Tuesday 5th July 2011

PH Carpool: Maserati 4200 GT

The car David Jones always promised himself. And it wasn't a Capri...

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David Jones (aka limpsfield) tells Carpool how to buy a Maser the wrong way... and get away with it

*****

"To start-off my Maserati ownership experience, I have to wind the clock back far too many years. I think that, like many people, although the car I want next changes far too frequently, there are always one or two that remain on the 'to buy' list.

"For me it was a Maserati coupe. It's hard to put into words just how many times over the years I would look online at used 3200/4200s - I had it bookmarked on my browser and in no week was complete without a bit of 'Maser time'.

"Then when prices dropped to a more achievable level there was the famous curse of Maserati to consider, the old adage that the cheapest part of Maserati ownership is buying the car... But in June last year I had the all-important 'sod it' moment, sold my Alfa 156 and started shopping for one of my dream cars.

"This is how you don't do it: I bought the first one I saw, and without even an inspection. It had loads of history; the owner seemed like a decent guy - a lawyer with James May as a client. This was clearly fate. With a bit of buyer's remorse a week later, I took it to a respected independent, Autofficina, who gave it the once-over, ran some diagnostics and gave it a clean bill of health.

"In the first couple of weeks I was convinced I had made a mistake. The thing just seemed like it wanted to kill me in terms of speed and I really struggled with the flappy paddle gear box, so left it in auto for a few days, which isn't a particularly pleasant experience. Early one evening I went for a long drive down the A3 and it finally all clicked - I finally understood the flappys and my right foot learned degrees of subtlety previous not required.

"One of the criticisms of the Maserati is that it is perhaps not sure what it wants to be; is it continent-hopping GT like a DB9 - or a proper sports car like, say, a 911? It can sit in the middle ground being one thing or another - until the "Sport" button is pressed. I have done a few 500-mile round trips to North Wales and this is where you can make the most of the split personality. Effortless mile-munching up the M40 and then, when you hit the A5 and the endless roundabouts, the 'sport' mode means a glorious sound, stiffer suspension and more stability around the bends.

"With two seats in the back I often think it's all the sports car you ever need - assuming you can get along with a small boot and being genuinely amazed to see an mpg figure in the early 20s (which I don't very often - normally late teens).

"Problems? Of course! There was a painful (emotionally, psychologically and, er, wallet-ally) period towards the end of last year where a couple of hard-to-diagnose problems meant that it made a few trips to the garage. And then we come to the infamous Italian electrics. About three times the sat-nav has reverted to its native tongue (although she is a very friendly-sounding Italian). And occasionally the car forgets that its seat and mirrors are electric. But with wonderful forethought, Maserati has installed its very own 'ctrl-alt-delete' button next to the battery, which isolates it and resets the system, solving the little glitches.

"For most of my ownership it has run like a dream. But I have moved house recently and, with three cars in the family but limited parking, it is time for some rationalisation - so both the Maserati and my Lotus are up for sale with the view to selling one of them. I have had the Lotus for three years, so part of me feels that it is time for that one to go, and a few more thousand miles to be covered in the 4200.

"If you are thinking of buying one, like I was, don't waste years doing nothing about it. If they have been looked-after and if you get an inspection, they do not have to be the troublesome prospect that internet opinion would have it.

"Yes, you would be stupid to try and run one on a shoestring, so apart from servicing I think it would make sense to budget for the odd shocker of a bill just north of £1000 from time to time. But for the money they are a wonderful experience. For the stat-obsessed Top Trumps fans I am sure Maserati gets overlooked. There is always something faster, more clinical, just better...on paper at least. But they, of course, are not Maseratis. If you can get one, then you should - if even only for a short time."

[TACottle]

Good article, lovely motor.

I've always been quite fond of Maserati's.

In fact, my #1 dream car is a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT-S. In black.

Perhaps in a few years time I could achieve the same as you've done, albeit with a Quattroporte!

Keep the Maser dude

[nouze]

Bloody great cars, this is what everyone should be obsessing about not Alfas.

[wackojacko]

Alot of car for the money.

[Dagnut]

nouze said:

Bloody great cars, this is what everyone should be obsessing about not Alfas.

I don't get the Alfa thing at all..but this is magic

[blindswelledrat]

Good write up. Reminds me of my own experience (except you missed the bit about driving through a massive hadge).
Although I could not, for the life of me, tell ths slightest difference between sport mode on and off.

[anonymous-user]

My nextdoor neighbours got one of these, and it's a great looking(and sounding!) car, but it makes me laugh everytime i hear it(selespeed stupidspeed) try to match engine rpm and clutch bite point as he pull's off his drive. it's like a "1st lesson" BSM learner trying to get going........ ;-)

[anonymous-user]

blindswelledrat said:

driving through a massive hadge).

wow, that sounds like something NOT to be missed.......

