Warning: Newbie question I'm not looking to start a Porsche vs. Ferrari discussion but I'm a current P-car coupe owner & I've been looking for a 4-seat cab. As I was looking through various websites, I came across the Mondial. It is similar to the Pcar cab - small backseat, hp, etc. But mid-engine which is a plus. Currently I use my Pcar as a daily driver from spring to fall. Can the Mondial be a daily driver (mostly highway, some city driving). I'd really like to hear from anyone who has or had a Pcar & now drives a Ferrari to get their opinions.
I intend to drive my Mondial to and from work daily as long as it aint snowing and its a 10 mile trip ow. My first choice was an SL but no room for the occasional outing with the kids so then a porsche cab but still no room for them in there either so I came across the Mondial and it has everything I want in a summer DD and my 6 year old fits just fine. So for me it was an obvious choice but I haven't taken possession of it yet since its in service for timing belt and tensioners. Ill report back after a few months with it. Good luck on your search.
I had strictly 911's for many years, then I added a Mondial t to my stable. Honest appraisal is that the Mondial is more back room friendly. It also has a bit more flash. The Porsche is a finely engineered piece though and offers lots of enjoyment - but these days if the wife & I tow the kids we leave the 911 and/or the rodded up 944 at home and take the Mondial. Its four place sports driving at its best for us. On a side note we also shuttle around in a 612 for part of the year and looked hard at a 456. Both of those are nearly like sedans in comparison with either the Mondial or the 911. As for daily use... man, its hard to beat a Porsche. With that said though the Mondial t is about as reliable and probably more useful.
I had strictly 911's for many years, then I added a Mondial t to my stable. Honest appraisal is that the Mondial is more back room friendly. It also has a bit more flash. The Porsche is a finely engineered piece though and offers lots of enjoyment - but these days if the wife & I tow the kids we leave the 911 and/or the rodded up 944 at home and take the Mondial. Its four place sports driving at its best for us. On a side note we also shuttle around in a 612 for part of the year and looked hard at a 456. Both of those are nearly like sedans in comparison with either the Mondial or the 911. As for daily use... man, its hard to beat a Porsche. With that said though the Mondial t is about as reliable and probably more useful.
I became much more of a Porsche fan, AFTER I got my Mondial, so much so that I just purchased a Boxster S. I admire the virtues of its design and respect its incredible build quality and attention to detail. I have driven many Porsches from early air cooled to 997s. When I jump in a 1987 Carrera 3.2 and than in my Mondial, the difference in build quality is astounding. My Ferrari feels like it was built by cavemen by comparison. The driver interface in the Porsche is so user friendly and purpose built. The transmission is smooth and the clutch light. At almost any RPM, an air cooled Porsche feels like it is hardly working. For a daily driver, it can't be beat. By contrast, an old Ferrari CAN be used for a daily driver, just as you can use a chainsaw to cut your Pizza, but it probably isn't the right tool for the job The older Ferraris require significant, expensive, and regular maintenance. When parts do break, they are very expensive, and cosmetic damage is exponentially more expensive than a Porsche. Mix in a steady dose of unobtanium parts and you have a recipe for disaster long term. Most believe that you can drive an older Ferrari up to 5K a year with no real issues. Above that, your cost per mile could become quite painful. Costs aside, IMHO, old Ferraris are not that much fun out of their element. Ferrari Mondials are geared low. On the highway, that exotic engine note becomes a loud unending drone. The rudimentary climate control system becomes tiring and the lack of power steering (in the pre T cars) the stiff clutch and the notchy gearshift make driving in traffic a chore. I do not recommend an old Ferrari for DD use. However, and this is the thing that is almost impossible to describe. In their element, a Ferrari Mondial is infinitely more enjoyable and rewarding to drive than most can even imagine. A Porsche is a wonderful car, a Ferrari is an event. Every time I get in my Ferrari and light up some back roads, I smile from ear to ear. The engine is a frenetic beast constantly chomping at the bit and demanding to rev. That glorious sound from the engine, combined with the snick/snick of the gear lever, the unbelievably communicative steering and the beautiful balance of the chassis is BANANAS. These cars are beautiful, seductive, and sultry. They are an absolute riot. The harder you drive them, the better they feel. In their element, there simply is Ferrari, and than everything else. Hope this helps.
