I Drive "The Worst Ferrari Ever" - But is the Mondial QV Really That Bad?

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Today on the channel I drive a Ferrari Mondial. Often cited as the Ferrari you only buy because you can't afford any other, the Mondial doesn't have the greatest of reputations. Those in the know, however, often cite it as far more than the sum of its parts - so what's it really like?
Big thanks to Adrian from The Autopian for coming out today.
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#Ferrari #V8 #mondial
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[@betaorionis2164]

I disagree in one thing: IMO, the older 308 GT4 looked better. Most possibly, in the eighties I also thought that the Mondial looked good. But fifty years later, the 308 has aged better.

[@Inazuma68]

Agree

[@howardmckenna]

I always liked the little gt4. If the proportions were slightly different it could have been so bad, but I personally think they hit the sweet spot.

[@dl6860]

yes

[@riccardogranato1274]

I've always wanted one, maybe one day!

[@grrfy]

the gt4 is probably my least liked ferrari for looks, personally think it looks awful, rather a Mondial any day, I think the Mondial styling has aged rather well because it is less fussy than other designs

[@nickrichardson1317]

I own a 1988 Mondial 3.2 QV Coupe which has now done 75,430 miles. Previously I had a 1993 Mondial 3.4t coupe. From 1985 to 2011 I owned 4 308 GT4’s & a Dino 246 GT. The Mondial 3.4t requires engine-out servicing at £2,500 ish at least, something not explained by dealers! My 3.2 is wonderful! 270bhp gives plenty of in gear acceleration and at Silverstone accelerating from a rolling start saw an easy 140mph. Not bad for a 35 year old car last year! I paid £31,000 from the Ferrari Centre in Sept 2019. I like to use my cars and take it out most weeks. It had minor electrical issues and I’ve had the Koni dampers rebuilt at Ian Gardiner Racing who is a Koni specialist. I’m renewing the bushes to improve track day handling. I love this car! I’m 77 and been a Ferrari owners Club member since 1982. Mondial’s are chosen for Historic Racing, leading to a shortage of them! The 3.2 has a stiffer chassis than the 3.4, and is the best choice. The car has ABS & I don’t find the steering a problem. Chris Harris is doing his up! These are cheap to buy & cheap to run! Best of all it’s a Ferrari!

[@thehoov6672]

This has to be a chatgpt comment. 77yo chaps from the UK don't speak the way this is written.

[@JoJoJoker]

How was the 246 GT?

[@nickrichardson1317]

@@JoJoJoker I paid £12,000 for it and it was found to be very rusty. I liked driving it but I couldn’t afford the high cost of repairing it. It failed its MoT and I sold it on to someone who thought he could do it. I lost £2k but the quote had been £35k! 246GT & GTS all rust as no rust inhibitors were used by the factory. The purchaser couldn’t fix it either at an economic cost. This was in the 1985 period. They began to increase in value about 20 years later. I’ve friends who could afford £50k to fix the rust, but be very careful if buying one!

[@bigal3055]

​@@thehoov6672 Given the punctuation errors and casual use of grammar, I doubt that it was an AI generated comment. It just reads as a very enthusiastic owner enthusing about his car to me.

[@nickrichardson1317]

@@thehoov6672 I really am 77 & still working as I’m a Chartered Surveyor & manage houses, which is very interesting! If I retire I’d be bored stiff! I have 5 other cars & a 47 year old lady friend! I’m taking the Ferrari wheels to have them tested for being “true” as at 83mph it starts a tremor & by 93 it shakes the steering! To sort that the wheels might need straightening on a hydraulic press. Eden tyres in Derby can do it. We are also renewing the suspension etc bushes. It’s a £1200 job but will help on control. On any 36 years old car, some maintenance is needed. I’ve minor rust to deal with on two wheel arches. You suggested my comment was AI written but I’m real! I also have a 1972 Fiat 500 with lowered suspension, disc brakes & a 650 engine which is a hoot on country lanes! My daily driver is a 2020 Polo Beats,with a Doctor Dre 300 watt sound system built in! I like Kemet FM a local Urban music station! I get it that most 77 year olds are waiting to die but it’s all a matter of attitude! My Mum died 6 years ago at 101 and she was still driving at 96! I’m recovering from colon cancer surgery presently and this gives me time to get the Mondial fixed up ready for events from July onwards! When will you give up on having some fun?

