Mondial – a REAL Ferrari?
Discussion
I've been finding myself looking longingly at Ferrari's for a while now. Well, for about 28yrs as it goes. Anyway, I've seen a gorgeous 308 that a little out of my price range, and a a few Mondial's that are. I've always rather liked the Mondial styling (post 3.0 anyway) and its still a rare beast these days. Some reports say it handles better than the 328, and I think the running costs/reliability are more bearable than a Cerbera (although it pains me to say it). But is it a real Ferrari? You know - the noise, the drive, interior, is it SPECIAL? Should I look at one or shall I keep thinking about a 308? I expect a totally biased response 
Oh boy- must be something to do with the weather- everyone wants to change their car!
I've experienced neither Mondial nor 308 so can't tell you which is best. More 308s about so may be easier to get parts? Personally I think they're both lovely, though if it were me I'd go for the 308 since they're a bit easier to shift on.
I've got the July 2002 (remember summer?
)Classic & Sports Car that did a special piece on the top ten £10-20K Ferraris. Can send you a copy if you want.
I've experienced neither Mondial nor 308 so can't tell you which is best. More 308s about so may be easier to get parts? Personally I think they're both lovely, though if it were me I'd go for the 308 since they're a bit easier to shift on.
I've got the July 2002 (remember summer?
)Classic & Sports Car that did a special piece on the top ten £10-20K Ferraris. Can send you a copy if you want. 
Trackdemon,
Mondial is definitely a Ferrari but beware, some are not so quick (200kph max!!) and handle soso unless you know how to dial in the right camber/castor/toe-in.out to make it handle your way. Mate of mine has hated his 328 Mondial for the last couple of years until one of the boyz in the club helped him set it up right and now he loves it.
308s are definitely sweet cars (no bias of course ) and need setting up as well (well, if you track day her you will want to 
)
Go to a 328 if possible but the 308 gtb/s/qv/gt4 are all better IMHO than a Mondial which suffers some strange stigma.
Oh, btw if you see a cheap 400i along the way, KEEP WALKING !!they are very expensive to maintain.
GT4s are "cheap" to maintain and the most Ferrari fun for the money you can get, just my unbiased opinion you realise
Mondial is definitely a Ferrari but beware, some are not so quick (200kph max!!) and handle soso unless you know how to dial in the right camber/castor/toe-in.out to make it handle your way. Mate of mine has hated his 328 Mondial for the last couple of years until one of the boyz in the club helped him set it up right and now he loves it.
308s are definitely sweet cars (no bias of course
) and need setting up as well (well, if you track day her you will want to ) Go to a 328 if possible but the 308 gtb/s/qv/gt4 are all better IMHO than a Mondial which suffers some strange stigma.
Oh, btw if you see a cheap 400i along the way, KEEP WALKING !!they are very expensive to maintain.
GT4s are "cheap" to maintain and the most Ferrari fun for the money you can get, just my unbiased opinion you realise
Strangely enough the Mondial question came about due to the dearth of 'affordable' 308's, but by all accounts the 308GTB is a bit easier to work on (cambelts are non engine out etc...) than the Mondial and lets face it, its absolutely gorgeous! Wouldn't consider a pre 3.2 Mondial because they are NOT QUICK, and they have horrible bumpers. Basically I think I need a 308. 308GT4 - trust me I wouldn't even think twice about a 400/412; awful styling, autobox, slushy handling, yuk. Kev, I'd love to have a look at the Classic & Sports Car special if you've got it - if your coming to VW on Sunday I'll have a look then?
Here in Singapore where you can't import a car if it is more than 3 years old and they all cost 3 times the UK price, I have just bought a Mondial QV (the 3.0L one with black bumpers) for the equivalent of 50k GBP. The black bumpers are bad (a bit TR7) as are the metric wheels but both these can be changed. The power is about 240bhp which is more than the 214 of the earlier Mondial 8 but less than the 270 of the 3.2QV.
With the longer wheel base and wider track (than the 308 GTB/S) it is a very good (and forgiving) handling car.
My car has new shocks and Tubi exhaust - it sounds and goes like a Ferrari.
