RE: Maserati Biturbo: Catch it while you can
Discussion
A very good friend of mine ran an early 90's (H reg?) red Bi Turbo Spyder back in 1999/2000 bought from a classic car dealer in Hindhead. I remember picking it up with him. £12K for a concours winning car. I doubt you could've found a better conditioned Spyder at the time.
When the door handles worked and you could get in it and if it ran it was an enjoyable car. Massively flawed but enjoyable. It had power but the delivery of it seemed removed from the throttle and it was a wallowy barge that wobbled its way through the corners. It can't recall now but there was an optional suspension package that was a must for these cars. His had it but was still quite a barge.
None the less it had a great sense of occasion.
I'll echo what someone else said above that parts were seemingly impossible to source and the trim was for ever falling off. I recall door handles, dash parts and seat adjustment being a constant weakness.
Sounded quite fruity too - until it was realised the "fastidious concours" previous owner had botched a sleeve to fix a blowing exhaust with a load of white paste and it was blowing. Turns out the exhaust was virtually unobtainable outside of Italy and you could only get the entire system at a cost of £2000 plus shipping and fitting. Hence I guess this guys preference for a botch.
There was always something electrical not working whether it be starter, clocks, dash switches, lights etc. and it frequently left him stranded or us taking another car to go out.
However he lost a lot of money on it. Aside the initial purchase price he spent almost half the cost again in keeping it on the road for a year or two before selling it for a mere £6K.
It was a magnet for the ladies though! Nothing quite like turning up clubbing in a convertible Maserati. We had a fair bit of fun with that car
Fun though we had with it I couldn’t recommend it. I'd be looking elsewhere if I were looking for this kind of motoring.
When the door handles worked and you could get in it and if it ran it was an enjoyable car. Massively flawed but enjoyable. It had power but the delivery of it seemed removed from the throttle and it was a wallowy barge that wobbled its way through the corners. It can't recall now but there was an optional suspension package that was a must for these cars. His had it but was still quite a barge.
None the less it had a great sense of occasion.
I'll echo what someone else said above that parts were seemingly impossible to source and the trim was for ever falling off. I recall door handles, dash parts and seat adjustment being a constant weakness.
Sounded quite fruity too - until it was realised the "fastidious concours" previous owner had botched a sleeve to fix a blowing exhaust with a load of white paste and it was blowing. Turns out the exhaust was virtually unobtainable outside of Italy and you could only get the entire system at a cost of £2000 plus shipping and fitting. Hence I guess this guys preference for a botch.
There was always something electrical not working whether it be starter, clocks, dash switches, lights etc. and it frequently left him stranded or us taking another car to go out.
However he lost a lot of money on it. Aside the initial purchase price he spent almost half the cost again in keeping it on the road for a year or two before selling it for a mere £6K.
It was a magnet for the ladies though! Nothing quite like turning up clubbing in a convertible Maserati. We had a fair bit of fun with that car
Fun though we had with it I couldn’t recommend it. I'd be looking elsewhere if I were looking for this kind of motoring.
I think it was originally developed as a 3 series rival but in typical italian fashion they got a bit carried away. In it's day it was waaayyyy more special than any 3 series could ever be. As has already been said driving it there was alway this sense of occasion. It felt at the time really well put together although I soon found out that feeling was only skin deep.
Smooth, very fast, understated and with a great but subtle sound track. Just a shame bits kept falling off.
Smooth, very fast, understated and with a great but subtle sound track. Just a shame bits kept falling off.
Image purloined from eBay item number 201075956624
So it seems it was being pushed as 'tin box money' or that was spin to get the scribblers dribbling?
Surely the Italians would have rounded up a ton-35 to one hundred and forty?
That photo must've been taken on a private test track. There's not even a Prova plate on the front.
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 24th April 15:39
Always fancied a Spyder personally, despite their infamous handling quirks.
I think it was the 430 version of the Biturbo that inspired a memorable quote in a road test in Fast Lane magazine:
"The owner's manual describes the rear suspension as "independent". Rebellious would be a better word."
I think it was the 430 version of the Biturbo that inspired a memorable quote in a road test in Fast Lane magazine:
"The owner's manual describes the rear suspension as "independent". Rebellious would be a better word."
My first year at university (1989) and I saw someone's mum turn up for the day in one of these - perhaps my first MILF moment. Why did my parents have a Sierra (admittedly an XR4x4) and a Metro (an MG Metro which I'd run into the side of a bus about a year earlier!)?
I think my head would have to rule my heart on one of these Bitrubos, though. I'd have to be a much more competent and enthusiastic home mechanic to take one on.
I think my head would have to rule my heart on one of these Bitrubos, though. I'd have to be a much more competent and enthusiastic home mechanic to take one on.
The usual bulls
t abounds. The problem with Biturbos and their deritatives was the rejection of Maserati repositioning itself from the unsuccessful market position it was in before Biturbo and the early quality problems (especially with the U.S. versions).
I bought a 89 Spyder last year, and had trouble free 7000 km summer. A classic car bargain of the decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYYk4uEl2JQ&lis...
t abounds. The problem with Biturbos and their deritatives was the rejection of Maserati repositioning itself from the unsuccessful market position it was in before Biturbo and the early quality problems (especially with the U.S. versions).I bought a 89 Spyder last year, and had trouble free 7000 km summer. A classic car bargain of the decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYYk4uEl2JQ&lis...
Evo said:
Doubt it in the BTCC but I do remember a BiTurbo raced in the 1000kms at Silverstone when I was er a lot younger.
They did race in the BTCC, the recent ITV4 documentary showed them in the background a few times, think Roberto Giordanelli had something to do with the team. From memory they had a lot of teething troubles, surprise surprise, and it only raced sporadically.I really liked these as a kid and eventfully bought one in the mid 90s. It was a 87 E reg coupe in blue E969 CTF in case it's still alive. Pretty much bankrupted me. It was the first car I bought. I must have been mad.
In Italy they were about 13k so were more or less a 3 series rival. By the time they sold them in uk they were more like 25k for the coupe. They didnt sell well and were sold through an odd collection of dealers. Can't comment on how they were to drive new but mine was scary in the wet and the brakes were rubbish. Made a nice noise though and felt faster than it probably was. Interior was special and nothing fell off mine. After that I had a ghibl, spyder and 3200gt. All were better.
The later injection cars were supposed to be better. UK cars from 86 to 88 were 2.5l carbs, 89 on was 2.8 injection and could be told apart by thicker grill, rounded wing mirrors, wheels and badging. Italian cars were 2.0l carb then 2.0 injection for tax reasons.
I still have a soft spot for these and never found them ugly (4 door aside) more quirky and very 80s
In Italy they were about 13k so were more or less a 3 series rival. By the time they sold them in uk they were more like 25k for the coupe. They didnt sell well and were sold through an odd collection of dealers. Can't comment on how they were to drive new but mine was scary in the wet and the brakes were rubbish. Made a nice noise though and felt faster than it probably was. Interior was special and nothing fell off mine. After that I had a ghibl, spyder and 3200gt. All were better.
The later injection cars were supposed to be better. UK cars from 86 to 88 were 2.5l carbs, 89 on was 2.8 injection and could be told apart by thicker grill, rounded wing mirrors, wheels and badging. Italian cars were 2.0l carb then 2.0 injection for tax reasons.
I still have a soft spot for these and never found them ugly (4 door aside) more quirky and very 80s
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