Mondial myth and reality

I'm not too familiar with the older Mondials, but I've learned a few facts about the Mondial T. It was one of the last projects that Enzo Ferrari personally oversaw. The body was designed by Pininfarina, arguably the best Italian car designer, and the sheet metal was hand crafted by Scaglietti, one of the finest coach builders. The T was based on Ferrari's very successful Formula One race cars; dry sump lubrication and the transverse mounted gearbox are carryovers from the race cars. The engine and tubular chassis set the standard for modern Ferraris and were used in later models such as the 348.

There are many self-proclaimed "authorities" who trash the Mondial. If it was such a dud, then why would Ferrari continue to produce cars based on the Mondial?

I prefer to stick with the facts and my own definition of what makes a great sports car.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The mondial does indeed have the same engines as the 308,328 and 348 so true then it would have to be stated if the mondial doesn't have the Ferrari sound then none of these other models do either. You may as well throw the 308 gt4 in the group also.
As far as handling I can only speak for my 3.2 model but there is no way it can be stated that these are not great handling cars. Look at the way the car is built/designed, look at the underside of the car alone and it is very apparent that it was designed to perform/handle at higher speeds which it does and does well. My Mondial feels just as stable at 100 as it does at 40. I find that most people that put the mondial down haven't spent much time behind the wheel of one.

 

No, not correct, except they all have wheels

The Mondial chassis is related to the 308/328 series Ferraris, which all use a steel tube chassis. That said, the Mondial T is substantially different to the earlier Mondials, the rear of the car was modified substantially to cope with the longitudonal engine, which was mounted on a removable subframe to faciitate servicing.

The Mondial T is the crossover point between the "old" and the "new" mid engine Ferrari's, it carried over a lot of the 308/328 technology but also introduced the longitudonal engine to their sports cars and the rare "Valeo" semi automatic gearbox.

The later cars, ie 348 /355 use a monocoque chassis with the engine on a steel subframe, considerably different the Mondial/ 308/328

The 360 is different again to the 355/348 using an aluminium monocoque.

M

 

I think that's highly unlikely, as the T came out some time after Enzo died and Enzo was in poor health for some time before he passed away. The last car Enzo is said to have had involvement with is the F40.

M

 

I have no comment except to say I'll be driving my Mondial this weekend.

 

Nobody can answer this in a satisfying way. You must drive one and see.

A 3.2 convertible is certainly pretty flexy, but by the time that makes any difference at all you're cornering at quite illegal speeds. A track car it's not.

But discussing any handling "limitations" of these cars is for high school kids and barstool racers.

It's a 27 year old convertible. You can throw it around curves faster than you should.

I haven't been left behind on drives with new exotic cars or street rides with friends on bikes. (until either do crazy 120 plus on highways)

Drop the top, heel and toe a nice downshift, corner hard enough to annoy your passenger(s), touch redline before dropping straight back into third, listen to some 80s tunes on the stereo, and don't ask strangers on the net how it handles.

 

I'm not sure why many here do these kinds of comparisons.

You are talking about a 4 seater convertible sports car .... Compare it with what was similar in 1986-89 rags with 4 seats.

The issue isn't the mondial with the 308/328/348 engine derivative, it's the owners/critics trying to make it something it's not.

If I was looking for a summer 4 seater ragtop, nothing else in the Ferrari line up, unless you spend 10x the amount and pony up for the new Cali.

The mondial is a steal at 35 grand !

 

Whatever authorities you are referring to have their head completely up their A$$.

First, while you can argue similarities between the 308 up through the 355 in terms of chassis design, the 360 was new. Most apparent in that the 355 chassis is steel and the 360 is a aluminum.

As for handling, the mondial is not the worst handling Ferrari by a long shot, and anyone who says so has simply not driven enough Ferraris. I am not going to disparage other Ferraris to prove my point, so I will leave it at that. FWIW, the 308GT4 is arguably the best handling, most rewarding and best balanced Ferrari built in the 70's-80's save the supercars. The Mondial has a similarly elongated wheelbase and offers similar handling.

The cabriolet is an excellent handler for what it is, but its unfair to compare coupes to convertibles.

As for the engine sound WTF are these authorities talking about... the Mondial shares the same engines with its V8 two seat stablemates... So I guess we can just wipe out every V8 Ferrari built between 1977-1994 as not sounding like a real Ferrari?

I know opinions are like A-holes and everyone has got them... but IMHO, some should be plugged up. There is nothing I hate more than an opinion masquerading as fact.

 

Mondial coupe. Change the wheels to something more current, like 348 wheels with spacers in the rear. Tighten up the shocks with either replacement or revalving and get larger sway bars. Install street/track brake pads. Now go drive the pants off it. Add a supercharger (see the FChat ads) and you have a seriously dangerous sleeper Ferrari.

 

The very first version the Mondial 8 was plagued by bad press. It was such a slow car that was in no way representative of what a Ferrari should have been and within 2 years was replaced by the q.v. with a new interior and many improvements. Acceleration was improved but nothing major. Unfortunately once it got the bad press it became a stigma to the car and could not shake it off.

Subsequently another power hike and other improvements came along with the 3.2. 0-60 is only 7.4, still slow but not bad for the 80s but made all the difference. When the 3.4t came out it was quite a different animal, faster, new engine, new interior etc. So the problem is that until you actually see and drive them for yourself you will never truly appreciate the evolution of the model through the years.