[blindswelledrat]

Max_Torque said:

blindswelledrat said:

driving through a massive hadge).

wow, that sounds like something NOT to be missed.......

Id had it for 5 days and it was my dream car at the time.
18k damage.
Absolutely typical 'person who has watched too much top gear thinking he can recreate controlled sliding out of corners' :embarrassed:

[slevin911]

lovely car also the best write up in the car pool so far!!!

[DonkeyApple]

'I have done a few 500-mile round trips to North Wales'



Oh yes it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)


PS Ditch the Lotus, David.

[johnpeat]

I used to see a 3200GT (original replete with funky LED lights) regularly and it's such a lovely thing to see in-the-flesh (against being somewhat dowdy in pictures)...

They have a real presence and a sense of quality which too many high-end cars lack nowadays. Not really the sort of car I'd ever own but it's a pleasure seeing other people do so and long may it continue...

What is Italian for 'Vive le Difference?'

[Nors]

Absolutely love Maserati's, I'm definately going after one in the next couple of years! Keep the unreliability stories going though, so that the "establishment" stays away and these get into my pricing territory!

I'd definately keep this over the Lotus (have a soft spot for them too though)

[limpsfield]

Thanks for all the positive comments so far. I apologise for most of the boring pictures - as someone says below these cars look much better in the flesh.

TACottle said:

Perhaps in a few years time I could achieve the same as you've done, albeit with a Quattroporte!

I think the QP is a much more polished car again and a fantastic choice. That review on TG a while back against I think the Aston Rapide and the Porsche Panamera summed up the whole Maserati thing for me - the other cars were technically better but that's the one that wins your heart.

blindswelledrat said:

Although I could not, for the life of me, tell ths slightest difference between sport mode on and off.

It took me a while to be honest. The most noticeable difference I think is in the suspension set up and the impact Sport has on handling. Normal is fine on a motorway but if you push on through some country roads it feels like a wallowy Mercedes or something and Sport noticeably changes this

DonkeyApple said:

'I have done a few 500-mile round trips to North Wales'

Oh yes it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)

if only they made a four wheel drive one, those sheep couldn't get away across the fields..

[jains15]

Dagnut said:

nouze said:

Bloody great cars, this is what everyone should be obsessing about not Alfas.

I don't get the Alfa thing at all..but this is magic

I think a good proportion of Alfisti (vast majority?) would bite their right arm off for a Maser so I think that's a little harsh. Alfa and Maser are cut from similar (but far more expensive in the case of Maserati) cloth in my opinion.

Maybe what I'm saying is that for a lot of people who like Alfa's and Maserati's equally (I am one of them) only Alfa's are an affordable day to day prospect. OK I'll come right out with it, I'm too poor for a Maser and my Alfa is as close as I can get (in my opinion).

Back on topic, I love this car and well done to the OP for biting the bullet and buying one, I have my beady eyes on a Gran Tourismo in a few (Many LOL) years time for all the reason which you list. Although the missus is obsessing over a 3200 with the 'boomerang' lights I'm always catching her on AutoTrader! And if I was in your shoes, I'd be selling the Lotus definitely.

Great article, great car

[LukeSi]

Don't yah just love the "oh sod it" moments in life. Its just looking at your bank balance after that makes you think "erm was that a bad idea"

[VladD]

David Jones said:

"One of the criticisms of the Maserati is that it is perhaps not sure what it wants to be; is it continent-hopping GT like a DB9 - or a proper sports coupe like, say, a 911?

EFA. Small, two seater convertible, I think not.

[limpsfield]

VladD said:

EFA. Small, two seater convertible, I think not.

you have lost me there.

[Dr G]

OK factheads; what's the steering wheel nicked from? It's bugging me!

[VladD]

limpsfield said:

VladD said:

EFA. Small, two seater convertible, I think not.

you have lost me there.

A sportscar is a small, two seater convertible. Neither the Maser or the 911 are sports cars, they are sports coupes. MX5s and Lotus Elises are sports cars. Pretty basic PH stuff really.

[limpsfield]

VladD said:

limpsfield said:

VladD said:

EFA. Small, two seater convertible, I think not.

you have lost me there.

A sportscar is a small, two seater convertible. Neither the Maser or the 911 are sports cars, they are sports coupes. MX5s and Lotus Elises are sports cars. Pretty basic PH stuff really.

Knock yourself out this afternoon editing this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car

A sports car is a small, usually two seat automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability.[1] Sports cars have been either spartan or luxurious, but good handling, minimum weight, and high performance are requisite.[2]