I found this on CNN and thought it was interesting: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658533_1658043,00.html
Actually, for a mass media outlet, I'd call that a well informed and pretty accurate assessment. Even the enthusiast press was lukewarm at best about the Mondial on its' introduction, finding fault with the styling, performance, and (later on) the lack of reliability of its' electrical systems. The car in all its' versions remains the cheapest modern Ferrari on the second hand market - it has never really found an audience.
That is harsh to have the Mondial 8 on that list, but Ferrari continued to refine the Mondial (as even the article clearly states when you read:"Mondials eventually got much better.) but it is ridiculous to even suggest a Ferrari on this sort of list. And to call it accurate or well informed is just poorly worded. I am certain we could all agree that the world is full of people whom would LUV to own a Ferrari (of any model) and I would bet that this CNN blurb would not effect their opinion one bit. The 1st Corvette was less than stellar as well (straight six engine and extremely low quality fit/finish), but that does not make a Corvette a worst car ever .
First, that article is ancient and well traveled on this board. Second, while no one can argue that the Mondial 8 was slow, the 3.2 and T were not similarly afflicted. Furthermore, later Mondials seem to have been well sorted electronically as well. As for as never finding an audience. There is a pretty sizable one on this board. The car is simply sublime and for many people, it offers the best of both worlds. In years to come, the Mondial will likely go up significantly in value as it is the only 4 seat mid-engine cabriolet Ferrari has ever made. It is also getting harder and harder to find a good one...ask me how I know. Just my .02
I remember the C&D (may have been R&T) road test of the Mondial 8 from 1980 or 1981, it was titled "Is There Life After Rip and Snort?" They tested the Mondial 8 at 0-60 in 9.4 seconds. Some could argue that is pretty slow.
Old article. I suppose the early Mondials in particular aren't terribly exciting, but judging by the boring queue of cars I just followed up the I-15 a Mondial 8 would have been a welcome breath of fresh air... ... as long as it wasn't in the left lane.
True, but to keep it in context, the average horsepower of a new vehicle in 1982 was 102HP (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/25opec/sld012.htm). A 1982 Corvette made only 200Hp and could only be had with an automatic transmission. True, cars like a Porsche 911 did a hell of a lot with only 200HP in 1982, but by and large most cars were slow as hell back then and I imagine most cars would feel like they were going backwards by todays standards. I am not saying that the Mondial 8 was not dreadfully slow by Ferrari standards...it was. But is important to judge a car within the context of the time in which it was designed. I mean, its not like the 308GTSI was breaking any land speed records either.
An early '80s Porsche 911 was under 2,800 lbs, with 200 bhp on tap. The Mondial 8 here was ~3,500 lbs., with 214 bhp to lug it around. The bloated 599 GTB is approx 3,800 lbs, and has an Enzo engine under the bonnet. Yes, you could say the Mondial was faster than the Dodge Omni, Reliant K, VW Rabbit, Honda Civic etc. But when you start comparing a Ferrari to mass market crap it's kind of game over. And a 1983 Rabbit GTI was quicker than a Mondial 8. Not by much, but you could buy one for $8000. If Ferrari had started with the Mondial t, which apparently could beat a 328 in the 0-60 run (based on old road test times), the media and public probably would have been more forgiving. Even today, a sub six-second 0-60 is respectable for a four seater. A Ferrari that takes 10 seconds to get to 60 is tragic.
The 82 Corvette was clocked in the mid 9s to 60, roughly the same as the Mondial 8. It was just a dark time for performance. From a functional and handling viewpoint the car was fine. We always say the 3x8s were never designed as streetlight racers. Why hold the Mondial to that standard?
I think you are missing my point. The early 80's were a very bad time for all automobiles, not just Ferrari. The Mondial 8 was slow, but not much slower than many contemporary sports cars. Beyond that, I think Tillman nailed it.
I think some of them could find their way on to a list of 50 worst exotic/performance cars. Beyond that it is a senseless thing to suggest. I would like the T myself.
The list was fun to read even if I did disagree with several of his choices. That list was NOT necessarily written by a "car guy."
If you're into "fast" apparently these Ferrari's aren't for you: Approximate 0-60 times (http://www.exoticcarsite.com/0-60-quarter-mile-times.htm , except for the 250 Lusso and California, which I just googled): 1962 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso: 8 sec 1957 250 GT California Spider: 7.2 sec 1973 Dino: 8.3 sec 1981 308 GTSI: 7.9 sec 1982 Mondial: 9.4 sec 1984 Mondial Cabriolet: 7.6 sec 1986 Mondial 3.2: 7.1 sec 1988 328 GTS: 6.7 sec 1991 Mondial t Cabrio: 6.6 sec Like the others said, Tilman nailed it in post #11. The only thing I have to add is there are many flavors of ice cream out there - find the one you like and let others like the one they like. I won't defend the Mondial any more than that - it is what it is. And I like mine very well thank you.
Regardless how slow it may be, this will always be the best daily driver I have ever owned. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
i dont have much to add to this discussion, but i did want to say kudos for this bit of info. thats a very cool stat to find and pull out for a topic like this.
Porsche 911s (not Turbos, just 3-litre 911 SCs) were posting 0-60 times of 7 seconds by 1980. A 1982 Ferrari Mondial, per the above post, was taking 9.4 seconds and at a much steeper sticker price. Comparing a Ferrari to the garbage cars of the time misses the point. We would hope that a Ferrari could pull away from a Mitsubishi Starion, Toyota Celica or VW Scirocco. Ferrari botched fuel injection badly the first time out, and the Mondial had the misfortune to be introduced at that time. The 308s of that 1980-82 era got by on their looks, not what was under the bonnet. If you look at the carb'ed 308s and the 308 QVs/328s, there were relatively few production cars that would outrun them back in the day. From the showroom, you pretty much needed a federalised Countach, Testarossa, or 911 Turbo to do the job. (And eventually the C4 Corvette, which could beat 6 seconds by 1985.) Those were relatively pricey machines. R&T had a U.S.-spec 328 GTS at 6.0 sec in 1986, but it's hard to compare times between different publications. The Mondial improved and, by the time of the Mondial t, Ferrari had got everything right. The problem was that enthusiasts and the automotive press had already soured on the cars by then. That's history. Today, I'm glad to see them still on the road, but as a Ferrari enthusiast I'm under no delusions that they were one of Ferrari's better moments.
And shall we compare current Ferraris to other makes on a speed/price basis? I don't think we'll like the results Nobody's claiming they are one of the finest moments. However, placing it in the 50 worst car list alongside a Yugo isn't appropriate.
A Mondial 8 is what it is - a Ferrari - thru and thru - if you consider the time frame, Enzo, himself, had a lot riding on the Mondial as his car of the future - the intro of the Mondial was a very big deal for him in 1981 - even the introduction color was azzuro Dino. I like mine - my daughters ages 9, 8 and 7 like it too - it sounds like a Ferrari should and if I get the inconsolable urge to "go fast", I'll fit a supercharger!
Using the conveniently eternal, normally aspirated Porsche 911 as a benchmark for the best non-exotic sports car, all of Ferrari's current models will stomp it. Ferraris have always been more expensive, money-no-object cars, and always bad value-per-horsepower. That's part of the deal. For that pile of money, however, they're expected to be fast. The Mondial 8 wasn't. The comparisons here suggesting that because there were a lot of other crappy slow cars in 1982 that the Mondial 8 was competitive isn't all that convincing. Agreed 100 percent. The journalist was just looking for a Ferrari to put on his list, for whatever arbitrary reason.
Was it not for the Mondial, with its relatively low pricing and ease of maintenance (AND "F-Chat"), I'd never have been able to have the Ferrari experience.
i've driven a couple of 8's and sure, there not quick...but they're fine once in 3rd, out on the open road and they handle well...50 worst ? bull**** ! i've got a '85 Euro Cab in the mix and i think it is a fantastic car...and with it's custom SS headers and exhaust it sounds incredible. once i added the Superformance 16"'s and Michelin Pilots it all came together. viewed in motion, they look every inch 'the part'. Image Unavailable, Please Login
