Club Scuderia
Club Administrator
Mondial QV………….my first Ferrari
Well, I turned 40 last year and thought “sod it, I’ve always wanted one and now I’m going to get one”. I had always liked the 328`s and began to search for one. After a few weeks I realised that they were out of my price range. I’m not rich and had a budget of £19,500, not enough for a 328 of any worth. Time for a rethink. So I joined F-Chat, at a very, shall we say, interesting time, scoured the net for additional information and decided on a Mondial, well within my price range and a four seater to boot, that’s how I sold the idea to Maggie, my very sarcastic and down to earth wife.
Initially I found F-Chat very daunting, but kind of got into how it all worked and began to understand some of the characters on there. Must say at this point, AndrewG from F-Chat was, and still is, very helpful with advice and pointers as to what I should look for when buying, he offered to check any cars out at a reasonable rate for me.
Then the war erupted and this place rose from the ruins, like a breath of fresh air. I cannot thank all of you enough for your patience, advice and help. Especially Malc, Malc, Mike, Steve, Steve, Tony and Dave. Malc and Mike in particular for answering all my endless queries and questions about Mondials. The offers I had to come and look at cars with me were amazing and totally unexpected.
I cannot thank you all in person, but those that have helped, you know who you are, a big thank you.
Anyway, I travelled all over looking at Mondials, why don’t people advertise the cars properly and save wasted journeys ,”Excellent and original condition”…off I go 145 miles, get there did not even test drive it, it was crap in every way. I was not paying concourse money and did not expect a mint car, but some of them were utter crap. I missed out on Tom Kranz’s car because I could not complete in time, looked a decent honest car though. Adnaan’s 3.4 looked good but was right at the top of my range. Then I found UIA at Autograph in Wakefield, 34 miles from home, so off I pops to have a gander at it. It looked honest and reasonable, no heavy leakages or signs of heavy use. “Can I test drive it Jeff (the owner)………..”, “can you come back when it’s not raining as I have to move 5 cars to get it out and then I’ll have to wash them again”. Bit odd, but yeah why not, the car looked worth a return trip.
Two weeks later, took it for a spin, drove well, felt tight and the glove box lid worked, that sealed it for me along with the door mirrors and arial working. I knew nothing about Ferraris but have had loads of Lancias and Alfas, and, lets be honest here, Italian cars are great, but electrics are not a strong point. I checked the extensive history, belts done 2000 miles ago at Strasse Porsche in leeds, new sills, waxoiled (again), new steering rack 5000 miles ago blah, blah, blah……… everything seemed ok.
Right, how much, no, not paying that, I’ll give you this, no you won’t….ok so we’ll settle at that…………..both happy, deal done………bloody hell! I’ve bought a Ferrari!
Begrudgingly goes home in the Merc 190 2.5 Diesel battle bus, at least it`s red, after arranging collection for the following weekend. Let impatience and excitement set in.
Got it the following Saturday, the drive home was exciting to say the least. Arrived and squeezed it in the garage, bloody wide cars aren’t they, the garage is huge but I live in a terraced house and access to the garage is via the narrow back street, takes three shunts to get it in and out. But it fits easily once in the end.
Right lets start fixing the minor faults, indicator out and number plate lights not working, all bad connections and easily fixed, just took time. Welcome to the world of Ferrari parts, the black plastic number plate light housings were goosed, how much!!!!!!!!!!!!…………sod that I’ll fix the old ones (thanks anyway Malc)……..Andrewg has some spare old ones in good nick, cheers mate. Sunroof is goosed, not bothered yet, air con needs regassing, S&S can fettle that nearer the summer(if we get one).
Checked the engine out, seemed ok, no smoke, just a very slight oil leak(I can live with that). I’m a plant fitter by trade and am ok with engines and gearboxes, but petrol injection systems are not my forte so it’s due to go and get tuned up soon.
275 miles so far……..no oil use or water use
Costs so far;
Metric tyre for spare £130
2 bulbs £1.20
Juice £57
Indoor cover (its always damp up here) £35
Enjoyment factor,,,,,immense
Merciless piss taking from the wife for going outside “to stroke my ickle baby”……..priceless
Help and advice from all on here….again, priceless, thanks to all of you.
I`ll try and keep the running report going over the year.
IT’S A FERRARI ,ITS RED ,ITS IN MY GARAGE AND ITS BLOODY WELL MINE………………amazing feeling, still grinning.