[@capn_shawn]

A testament to just how bad cars have become. This car, like 350Z's, Preludes, base 911's, MR2's, etc... were once hated as being rough and not "fast enough" Now people are begging for something analog like this with none of the twin-clutch, haptic touch-pad, CAN-Buss everything, Apple-CarPlay equipped mess that is being sold today. Not everyone enjoys driving at 10/10th's, but a lot of people do actually enjoy driving and we miss the experience.

[@markdoyle6414]

Couldn't have said it better.. Newer cars are like household appliances. Stupid power that's unusable.

[@markwilliams5654]

No it was bad when new a terrible thing now

[@_TheElMan]

I agree, also at the time and to some extent now, reviews are obsessed with "how good is it on a track." Real world who gives a F? Many cars are great on real roads, but because it lapped the TG track 3 seconds slower its written off. E.g. most Lexus

[@WhiteMouse77]

@@markwilliams5654 Are you sure the same statement doesn't pay for you as well?

[@WhiteMouse77]

Indeed!

[@RobinCapper]

The Mondial just highlights what a fine job Gandini (Bertone) did with 4 seat mid-engined packaging of the 308 GT4 . Compare the elegance of its C pillar engine air intake to Pininfarina's cheese grater and how the Mondial uses black components to try and disguise its bulk...

[@jonathancollard3710]

Totally agree…

[@claudiomarangone614]

It’s definitely stylish and unique in a cool Ferrari way. When it’s parked next to a lot of other cars, it definitely stands out as a cool Italian car, no matter if it were the lower tier or not, which says a lot about it’s design and character .

[@tyler9703]

I've always had a spot of love for the Mondial. The coupe especially has always been a "maybe someday" car for me.

[@rsjamie9423]

It reminds me of the type of car that the designers of the front, middle and rear never met. Made only more special by its antique furniture door handles...

[@LandYacht]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@william-131]

Alfa Romeo spider and Fiat 124 spider. Copied by Mazda for the MX5. Nothing wrong with them .

[@tombache3426]

We rented a 2001 Fit Punto once, felt the same way about it, designed by a committee without communication.

[@benzinapaul7416]

Agree, like a lot of Fords which also look shit, designers often get the middle bits wrong...

[@lawrencebmarshall]

85 QV coupe owner here. I happen to like the looks, except where the hood meets the windshield. I do love all the hate it gets. It gets a lot of is that a kit car questions. How it was famously slow, despite having more hp than the same year vette. How its unreliable, except it isn't. How it is terrible for maintenance, except it isn't. My '16 morgan 3 wheeler is far more unreliable. How a 308 is faster, except by modern standards they are both slow. It's longer wheel base lends to better handling.

[@cobra1010]

I had the opportunity to drive a Mondial for several years. And I was really surprised. This is a great car to drive! It provides much more pleasure than anyone would expect. And I do like the subtle and elegant design, I find it quite pretty. If you are interested in a Mondial, look for a nice example and go for it - it will put a big smile on your face. It is a Ferrari and it deserves to be appreciated. I like it a lot and I don't care about any negative opinions that other people might have.

[@nickrichardson1317]

Most negative opinions come from people who have never driven any Ferrari! I’ve actually had my negative opinionated relative drive my Mondial, and that completely changed his ideas! He thought it was wonderful!

[@250LM4me]

when LJK Straight wrote this was one off his favorite cars or something to that effect total respect.

[@susannero6401]

Mondials rule. I have the next gen (Mondial 3.2) and I love it. One small point: when they were new they were more expensive than the corresponding 3x8 models. So people didn't originally buy them because they were cheap.

[@italianduded1161]

absolutely love it! Sure not the best one... but I do like it! Would love to see a video about the Ferrari 400 (manual) I like it even more.

