondials, and assuming not everyone has seen Scent of a Woman, the odds on someone ever having come across a Mondial or any other low volume Ferrari in their lifetime is probably the statistical equivalent of being struck by lightning. Therefore, if someone misses the prancing horse on the hood and the words FERRARI on the trunk lid, and the prancing horse on the rear, and only associates Ferrari with the color red, I can see how they would not know a mondial, or most other Ferraris...but they would DEFINITELY know it is something VERY special...I can tell you that from personal experience.

 

So what's important? That it is a Ferrari or that others know it is a Ferrari?

 

Amen to that brother...in fact, I have to tell you, it may be better in some instances, especially in this economy, if you can take your drive incognito. If you need it to say FERRARI---you should probably spring a little extra for the Gold chain package. However, I definitely did not get the vibe from the OP that he was buying the car for status reasons. This sounds like a steak dinner based on two people busting each others chops.

 

I would say that it is surely recognizable as a Ferrari....although the unfamiliar might not know what model, year, etc. Certainly, red helps cement the Ferrari identity....but look at the lineage below, and I think its pretty clear.

I could see a comment like that about the 308 GT4 (which I used to have) given the Bertone design, and limited production numbers....but never had the issue with my Mondial t cab.

(Also, didn't they ever see Scent of a Woman with Pacino in the FERRARI Mondial cab?)


btw, Dersono -- I would strongly recommend doing more than just "consider" a Mondial.....they are great cars, and they ARE FERRARI's! The t cabrio has been a wonderful car. I'd highly recommend it despite any non-Ferrarista's confusion as to which type of exotic it is. Its certainly not going to be mistaken for a Toyota.
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according to my brother...BOTH...his perspective is his 911 is never mistaken...and Ferrari is the pinnacle of sports cars and would feel insulted if someone called something else

and we were busting each other chops because I got rid of my 911 and he can't understand. To him Porsche is a better car and the Mondials were sort like the step children...and he talked to other Ferrari owners(guys with 360 or 355) that is their view

 

... and doesn't look like a 911 for sure.

Really piss him off and buy this one, and really test his logic. 89 t cab, 19k miles.

John
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I can't speak about other colors but most people recognize our red Mondial as a Ferrari, especially with the top down. The exotic look, low ride, louvered engine lid and side vents give it away.

By the way, there is nothing wrong with being proud to drive a Ferrari! The brand is a legend. Besides, a 15 year old Ferrari does not exactly scream money with $40,000 suv's everywhere.

Although. . . many people still think our 1992 Mondial is a new 2008 Ferrari. Having said that, just as many think our 1966 fiat 500 is a 2008 smart car .

I'll admit I enjoy getting out of the car and having people run over and ask questions and take cell phone pictures. I don't think you get that with a Porsche. If that makes me a show off, what the hay, you only live once.

dave

P.S. I'd be willing to bet that if you parked a blue Mondial cabrio next to a blue 360 coupe, more people would identify the Mondial as a Ferrari.

 

I own a Black on Black 3.2 Coupe with chrome 348 wheels. It is a lot fun to drive. I definitely get compliments than my 308GT4 from other Ferrari owners. Attached are two images. The red 348 belongs to one of my friends.
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Rudy,


That is the nicest lookin
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,Pontiac Fiero



,
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,I have ever seen....!



You Rock...!
Edwardo

 

350HPMondial/Fiero

u r FUNNY!!!

never knew a Fiero/Mondial could make 350HP with a lot of money invest

 

Not bad for a "Fiero". It was featured in issue sixty of Forza magazine. It won the 2004 FCA "Premio di Platino" at PROVA MO 04 Monterey California. Its also the best handling "Fiero" I've driven at Road America and Autobahn Country Club.

 

Color is a big factor even for the "obivous" Ferraris.

I had my 328 (black metallic) parked in the driveway a few years back and a couple of young people started to approach as they started to walk by my house, and then stopped, and one of them said to the other (I wasn't standing right there, but inside the garage, close enough so I could hear them): "Is that a Ferrari?" The kid bent down to check out the tail badging to confirm it. "It's a Ferrari!"

Then they walked by and gave me the "nice car" comment. Granted the car was probably 6-8 years old than they were.

That said, almost everyone recognizes a 308 or 328. In black, I think it takes a second or two longer to register. FWIW, as a non-Mondial owner, I think the tail lights, flat/ louvred rear deck and stock wheels tip off anyone remotely into cars that a Mondial is a Ferrari. But, as Joe posted, a red TR or 308/328 practically scream it to your face. Personally, I enjoy making people look twice to confirm their guess. The Mondial, especially in a color other than red, is that kind of car.

 

My advice is simply this;
Do the homework on the models in contention which should ultimately result in you knowing what you want and why you want it. Know that you will get biased opinions from many of those from whom you seek council (especially Porsche owners) BTW, I loved my old Porsche too). "Run the numbers" and know what you can afford. ------------------ Then, buy what YOU like - in the color YOU like.

You're the only one that counts

Cheers, Hank

 

Tell your brother he has some diagnosable deep-seated esteem and self confidence issues. One of many cool things about the Mondial is the classy elegant understatement, but the cognoscenti all recognize it. There are a few of us who used to laugh and say 'you have to be very adult and self -secure to own a Mondial, i.e. a confident successful adult enthusiast with class and taste... and with nothing to prove to the great unwashed'.

best
rt

 

Was that the pristine higher-mileage car in the feature with the red 328? If so, it looked great. My weakness for black cars actually overcame my bias for 328s.