Cheers all
Well, I turned 40 last year and thought “sod it, I’ve always wanted one and now I’m going to get one”. I had always liked the 328`s and began to search for one. After a few weeks I realised that they were out of my price range. I’m not rich and had a budget of £19,500, not enough for a 328 of any worth. Time for a rethink. So I joined F-Chat, at a very, shall we say, interesting time, scoured the net for additional information and decided on a Mondial, well within my price range and a four seater to boot, that’s how I sold the idea to Maggie, my very sarcastic and down to earth wife.
Initially I found F-Chat very daunting, but kind of got into how it all worked and began to understand some of the characters on there. Must say at this point, AndrewG from F-Chat was, and still is, very helpful with advice and pointers as to what I should look for when buying, he offered to check any cars out at a reasonable rate for me.
Then the war erupted and this place rose from the ruins, like a breath of fresh air. I cannot thank all of you enough for your patience, advice and help. Especially Malc, Malc, Mike, Steve, Steve, Tony and Dave. Malc and Mike in particular for answering all my endless queries and questions about Mondials. The offers I had to come and look at cars with me were amazing and totally unexpected.
I cannot thank you all in person, but those that have helped, you know who you are, a big thank you.
Anyway, I travelled all over looking at Mondials, why don’t people advertise the cars properly and save wasted journeys ,”Excellent and original condition”…off I go 145 miles, get there did not even test drive it, it was crap in every way. I was not paying concourse money and did not expect a mint car, but some of them were utter crap. I missed out on Tom Kranz’s car because I could not complete in time, looked a decent honest car though. Adnaan’s 3.4 looked good but was right at the top of my range. Then I found UIA at Autograph in Wakefield, 34 miles from home, so off I pops to have a gander at it. It looked honest and reasonable, no heavy leakages or signs of heavy use. “Can I test drive it Jeff (the owner)………..”, “can you come back when it’s not raining as I have to move 5 cars to get it out and then I’ll have to wash them again”. Bit odd, but yeah why not, the car looked worth a return trip.
Two weeks later, took it for a spin, drove well, felt tight and the glove box lid worked, that sealed it for me along with the door mirrors and arial working. I knew nothing about Ferraris but have had loads of Lancias and Alfas, and, lets be honest here, Italian cars are great, but electrics are not a strong point. I checked the extensive history, belts done 2000 miles ago at Strasse Porsche in leeds, new sills, waxoiled (again), new steering rack 5000 miles ago blah, blah, blah……… everything seemed ok.
Right, how much, no, not paying that, I’ll give you this, no you won’t….ok so we’ll settle at that…………..both happy, deal done………bloody hell! I’ve bought a Ferrari!
Begrudgingly goes home in the Merc 190 2.5 Diesel battle bus, at least it`s red, after arranging collection for the following weekend. Let impatience and excitement set in.
Got it the following Saturday, the drive home was exciting to say the least. Arrived and squeezed it in the garage, bloody wide cars aren’t they, the garage is huge but I live in a terraced house and access to the garage is via the narrow back street, takes three shunts to get it in and out. But it fits easily once in the end.
Right lets start fixing the minor faults, indicator out and number plate lights not working, all bad connections and easily fixed, just took time. Welcome to the world of Ferrari parts, the black plastic number plate light housings were goosed, how much!!!!!!!!!!!!…………sod that I’ll fix the old ones (thanks anyway Malc)……..Andrewg has some spare old ones in good nick, cheers mate. Sunroof is goosed, not bothered yet, air con needs regassing, S&S can fettle that nearer the summer(if we get one).
Checked the engine out, seemed ok, no smoke, just a very slight oil leak(I can live with that). I’m a plant fitter by trade and am ok with engines and gearboxes, but petrol injection systems are not my forte so it’s due to go and get tuned up soon.
275 miles so far……..no oil use or water use
Costs so far;
Metric tyre for spare £130
2 bulbs £1.20
Juice £57
Indoor cover (its always damp up here) £35
Enjoyment factor,,,,,immense
Merciless piss taking from the wife for going outside “to stroke my ickle baby”……..priceless
Help and advice from all on here….again, priceless, thanks to all of you.
I`ll try and keep the running report going over the year.
IT’S A FERRARI ,ITS RED ,ITS IN MY GARAGE AND ITS BLOODY WELL MINE………………amazing feeling, still grinning.
Cheers all