[@nickrichardson1317]

I’ve driven a 400 GT manual & a 365 GT4C whilst on an annual Ferrari Owners’ Club five days stay on the West Coast of Scotland! I’d gone in my long term 308GT4. The two big V12’s sounded gruff and were very like driving a Lincoln Town Car, I use in Daytona Beach during Bike Week, each March! These two Ferrari felt big and were not for me! I can see the appeal for trans-continental travel with a lot of luggage, but they were not lively nor at all handy like the 308 GT4 was. I’ve liked a 412 though. I’d buy a 612 as that’s really fast & handles well. The price of a 400 exhaust is some £5k which is worth keeping in mind! I still regret selling that blue Chiaro 308 GT4 (EUT 849T) I’ve still got its early history file somewhere! It was on sale last month, April 2024, at £62,500! Way more than the £16k I bought it for in 1985 with 16k miles on it but with a certificate showing a brand new speedo fitted at 10,000 miles, so it had really done 26,000 miles! I owned it for a very long time and actually owned it twice! I eventually sold it on in about 2004 I think. I can’t afford to buy it at the current price and my Mondial 3.2 is excellent, all the Ferrari I need.

[@jongmans38]

It's the soundtrack that sells it to me.

[@detonator2112]

That's not the original soundtrack though. I would feel weird to have a slow car like this that sounds like a F1.

[@jongmans38]

Speed limits mean you cannot use all the speed of fast cars, but, you can enjoy the music of this car at legal speeds, almost.@@detonator2112

[@insanity2amillion]

The mondials only bad sin is it doesn't look good in red, the lines dont work with it. Blues, black, silver, a dark green. It either needs to hide detail or be garishly loud like a yellow orange or lime

[@tonymoreton7166]

As 'god' used to say. 'You buy the engine, and the car comes free'. Unmistakable soundtracks.

[@4_r_e_dad]

Open top, backseats, gated manual, pop-up headlights ... Perfect weekend Dad-cruiser 👌🏾 Im all for it .

[@phillipbutcher9134]

The very first Ferrari that I've ever saw in real life was a Ferrari Mondial back in 82 when I was 8 years old

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Looks way better than todays offerings !

[@_TheElMan]

Yup. I dont know why anyone would buy a modern Ferrari when you can get a 458/812.

[@scottthomson9813]

It may be more bark than bite but that's all that's really required these days. Speed restrictions are such that even a Vauxhall can get you in the soup with Johnny Law. The sound is great, it's instantly recognizable as a Ferrari by anyone and let's be honest.... a small boys excitement is all the validation anyone ever needs. I'd have it in a heartbeat.

[@davidgamper6726]

Me too. James, how can you call it a thing? (Don't know how to price the thing..)!!

[@cologne2792]

My neighbour bought one many years ago for around the £10k mark, He also owned a Lotus Europa.

[@bigislandvip5540]

Your neighbor has bad taste in cars.

[@Lockwoodbeck61]

Rude ! I drive a JPS lotus Europa If you don't mind. And a Suzuki Jimmy.😮

[@malcholden5357]

I have a story as to why I owned a Mondial QV back in 2004. In essence; I wanted a late 60’s Mustang for my 40th but my then wife had different ideas. She said “Why an old yank, why not a XK8 or a TVR? The Jag was not for me and I wasn’t sure about a Cerbera. Then I saw a 308 and recalled a moustached American from a TV series who drove one. Off I went but soon realised at £22k starting price I was never really going to afford to buy it without borrowing lots of money. Then I saw a Mondial. Loved the 3.2 but again out of my price range. Four seats were appealing. My young daughter could come out with us for drives. I brought it home and she (wifey) was fine until she reversed it on the drive and I shouted because it then wouldn’t start. Fuse boxes on these were notoriously bad. Anyway she then hated it with passion but I loved it equally with passion. Five years until I swapped it for my dream car an F355 in yellow. Looking back over the three Ferraris I’ve owned (now a 360 Modena) I’m going to surprise most. The 360 is by and far the best. I even think with its raised front wings and rear haunches its curves for me makes it more elegant than an F355 (though the rear view of an F355 is unbeatable). So today I could have a 360 and Mondial together for the cost of an F355 and I would if I had the space. I loved the mechanical noise combined with the sports exhaust that my four valve made. To this day I love the Mondial though I think the 3.2 is the car to buy. No engine out belts and coloured coded bumpers making it look less dated. A great review you gave it too.

[@darrellsimpson6966]

Yes, the color coded bumpers improved the looks.

[@sugarnads]

Never owned a ferrari (i dont consider myself a 'fan') but yes, if i HAD to pick one (aside from a 288GTO ❤❤❤❤) it would be the 360 moderna. Theyre bloody gorgeous.

