RE: Spotted: Maserati 3200 GT

[johnnyBv8]

Nigel_O said:

my own Fiat Coupe is notably faster

[blindswelledrat]

johnnyBv8 said:

Nigel_O said:

my own Fiat Coupe is notably faster

You and I might need to eat our words a touch.
A 450 bhp Fiat Coupe!!!!

[13Bee]

Nigel_O said:

its badge carries far less kudos and it's still FWD,

Haha

I used to think my Fiat Coupe [with notably tuned suspension] went round corners.....

[Nigel_O]

blindswelledrat said:

You and I might need to eat our words a touch.
A 450 bhp Fiat Coupe!!!!

I did make a point of saying MY Fiat Coupe, rather than Fiat Coupes in general...

It was mapped and dyno'd last saturday at 452bhp with maxxed injectors - should be good for another 20bhp once I've upped the injectors to 630cc

However, if fuel costs were taken out of the equation, I know which car I'd prefer to drive out of the 3200 and my Coupe - I love being a bit left-field with my car choice and the 3200 is just SO dramatic and different.

It's only the running costs that stops me aiming for one.

[johnnyBv8]

blindswelledrat said:

You and I might need to eat our words a touch.
A 450 bhp Fiat Coupe!!!!

Ha, didn't see that! I thought Nigel O was referring to a standard Fiat coupe. That said, I can't say I fancy 440bhp through a front wheel drive car designed to cope with half that! I had a Fiat coupe and loved it, but standard or modified, there really is still no comparison in my opinion. A natural progression though - a lot of people come from Alfa GTV V6s too.

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Friday 10th February 10:24

[geoffracing]

Although I like most Maseratis,
except the angular Bi-Turbo,
I do find this one rather soft, stodgy in shape, and the rear isn't nice with its sad drooping indicators.
It doesn't have enough Italian spice (visually-speaking).

[moreflaps]

redgriff500 said:

The car I want isn't made.

I'd like a reliable, better built Cerbera with a bit more room in the back.

I bought a Monaro thinking it might do - TVResque it is NOT.

I have the money to buy a £100k car but I don't earn much these days so I'm unwilling to spend too much and I cover few miles so a budget of £15k ish.

I think the 4200GT is a bit too GT to be ideal but is the closest I can find.

Dad has an Auto 456 and I certainly don't want that.

What about a gransport then?

Cheers

[Nigel_O]

13Bee said:

Haha

I used to think my Fiat Coupe [with notably tuned suspension] went round corners.....

Coupes are surprisingly good round the bends once a few choice mods have been applied. My last Coupe won the FWD handling class at Ten of the Best twice, and would have come in the top ten in the RWD class. It would certainly be faster round a twisty handling course than a 3200GT.

[13Bee]

Nigel_O said:

Coupes are surprisingly good round the bends once a few choice mods have been applied.

If you say so!

I guess that's fair enough racing against Tigras Civics and Corsas - Well known for their cornering skills

[kazino]

Love the car, the non blingyness of the brand and the best rear lights ever

[Gorbyrev]

Mr Nigel O - I am sure I am not alone in wanting to see pics of the offending 450hp Bangle Coupe. Always had a soft spot for the sheer madness of the offcut wheelarches and the Kermit the Frog face. Still a Fiat 5 pot? (know this is off topic so perhaps another thread is in order!)

[Chris1973]

Love the rear lights, and it looks great with in yellow with the black wheels. They had something in this month's Evo mag about them, including some ideas of the running costs. It was enough to put me off!

Mr Nigel O, I too would like to see a photo of the coupe. Whats it like pulling away from wet icy junctions?

[redgriff500]

moreflaps said:

redgriff500 said:

The car I want isn't made.

I'd like a reliable, better built Cerbera with a bit more room in the back.

I bought a Monaro thinking it might do - TVResque it is NOT.

I have the money to buy a £100k car but I don't earn much these days so I'm unwilling to spend too much and I cover few miles so a budget of £15k ish.

I think the 4200GT is a bit too GT to be ideal but is the closest I can find.

Dad has an Auto 456 and I certainly don't want that.

What about a gransport then?

Cheers

Realistically £10k over budget and with the (low) mileage I do I can't justify the extra cost / depreciation.

[David A]

redgriff500 said:

Realistically £10k over budget and with the (low) mileage I do I can't justify the extra cost / depreciation.

My stock answer - 4200 Spyder CC, tubi exhaust. Bit over budget and still a bit GT but with the roof off in summer or winter lots of fun & kudos

[GingerNinja]

Mate of mine owned a 4200 - lovely thing, and possibly one of the few 2+2's where the +2 is genuinely useable. I went from Surrey to Cornwall in the backseat and was pretty comfortable....and I'm 6'1"

I'm amazed nobody does a banana light conversion for the 4200's - you'd think everyone would get that done.....

[johnnyBv8]

David A said:

My stock answer - 4200 Spyder CC, tubi exhaust. Bit over budget and still a bit GT but with the roof off in summer or winter lots of fun & kudos

More room in the back in a 2 seater than a Cerb?!

[redgriff500]

GingerNinja said:

I'm amazed nobody does a banana light conversion for the 4200's - you'd think everyone would get that done.....

As already mentioned new the lights alone are approx £2k !

I'd guess a conversion using new parts would cost over £5k maybe worthwhile when new but no chance at this price level.

[V6Alfisti]

redgriff500 said:

The car I want isn't made.

I'd like a reliable, better built Cerbera with a bit more room in the back.

I bought a Monaro thinking it might do - TVResque it is NOT.

I have the money to buy a £100k car but I don't earn much these days so I'm unwilling to spend too much and I cover few miles so a budget of £15k ish.

I think the 4200GT is a bit too GT to be ideal but is the closest I can find.

Dad has an Auto 456 and I certainly don't want that.

Similar situation to you redgriff500.

I drove a 4200 recently and it is definitely a bit too GT and somehow didn't leave me walking away with a feeling of desire or need. Apparently the Gransport resolves alot of the 4200's issues but I think they are massively overpriced (retail) and due a big fall, considering some manual 4200's are going for 10-11k for a2004 with 50-60k on the clock, despite the 14k-18k 4200's that have stuck on Autotrader for an age.

Same with the Gransport, one recently popped on at 16k and sold within two weeks, unlike those stuck at 23-24k that have been up for at least 6 months. