i'm looking to buy a mondial, they seem to undervalued cars and so in my price range? i'm about 100miles from my nearest indie so will be doing at least basic but possibly major work. which would be best QV or t? also best wsm?
Best Mondial? t of course. Best wsm? (Women Seeking Man?) QV.... Dave Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi there, Personally i was after either the 3.2QV or the 3.4t. I really wanted something affordable and for me to be able to do some of the work myself except for any major stuff without too much hassle. I opted for the 3.2 purely because of purchase cost and servicing/maintenance costs. The 3.4t needs an engine out when changing the cam belts every 2/3 years and the same goes for the water pump and some other items. Something to consider! By all means if your pockets are deep enough then the 3.4t is more powerful and faster and has an improved cabin, seats and dashboard as well as some other electronic upgrades. Mondials are not the most reliable cars at their respective ages but routine maintenance makes them so much fun, i just cant get enough! I see youre also in the UK, not sure where you are based but there are many specialists around, maybe give them a call and compare service and repair costs between the 2 models. A good 3.2 will be a minimum £18k and upwards with a good history. I havent seen any cheaper than this and a good 3.4t anything from £22k plus. I spent nearly £4k in 4 months which included a full service and oils, filters, all spark plugs, HT leads, ingnition modules etc, new Blaupunkt CD radio and also a set of 348 wheels which i had refurbished and brand new Continental tyres included in that price too. I still have the original wheels which are the odd TRTX size and original ordered Blaupunkt from 1987which i will keep for originality. Have a look at my photos, only 4 UK spec 3.2 Mondials were ever made in Blue Sera. Hope that helps, let us know how you get along. Peter
If bigger is better, then the women would definitely go for the QV 3.2 LoL. see what I mean here: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141285649&postcount=18
Ahhh..best wsm is ferrarichat...(welcome by the way ) The factory manuals are available from online sources but they offer mostly brief system descriptions, drawings and specifications. No real trouble shooting or repair guidance. To get an idea of what's involved with a DIY engine pull on the t, check out Nino's thread if you haven't seen it already... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364938 I also recommend www.my348.com to learn all about the 3.4 engine Dave
If you're planning on turning your own wrenches I would highly recommend the 3.2. There's nothing worse than having to entrust your baby to someone who might not view the car the same way you do. If you're fortunate enough to live close to a Competizione, Algar, Bradan, or one of the other reputable places then no worries, but its still going to cost you...and it adds up fast.
They are both great cars, and it is all great advice. I myself have a t and I had an engine out down at a reasonable price. I do enjoy the extra power and I really get a kick out of the engine layout.
Test drive both models, then decide. Don't worry about the distance to a mechanic; most shops will pick up the car for free for a major service.
Thanks very much for the info Peter, i live in Cornwall which is no exactly heavily populated with Fezzas. I think my best shot would be Braunton Engineering near Barnstaple who are mainly Porsche boys who also do Fezzas. They are about 1.5 hrs drive away though, and I also think for cost reasons and for my own reward I will do any work which does require any special tools. So your advice about a QV is appropriate but I just looked at Nino's project on his 't' and I could probably manage that. Very much like the colour of your car, shame they only imported 4!. Is it me or do Mondials look better in a dark colour like blue or black..........thoughts please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for pointing me to this thread. VERY helpfull, I think I could manage that. Very good thread but on Safety grounds I would not support the car on those wooden blocks, it looks to me as if the car could topple over damaging car and owner. I think I would use axle/jack stands on wide wood blocks for stability.
Oh, I would not question Nino's ability and know how. He does amazing work and can stand his own to any shop mechanic! Inspiring indeed. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3FqXMKrN1k[/ame]
I wasn't questioning Nino's ability, merely stating that I think that for others there are SAFER ways to support the vehicle !!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you see this one. Looks very clean. White and red but quite nice http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=271092166465
Very nice t. Just not sure the engine looks like a 12k car, but certainly the interior does. Could be just the photo. I don't like the Speedlines on it however. Doesn't look right.
About five years ago when we were in the marked there was a similar t in Naples, FL with about 8000 miles. I wonder if this could be the same car? We never did look at it because my wife ("T") had to have red. Dave Edit: Yep that's it 81588.. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137882&highlight=naples+mondial
Yes, there are a couple or three threads on that car. Appears to be a nice example and quite classic in white/red.
They are undervalued in my opinion but don't buy the cheapest one you can find unless you have a fat wallet to repair or update what needs to be done with these cars to ensure tip top shape. I would hate to see someone think just becasue the car is in the price range it is affordable. Just means parts are very expensive and major services on a t can be real hefty. Don't get me wrong I loved my t but the expierence was crushing at times with large repair bills. Fortunately I had the funds to cover the 40k i spent over a 5 year period. I would have been better off buying a different model or one that was perfect and higher priced. After 13 months of ownership of a 360 spider it has been trouble free with only one minor issue easily fixed. The new owner of my mondial t has had zero issues with the car becasue I spent all the money making it right. What ever you buy a 3.2 or 3.4 make sure you go through it with a fine tooth comb. There are many common issues with the car just do your homework and buy the best fully documented and serviced car with everything working and you should be ok.
I was driving mine to work just now and was thinking... these cars are better purchased with higher miles. This is my opinion of course but by the time they hit 30k, the owner(s) have replaced all the prone to fail items and it may be on its second or third major by then. In the right hands, a 30,000 mile Mondial T, is well sorted and good to go for awhile.
I totally aggree that these cars need to be driven and I think you felt the same pain that I did after the initial purchase. After the trans went in my car (15k replacement) I had the car completely gone through (40k in all). After 6 months in the shop it was virtually perfect no issues or breakdowns with only one return due to a fualty upgraded throwout bearing. Bottom line if you buy one with no history and deferred services you better have a pile of cash to address the gremlins lurking. It got to the point that I was afraid to drive it fearing a major issue or having to call a flatbed to take it to the shop.(the first year of ownership). I don't mean to scare anyone but it can defalte you in a hurry when your cheap affordable purchase costs you more than what you buy it for. I do miss the Mondial at times but I must say it has been a great exp with the 360. I have that for sale now looking to move into a 430.
Agreed. I think im going to keep my Mondial for quite awhile, its just so nice and really a joy to drive. But i believe ill skip the 360 and go straight for the 430 spyder. That decision will give me a couple more years of undivided driving attention with my Mondi before being able to afford 125k. If i dont drive my Mondi after grtting the 430, i will sell it because it needs to be driven.
When I had my Mondial I had access to a 430, Lambo that I drove regularly and when getting back in the Mondial it felt like I was running on 4 cylinders. Major step up from a 348 t to a 360 a 100 horsepower makes a big difference. I am shoping now for a 430 and hopefully will have one by summer.