 

Rent the Al Pacino movie "Scent of a Woman" and then decide.

 

I am buying what tickles my fancy and catches my eye...it was just a debate...also Mondis just as the 348 has gotten bad press

 

I have a 911 (like your brother) and I have a Mondial (one like you should have). Tell your brother that I actually get more (way more) Ferrari comments than I do Porsche comments when I drive them. And the Ferrari is not red... But my 911 is.

The photos above are also fabulous in showing that a Mondial indeed looks (at least to me) like a proper Ferrari.

I enjoy them both, and you two should as well. Have one of each & share time in them. That is true car guy style.
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Seems to me that except for red 3x8s, only Ferrari owners recognize Ferraris, red or otherwise. I parked my red 328 next to a black 308 at a car get-together in MD few months ago and several people said, "Beautiful Ferrari" to me and "That's nice, what kind of car is that?" to black 308 owner.

 

God knows I will have some Mondial owner get a sniper to take me out tonight for this comment, but I told Desorno the other day that I DON'T think most people recognize the Mondial as a Ferrari right away if at all. Now being a 348 owner you KNOW I am not the first one casting stones here as we 348 guys are always railed for having the Bastard Stepchild of a Ferrari, but I assure you, if you pull up in a 328 or a 348 or a TR, people will know it is a Ferrari pretty quickly. Not necessarily the case with a Mondial.

May not be all bad, but for your argument I buy the case that most people won't think or know it is a Ferrari right off the bat.

Just my 2c.

MB

 

I am going to go off topic a bit to say this: Having spent a good deal of time in 911's of various ilk, I can say, unequivocally, that IMHO a 911 cannot equal in any way the excitement of owning a driving a Mondial 3.2. Faster, yes, better handling, sure, but not as stupifyingly fun (is that even a word ). Mondials are extremely expressive and involving automobiles..I also feel that 911 owners spend way more time justifying way they bought a 911, then Mondial owners ever do explaining their choice. The only time I can imagine wishing I had a 911, is when I have to order a part or get my car serviced. Other than that, forget the numbers, forget the hair gel, forget everything you have heard from non-owners. A Mondial is an amazing automobile and an amazing Ferrari. As I often say, for many of us, buying a Mondial was a CHOICE, we could have afforded other Ferraris and specifically chose this car. It brings so much to the table in terms of beauty, quality, practicality, driver involvement and excitement, it is almost impossible to explain...and they look MUCH better in person than in photos. As for reliability, my car is 22 years old and has 17K on the clock, its reliability in those 22 years has been exemplary. I know far more people who have had Mondials that have been relatively problem free, than I know 3 year old Mercedes or BMW owners that can say the same. Right now, I am far more nervous about maintaining the Mercedes R500 I am looking at, then I will ever be with the Ferrari.

I guarantee you that if you buy the Mondial, your Brother will be the first one asking to drive it.

Just my .02

 

+1 I agree 100%. I also had a 911 and it was like driving a Volkswagen compared to any of my Ferraris.

 

Of the two Ferraris I have, the Mondial is by far, more recognized in public than the 456.

In my family, everytime I threaten to sell the Mondial, as we sometimes think of downsizing the weekly commitment of keeping them driven, the family, brothers, sisters, in-laws, children etc. get upset enough to make us retract....

also, their statements to us usually say "I think of the Mondial as more Ferrari looking than the 'other' one"

Every time I see the Mondial drive away from me, as in wife is driving, I fall in love with the ability the Mondial has in expressing IT IS A FERRARI

public reaction, is greater especially when the Mondial is parked right next to the 456: Typically, they sometimes don't even catch on the 456 is present or,

just happen to see the Cavallino on the tail.

SO: tell your brother, , to buy a car that DOES have some distinction to it, in that I can never really tell the models of Porsche very much between 2000 and [whatever new model they say is new] and now. They all look alike,

and

When they release a 'new'/improved model, I'd swear it's the same pic they used last year....kinda skip it all except for the mechanical part, but BOORING.

so,

I have driven many of these Porsches pre-ferrari... great machines technically, but not a great soul.....IMO...UNLESS you miss starting off in 1st gear....

if you are not indoctrinated in Porsche 1st gear killing syndrome-avoidance...then you are a newbie

-- the only equivilant experience to the Porsche 1st gear killing in public I can remember in a Ferrari/Mondial is the dreaded overheated starting problem, where you have to wait for it to cool down.....I pretend in such cases to be cleaning my fingernails, or answering a long cell phone conversation [BTW, there is a simple solution for that]

 

Of course a 911 is more recognizable than "a Ferrari".

That's mainly because the 911 is a MODEL but the F-car is a MAKE.

The basic 911 shape has not changed in the last 55 years so obviously everybody instantly recognizes it.

Ferrari has produced far more models than Porsche, and many of them have been out of production since before many of the new generation of sportscar fans were born...

Apart from the reliability issue, I prefer the Mondi over the 911 and I don't give a rat's tail if it is recognized as a Ferrari or not.