I need Advice and Insight about a Mondial....

I am seriously considering purchasing the Mondial that is at this link...........

http://www.caudlemotorcars.com/mondial.htm

But I am not that familar with this particular model Ferrari....I own an '87 Testarossa and can immediately focus in on the shortcomings and/or the pluses that a TR might offer..............but the Mondial is a mystery to me. I see that there is an issue with the front bumper on this car. Also, is it the norm that the muffler is so "exposed" in the back? What should I look for? I plan on seeing the vehicle in person in the next week hopefully, so any and all advice, insight, criticisms pro and con would be very much appreciated. And last but not least....their asking $23500.....I already am feelng this might be a bit high with just the obvious cosmetic problems I see. Let me also say that I am looking to use this car as a "driver"........I plan on putting some miles on it from bopping about town when home to loading it up with my luggage and driving from upstate NY to Alabama (where our main offices are located) 2-3 times a year possibly.....a 2K round trip.

Thanks in advance for all efforts to "sway" me..........Kerry

 

car looks worn out and sundied; is worth max 10.000 us in my opinion. reg.

 

I have an 85 Mondial QV and love it, it is a pleasure to drive and responds well to a bit of spirited driving, as for driving it every day I would say no problems, I have even taken it for long drives away (around 3500km round trip with no problems) as far as what to look for, I think its no different from buying any other Ferrari, make sure the gear change from 1st to 2nd is smooth as this is a bit of a weak link with this model especially when cold gearbox, going by the pics I would say the motor is in urgent need of servicing, with the general look of the over all engine and engine bay and with all the oil around the top of the motor, and by the look of the condition of the alloy parts, as for the muffler it is meant to be that way, I think the 86 model came with the optional cover, correct me if Im wrong, I changed my muffler and it looks and sounds much better, or you could paint it a satin black with some high temp engine paint to dress it up, overall I and my family love the Mondial, we have a great time whenever we go for a drive, In my opinion you wouldnt be dissapointed with it

 

Looks like this car has been driven which is not such a bad thing
but I would agree a major service is due factor this in the purchase price

 

Hi, i'm a owner of a QV Cabriolet from Switzerland. I see, that the car has a bill of 38,000 Euros in 2001, no idea, what ch. pozzi has do for this exorbitant amount (38,000 EUR = 49,188$!!!!!!!). the car looks not very bad, but also not very beautyfull. think it's also a first hand car. for 23'000 you can get surely better cars, but i'm not sure, cars with a full complet story, and with a bill like this.

if you use the car only for "cruising" with your family, that will be the right car for you!


sorry for my english

 

The repair bill from 2001 is actually in FF (French Francs) which is about 1/5th or 1/6th of the Euro....

Car looks pretty neglected (engine compartment) and cheaply resprayed (rear panel).

 

If this Mondial has metric wheels, expect to pay about $400.00 per tire. When it is time to replace tires some Mondial owners replace the metric wheels with 17" 348 wheels.

Good luck
Charles

 

Another observation: Car had 60,191 km when serviced in 2001, now has 62,028 km. ----> 1,837 km in 8 years??

 

I think that the car looks great. It's a terrific color for a QV, which to me is a big plus. The car doesn't have a sunroof, which is another big plus. (Mondial sunroofs can be problematic.) Does everything work? (All buttons, windows, etc.?) If so, I think that the asking price is actually pretty fair.

My only real concern is with the wheels/tires. For a driver, you'll for sure want to replace them. You can go cheap, but even then that's going to cost at least $1000.

The car needing a major service is a given. One hardly ever sees a car that was just serviced. Any idea when the hoses were last replaced?

Because of the age of the car, expect to spend around $7000 right away on wheels/tires and service issues. (Unless you can service the car yourself.) That brings the car to around $30,000 which may or may not be a good deal, depending upon how you look at it. (I, personally, think that the car is still a good deal...)

Good luck!

--Jeremy

 

nono, im not sure but into the text from the seller he says:

"I have a number of service receipts in excess of €10,000.00, and one major service that totals over €38,000.00 from 2001. The history of the car tells the story, and most records are photographed below."

 

Check this first page of the "major service" bill: It advertises parking space at the dealers for FF 1200.00 per month....

Obviously, the seller did not inform himself very thoroughly as to the car's previous life. And why would a car only "rack up" 1800 km in 8 years? Most F-car owners do at least that each year!

I purchased a set of 4 new TRX's in Germany in 2005 at EUR 370.00 each (plus shipping). Today, they probably cost 20% more...

So a major plus 4 (5?) tires will easily add $10K to the purchase price of this car. Too much IMHO.

I'd say $15K would be a fair price for this one...
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That seems to be a pretty good car. Its a VERY VERY rare color on a Mondial QV coupe. In fact that is the only Nero Metallica QV coupe I've ever seen. I really like it. It has plenty of documentation and seems to have been taken care of. Whats not to like? Offer him $21k even, I betcha he would take it. Mondial coupes are superb driving cars, the added wheelbase over the 308s make for a lovely ride and great handling.

 

As for things to look for...

