Mondial 3.2 - Daily Driver?

[bobfrance]

Hi All,

I'm toying with the idea of having a change of car from my current early 2.5 Boxster. The Boxster is a fine car but to be honest I don't really want a convertible any longer and I'm ready for a change to something slightly more GT-like.

One of the cars I'm considering is the Mondial. I've been led to believe that the 3.2 is a good choice as they are relatively simple to run/maintain but more soreted than the earlier cars (I have a very good indy who I would trust to look after it).

I always use my cars as daily driver, because IMHO it keeps them running well, and besides I don't wish to pay, what is a lot of money for me, for a car and never get any real use from it. I do about 10-12K per year. I also think putting my car funds into something more classic over the next few years may do better than buying something newer or keeping the Porsche.

I'd like to hear anybody's experience of the 3.2 and how they think it would fare used regularly.

For reference amongst my previous cars have been: MGB, TVR x3, Series 3 Jag XJ6, 6.0L XJR-S. So as you can see I'm used to running older cars.

For comparison - other cars I'm considering are: 4.0L Jag XKR, Maserati 3200, Porsche 928, Porsche 911 (964)

All input gratefully recieved.

Bob.

[anonymous-user]

328 is mechanically strong with no computers to go wrong.
Find a straight one & they can be used daily with a few track days each year. Nothing more than routine maintenance from a good independent required - and maybe a new set of boots.
Enjoy!

[MitchT]

I think everything you've said is consistent with what I've found over several years of research. The only thing I would say is that the rock solid residuals that these cars have when being used as weekend toys might not stand up so well if you're piling 10k+ miles a year on.

I'm currently saving up for a Mondial 3.2 or a 328 and as a person who'd probably do 3k miles per year I have the luxury of being able to look at higher mileage cars which cost less!

[bobfrance]

MitchT said:

I think everything you've said is consistent with what I've found over several years of research. The only thing I would say is that the rock solid residuals that these cars have when being used as weekend toys might not stand up so well if you're piling 10k+ miles a year on.

I'm currently saving up for a Mondial 3.2 or a 328 and as a person who'd probably do 3k miles per year I have the luxury of being able to look at higher mileage cars which cost less!

Very true Mitch, however my hope would be to lose less than I would on any other £10k-£15k car I could buy. I sold my 1991 XJR-S after four years of motoring for slightly more than I paid for it. I just ensured it was always in top shape as it was my dailly transport. Though suprisingly maintenance costs were minimal.

I too would go for a higher mileage car. I suspect taking a 30k car to 60k would most likely lose more value than taking a 60k car to 90k.

Of the cars on my list of possibles. I see the 3200 and XKR as deprciating the most but the Jag being the cheapest to maintain and the Masser probably the most expensive.
I estimate the Mondial, the 928 and the 964 are most likely to hold value. Though the 964 might get its value compressed by the newer cars becoming cheaper. The 928 and the Mondial are more unique so are likely to shift in price less.

That's my theory anyway.

Anyhow it's not all about money. I fancy something that is a bit more individual to drive.

Talking of which - what are they like to drive?

Edited by bobfrance on Monday 12th January 15:25

[evil_dr_fish]

I will openly admit that I have NO first hand experience of any of those cars...

Of them all my personal preferences would be th Fez or the Maser (in that order) in terms of 'character' and 'individuality'


Just my £0.02!

[MitchT]

bobfrance said:

Very true Mitch, however my hope would be to lose less than I would on any other £10k-£15k car I could buy

You would certainly lose less. The parts for these cars are so hard to find that if you were to run in into the ground mechanically, such that it was going to need a very expensive overhaul, you'd still have something that you could dismantle and sell as parts for a lot more than you'd get for a £10k-£15k Eurobox that had been used similarly but maybe didn't need an overhaul.

All I would say is don't underestimate the potential cost of owning one. The 328 series is very robust, reliable and cheap and easy to maintain (in Ferrari terms), but parts are very hard to get hold of and Italian cars love to rust, so you need to store it in a suitable environment. You're going to have to spend some money pampering the car (that you wouldn't have to spend on a Eurobox) if you want it to deliver the residual value that you're hoping for some years down the line.

bobfrance said:

Talking of which - what are they like to drive?

Mondials are regarded very highly as driving machines. The longer wheelbase makes them less twitchy on the limit than the two-seaters (308 etc.) so theoretically you can get more out of the car more of the time. The Mondial isn't the prettiest of Ferraris (in the opinion of the elitists), but if that doesn't matter to you then you're going to derive a great deal of personal value from the experience of owning one.

Edited by MitchT on Monday 12th January 17:03

[anonymous-user]

(in the opinion of the elitists), but if that doesn't matter to you then you're going to derive a great deal of personal value from the experience of owning one.

Edited by MitchT on Monday 12th January 17:03

[/quote]

these same "elitists" are eschewing the latest 4 seater V8. California or Mondial, buy what you like !

[bobfrance]

MitchT said:

...parts are very hard to get hold of and Italian cars love to rust, so you need to store it in a suitable environment. You're going to have to spend some money pampering the car (that you wouldn't have to spend on a Eurobox) if you want it to deliver the residual value that you're hoping for some years down the line.

Thanks for you views guys - it's very helpful.

I did hope that parts supply for the Mondial was fairly good. Is this not the case? As a daily runner a ready supply of parts is a must really.

[MitchT]

I know 328 parts are hard to come by - I once read about a chap who's 328 was written-off by an insurance company because they were so fearful of the hire-car cost racking-up while they searched for a replacement light cluster for the front bumper that they offered a settlement for the car instead. That's how hard bits can be to find. You might have a bit more luck with a Mondial 3.2 as it probably shares some components with the Mondial 3.4t and maybe even some with the Mondial QV, so there are more years of production... though annual production numbers may be lower for the Mondial than the 328, so it might even-out. Best ask the experts though - I can only pass on what knowledge I've accumulated in my own search for information.

Sign-up on the Club Scuderia forums - There's loads of helpful folk there, including Mondial owners, who can furnish you with infinitely more information than I can.