OK it's not as quick as my Griffith or Cerbera but what is.
With the longer wheel base and wider track (than the 308 GTB/S) it is a very good (and forgiving) handling car.
My car has new shocks and Tubi exhaust - it sounds and goes like a Ferrari.
OK it's not as quick as my Griffith or Cerbera but what is.
Steve, I think the 308 is a much better looking car and will be a lot easier to sell on. Saw a late Mondial and have to admit it did look a lot better than the earlier ones I am used to. Still, I'd go for the 308, better looking car, with apparently better dynamics.
PS. Manu still hasn't resolved videos. Bloody hell!
PS. Manu still hasn't resolved videos. Bloody hell!
I seem to remember a distant issue of CAR, back in the early-mid 80s in which a Mondial QV was taken to the far north of Ecosse. I think they raved about it at the time but then again, what reference points were available back then? Talbot Salora?
I agree with Manu's observation; the 308 and 328 successor are timeless classics. For many, a perfect expression of the marque.
I was lucky enough to give a 328 a damn good thrashing last year and was delighted by it's awesome engine sound and not inconsiderable acceleration; it's handling was genuinely sublime but the brakes were cack - though easily sorted, I'm sure.
No, no - it really has to be the 308 shape. Save up a bit more if need be; the Mondial is too compromised a design, from the exterior alone, IMHO.
Then you can drive around in shorts all day, wearing aviator shades and generally sporting a questionnable 'tache.
I agree with Manu's observation; the 308 and 328 successor are timeless classics. For many, a perfect expression of the marque.
I was lucky enough to give a 328 a damn good thrashing last year and was delighted by it's awesome engine sound and not inconsiderable acceleration; it's handling was genuinely sublime but the brakes were cack - though easily sorted, I'm sure.
No, no - it really has to be the 308 shape. Save up a bit more if need be; the Mondial is too compromised a design, from the exterior alone, IMHO.
Then you can drive around in shorts all day, wearing aviator shades and generally sporting a questionnable 'tache.
The 308 is just sooo FCUKING sexy - that's the thing.
It looks so good and everyone has said it's a lovely sporty drive. I actually saw a black one recently (quite rare) and it blew me away. I love 'em. Much prefer it to what I believe is a flawed concept - a mid-engined 2+2....
When Joe Bloggs thinks of Ferrari he thinks two things:
(i) Ferrari Testarossa.
(ii)Ferrari 308.
GET THE 308. Get it.
BTW - I'm in total agreement with 308GT4 - the 400i is really not a funny - I've heard of bills totalling £11K.
It looks so good and everyone has said it's a lovely sporty drive. I actually saw a black one recently (quite rare) and it blew me away. I love 'em. Much prefer it to what I believe is a flawed concept - a mid-engined 2+2....
When Joe Bloggs thinks of Ferrari he thinks two things:
(i) Ferrari Testarossa.
(ii)Ferrari 308.
GET THE 308. Get it.
BTW - I'm in total agreement with 308GT4 - the 400i is really not a funny - I've heard of bills totalling £11K.
I forgot to say that I too would like the 308 GTB/S but my wife insisted that I have something that my daughter could also get in. Also with a limited market e.g. there are only 4 Mondials in the country, 308s are rarely for sale and would attract a (much larger) premium than the Mondial.
Now if I were spending the 50k in the UK.....
>> Edited by zertec on Wednesday 16th October 12:33
Now if I were spending the 50k in the UK.....
>> Edited by zertec on Wednesday 16th October 12:33
The choice of 308's for sale in the UK doesn't seem to be huge, but in europe - much more choice. Fantastic website with some cars that would fit my bill if they are OK, I don't mind LHD. Also, there are some very cheap 360's (Ninja, Rich!)