[@xamomax]

I remember hating on the Dino back when you could get one for $20k. I figured I might get it when I got out of High school. It's like $500k now.

[@AntoniusTyas]

308 GT4 is a better-looking car, that is one point I got to disagree. I still cannot gel with how Mondial looks. To me it looked like what a Toyota Corolla would look like if Ferrari were tasked to design one. The 308 GT4 is more cohesive, and I love how Ferrari went out their usual way by asking Bertone to design it. Also, because Mondial did have a Spider version while retaining the 2+2 layout, there should have been no excuse for Lotus to not give Evora a convertible version back when it was new.

[@PlatinumNath]

Lotus might've decided to not make a convertible Evora so it won't be a heavier car than it is already (they can cut some slack for the Elise since it's much lighter), and also to not mess up it's chassis stiffness.

[@slaphead90]

It really does look like what the Japanese manufacturers of the late '70s/early '80s thought a Ferrari would look like.

[@bicyclist2]

I always loved the Mondial. I count myself very lucky to have seen one. It was a gunmetal metallic gray one in northern Michigan at a marina. I don't like any of the modern Ferrari's. If I ever made a lot of money, I'd only want older sports cars like this one. Thank you.

[@MichelleFin-kf6xj]

I’d never seriously considered the Mondial until Seeing This Video!!!! Well Done, JayEmm!!!

[@TinyScorpion44]

Ages ago, there was a Mondial at a used car lot near me, and it was the first time I ever looked at a Ferrari and thought, "yes, I would want that in my garage." I absolutely love how they look, and I have a thing for less-loved cars. At the time, I didn't have a garage, so I had nowhere to put it, but I still kick myself for not buying it. Now that I have a garage, they're out of my price range.

[@jezhodgkinson1508]

Thank you (for not lagging it off)! I loved my Mondial QV a few years ago. I'm 5"7 and two mates wanted to go in it. One was 6"7`, the other was 6"8`... But they both loved the experience.

[@Nord_Mann]

Always wanted a Mondial! Love it❤

[@Motoroil20xx]

In 8th grade, a friend of my uncle who worked at a luxury car repair shop came by with a Ferrari Mondial Cabriolet and gave me a ride around Orinda, CA. We drove onto Hwy 24 toward Berkeley flat out; even though I had an F50 poster in my bedroom and always loved the Testarossa, that experience riding in the Mondial felt like I got to ride in the coolest car ever. - Later on after high school when I got my first car, a stock 92 Nissan 240SX, I made it a priority to maintain it with the same care that I'd give to that Mondial I got to ride around in that day.

[@danfitz5463]

I remember a few years ago, maintaining a garden for a nice older couple and the old fella had a virtually unused example, in a purpose built garage.

[@Michael-yd5ry]

I owned one.I didn't keep it very long.A Mk 5 Golf GTI left me embarrassed.

[@pvb3666]

1980 to 1993, not 1990 to 1993 as mentioned in the video. I had an 1983 QV Coupe in dark blue, a 1984 QV Coupe in light blue and a 1985 QV Conv. in red. It had phenomenal brakes I remember. The later "T" cars are actually great cars to own and drive and better looking!

[@Test-Tube-Baby-xo8xx]

1:41 That 308 Gt4 is beautiful. It's been my favourite Ferrari since it was launched. I know the snobs slag it off but I don't care because I think it looks sensational. The Mondial looked gawky when it was new and nothing's changed.

[@garage779]

Love the way is sounds. The exhaust sounds terrific. Well done.

[@simonbyway5256]

As a teenager back in the 80s i used to see one of these parked and a few times driving in Porthcawl. I don't remember the exact model but it looked quite amazing in silver. Silver seems to hide the awkward bits of the body shape. Personally I love these cars and indeed i love the Dino too.

[@philmulrooney7020]

I collected one from Glasgow and delivered it to Surrey and loved it

[@geoffreycarter3981]

a 4v per cylinder ferrari mid engine V8. ARE KIDDING ME I ALMOST CREAMED MY PANTS 5 seconds in.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@RichardLydiatt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXnOhmSelNh-g5Y

[@jonp9654]

It was made for car buyers to buy first before being allowed to buy a higher ferrari.

