Mondial t 3.4 Cabrio, a bargain or a turkey?
Discussion
My old man is going to be in the market for a convertible in May as his current turkey, an Alfa Spider 2.2 LE, finishes it's contract hire period.
He wants a convertible that will take him and my mother on two week holidays to Italy several times a year. He had a Mondial 3.2 in the early 90s so is familiar with them. He has been looking at 2006 Jaguar XK/XKRs but despite him being 62 he sees them as old men's cars!
He has ruled out 911s because the 3 he has had have been lemons, Maserati Spyders haven't enough luggage space (he's had a 3200 GT and a 4200 GT Coupe? and Merc SL's and BMW 6 Series are too boring.
I've got a soft spot for Mondial t Cabs in Dark Blue, Grey or Black, they are rare and should hold their money.
What do you guys think?
He wants a convertible that will take him and my mother on two week holidays to Italy several times a year. He had a Mondial 3.2 in the early 90s so is familiar with them. He has been looking at 2006 Jaguar XK/XKRs but despite him being 62 he sees them as old men's cars!
He has ruled out 911s because the 3 he has had have been lemons, Maserati Spyders haven't enough luggage space (he's had a 3200 GT and a 4200 GT Coupe? and Merc SL's and BMW 6 Series are too boring.
I've got a soft spot for Mondial t Cabs in Dark Blue, Grey or Black, they are rare and should hold their money.
What do you guys think?
Of all the Mondials, the 3.4T is said by some to be the best of the breed. But it is more expensive than its predecessors to service - engine-out job for the 3 yearly cambelt change and the semi-automatic valeo 'box which was an option on later cars is a bit pants.
As to colour, resale red is usually the best option for any Ferrari sports model. Only about 50 or so RHD Mondial 3.4Ts of all types were made in any event, and most seem to be red...so you are unlikely to find a reasonable priced convertible in anything other than red (note the phrase "reasonably priced").
The market for the cars sees very narrow too and dealers tend to have them in stock for quite a while. At around £20k for a 3.4 convertible and not far off that for a 3.2, I wouldn't say that they are a bargain either.
Unless your father really wants a 4 seater convertible, I'd recommend he buys himself a 308, 328 or the pick of the bunch for a continental trip IMHO - a 355. Especially if his eye is taken by one of the overpriced Mondial convertibles on this very website...for £30k, he can pick up a 355 Spider or GTS....
As to colour, resale red is usually the best option for any Ferrari sports model. Only about 50 or so RHD Mondial 3.4Ts of all types were made in any event, and most seem to be red...so you are unlikely to find a reasonable priced convertible in anything other than red (note the phrase "reasonably priced").
The market for the cars sees very narrow too and dealers tend to have them in stock for quite a while. At around £20k for a 3.4 convertible and not far off that for a 3.2, I wouldn't say that they are a bargain either.
Unless your father really wants a 4 seater convertible, I'd recommend he buys himself a 308, 328 or the pick of the bunch for a continental trip IMHO - a 355. Especially if his eye is taken by one of the overpriced Mondial convertibles on this very website...for £30k, he can pick up a 355 Spider or GTS....
Great cars, the T's are one of the easiest Ferraris to live with on a day to day basis, servicing will cost you the same as a 348, the cloth roof tends to disintegrate with age and attract neighbourhood cats (who then make it even worse)
Some trim parts are getting hard to find, the switchable shocks can be a bit expensive to replace and don’t get me started on the rest of the electrical system (although the T's are better than the 8/qv/3.2, no doubt your dad will have had the fuel pump circuit fun that seems to be the initiation for most Mongo owners)
Valeo box is so rare that it’s easier to discount it, even though as most people who have driven one will tell you, it actualy works quite well once you've got the hang of it.
The selling price of the cars tends to be at the same level as the cheapest of 348's, they hide big mileages well so many have been given a haircut.
If you've had a 3.2 you'll be impressed by how much better the 3.4T is. . . . . . but it’s still no Merc SL
Some trim parts are getting hard to find, the switchable shocks can be a bit expensive to replace and don’t get me started on the rest of the electrical system (although the T's are better than the 8/qv/3.2, no doubt your dad will have had the fuel pump circuit fun that seems to be the initiation for most Mongo owners)
Valeo box is so rare that it’s easier to discount it, even though as most people who have driven one will tell you, it actualy works quite well once you've got the hang of it.
The selling price of the cars tends to be at the same level as the cheapest of 348's, they hide big mileages well so many have been given a haircut.
If you've had a 3.2 you'll be impressed by how much better the 3.4T is. . . . . . but it’s still no Merc SL
Edited by AndrewW-G on Monday 31st January 22:34
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