Looking to enter the world of owning my first Ferrari and my budget should allow me to buy a nice 308,328 or Mondial t.Ihave a 5yr old and live in N.Y would like to here the pros and cons and looking for advice thanks in advance for your input.
I always thought I wanted to add a Mondial to my stable so I can take the family. Now that I am getting divorced, my "family" is my daughter (3 years old) and me. So the 308 is perfect. If you want to enjoy the Ferrari with more than one other person, the Mondial is your only option. Otherwise, there are many threads here that discuss 308 vs. 328. Personally, I would go for a US QV. I prefer the interior and exterior (yes, including the big US bumpers) of the 308. Good luck in your search. Welcome to FChat.
Depends on your priorities. If you want to take the kid(s), I'd say Mondial 3.2. Reasonable servicing/reliability by Ferrari standards. If you want the classic Ferrari look, I'd say 328 GTS. $50K seems to buy a very decent car in this economy. As Gil308 posted, there are many threads on this site about 308 or 328, etc.
With a family, you would not be disappointed in a Mondial 3.2 or t.... Get a convertible, for some real tops down fun with four seats.
I have a 308 QV and a 6 and 9 year old. Both love the car. Getting together in it all at once hasn't been a big deal. We just take time together with some 1 on 1 time. Kinda nice that way. I think this will even get better as the kids get older. Enjoy the search!
Here are some things to take into account: 1) Unless your front seat passenger is quite short, there really isn't much room for a child in a car seat in the rear of a Mondial 2) Unless you have a four-point child seat, chances are that your child will be riding in just the rear lap belt with no booster seat. It's much safer to have a child in a booster in the front seat of a 308/328 (or any two seater) with a lap/shoulder belt than just a lap belt in the back. (Never put a child in a booster with just a lap belt!) 3) If you're interested in a four seat Ferrari, don't discount the 308 GT4. In many ways it's a much better car than a Mondial. (GT4 is faster than a Mondial 8 or 3.2, and more reliable than the Mondial T). As everyone has said, it's about priorities. Looks...performance....seats...luggage capacity...price...value trend...reliability
For a family man the Mondial t is the only way to go! Here is our daughter asleep in the back seat of ours. I am not sure when things changed but our 1992 t has three point seatbelts in the rear. A booster seat works fine, you just need to put a folded towel on the bucket of the seat. The Front seats of the Mondial are not at all windy with the top down, however, the back seat is like a Hurricane. In this picture we were driving up to the Mountains with our Daughter while she slept. When we got there we put the top down and had a great time in the Shenandoahs. I prefer the 328 as a pure Ferrari, but with a family the t is the way to go. Although I have become spoiled with the excellent power steering of the t. It is a real pleasure to drive and just as fast as the 328. Also, at 6 ft, the 308/328 would be a compromise for me as I have to move my knee to get to the stick. In the t I can barely reach the pedals with the seat all the way back. With my daughter behind me the Mondial fits just like a 308. No Brainer! Get a t. Dave Image Unavailable, Please Login
All the previous posts are correct and good information. It all depends on what you need the car to do for you. Any Mondial is a superb driving car. It really is a usable car, big trunk, nice usable space, easy to drive and reliable (if maintained properly). I like what JohnDahl said about his 308. I have a 308QV and I have a 8 year old and a 5 month old. Obviously the 8 year LOVES the car. Just over the weekend, my wife expressed interest in a 365GT/400/412 series and I am all about it! 400 here we come. Only reason why I cannot get Julie a Mondial to drive, is she hates and refuses to drive a stick. So a 400/412 Auto may be our next car.
Another thing to consider regarding the Mondials and GT4s is that, even though they may, technically, seat two kids in the back, the cars lack many of the safety features that some of us have gotten spoiled with in our other cars. As an example, my wife took one look at the Mondial and put her foot down and stated that the kids weren't allowed to ride in the car for safety reasons. (No "Latch" for the car seats, no side airbags, car very low to the ground, etc.)
I bought a Mondial QV when my kids were young, so that they could go along for rides. After I got the car I learned that the kids didn't want to go along (after the first ride or two) so I had a 2+2 to drive on my own. Moral: It's always good to rethink the guiding premise. -rick
I've had my teenage son and two other friends in the car for a drive to a car event or two, and its absolutely do-able. IMO makes the car a real usable exotic....and when your friends are busy, but the rear seats down, throw a set of golf clubs/luggage in the back, and head off for a nice weekend for two. Best of all worlds.... Mine is for sale only as I intend to move up. Take a look at Ferrari Ads. Lots of choices out there to consider. Nice time to be looking. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=674 With the Mondial t...you get it all: four seats like a GT4 front and rear looks like a 328 engine, hp and drivetrain like a 348 and several modern ammenities like none of the above: power steering dry sump adjustable shocks 300 hp ... and a convertible or coupe option to suit your fancy.