[@BionicRusty]

Nah, would I have this or no Ferrari? I’d have it for that exhaust note alone, let alone the clock. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if I’m behind the wheel, she’s a goddess ❤️

[@jonathancollard3710]

I very nearly got a Mondial back in the 1990’s…. It’s not a terrible car but is so so so overshadowed by the 308GTB…. Which I bought instead Magnum PI has a lot to answer for 😜

[@chrispig7748]

Would be delighted to see that on my drive, prefer silver though

[@sugarnads]

Yellow for me😊

[@dennisnichols2411]

Pretty much agree with you on everything in this fine video. With prices all over the map here in the US as well, it is the mark of a car that none seem to know what it's worth. Now that you've done the Mondial, your next review should be of that other maligned Ferrari- the 400 Automatic!

[@Pulsonar]

psychologically for those Ferrari enthusiasts who thought they’d never be rich enough to own a Ferrari. But since I first saw it 40 years ago as a teenager it always had a poor mans Ferrari look and image about it that never goes away. It’s like the first generation Volkswagen Porsche 924 of the same era. A car that was never considered to be a proper Porsche. However, look what came out of 924 direct lineage - 944, 944 Turbo, 944 S2, 968 and the legendary 968 CS lightweight. These sports cars always remained relatively affordable and never broke the bank. The Ferrari Mondial also generated a direct hereditary line into track racing legends but the costs of ownership went from a hard working 1980s local businessman running a Mondial to todays 2020s billionaire Arab Prince cruising in a Ferrari F8 Tributo through Knightsbridge, London. Put another way, the 1980s middling owner of a Mondial also had to morph his whole lifestyle, career, ambitions into that a tech guru tycoon or oil magnate billionaire to be able to afford to marrying and catering to the needs of one of the Mondials great grand daughters of today.

[@graceann335]

Best review yet. Good man Jay

[@ristekostadinov2820]

I find the Mondial T coupe as the nicest looking mondials, maybe is just me.

[@sugarnads]

Those TRX michelins were lovely. Beautiful ride, and stiff sidewalls. Lovely grip in the wet. Loved driving on them.

[@michaelmassart2349]

The running and maintenance costs are what have always scared me in having a punt at an older Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo, TVR, and other exotica. Amplified by the fact that I am not a DIY mechanic = I am blessed with butterfingers but adored cars from a very young age ... Because of the latter, years ago, I chickened out pulling the purchese-trigger on a Lamborghini Uracco and a Lotus Elise. What automotive-toy have I got in my garage then? One of Jay's personal favorites: a 2004 facelift Honda S2000, and I love it 😊

[@pasha12343]

I don’t mind the look , think it could be a fun motor . Great review 👍😎🙂

[@rosewood1]

What a fantastic review. Loved the sound track! There's nothing like the howl of a Ferrari. These are great cars I owned a 400 and they are great to drive and a really nice place to actually travel in. If you have ever driven a cockroach with its vast sloping windscreen into the sun you realize that while they all look fast that visibility is rubbish. The Mondial is not only practical but also very well made as Ferrari are. No not the fastest but certainly fast enough and more significantly they handle corners really well at speed. thanks for posting

[@1968leg]

I've always loved the looks of these. Basic, simple Italian sports car styling. Always loved the Espirit, probably why I like this so much.

[@gillesdebritalycars]

thank you for this very honest review of an unjustly ignored car ✌

[@deaks25]

The Mondial has always been a guilty pleasure of mine; yes they’re slow, oddly proportioned and weird looking, but I actually like the unashamedly ‘80s-ness of it, much like the Testarossa and F40. And even a ‘cheap’ Ferrari is still a Ferrari and so who cares if it’s not that fast, because while a modern diesel hatch can outpace it, you’d be in a Ferrari and they’re just in a dull diesel hatchback

[@plamenpenkov2865]

Oddly proportioned....compared to what? Gal Gadot? It is better proportioned than a 308/328 with their ridiculous overhangs...If anything, it was ahead of it's time with it's cab forward design.

[@deaks25]

@@plamenpenkov2865 A mid-engined, four seat design does give a slightly odd shape with the long rear deck and short bonnet. As I said, it’s a car a like and part of that is the quirkiness of it; quirks give character and character means it’s not boring.

