Good morning! It’s Friday, and I’m going to chuck the price cap right out the window today and look at a rather cheap Ferrari, and a rather expensive Buick. What’s the connection between the two? If you’ve already guessed, you get a gold star. If not, I’ll tell you in a minute.
I’ve often been curious what it would take to get 100% of you to vote for one car or the other. That wasn’t my goal yesterday, but I think it’s the closest we’ve ever come. The Cimarron’s high price and poor presentation had you running in the opposite direction, and the Catera won in what might be our most lopsided result yet.


Between these two specific cars, it’s a no-brainer win for the Catera. It’s newer, nicer, in better shape, and has much lower mileage. But I have to be honest: I’d much rather have a really nice Cimarron than a really nice Catera. But that is not a really nice Cimarron.
Now then: Any guesses on the musical connection between these two cars?
It’s Thomas Dolby. More specifically, his 1988 album Aliens Ate My Buick, the lead track of which is “The Key To Her Ferrari.” It’s a weird album, even by Dolby’s standards, and the first and last tracks (the last is titled “Budapest By Blimp“) are by far the best. It’s one of those albums that I just have to listen to once in a while, and I think I might be due to give it another spin. So in honor of it, I chose the cheapest viable Ferrari I could find, and just for fun, a Buick that costs more. Let’s check them out.
1985 Ferrari Mondial QV Cabriolet – $39,500

Engine/drivetrain: 2.9-liter dual overhead cam V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Astoria, NY
Odometer reading: 65,000 miles
Operational status: “It runs and drives, but should not be considered truly roadworthy without mechanical servicing”
I don’t think there’s a gearhead my age who didn’t dream of owning a Ferrari when they were young. I know I did. Between Magnum P.I., Miami Vice, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and all the countless magazine articles, posters, toys, model kits, and more, we were inundated with the mythos of the prancing horse. On some level, we all knew they were troublesome, a feeling that has since been confirmed by the lucky few who managed to live the dream. But that doesn’t stop the wanting, especially when you see a Mondial like this for less than forty grand.

At the heart of the Mondial is a tiny V8, mounted transversely behind the rear seats. This one is a Quattrovalvole, “four valves” if you couldn’t guess, displacing 2.9 liters. The transmission is a five-speed manual, of course, with a gated shifter and a “dogleg” gear pattern. That shifter alone was the stuff of dreams; I have yet to drive a Ferrari with one, but someday I will guide that slender lever through its gates. Maybe if I go back to England someday, Adrian will let me drive his. This one runs and drives, but the seller says it is due for “service,” probably meaning a timing belt. Expect to drop a few grand more before you get to enjoy it.

There’s a reason that this Ferrari is the price it is: it definitely has some flaws. Scuffs in the leather, missing carpet in the footwell, and lots of other little signs of wear and tear tell the tale of its 65,000 miles. Personally, I think that’s a good thing; this is a car meant to be driven, not stashed away in some climate-controlled bubble.

It has a few flaws outside too, most notably a missing side-marker light lens on the left front, and some scuffs in the bumper. But again, who cares? It’s an almost-affordable Ferrari, and not one highly sought-after by collectors. Fix up the mechanics, keep it clean and tidy, and enjoy it. It’s what Mr. Ferrari would have wanted.
1987 Buick Grand National – $49,995

Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 3.8-liter overhead valve V6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Odometer reading: 78,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Speaking of cars that shouldn’t be babied or left to languish in storage, here we have a final-year General Motors G-body coupe. Eighty percent of it is the same as the beat-up Cutlass Supreme that my college friend Bill drove. But paint it black, slap a turbocharger on the 3.8-liter V6, and give it a mean stance, and it becomes a legend.

You could actually order the turbocharged V6 in any ’87 Regal, even the grandma-spec landau roof version. And of course, 1987 was also the year of the ultimate G-body coupe, the astonishing GNX. But you won’t touch one of those for less than Super Bowl Halftime Show money. For the rest of us, Buick built plenty of “ordinary” Grand Nationals. This one has just had an engine overhaul, a new turbo, and a bunch of other mechanical work. The seller says they wouldn’t hesitate to drive it across the country, and personally, I think that would be a fun road trip.

