I Need Answers

Kinja'd!!! "Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
08/19/2015 at 21:56 • Filed to: Ferrari

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How bad are Ferrari Mondials? Do they drive terrible or are they just the cheap everyman model or what?

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I found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! one for sale, yes the paint is in terrible condition in many spots and the interior is pretty much trashed. But, big but, it is only $17,500. That means it’s at a price where one wouldn’t have to consider resale value while doing the fixes on it. That means you can take it to a local body shop to paint it and a local upholstery shop as long as you trust them both pretty well.


DISCUSSION (30)


Kinja'd!!! Big Bubba Ray > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 21:58

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It looks a bit neglected. I wonder how much someone would have to put into it to make it a “reliable” fun car.


Kinja'd!!! Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Big Bubba Ray
08/19/2015 at 22:06

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Not much, gas and matches are pretty cheap.


Kinja'd!!! Steve in Manhattan > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:09

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Get a Boxster - engine is in the right place, and it’s probably going to be liveable from Day 1.


Kinja'd!!! JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:12

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If it physically looks like that I worry about how well this thing was cared for mechanically


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:12

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No useful info, but the Top Gear £10,000 Italian car challenge comes to mind...


Kinja'd!!! iSureWilll > Steve in Manhattan
08/19/2015 at 22:13

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A Mondial with a Porsche engine. That's actually not a bad idea.


Kinja'd!!! Steve in Manhattan > iSureWilll
08/19/2015 at 22:17

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I have driven exactly 2 mid-engined cars (Boxster, Ferrari 308GTB). The Boxster was by far the most balanced, the most tractable. And you can get parts for it. The Germans are good at that.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > Big Bubba Ray
08/19/2015 at 22:21

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How hard would an engine swap be I wonder. I get the feeling if Ferrari caught a whiff of that I would get a Cease and Desist letter.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
08/19/2015 at 22:21

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I’m assuming they rode it hard and put it up wet.


Kinja'd!!! RazoE > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:26

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Later models were pretty good. The early models not so much.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > RazoE
08/19/2015 at 22:27

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So no bueno on this one then all the way around?


Kinja'd!!! Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:29

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I kinda like the Mondial and think it might be fun to just cruise around in. It all depends on why you want to buy one. You have to keep a few things in mind: it’s not going to be fast, it’s not going to be reliable if you put a lot of miles on it, and it won’t be cheap to get parts or maintenance. If you can live with this, go for it.

There is a certain feeling that comes from driving a premium vehicle, even if it’s not fast. I had a Dinan upgraded 525i and it looked beautiful, cornered great, and gobbled up the miles. However, teenagers in their mom’s Toyota Sienna could blow me away. It didn’t really matter to me - I was in coddled a nice, luxurious sedan and he was in his mom’s minivan.


Kinja'd!!! RazoE > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:33

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The early 3.0s had 214 hp, the 3.4s towards the end had 300 hp. Plus come on...yummy...

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Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:36

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ooo a cupholder


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:36

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yay a power sunroof


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:36

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pop-up headlights


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:37

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The Mondial is the most awesome Ferrari ever.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
08/19/2015 at 22:51

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I love the thought of getting one of these cheap and not caring about resale and making it my own. That’s why i kind of find the tattered interior and messed up paint on this one a plus. I also strongly believe that the fastest car in the world is a cheap car that you don’t have to care about, and relative to other Ferrari’s this is a cheap car.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > dogisbadob
08/19/2015 at 22:52

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That makes it worth it alone right?


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > dogisbadob
08/19/2015 at 22:52

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Contrary to popular belief upholders are absolutely necessary in a driver’s car. How am I supposed to properly grip the seat with a soda between my legs?


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:53

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They’ll probably give the Mondial a pass, though :p

And for an engine swap, get a 400i, with its GM automatic transmission that came straight outta Chevy Suburban.


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 22:57

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We seem to be the only ones who get it :)


Kinja'd!!! DogonCrook > RazoE
08/19/2015 at 23:18

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Did it share parts with any other models? I think the hard part is finding shit like a distributor etc.


Kinja'd!!! facw > Frenchlicker
08/19/2015 at 23:20

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Those back seats actually look pretty comfy, as long as you have no legs.

Honestly though, that interior looks like it could be fine with a detail. I’d just worry about the rest a car if they can’t be assed to spend a little money to clean it up.


Kinja'd!!! Dunnik > Frenchlicker
08/20/2015 at 00:45

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Number 8 on my FP article, The 10 Worst Cars of the 1980’s .

Number 9 on Jalopnik’s Ten Least Super Supercars list.

‘nuff said?


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > Dunnik
08/20/2015 at 09:26

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Is it just because lack of power or are they terrible to keep running?


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > facw
08/20/2015 at 09:28

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That's where my worries lay too. I wonder if a three year old would find the back seat comfy.


Kinja'd!!! facw > Frenchlicker
08/20/2015 at 09:34

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Don’t know, but my understanding was that kids are now required to be in booster seat until they’re old enough to drive anyway. Probably better to look for something with LATCH in the back.


Kinja'd!!! Dunnik > Frenchlicker
08/20/2015 at 12:46

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Well, the lack of power should be reason enough. I mean, it’s a Ferrari.

It’s probably no more or less difficult to keep on the road than any other vintage Ferrari, but with the lack of power plus somewhat ungainly looks, especially compared to, say, the 288 GTO, it doesn’t seem to be worth the trouble.


Kinja'd!!! Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Frenchlicker
09/20/2015 at 02:40

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All the expense of a Ferrari, all the performance of a Honda Civic...