Considering a 1985 Ferrari Mondial.Tell me about them.

[Colinbentley]

Fabulous looking car and a great price...only one problem for me....it's a 1990 model! I'm not allowed to import it. Stupid isn't it ? One year earlier and I could. But I located a really good 1984 model, granted it's only 3litre and a year earlier than what I what I was looking at but so far is looking very good and will phoning the company in the UK tonight to make further inquiries.

[Cerbieherts]

Hope it all works out well for you...

[voicey]

Cerbieherts said:

DJRC said:

And nobody does their own maintenance work out here.

There are various Ferrari forums full of people that do. It's very, very common. Forums full of threads and pictures. Take a look at fchat and clubscuderia.

As above, there are loads of people doing their own work on their cars. I only work in a bank and have had my 360 apart more times than I care to think about. Thread here if you want the proof:

http://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.php...

[DJRC]

Cerbieherts said:

DJRC said:

And nobody does their own maintenance work out here.

There are various Ferrari forums full of people that do. It's very, very common. Forums full of threads and pictures. Take a look at fchat and clubscuderia.

I took my 308 to lemans three years on the trot without incident. I guess you needed to find a better mechanic!

Edited by Cerbieherts on Monday 15th October 19:06

Edited by Cerbieherts on Monday 15th October 19:09

No it isnt. It may be more common with enthusiast owners, but in the wider world it isnt. And out here it is pretty much unheard of. Most people, no matter what they drive, do not want to play home mechanic.

And these days I try and avoid fchat and clubscud.

Of course the simplest way is just to ask the bloke if he wants to play home mechanic or if he just wants to own and drive the thing.

[Cerbieherts]

Which is why in my first post I made it clear that the running costs are lower if you do it yourself. Anything that requires an SD1 onwards to diagnose makes it less diy'able. I'd really be intrigued to know how you got the stats regarding who works on their own Ferrari and who doesn't. Because I know otherwise. How can you comment if you don't even open your eyes and look what is happening on the forums, where there are Thousands of posts by thousands of people who do just this. Maybe they are just making it all up?Just because it doesnt happen where you live doesnt mean it isnt happening! Anyway, this is getting us nowhere, I've put forward some information that the OP can ignore or listen to. You clearly don't agree with someone who sees and works in this very market daily, so I'll leave it there...

[Colinbentley]

Well I found a car and have paid a deposit. It's a 1984 Mondial, Dark Blue with parchment trim, less than 40,000 miles on the clock from Autoleisure in Devon. Looks great in the pics.....does anyone know the car? Am assured it doesn't have any rust....is there an inspection service in the UK you can hire to check cars out ?

[johnnyreggae]

Colinbentley said:

is there an inspection service in the UK you can hire to check cars out ?

Lots of people no longer offering this service but maybe Walkersport or the Owners Club can suggest - otherwise there's a dealer (Carrs) not far away

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 17th October 09:50

[RVIANT]

just make sure everything works

Sunroof
electric windows
air con

are known problems with them, well anything electric lol engines are pretty bullet proof


Don't do what i did when i got my first ferrari( a 1982 Mondial qv), took it away and then found passenger window didn't even have a motor and air con needed new compressor, but then the dodgy dealer in Hendon is renowned for this, and these forums wwere not around at the time.

[Colinbentley]

Have found a company called More Than Polish to do a complete check on the car....very expensive, but what's a few more hundred dollars for peace of mind when you're investing many thousands of dollars in car you haven't seen. I'l be very surprised if the report comes up with any serious problems.

[rubystone]

Colinbentley said:

Have found a company called More Than Polish to do a complete check on the car....very expensive, but what's a few more hundred dollars for peace of mind when you're investing many thousands of dollars in car you haven't seen. I'l be very surprised if the report comes up with any serious problems.

Why don't you pay one of the recognised Ferrari specialists to check it over? QV come to mind. When my 308 went to Oz, Rob Grimaldi did the inspection for the buyer.

I got close to buying a Mondial T last summer. Then I drove one. Made my 308 seem a paragon of virtue....as someone else said, you drive these cars with one ear on what is going to pack up next. That low mileage Mondial was going to land its new owner some big bills.

At least the box and engine in your QV ought to be fine.

[voicey]

Colinbentley said:

Have found a company called More Than Polish to do a complete check on the car....very expensive, but what's a few more hundred dollars for peace of mind when you're investing many thousands of dollars in car you haven't seen. I'l be very surprised if the report comes up with any serious problems.

Where is the car located? More than Polish wont be doing the inspection they'll just sub contract it out to a nearby garage. If you let us know where in the country the car is someone can recommend someone to take a look at it for you.

[Justayellowbadge]

I know you've sourced a qv, but the 3.2 is significantly better, and not that much more expensive.

I tried from an 8 to a T when I bought, and the 3.2 was the lick for me.

[Colinbentley]

The car is going to a Ferrari dealer for an independant assessment. Can't ask for more than that. If this car is as good as it looks I'll be quite happy with the 3 litre 1984 model rather than an inferior 1985 3.2 litre.

[RVIANT]

In my opinion a 3.2 would be better too! i owned a 3.0 and the electrics are slightly more reliable on a 3.2(maybe because they are slightly newer) Had no end of electrical problems on mine! and also think the bumpers look better

but only my opinion! go for whatever you like and enjoy!

[DJRC]

Colinbentley said:

The car is going to a Ferrari dealer for an independant assessment. Can't ask for more than that. If this car is as good as it looks I'll be quite happy with the 3 litre 1984 model rather than an inferior 1985 3.2 litre.

Colin, have you driven the car or spent time in the cockpit, orientating yourself to the ergonomics?

[Colinbentley]

Driven one ? ..........haven't even seen one !!!!!!!!!

[DJRC]

Colinbentley said:

Driven one ? ..........haven't even seen one !!!!!!!!!

Ahh. Erm...OK. Left or right hand drive?

[Colinbentley]

Right hand drive sold new in the UK in 1984 to a well know British artist called John Pawle.It's only done 38,000 miles which is lower than any of my cars.

[rubystone]

Colinbentley said:

Driven one ? ..........haven't even seen one !!!!!!!!!

Certainly buy on condition rather than engine (8 excepted IMHO)

The Mondial is cramped for anyone over 6 ft tall, both in headroom but especially offset on pedals. I developed a painful ankle after 20 mins' driving - for some reason it was a lot more painful than the driving position in my 308.

Find out which Ferrari expert is inspecting it. If the names begins with a V or R you might like to find someone else....

[HIS LM]

bromers2 said:

This one caught my eye :

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/ferr...

Scam or no scam you decide

This FERRARI MONDIAL 3.4T CABRIOLET LEFT HAND DRIVE is currently located in Inverness because I just finished the divorce with my wife and I have moved here. My car is in perfect condition, very well maintained with no issues.
I'm asking £12000 for a fast sale + £300 for delivery. Must tell you i'm in Australia with business for the next 2 months but we can use Google's services. Using their services you have 3 days to inspect the car before paying me and I'll be sure that I have a genuine buyer who won't mess me around. You'll get the chance to inspect the car, test it and everything you like while your money are safely held in Google's account. ONLY after you confirm with Google that you agree to keep the car, they'll release the money to me. In case you don't like the car you get a full refund.