One look at the Grand National’s interior will tell you this is a car of the people. It has a few special bits, like bucket seats, a center console, and a cool three-spoke steering wheel, but the dash is standard-issue Regal, complete with a wide speedometer that only goes to 85. It’s almost as if Buick wanted people to bury that needle on the far side, just to be able to say they did. It’s in nice condition, but not so nice that you can’t (carefully) hit a McDonald’s drive-thru with it. The seller notes that there is a small tear in the rear seat, and the tachometer doesn’t work. You don’t need it with an automatic, anyway.

If you wanted any color other than black, you had to order a Regal T-Type instead of a Grand National. But why would you do that? This car looks so good, so purposeful, that it would look silly in any other color. This one has been repainted, and it looks great. It sounds like the seller isn’t afraid to drive this car, and doesn’t expect anyone else to be, either. It’s a refreshing change from the “keep it perfect forever” mentality that too often goes along with cars like this.
Obviously these are out of reach for most of us, but just imagine you hit it big on a lottery ticket, or inherited some money with the stipulation that you spend it on something just for you. Which one are you going for?
I’ve lost track of prices, but the GN seems overpriced. I love Italian cars and the Mondial is, thankfully, not the predictable and awful shade of red 95% of Ferraris are sold in, but I still don’t want it. I really like the G-bodies (except the Grand Prix) and, if I had a collection, a T-Type would be one of the few US cars in it . . . which this car might have the steering wheel of.
With just finishing one college tuition bill and another just starting I can’t afford either but it’s play money so it’s the G.N. every day of the week.I was 16 in 1987 and they were the coolest car next to a LX 5.0.
I would say the Grand National if it was about 1/2 the price, but as it stands I just can’t get behind either of these for the prices. Knock at least 10k off the Mondial and maybe, but no thank you.
I appreciate and admire the Ferrari. But knowing what I already do, reinforced by our dear Goth Uncle’s experience with his own Mondial, I must respectfully decline it and give in to my practical Yank sensibilities (such as they are…) and choose Darth Vader’s grocery-getter.
It’s not a GNX, but GNX bits plus others can wake it up a bit more without overspending too terribly. As-is, it can still be a great car for road trips. I’ve driven later, better six-cylinder performance power from GM — which didn’t always need forced induction– but this package is where it essentially started. I can respect that. Even if the body and interior design and quality are, ahem, dated, to say the least, it was from a time when at least some parts of GM were trying to do better. It’s a time capsule from an interesting period and I’m good with that.
Flat-plane V8 and a convertible, all in one package for under $40k? I’ll take it. I imagine it’s due for some kind of service involving full disassembly and several bars of gold, but that’s the price of the flat-plane convertible experience.
Am I feeling more like Tom Selleck or Cletus the Slack Jawed Yokel (after he won the lottery) today?
I want to imagine I project the visage of Magnum, PI. Then I look in the mirror and realize I’m closer to Cletus.
Might as well buy the car that fits. Even if it’s a bonkers price for a hopped up G-body.
On the other hand: we are who we pretend to be.
I don’t want to find out what’s wrong with the non-special Ferrari so the GN wins by default. The fresh engine and Turbo are the cherry on top.
Now, I need to get myself a denim jacket and a mullet…
I have to admit that I voted with a hypothetical in mind: What if I were a bachelor instead of a married man with a kid? Because my heart wants that Ferrari and it wants to spend a month worth of free time going over it in my garage and learning to service it myself.
Given my current lack of free time, the right answer is “neither” but if I had to pick one, I’d pick the one that is ready to go.
Mannnnnn anyone who is voting for the Buick, I really hope that someday you have the opportunity to drive or ride in one. It’s the #1 most underwhelming car I’ve ever experienced, in relation to it’s hype. The engine? It’s good. Not mind blowing. But really what made it awesome was it’s era, and the fact that most other ‘new cars’ had garbage engines. But compared to musclecar engines, it’s worse. Doesn’t sound as good, doesn’t have instant torque, parts are more expensive, etc etc etc.
