Ferrari Mailing List: 612 or Pamamera or whatever new

[Rick (rolindsay]

Hi Friends,

I've followed the 612 thread (casually) and have enjoyed (a little of) the back-and-forth opinions. I've also driven it's Teutonic cousin, the Panamera and although it drives like a P-bug, visibility is aweful - worse than a Jaguar XJS! Given all the talk here, and given the discussion, my choice for an adequately quick family Ferrari, would be a Mondial QV! ...or given the cost difference to the 612, SIX of them.

Why a Mondial QV over a 412 or similar? Maintenance. One can restore a Mondial for the price of an Ferrari V12 engine rebuild! And the casual observer, outside of our community, can't tell one from the other. Then again, that's just my opinion and you know I like the under-loved Mondials.

A bigger issue that I have come to believe, concerns the rarity of unique parts for newer limited production cars, be they Ferraris, Lambos, or whatever. My friend Neil Shannon has a Mondial T, with (essentially) the 348 drivetrain. One of the car's two MAFs is dodgy. It has some kind of open or shorted circuit inside that causes it to go wonky at times. (Notice the correct use of the technical term?!) Anyway, that part is very hard to find today and quite costly if/when found. The car is 24 years old. 

In another 24 years, imagine the scenario where one owns one of today's limited production car and nothing happens when the 'push to start' button does nothing! Will that unique engine management computer be available as a replacement part? If not, can you say, "parts car"? I know I'm an old fart and I like my old mechanical, and ultimately rebuildable, cars but do you see my point? I just don't want to own anything newer than a 328.

-rick