[@lawrencebmarshall]

From an owner, speed isn't fun on public roads. Have a viper, its fun at stop lights and on ramps. Most of the time you are lugging it around. My mondial qv is much much more fun without breaking the limit. It feels like a race car on the highway due to the steering feel, how low it sits, and the constant engine noise. It is fairly loud to drive around in, louder than the viper. It also doesn't hurt that you can floor it constantly without getting in trouble unlike the viper.

[@nickrichardson1317]

Well said!

[@plamenpenkov2865]

@@deaks25 I hear ya, but I just don't see it....Short bonnet, long deck, ok, if that is odd than what do we think of the Diablo, Honda NSX of the period and pretty much any mid engined sports car since? The 4 seat aspect of it is not noticed from the outside and doesn't affect the proportions, in fact it would look silly if the cabin was shorter. The early cars like this example had ugly American bumpers but the 3.2 and T are just handsome cars, so understated, simple but beautiful, like an E30, Delta, Ghibly II, and even NSX vibes.

[@bobolulu7615]

I have owned mt 1982 Mondial QV for 18 years and its a brilliant vehicle. Ok, I dont drive it all the time, but i have done some long distance runs and even do the weekly shopping with it at times. So its 42 years old now, but it still drives like a Ferrari should. May I also add that its been utterly reliable and never lwt me down.

[@JankyAF]

Shhhh don’t tell anyone, ive wanted one for years and its the only shot I’ll have at a ferrari, hoping the prices don’t explode in the next few years. Great vid, been wanting to see your take on these forever. When is the Fiat X1/9 coming to the channel? Speaking of unloved cars…

[@global_nomad.]

lovely video, thanks to Adrian...never fully understood why people didnt like the looks of this (maybe I was an impressionable boy in the late 70's)....so good to hear maybe its reputation is ill deserved

[@stevecballard]

more bark than bite, exactly what you need with today's cameras and roads, I prefer the Mondial T, the exhaust sounds epic, where can you get one please?..Great video BTW, oh and I do have a 1976 air-cooled porsche 911 3.0 carrera if you are interested

[@Reed-Marine]

I have 4 Mondials; 1984 Qv, 1985 Qv Cab, 1986 Qv, 1988 3.2 Cab. Fantastic chassis, limp engines, and a bit wedgie looking. I redesigned the body (7 inches wider and curvy) and with EFI and supercharging the engine, I have 450hp in a car weighing 1100kg.

[@shaundavenport621]

There was a white convertible one in the 80s movie Dirty rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin and it looked awsome!I adored it.

[@jakkovaningen8350]

So cool that you review this odd car. Quirky machine 😊 Thanks!

[@adogmcdizzle]

Ride quality: Really good, Steering: Lovely Turn in: Keen Brakes: Delightful Engine: Sounds amazing Gearbox: Exposed H pattern Reaction from small children: Positive Honestly I'm sold

[@TheJoeT81]

Adrian showed me round this car at a meet; it’s kinda cool.

[@AdrianFClarke]

Glad you liked it, people always seem to love it when we’re out and about.

[@astrobuddsy6230]

Sounds nice and I quite like the front end. I like the retro dials too.

[@Dr.Dawson]

I love the look of this car.

[@joellamoureux7914]

And the sound!

[@Dr.Dawson]

@@joellamoureux7914 agreed. That’s Italian opera right there.

[@dadcars]

Ah man I can’t wait to drive one of these 😍

[@tg_ny]

Chris Harris acquired a Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet, which has the 270 hp engine from the Ferrari 328. He did a video about it which is quite entertaining. They sound and look good. I like the look of those best. The Mondial T Cabriolet which followed looks too long. I suspect it’s engine also needs to be removed for major service because, unlike the earlier models, it is mounted longitudinally, putting the belts behind the passenger seats. The belts on the transverse cars can be serviced through a wheel well.

[@daenglishpatient]

As ever, great review, James. Thank you, Sir. Shedding light on a gem we might have all overlooked. I have owned 4x 328's (all GTS), back in the day, trading as they escalated in price (no Ferrari ever cost me a dime!), but they were only OK. I had an Oettinger Golf GTI and it would muller it. I think if you're enamored of the marque and are prepared to put up with the lack of power, the quirks, and the contentious aesthetics, by all means consider a Mondial. I agree with JayEmm it's a much better car than you'd think. But ... I'd invest the cash and save up, and wait. And get a 355. That's when Ferraris got really good. (And go for a pre-airbag, manual.) Cars get valuable when they're rare, fast, and beautiful.