And the rest of the car? It suuuuuccckkkkkssss. The interior is awful. The build quality is awful. The handling is awful.
I honestly feel like the internet hype around the GN has been built up by people who’ve never even been in one before.
I realized some of that. But a refreshed engine and a new turbo means you won’t need to worry about the most expensive parts of a GN. The transmission is a standard issue 200-4R, those are cheap if ever needed.
I don’t really want to find out what’s wrong with a cheap non-special Ferrari, where absolutely everything is expensive and I guess many here thought the same. Yes give me a 5spd over a slushbox but not this one…
It’s a garbage ferrari, I get that. But man…. the GN is built up so hard, and after being in one and realizing it’s just another grandma 80s POS with some boost, I’m so over it.
At least if you got the ferrari you could tell people you owned a ferrari, and just don’t tell them it isn’t running or gets dusted by a minivan at a stoplight lol
Garbage Ferrari = Ferrari
Hell, I smoked a new ‘Vette in my 2020 CRV the other day, but it didn’t make me feel better about my Honda or him feel worse about his Corvette.
There is wisdom in this real-life observation.
lol he want racing you.
B20 + Boost?
Stipulating that the Buick is probably the smarter choice, I can’t get past the fact that it’s 50 grand for a not-beautiful car that makes Camry power and will be one of three at every car show, if that’s how you use it. If you buy the Ferrari, the spare 10K might get it mechanically sorted and then you have yourself a by-god Ferrari.
I read Uncle Goth’s article about Ferrari service and $10k might be a bit wishful but I agree with your sentiment.
It’s hard to know what you’re up against until you get in there, but I can’t stress enough that a knowledgeable expert can save you time, effort, and money, just by knowing what to look for. If I’d known then what I know now, I’d have paid half and had mine back in a month rather than let the neighborhood shop chase their tails for three years. It didn’t sound like Adrian was interested in (or maybe could afford) this approach, leading to him resigning to sell and move on, but I won’t be selling mine until I can’t fold myself into the driver’s seat.
Exactly right. The right shop (not neighborhood ding-dongs, not the dealership, but an actual specialist in exotics) will have you up and running and worry-free for the expected initial investment. And there were only 629 QV cabs made, so the likelihood that you’ll be “one of three” is functionally zero–indeed, most people have never seen one in person and many of those have never heard the name Mondial, so you never run out of happy well-wishers!
I am dumbfounded by the price tag of that Buick. This isn’t a very desirable car. It is ugly. The interior is typical ’80s crap. It isn’t even particularly fast compared to modern cars. I highly doubt it handles well. It also has a damn 4 speed automatic.
Honestly, is the $50k price tag a joke? Did they intend to list it for $15k and someone misheard the price?
You are correct. The market is ridiculous and doesn’t make sense. It’s definitely the worst ‘cool’ car I’ve ever been in. Everything about it is awful except the engine, and honestly that didn’t live up to the hype either.
The reality is that most cars in the 80s were total shit, and the GN had a decent engine better than most, but it’s still a shit car with a shit transmission.
Grand National all the way.
For fun, look up the 0-60 and quarter-mile times of both cars–the Buick smokes the Ferrari, and has a trunk for groceries, too.
Mondials are cool, but this Flint native picks “fast with class” every time. We’ll take the GN.
big price difference … but a road worthy car vs a car that needs mechanical work is an easy choice … and you surmise that the timing belt is the issue on that silver car, but my guess would be that if it was just that, the ad would say as much … no?
As much as I would love a Ferrari, my work sells everything needed to make that GN just about mint again for a fair enough investment so that probably sways me. It honestly helps that it runs well, I spent a whole summer working to get a trio of turbo 3.8s running right, to be fair one was a turbo carbureted 82 and that was not a very fun time.