Mondials are known for somewhat flaky electrics. (But I think that TR is, as well, so you shouldn't have any surprises here.) Make sure that all buttons and switches work. If you have to push a button several times for it to work, don't worry. The switch just needs cleaned. Most buttons that don't work also just mean that switch needs cleaned. The fusebox is a weak area on the car and is a little expensive to replace (just like the TR). The gas struts that keep the front and rear hoods probably need recharged. This costs about $50 each. Sniff around the engine for fuel before taking a test drive. Slow windows are normal and can be cheaply fixed. Don't lock the doors when they are open. Don't pull on the grab handles too hard -- they are plastic and break easily. If engine starts revving suddenly make sure that the floor mat isn't pushing against the accelerator.

I still think that the price isn't too bad. Maybe a couple of grand high, but not by much, especially considering the color.

Oh yeah, pull up the carpet in the trunk and check around the antenna drain hose for rust.

 

great opinion as you obviously haven't seen the car and obviously no idea of values, the engine and drive train alone on a Euro QV are worth 12k-15k,

a service can easily be done for 1k by any half decent mechanic or owner, if the car still has all books and tools and receipts odds on its legit and Pozzi are very well known,

and BTW I saw the car in question recently at the Rutlands show and its good but not excellent condition. I don't know why some guys here insist on saying every car is crap and worth nothing, you could break this car and get 20k for some parts and still have the chassis over to sell to Rutlands or similar,

if you could get it for 20k or so do a service and add new wheels you would have a great car for 25k.

 

Just always remember.....buy the best example that you can afford.

If this is it, then go for it...but have some $$ set aside in either case.

As far as Mondials go, I have been very pleased with my t cab, and would recommend a t as "the" mondial model to have.

300HP, 348 drivetrain/engine, more modern interior look/feel, power steering, adjustable suspension.....

 

The Mondial QV, following the Mondial 8, was Ferrari's first real attempt at a 'modern' car. It has doodads to operate the doodads. I mean, is an electric glove box release two feet from the glove box really needed? The 'check control' system is pretty weak and the fuse/relay panel is problematical. Still, the check control can be repaired, if ailing, and The Birdman has a replacement fuse/relay panel that fixes most of the low-current issues.

The car shown is a project - but that's exactly what some people want. I'd say that it is in the $15k range at the most. The best thing going for it is that it is a Euro-spec car, but that's just my opinion. Interior looks to be in pretty nice condition but as others have said, the engine bay looks pretty neglected. I guess the question to ask is whether the tired look of the engine bay really represents the maintenance this car has seen or if the previous owner was a drive-it-don't-polish-it person.

I bought my '83 Mondial QV from a friend who kept the exterior polished and did every maintenance step by the book - and the engine compartment still looked like it had just taken and oil and dirt bath! It has a leaky cam seal on the rear bank, which was not repaired, and that kept things nicely grimey. In the British car world we call that rust-proofing.

One other issue is the metric wheels. Superformance in the UK makes 16" replacements for the 390 wheels. The quality is fantastic. I just bought four wheels and four 16" new tires for about the same cost as installing four autique-design metric tires. And the next time I need tires, the cost will be very manageable.

So the bottom line is: How healthy is the Ferrari part of this Ferrari? If it is a strong, healthy drive train, you can spend a bunch of blood, sweat and tears and make a fine car of it. If it is mechanically weak it will cost you a fortune to make into a car that is somewhat difficult to sell, let alone get your money out of.

Rick
/ '83 Mondial QV / '79 308GTB

 

Yep! This is what happens if its let go too far!

Mine is an 82 QV, probably one of the first 'cos there is a fair bit of 8 stuff going on the engine room, like the air intake etc. Good luck with your search, various mods have been well documented on here. Upgrade the wheels to normal, the TRX are yuk. New fuse boards are now available, windows are slow, live with it! AC works great, put a cup holder where the cassette tray is
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Interesting, you getting ready to put a 348/355 drivetrain in there?

 

That's what it looks like - very rare, maybe the prettiest Mondial I've seen with regard to color combination.

As far as the car, the engine bay looks scary, although if they're driven in the rain this is probably normal. The exposed exhaust is also probably normal for a European Mondial - the U.S. cars had the louvred 'diapers'.

 

My '83 has a bunch of Mondial 8 stuff too - like the plenum.

rick

 

This car was listed elsewhere in Jan 2008, either ebay or some other "highline" dealer.

What a difference a good photographer and detailer make

Notice the delaminated material next to the gas pedal on both cars.
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Notice the Ch. Pozzi sticker on the rear window.

One would definately need to see this car in person.

Looks beautiful when dressed up
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oh yes, you are really a great business man; so buy it and sell of the pieces. good luck

 

Listed on eBay, 21 January 2008, in Naples; one owner, 37,500 miles, $27,900.

 

Thanks for picking that up Wade (scuffs). I am going to be in Atlanta next week and have made arrangements to look at & drive the car............ I will be taking all this feedback with me to try and make a knowledgable, as well as an economical decision whether to purchase. I do my own work so any shortcomings will be managable. And then I am somewhat taken by this car cause it is the same Nero Black Metallic color as 2 of my other cars. Only need one stick of touch-up paint.....see I'm being economical. Kerry