Have a look and let me know what you think, would you buy a £18000 308 from here if it seemed right? What do I do to get it UK registered etc? http://eng.autoscout24.com/home/index/list.asp?make=27&sort=pubstartdesc&tot=419&country=&page=1&numberofcars=419
Have a look and let me know what you think, would you buy a £18000 308 from here if it seemed right? What do I do to get it UK registered etc? http://eng.autoscout24.com/home/index/list.asp?make=27&sort=pubstartdesc&tot=419&country=&page=1&numberofcars=419
Trackdemon,
You must already have looked here; 16 cars came up on a national search
www.autotrader.co.uk/TOPMARQUES
You must already have looked here; 16 cars came up on a national search
www.autotrader.co.uk/TOPMARQUES
Steve, I've got a list of some authorised dealers too, so you can check out their stock. To bring it into the UK I think you need only a certificate of conformity. Its Europe so no taxes (duty or VAT) and simply the cost of a reg no I think (£80?).
Here is a link to addresses (its been asked before)
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=63&t=13392&h=0&hw=
When are you thinking of buying?
Here is a link to addresses (its been asked before)
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=63&t=13392&h=0&hw=
When are you thinking of buying?
Yeah, unfortunately only 7 meet my criteria of being either a carb-fed GTB or later GTB QV. Have been to see the £21995 one and its stunning! Just wish I had the cash right now, TReVor needs to go first... Any thoughts on buying from Europe? Some good looking cars as low as £15k at current exchange....
456mgt said: http://eng.autoscout24.com/home/index/detail.asp?id=13058331&sc=&make=27&model=15668&pricefrom=0&euroto=0&zip=&isPopup=1
Thats a cheap F50 Kevin!
You could get that and use the savings for many years running cost. 
I think buying from Europe is fine if done properly. Germany seems to be the best place to buy as Germans have loads of money and can afford to maintain these cars. Also, German Ferrari's seem to more often have lower numbers of owners. Whatever you do, have the car and its history checked out completely. You can check it with Ferrari themselves too, to make sure service history etc is correct. And make sure its not nicked too!
First rides mine! (schoolkid stylee!)
manu said: You know what Kev - F50s are only selling for ~ £285K now....
And if you get the servicing done at say, S.A. Garage Francorchamps in Belgium or Internationale Automobile in France....... well sounds like a deal to me.
So thats the price of a house to buy it, and the price of a decent executive car to run it every year. Fecking bargain that is, I'll get me cheque book out.
Mmmm that yellow thing is looking strangely attractive but you'd all laugh at me. Yes you would.
Kev - stop being a stingy bastard
No but seriously - I can't see it depreciating much and moreover I KNOW that the silly money services for the F50 will not be silly money if you go to Europe.
Moreover we'll throw a party for ya - and I'll chuck some sport air-filters in for the 360 for free.
Go to V12online.com and see the one they have for sale there....
I can't actually believe it - I'm trying to talk you into buying a Ferrari F50.....
You know it makes sense
- Ninja help me out here (perve).!!!
No but seriously - I can't see it depreciating much and moreover I KNOW that the silly money services for the F50 will not be silly money if you go to Europe.
Moreover we'll throw a party for ya - and I'll chuck some sport air-filters in for the 360 for free
. Go to V12online.com and see the one they have for sale there....
I can't actually believe it - I'm trying to talk you into buying a Ferrari F50.....
You know it makes sense
- Ninja help me out here (perve).!!!No!! Stop now! Kev, don't do it! There is only one 'F' car worth having its numbered 40. WOW! What a car. Sooooo much better looking than the F50. So what if the F50 is 3 microns of a knat's nads quicker to 100? Who cares that it pulls .006 of a g more on a skidpan. Desirability is what we're talking about here. The F40 makes my knees go weak. I walked straight past an F50 on the streets of Monaco because, well, it just doesn't 'do it' for me. (OK I did have a look in the engine bay and hope the owner would come and start it up - its still a Ferrari!). And F40's are sooo affordable right now, a veritable bargain. Depreciation? No chance; the F40 instantly gained and will always hold classic status. I can't help thinking the awkward styling of the F50 meant it was hamstrung from birth, was it ever accepted by true enthusiasts the way the F40 is? Anyway, if not then there is only one sensible car to add to the garage - 250GT SWB or 250GT Lusso (£125k - bargain!) PS I want a ride in the 360, 456, & whatever. Deal?
>> Edited by trackdemon on Thursday 17th October 08:34
>> Edited by trackdemon on Thursday 17th October 08:34
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