Ferrari Mondial t

Got to drive with a bunch of really great folks!

Link to the article:

https://carbuzz.com/news/is-this-the-last-affordable-ferrari-left

The brainchild of the Mondial’s design was Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina, same designer of everything from the Dino to the F40. From the 288GTO to the Daytona.

When the Mondial 8 first came out, it was an engineering feat. If you can name another production car in the history of the automobile that has four seats, is mid-engined (not rear engined like 911), and accommodated a full cabriolet variant – please name one. Being forced to meet Ferrari’s requirements and keep the design with a traditionally Pininfarina aesthetic was quite the task!

There are modern-day equivalents of the reaction many had. The same comments you hear hurled at the Mondial mirror precisely those today you see thrown at the Ferrari FF/Lusso or say the Porsche Panamera.

The Mondial’s design, however, was not without its admirers, and at the very top of the auto industry.

John Davis, of Motorweek – the Emmy award-winning host of the 40-year show, pointed out that the original MR2 and Fiero were both directly influenced by the mid-rear side strakes, and were obvious derivatives of Fioravanti’s basic design.

This fact lost as one reason the MR2 and Fiero were often called the “poor man’s” Ferrari. This reality had a deleterious effect on the Mondial. If you are familiar with the fashion industry, it is haute couture design houses that introduce new radical trends and looks, that always eventually filter down to Target or Wallmart. It always cracks me up when I see internet commenters point out that the Daytona looks like a “C4 Corvette” or the 412 looks like a “Prelude” – I laugh a little inside.

This fact did no favors on the Mondial’s fortunes as the design looked further ‘down market’ as the ‘look’ became ubiquitous with the Fiero in the front lawn on blocks.

The early Mondial’s fate was sealed when the 1980 EPA regulated variant (only represented 2% of the line) was the one furnished to the three automotive publications that provided lackluster performance.

For detractors of the Mondial’s beauty (or lack thereof) – I invite a reexamination in person of a Concours quality example. While I doubt everyone will change their minds (and that’s fine), I do believe given the history even in my club of Ferrarista, that many do come away with newfound appreciation after experiencing in person first hand. Driving it usually seals the deal. 

I’m driving up in the Santa Cruz mountains.

About after 2 hours, I hear a clankty-clank sound and then a loud ka-pow and I fear the worst. The engine feels fine and no smoke or additional sounds after that. I do notice the tire feels flat. I pull off to the side of the road, and yup – flat tire.

No biggie happens all the time.

When I get the tire off, I noticed I can’t find any damage on the tire itself. I eagerly anticipate seeing where the hole is that caused the flat.

The tire finally off, what do I see?

A huge 1-inch hole INSIDE the rim and a piece of the metal actually fall out. As if a gun when off INSIDE the tire!

The rotor, brakes, and wheel well are perfect. The car runs smoothly and with zero problems.

The guys at the tire shop are all scratching their heads in amazement.

That piece of metal you see is confirmed to be part of the rim. I mean, what could cause this? Like a metal rod just enter my rim just right and create a hole? I’m super confused.

What’s so odd is the tire is completely fine – whatever did this somehow go inside the rim itself.

AutoExpress Mondial Buyer’s Guide

the Mondial’s a terrific grand-tourer. If you don’t want to spank your Ferrari down a B-road periodically, but instead plan to take it on jaunts to visit friends or across Europe, that means it makes a lot of sense.

You also get one of the best interiors of a contemporary Ferrari – light and airy, and spacious too. Let’s not forget, of course, those rear seats – enabling you to take the whole family out (and, perhaps, justify it to other members of the household who might need to be placated).

But you still have those familiar Ferrari tropes of an open-gate gear change and a mid-mounted V8; not to mention terrific, user-friendly handling ideal for a Ferrari novice. Ok, so it wasn’t that quick even by the standards of the day – but thanks to that V8’s yowl, it’ll still make you feel special.

https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedykywt/ph-service-history-buying-a-black-sheep/38599