[@markonmotoring]

It may well not be the best Ferrari but that's missing the point. For car enthusiasts who could never access other models it opened up Ferrari ownership and I dare say still offered the experience of a V8 Ferrari. If you haven't driven other models would you really know any different? I rather liked the 308 too and the price of those have rocketed. Squeezing in two extra seats and a mud engine will always be a compromise but for someone like me with a family it does appeal.

[@allanfoster6965]

You are right. This car looks like a cut and shut. The front to b pillar looks like it was a different design to the rear third. It just doesn't flow. At all.

[@AH-fg8dk]

A good review & as another often derided car owner (a 924S), go ahead & buy one. Must admit I always thought the convertible Mondial to be a fine looking car. While it was the original Mondial 8, that even back in the day seemed very plain & underpowered that set in motion the poor man's Ferrari tag.

[@johafo]

4:42 - I had the same type of crack in my windshield and it turned out to be rust in the steel where the glass meets the body of the car. The owner should consider having that checked out if they want to keep the (possibly) dangerous rust to a minimum.

[@AdrianFClarke]

It’s not a crack it’s where black band is delaminating. It went through the MOT inspection in January just fine.

[@ssarkees]

I love mine! - 1985 QV Cab.. I have restored it to perfection and even added 348 wheels. She is beautiful and extremely fun to drive. Will admit - It is VERY expensive to own (parts are extremely expensive) Buy one while you can!

[@richardlake1504]

Only £700 for cambelt. Starting to sound like a poor man's MR2! 😮

[@chrisstephens6194]

650 for a diesel audi

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

The body colored bumpers improved its looks. Its a cheaper Ferrari but it's still cool.

[@MrReese]

That sound is just amazing - and it's probably one of the very few cars that look better with the headlights up than down :D.

[@oggie1967]

Hmmm, wanted to hate & laugh at the Mondial but love that exhaust note! Pretty it’s not and there is my problem, my 2005 DB9 is probably the sexiest car I’ve ever owned so I’m biased! Great film though James!👍👏👏👏

[@jdtseventyfour]

My friends dad had a Mondial in the early 90's. In fact he had 5 Ferrari's he picked up as a job lot in the financial crash of the late 1980's so he had the Mondial, a 308GTSi, a 308 Koenig twin turbo, a 365GT 2+2 soft top and finally a 330 (at least that's what I think it was called). Gradually he sold them off and wanted to keep the 330. Not sure if he still has the 330 to be honest but they were all great looking cars but the Mondial definitely looked like the odd one out. I think the older 308 GT4 is a better looking car. All I can say is its a real Ferrari and you cant get much better than that; Yes it may not be the quickest thing but I bet its a joy to drive and sounds amazing too

[@nicce12]

Love that sound - that you probably will keep you driving licence if driving in to a speed trap is a plus... :)

[@theoneandonlybosable]

Quick shoutout to The Autopian, run by some of the best writers Jalopnik ever had.

[@AdrianFClarke]

Cheers, thank you 👍🖤

[@ziginox]

That gauge cluster is a work of art!

[@jjay350]

I feel like these things are probably easier to enjoy today because the expectations are different. Nobody is expecting some old Ferrari like this to blow them away performance wise, and it's probably a fun car to drive on slower roads.

[@Mach5Johnny]

I remember seeing a black convertible Mondial awhile back as a kid in Pismo… it was probably one of the first Ferraris that I’ve ever seen in person. Honestly it’s a cool looking car with an awesome sound that I would buy (if money wasn’t an issue!). But, I just know that it’s definitely a money pit simply because it’s an Italian car so it’s definitely gonna be unreasonable AF! Haha

[@leongiles3496]

Have always liked the Mondial - finding a good one is the issue... thanks again James...

[@danielfreeman4695]

I have a soft spot for the Mondial, maybe because it's an underdog. It sounds glorious and in my opinion looks much better than most contemporary Ferraris.

[@algeniscorrea187]

I've always liked the Mondial. I believe the older 308gt4 is a better looking car. People of the day just didn't appreciate entry level cars. I'd definitely own one.

[@smiletrainofficial]

The 1980s futuristic font on the gauge dials is great though.

[@adamorowski2294]

I own a 3.2 for a year now. Why did I choose the Mondial? It has a back seats for my dog :) So far I have done few long trips (over 1000km) with it and with every km I love it more and more. It's just a great car!