They handle great, flat around the corners and at the prices they go for are outstanding value for money as long as you don't buy a money pit which is easily done on any vintage car.

Let's just enjoy them for what they are. Have fun and make the most of them.

 

How about you just sell me your car and then you won't have to consider the reviews? Everyone loves 911s so you'll never find a debate...

If I don't get your Mondi this summer I may have to get a manual 456. Not a bad second choice, but also about $20k more out of the gate.

 

Actually, I've done quite a bit of research and have discovered that everyone is wrong. The Mondial was the slowest, worst handling, least desirable Ferrari ever... until the Pope rode in one in 1988 and blessed the model. After that, all Mondials ever built were divinely transformed into supercars, quicker and faster than an F40LM.

The performance gains were immediately lost once owners did a maintenance and drained the holy water out of the radiator.

Seriously, I'm quite happy to let the uninitiated believe whatever they like about the Mondial. I have no reason to attempt to dispel people's opinions, whether founded or unfounded. I just enjoy my Mondial and prefer that no one interfere with that. Those who like them... like them a lot.

 

Attention all you Old Ferrari Drivers out there!
Just in case you have forgotten, and I think some of you have.....We are Men!
And as MEN, WE don't need to bring our Vintage Italian Racers upto date with modern wheels, tyres, springs, dampers and bushes etc, because we know this would ruin the Vintage hairy chested nature of these machines that only skilled drivers such as us can handle.
We don't want cars that do 'poncy' things like massage our backs as we drive, keep our coffee warm and our drinks cold, tell us where to go, how long 'till we get there and where the nearest gas station is....COME ON!!
WE KNOW how to drive in the pouring rain and the dark at 120mph with headlamps that only light the 30ft of road infront of our prancing horse badges....we don't go out and upgrade the bulbs......that's for bed wetters!!!
WE KNOW, how to coax an old fire spitting tempremental Italian V8 thouroughbred into life from stone cold on a winters day without flooding it or loosing our nerve and go crying down the phone to breakdown service before we've even got off our drive.
WE KNOW, how to fix and bypass vintage italian electronics on the side of the road that have a similar complexity to that of the first moon shot systems, and still be home in time for tea and crumpets.
We don't panic and go running to a garage just because our cars have no second gear until they have been spanked round a track for an hour....WE have understanding......
Understanding of the DARK ARTS of Vintage Italian high performance motoring.
WE ARE NOT, the wet pants, small trouser tinkled, going crying home to nanny, runny bottomed bed wetting types whinging paddle shift gearboxes users of the modern age.
WE ARE MEN! and we know where we are with a big gear knob in our hands, and the fast heel and toe of a down shift under braking before the corner turn in.....
There's no traction control the nanny state will protect you electronics to bail us out a wet greasy curve when you are giving it death on an A road in the mountains for us.
WE ARE MEN!
21st century cars are for the X Box, Playstation, arm chair spotty teenage Boy racer types, NOT for the likes of us!
ABS breaking is for whimps!
How the hell are you supposed to lock a wheel and flat spot your near side front under breaking when you are about to smash a local circuit lap time with ABS!!?
How are you sposed to leave black stripe 11s on the tarmac in a pole position start at the lights on green with traction control!!?
And as for that faint weedy little voice at the back of the room asking about Power Steeing....GET OUT!!
Power steering questions have no place here!! This is a Mans forum!
Yes I know there are females here too that drive these cars and if they do so without assistance (and that includes backseat drivers advice lads) then they are woMEN, and I salute you woMEN and I would not be too proud to be drank under the table by you anytime, just don't beat my fastest local circuit lap time because that will really get my gander up!
But you MEN and woMEN remember, that these Vintage Italian Thoroughbreds are for DRIVERS and drivers only, and if you are not upto it, or miss your hot cup of milky choccy drinkies before bedtime and a nappy change.......then GO BUY A Mazda!

All the Best, Bell Bloke ;-)

 

Well said! Although our Mondial t has some not so Manly luxuries like Power Steering, ABS and Air Conditioning, by god I haven't forgotten! I am Man, Give me beer!

Dave

 

Your statement is spot on, but...

Now I don't understand why my Mondial does have ABS...

 

Not to worry, the Mondial ABS will still "flat-spot" a tire, as Bell Bloke says. And, if allowed to cycle, will shake your eye-balls out. No wimp status here.

Dave

 

Thanks, that's a great relief!

 

When I had my QV, I could keep up with 360s through turns...even uphill, but once we hit a straight patch, I was left in the dust. Never tracked it because it was a cab, but it was a pretty good handling car. There are valid reasons to rip on Mondials (electrical system), but handling is not one of them.

 

I don't understand all the comments about cowl shake and the car flexing a lot. My wife purchased a brand new VW Eos. When the top went down on that and after driving my Mondi cab I was shocked at how much that car twists and moves.

Are we comparing this to a full caged race car. All cars have flex, it's a matter of how much. Now let me see if I can find that picture.

Yep, this is the picture. I haven't been surrounded by exotics all my life, but this is the first car I've ever owned that would do this.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

+1. Compared to my wife's 2009 Audi A4 cab, the Mondial is a solid piece of granite.

It is very difficult to make a four seat cabriolet very stiff, 25 years later, the Mondial is as stiff or stiffer than some Cabs out there.

 

To the uninitiated, they'd swear that you photoshopped something out...

 

Awesome!!!

So well written, I think I will print it out and hang it on the wall in my garage.