Talk me into, or out of, buying a Mondial

In my opinion, the Mondial is an absolutely spectacular Ferrari. It is fun as hell to drive, makes all the right sounds, is practical, beautiful, and mine has been reliable as well.

Use the search function and read some older threads on the car and you'll see what I mean. Mondial owners almost universally adore them, those who dislike them have likely never driven one.

Good luck. After you have reviewed some older threads, if you have any specific questions I would be happy to help.

 

I'd say do it. Pull the trigger.

 

You're expecting us to talk you out of a Mondial???? Buy a good one, drive it hard, cruise until the sun sets and enjoy the heck out of it.

Let's face it -- it is a Ferrari convertible for 1/5 the cost of most Ferrari convertibles. Case closed .

 

Welcome, DesertDawg!

I think you hit the nail on the head with your opinions of the Mondial. A usable yet exquisite GT car. Styling that is exotic yet restrained. A car whose own merits and charms stand out more than, yet properly fulfill, the badge it wears. For me, a V12 is a bit much, and God intended the engine to go behind the seats and in front of the rear axle, so that leaves very few cars to choose from. I'd love to have a Mondial, and have given serious thought to some of the nice, usable examples that people have offered for sale here, particularly in shades of blue, silver, and gray.

Go buy one and enjoy!

 

I agree and, it's the same powertrain as the 3x8's anyway, just a bit heaver. (They do steer like a truck though)

 

No sense waiting. The sounds, the look, the fun, and all for less than a camry. Among Ferraris one of the lower costs to maintain. Just make sure your electrics are in order, and if a cab, especially the rear windows, or your not going to put the top down until they work.

My kids love riding in her, especially school drop off and pick up.

 

HATE the styling of the hard top. LOVED driving it though. It sounded and felt like a Ferrari. Duh.

I would buy a convertible in a heartbeat, just not the hardtop.

 

I like the Mondial, particularly the T. It has ABS and power steering too.

If you're looking at a Cab, my issue is that top can be really difficult to put up.

Forget what others think of it. What's important is what you think of it.

 

Prices are all down, so I'd suggest getting into an 86 or newer. 85 and earlier had the 3.0 engine with less power. Go with the 86-88 if you want a "simpler" experience with the proven 328 drivetrain, no power steering, no ABS (except on the late 88), etc. The 89 and up have the 348 drivetrain, you can go to the 348 section to learn more about that engine and gearbox, and they also have more complicated electronics.

I'd also suggest driving a couple for as many miles as possible to see if it really is the car for you.

 

Its been said before, but you'll really have to drive one to find out. The heavy steering is an issue for me, but I live in a pretty dense area. If you're in the suburbs that are designed for cars, it may not be an issue. The car will also bottom out/scrape the air dam on many driveway ramps or curbs, so again--maybe you run into these, maybe you don't. It also has a large turning circle, I sometimes have to back out of streets I could turn around in in a different car--my sister lives on a narrow dead-end that has really steep driveways I can't pull into.

I could generate a list of little things I would have done differently, but that said, I still love having my Mondial, an '87 cabriolet. You should also check the seating position. It isn't for everyone. However, I can sit in the Mondial, which is tough for me in a3X8 due to the headroom.

The Mondial isn't flashy, but it turns the right heads. Mom in minivans don't see you, but the guy in the 996 does. It' reasonably practical and my kids love it. The best quote? It's the Ferrari for adults.

 

Go for it. Personally, I'd prefer a black and tan t cab.. I don't know about putting adults in the back seats though; there dosn't seem to be much space back there.
Good luck

 

I highly recommend it even as a daily driver. I've owned 7 Mondial coupes, love them all, currently selling my 3.2 which may the finest on the market today. There is no more reliable Ferrari, period. Good luck with your search, that's half the fun.

 

If you want one, just find one and buy it. Great car and a Ferrari.

 

If you want a 4 seat Ferrari of that vintage then I'd say it's the right car.

 

You can carry 2 sets of golf clubs in it.

 

Buy the car already... Have fun... We only go around once

 

Buy one and drive it.

Remember one thing,

Funeral shrouds don't have pockets.....

 

I often ride in the back seat of the mondi with wife and kid in the front. Fortunately, the front seatbacks are narrow enough that I can put my knees on either side of the forward seat. However, driving with an adult behind requires quite a forward seating position, not very sports car like to be up in the steering wheel.

We chose the t primarily for the power steering but we were ready to buy a 3.2 if we found a really nice one first.

A few ferrari owners have rolled their eyes at the mondial but when they do I always find out they have never driven one.

The driving experience? I'll take a shot at this regarding our 1992 t.

The first thing you notice is the leather. It is everywhere! (Except the dash for practical purposes). Turn the key and the automatic seat belt mice run toward you (passenger jumps.) One more click and boom it starts immediately with a shudder then settles down to a purr with a faint harmonic that vibrates ever so slightly through the steering wheel. The tachometer goes to 1200 rpm then settles down to 1000. The shifter is stiff at first and second gear difficult when cold. You have to drive her gently for 10 minutes or so. As she warms up the thing you notice most is the throttle response. Just think and the motor jumps. The steering is tight but not heavy. With the adjustable suspension selected in hard you can change lanes in a flash with almost no body roll. You'll want to head for the twisties and along the way you'll find yourself hoping the lights will change so you can be first in line. If you are, you can floor it out of the hole but it will jump and then bog down a little until the rpm gets up, or you can burn a little rubber and go like hell, however the best thing to do is to start out easy and around 2500 rpm floor it. The engine sound here is difficult to describe. At first (stock exhaust) you hear the trademark ferrari engine exhaust note along with the camshafts/gears but as the rpm rises the engine really begins to sing and the hair on your arms stands up. At 7400rpm (40mph) you shift up/right into second and here you realise that this car was made to run. 7400rpm brings 60 and you have to ask yourself if you feel lucky. 90 is only a shift away but so is jail time. If you decide to be a law abiding citizen skip third, go to 4th or 5th and cruise. Ok here comes the back country road. Come into the turn fast! Get on the brakes hard. Wow, the brakes are very smooth and powerful with no fade. Downshift to second and get on it through the turn. If you are lucky there is another hairpin just ahead, get off of the gas and let the engine do the braking. Here is where you really know you are driving something special. Without the open throttle the full sound of the drivetrain is audible winding down from 7000rpm and it is glorious. Before long you realize you are having an incredible amount of fun and keeping within the speed limit by braking into the turns and coming out fast. The rear end can come out in a tight turn but not without warning. If it does stay with it. If you let go of the throttle it will upset the balance and things get interesting. However if you ease ever so slightly off of the throttle and work the tail back, all is good.

The experience with the top down is the icing on the cake.

Dave

 

If you do buy one, get the best one you can afford and be sure they give you original toolkits and jack etc . i have a mondial 8 and have no regrets. awesome handling, 20mpg on the hwy, imho the design becomes more interesting with time!