The Mondial was in the running for the Worst Car in the History of the World on Top Gear, wasn’t it? I think that was the episode where they finally chose the Lexus SC430.
The only good thing about the Mondial is the connection to Weird Science and the fact that it *might* sound cool if it runs and Kelly LeBrock might show up. It was a bad Ferrari when new.
The GN. OMG. As a child of the 80s, this car was badass every time you saw one. Legen…….dary! The only thing that came close after that was the Syclone and Typhoon. I grew up in mid-Michigan so American GM cars that would lay waste to just about everything, and looked seriously badass, were heavily revered.
GN all day for me.
Given a choice between two “sports” cars, where one is manual & one is automatic, the manual pretty much…automatically wins.
There’s an excellent YouTube channel that produced quite a few videos about working on Ferraris (& Porsches as well as some other cars) called Heidi and Franny’s Garage though they’ve recently changed to Heidi and Franny Sailing but they still have their extremely well-done car repair videos up on their channel.
https://youtube.com/@heidiandfranny?si=TvMCjmfUVFxuxOdY
Among other topics they had some really good videos about choosing, installing, and using lifts which I watched even though I do not have a garage and only have a driveway, lol.
So, anyway, I’d get the Ferrari, despite its silver color, and hit up the Ferrari repair videos on that channel.
Mondial for me but I am a Ferrari guy. Looks like it could still be on the original metric Michelin TRX size tires. They are expensive to replace now so a set of aftermarket wheels might be a must for someone who wants to use it regularly.
Correct! The only way a Mondial gets the concours treatment is if it’s got four-digit mileage, so drivable beats OEM any day of the week. And at the end of the day everybody knows it’s still a Ferrari, and in my experience the only people who talk trash are on the internet.
I’ve driven examples of both and the Ferrari drives awesome. But the Mondial won’t appreciate much (if any) and maintenance costs will bankrupt the owner, even if they do all the wrenching themselves.
Everything appreciates if you wait long enough. At some point people are going to realize this is the cheap ticket to entry for Ferrari ownership. The Dino was derided as the cheap Ferrari and now it’s fetching collector car values.
Few cars are as expensive as a cheap Ferrari. So despite the lovely gated manual and sweet music the 3L Italian V8 would make the 9 days of the year it is running correctly, I have to go Buick by default.
Gimme the Buick! More reliable, more comfortable, less mid-life crisis on a budget vibe, and it is faster to sixty by a decent amount.
The Ferrari doesn’t stir my soul like the Buick. I’ve always loved this era of GM car. My dad had a 1979 Cutlass as his second car (after his 1964.5 Mustang and before his 1984 Sunbird convertible) so I heard about them a lot. Looked hard at a 1984 Hurst Cutlass as a first car for myself. Drooled over Grand Nationals of all types. Built many a silly Monte Carlo SS in video games. I’d never drop fifty large on one of these, but in this match up there was never a second of thought.
The Ferrari was a let down from a brand that was expected to do more, to do better, and there is a reason it is cheap. The Buick was a ludicrous idea that defied brand expectations that no one asked for or really needed and there is a valid reason it is so expensive.
The Mondial is not the Ferrari I’ve ever wanted, and neither is the Buick, but adding GNX bits to the base Grand National is cheaper, and arguably more responsible than daily driving a true GNX. The Mondial will never be a 308 GTB, no matter how much money I throw at it.
The GN is your grandmothers car with a paint job and a turbo. BORING!
Ferrari for me, and I would do my own wrenching and just drive it and wear it out, service receipts be damned. I’m not buying it to make some Italian Ferrari techs rich, I’m buying it to drive and enjoy.
I have a neighbor with a Testarossa rotting in his garage, never started or moved in over a decade. Complete waste.
Well, what the hell. I just bought a 20′ trailer so after I get the winch installed I’ll be able to tow it home myself.
It’s not the Ferrari I’ve always wanted, but hey, it’s a step in that direction. (Whether it’s a good step or a bad step remains to be seen…)
So today was a good financial challenge as they both will cost the same at the end of the day. And for me it was the ferrari because Magnum PI and that mustache.