[@jonfrank2566]

I tried a then 3yr old Mondial t back in the day when I was looking to buy my first Ferrari. It was a really good car - sweet engine, lovely balance and steering, well built interior and generally well resolved. I eventually bought a 328 instead as didn't need the 4 seats and was (rightly) worried about the depreciation on them but it was certainly a better car than the 328. Not sure about the older QV and 8 models though - Ferrari took a while to get this one right...

[@michalviktorin6758]

I really like last version with the most power and interior looking like in 348. The car has nice usable size, I would use back seats for fridge and aditional luggage space + additional speakers, subwoofer. With some Mansory carbon or other little tuning it could be just great.

[@brendangarvin7787]

The first Ferrari I ever saw up close was a Tour de France blue Mondial parked on a street in Paris.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY J!🙏🙏

[@Pulsonar]

The owner Adrian looked like a retro pub rocker who benefited from a will that his Aunt Mabel left 😂

[@AdrianFClarke]

Desperately clinging on to my youth haha.

[@Pulsonar]

@@AdrianFClarke you’re doing better than me mate, just recently got back into fitness training on doctors advice. But feeling every one of my pensionable years and I currently don’t even have 4 wheels to take my tired old bones back home after a workout nevermind lusting after Ferraris finest from yesteryear 😂

[@stuupoo]

I love the Mondial. So much I have 2 😂

[@cardiffchris]

It looks roomy and comfortable unlike a 308gtb. I find it attractive like a nerdy librarian with glasses and a few secret talents. I could probably extend the seat tracks. I don't fit too well in a 911sc or a 450SL

[@enwins]

I am told that the longer wheelbase made them handle better than the 308. All the upgrades including the T box used in the 348 came out first in the Mondial. Some say this was actually better than the 348 too. If memory serves me right the convertible 348 was delayed. Hence the Mondial T selling more convertibles. If only it had the looks to match. More affordable than the 308... worth considering.

[@ThePhilGrimm]

Those in the know say that the longer wheelbase of the 2+2s gives more stable handling than the 2 seater 308s.

[@Johny38724]

Great car great reporting

[@ctrl-alt-bingo]

Dinos are the Ferrariest Ferraris there ever were. It was his son's name for christ's sake. The 246, and the 308 dino were wonderful cars, and the 308gtb which is widely regarded as the 246s spiritual successor was a wonderful car as well. Each odf the cars mentioned embody everything a great ferarri should be, gorgeous Pininfarina styling (minus the 308 dino even though it does still look really pretty) an engine that sounds wonderful and is fun to drive, and handling that is right at home anywhere it goes

[@stephenscholes4758]

No. A true Ferrari is a v12 or v8.

[@davemcdermott1116]

I've got a '83 qv coupe in black over red leather. I think the car perfectly embodies the 80's epoch of design. Angular, low, aggressive, small (by todays standards), and full of weird, era specific styling details. The 308 GTB/GTS, while pretty, is really an 80's version of a 70's car (the 246). The Mondial was a new design that was meant to stand out and establish new trends for a new decade, and I think it did that very well. The Testarossa followed, and at the end of the decade the next gen car, the 348, ended up being a mash up of those two cars more or less. Its a bit boring to see that all journalists take this take of "let's have a fresh look at the unloved Ferrari", although I suppose it invites clicks. A better approach in my eye would be to examine what makes the Mondial actually unique - which is that Ferrari chose to build a car that straddled the line between pure sport (GTB/GTS) and pure GT (400/412). It is a car that slips in and out of both categories, often at the same time behind the wheel. Few cars of the time can lay claim to this. Nowadays it is more common, and I think the Mondial was a taproot car for this genre of sport/gt mashup. Due to their depreciation in later years, most people don't realize that these were actually wildly popular cars when new...more expensive than the GTB/GTS new, and they were far and away a massive success for Ferrari at the time. As for the rest, yeah they're great cars. Reliable by Ferrari standards if you take care of them. I daily mine. And immensely fun to drive. And now once again, people love them...I am constantly stopped by people who want to admire and ask questions about the car. Usually the only hate is online, by people who have never driven one or even seen one on the road, and are basing their opinions on the thoughts of others, who were probably doing the same thing. lol