Carobu Engineering had the original dampers rebuilt, and added an adjustable spring perch to the dampers. This allows the car to be lowered to whatever level the owner desires. Using a spanner wrench I can raise or lower the car as I wish.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Three Mondials and a fourth behind the photographer... all in very goods hands at Universal in Glen Cove, NY - That's a lot of Mondials!
Took the t for a spin in that glorious sunny PNW day. Still looks (almost) new after 28 years. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
New car? Congrats.... nothing like a Mondial coup- so cool/unique. Best of luck with it- Enjoy! Mine (a 1990 Cab t) is out of the frame. Surreal to see four Mondials in one place. Hope the see you out and about on Long Island.
Thanks it’s being shipped to Dallas but just had a major service at that shop with the mechanic in the photo.
Looking good Allen! Hope to see you at this year's Challenge at Laguna Seca? (I voted for your car btw last year)
So now the rest of the Mondial t coup owners here wish me to stuffer. All these pictures of these beaut..... er horribly ugly AND very unreliable cars. Avoid these cars, especially t coupes, like they are the plague. Wily, Jerry, Allen if you ever decide to rid yourselves of your nightmares I may consider taking them off your hands. How about a 100grand for all 3 ($33,333.33 for each)- more than they are worth I know, but I’m a sucker for t coupes!! Especially non-red t coupes!! wink, wink
I would have a difficult time departing with my tCoupe after 19 years of ownership. The driver seat is my comfort zone.
I personally have not lowered it. I get asked on occasion if I have. Probably the aging suspension has sagged a bit and gives it a lower stance.
Funny, I've gotten comments with the assumption I've lowered mine all the time ala "how much have you lowered it?" Can't blame folks, only 400 Ts in the whole United States...don't see them everyday that's for sure! (Let alone unicorn Coupes). People also ask, how's ownership been? For some motorheads 'not in the know' sometimes there is a slight undertone as if it was going to blow up spontaneously since 'that' article their friend's uncle read purported it is the most unreliable car in the world. There is a slight surprise by layman when I say best car ive ever owned and the last 4+ years have been heavenly. Glad I bought this instead of a more expensive Toyota FR-S that was offered me for the back then. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Paul, nice photo! Folks at SVF had seen both a black Cab and Coupe in their lot this week. When I pulled up on Tuesday the Internet Sales Manager went crazy seeing my 89 Coupe. Mondial are naturally low slung I believe compared to other F-cars. On Monday when my mechanic was racking mine up he even mentioned it sat low. I like the stance.
The tech on the shakedown drive told me he enjoyed the Mondial's drive much more than many of the other Ferrar he just drove that day. I told him "dude, no need to suck up, it's cool" - He was like no seriously - the Mondial felt much more alive and responsive. Again, I said -- it's cool, I like the car, that all that matters to me -- His response was yes, other Ferrari I drive every day are faster - but the Mondial 'feels' faster and is 'alive'. Driving the late models all day - he said he got a bit jaded, and it was a welcome change for him to have the 'seat of your pants sensation' that he said was missing. I relented and thanked him. Having an NSX myself before the Mondial, I understood what he was saying and thanked him.
By the way, I'm dead serious when I say - it was cheaper to own this car than a brand new Toyota. (Scion 86/FRS.) The FR-S/86 costs 32K out the door (Tax, License, Registration) here in California. I acquired my Mondial at the peak dip for only $27K. I've put in 20K in restoration, parts, and a recent major. So a gross cost of 47K. I don't think anybody would argue today if I were to sell today - I could get 35K - so my net cost would be 12K over four years. Also, it costs MUCH lower to insure my Mondial ($600 a year for 1.5 MM coverage), and registration is also much cheaper ($127.) I don't even factor that in, then a brand new Toyota sports car. If I were to sell my "Toyota" today - the KBB price of a four-year-old FR-S is 14K. I will argue, tries, oil changes, etc. for the Toyota would be $500 a year - so the $2K cost of ownership over four years. So my net cost for the Toyota was 20K over four years, or put another way - 8K more expensive than the Ferrari. Funny, I don't think Toyota would have invited me to 8 VIP Ferrari parties with free food, entertainment, a free Factory tour, Ferrari Challenge events, and a bunch of other freebies the dealership has given me (like books, hats, shirts, and toys) So yeah, was my 'frugal' Ferrari experiment worth it? You better believe it son.
