What is your all time favorite mid V8 Ferrari?

We have a winner.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Correct!

Mondials (sans 500) are primarily overlooked and unloved for three reasons.

First Reason
When the Mondial came out (8) - is was far slower than older models. (due to 80's emissions silliness)
Imagine the 296 being far slower than the F8—a cardinal sin.


Second Reason
Frankly, the styling is not everyone's cup of motor oil. I'll double down and claim that most people say its ascetics off-putting. This reason has been and will always be a fair criticism. I don't get it (see photo below.) and believe it’s more people regurgitating what so-and-so thinks rather than what they *honestly* think. Admitting that you like the supposed 'ugly girl' can get you grief in the locker room.


Third Reason
Confusion with the 8. Most folks need to learn there are 4 (5 if you count the 500) distinct models of the Mondial. It's like believing the 348 and 355 is the same car. Most journalists loathed the 8, but the QV, 3.2, and the t was roundly applauded (and ignored.)

 

3.2 for reliability!! Ease of upkeep! Great choice!

 

I remember pretty vividly when the Mondial first came out -- it was tested in "Road & Track" or "Car & Driver" can't remember which, and I immediately loved the looks of it from the photos. What I didn't like (to say the very least) was that the 0-60 time for the Mondial 8 was 9.3 seconds .

I've seen cars the measure pretty fast in magazine tests, but feel slow in the real world driving (cough cough Subaru BRZ cough cough -- and late 60's/early 70's Porsche 911 "s" models (yes, I went there! )) -- and I've seen cars that measure slow but feel very responsive in actual driving (Sunbeam Tiger 260 V8). I test drove an 8 in my search for a Mondial, and I have to say it felt like a 9.3 second 0-60 car -- making all the right noises but not going anywhere. I couldn't enjoy it. The same formerly competent 3.0 V8 (in carb form) was strangled in the 8 due to bad timing as a direct result of the changes required to meet new US smog regulations (EFI, lower compression, poor head flow, etc).

The QV/3.2/t, however, are absolutely excellent, with nothing to apologize for in performance (relative to the standards of the period), reliability, and just great driving dynamics combined with practicality (for a Ferrari). Buying any of the later Mondial models is to take advantage of "internet ignorance" arbitrage -- capturing immense value not seen outside of the realm of purchasing a very carefully spec'ed early Porsche 996 (internet ignorance arbitrage example #2). Viva la internet ignorance!

 

I get it though, remember the Cali Vette? 180HP? (came out same year)

1/4 mile shy of 16 seconds. Good Lord.

Here are all the cars of the epoch.
Any gnashing of teeth for the Urracco? Marek? Elite? The 928 is the closest victim of bad press.

99 of 100 supposed petrolheads probably never even heard of em'

Ferrari got the lion share of emissions control criticism, why? Well because they're Ferrari. To be fair, being up to 4X more expensive didn't do the prancing horse any favors either.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

(For folks that are curious and want to read the ACTUAL road tests where these stats come from)

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

268SP.

 

What, no Mondial?

 

Gotta be the one sitting in my garage 360 Modena...modern-esque styling, still decently fast, manual tranny, NO ENGINE OUT with a decent amount of creature comforts. I don't see myself in anything else on the list. Next step up is a HUGE step up in the same config and even though there are some beautiful cars on the list like the gorgeous 328, I wouldn't consider stepping back.

 

430 Scuderia

 

I’m stuck between a 328 and a 360 to be honest

 

458 Speciale.

 

thinking of this as "you can only have 1", I guess a 458Speciale or 430Scuderia or 360CS. But there are 4-5 more that I'd be happy with.

 

Only on Fchat will the ugly little Mondi even get a second look by the Gen X crowd that loves the 355 as long as they're not paying for maintenance.
(And I do write that as a guy that would pick a couple or a convertible up in the 20's... but balk at the price in the 40's)

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Lol, just sold my 458. Of course will pick up a free sf90 and buy extended warranty for the battery issues.

 

The problem with these polls is people don't answer honestly.... I mean, c'mon, NO ONE on the planet would ever answer this question with 308 or 328 or 360 or Mondial-- That's just absurd; stop the nonsense.

 

A yellow F360 with a stick and a tubi ripping through the fog? It doesn't get any better.

 

Fuse is lit! Lol


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

I'm glad this survey says money is not a factor, because I can care less about values of cars or what they are worth.

Pure driving pleasure...355

 

The only people who wouldn't want a 288 are the ones who have never driven one.

The last true sports car.

 

Every human is different. For every person who loves all the tech in 488 or whatever, there are those who want something a million times simpler and direct. Polls are "free", no reason to have a personal bias. Of course, most people don't have driving experience in every model, but it is what it is.

Having driven both, I strongly prefer a 328 (and a 308 carbed) over a 458 -- the 328 just more fun to drive, for me. For me, the 328 is the perfect blend of modern (enough to be daily driver), vintage raw visceral feel, and simple to own/maintain (save for PIA timing belt replacement).

You see this in Porsche too -- many who have owned both find the lightweight naturally aspirated 911's more fun to drive than Turbo's, even though the Turbos are far more powerful. Everyone is different, fortunately.