My wife has a question

Not quite automatic. But the Mondial T Valeo of the early 1990s had a gated shifter but no clutch pedal. I don't think many were made. There are a handful of owners here on the forum. The repuation of cost and reliability of the Valeo equipped cars is something you would have to discuss with a Valeo owner. There were no automatic or Valeo GTB/GTS cars.

Best regards,
Dino

 

Yes I believe there was, with the valeo(sp?) trans. But I don't know how many were made. They are quite rare though.

Cheers!

 

What they said.

If she wants a full traditional automatic with torque converter, I think you'd have to go to a 400i or 456 GTA.

The 355 and newer have the available 'F1' gearbox, which can be used like an automatic.

 

Why would you want a 355, when you can have a Mondial T...?

Ciao,
Edwardo

 

Because the 355 is dead sexy....in appearance....maybe not so much on the wallet.

 

Sexy is,,,,,, as Sexy does.
And, with four seats.
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agreed. 348 and 355's are the worst of the v8's. too many built in failure points to worry about.

 

I was just suggesting that if you want an 'automatic' Ferrari you could get a 355, 360, etc. with F1. I have DSG in my Audi daily driver, and most of the time I just stick it in 'D'.

In the real world, it's actually a good solution. My g/f doesn't drive a manual, and I don't like automatics. The DSG ensures more sex and fewer fights.

 

I agree with Bullfighter. See what she thinks of the 400i. Automatic, seats four, great touring car. The last of the inexpensive 12 cylinder Ferrari's. There's even the odd convertible conversion out there.

 

But have you seen how cheap 456s are now? DAMN.

 

She might like a Mondial t even with the clutch. The power steering and brakes make the car a pleasure around town. The clutch is light and with the torque of the v8 it is a piece of cake to drive. I find the 308 to be work in normal driving and so she should not use that as a comparison. However, she might dislike operating the quirky manual top! At least my wife does.

Ask Hank Sound about the Valeo.
Dave

 

+1 -- sounds like she's given you the perfect excuse to get a 456

 

Stick with the Mondial choice. There are a few Valeo versions that are for sale on occasion. Get in line and snap one up.

Here is a video for you & your wife to watch. You can thank me later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccm2L8krtcU

 

Rob,
I bought my wife a Mondial for Christmas a couple years ago when she indicated a vague interest in one after our daughter was born and the three of us wouldn't fit in the 308.

It was a terrible gift....for her. She never drives it. She is afraid of it (mostly afraid it won't get her home, which it actually has a pretty bad reputation in our house for). On the flip side, it was a great gift for ME since I get to drive it. Unfortunately, maintaining 2 fcars is a pain in the ass.

Birdman

 

About 9 years ago I bought a Mondial to replace the 308GTB I had just sold. I bought it so that the family could go along with me on outings. The error in my logic was similar to Birdman's. The thing I did not recognize was that although I wanted the car, no one in the family wanted to go on outings in a loud, uncomfortable, questionably reliable car! And they didn't. It was then that I realized that, to my wife, all cars are just 'major appliances'. And as such, they should work flawlessly and be out of sight when not is use. That is SO opposite of me that somehow we get along; 30 years or so now.

 

If she wants an automatic, get a Merc.
There, I said it. Couldn't help it.

 

YOu could have it for her by next week!

 

I bought a MB 380SL for my wife. They are very reliable with cheap parts. Her golf clubs fit in the boot, she loves it.

 

And priced correctly too. Four seats no waiting! Just add purchase price and go!

 

Buying another make of older ish-supercar - say a 911 for her is a sneaky way of having it yourself. Kind of like birdman's mondi experience.

Lee

 

Get her a Fiat Spider. They were produced with an automatic during the last few years of their run.

 

What I understand is that your wife seems to like the Mondial and would buy one if this particular Ferrari model exists in an automatic version.

As many wrote here in this thread, there is only one choice: Mondial T with Valeo transmision.



My advice, your wife should test drive one and take her decision after.


My opinion: you will buy a very special car and by the way a true collectible you will enjoy so much that you will ask yourselves how it was possible to live without it!


Cheers and good luck!

 

....or a tip 964/993, the advantage being cost, they're significantly cheaper than their manual brethren. Alfa also offered a slushbox (ZF ?) Spider the last few years before they left town. Btw Fiat offered 3 spd autos on all of their 2000 cc Spiders commencing 1979.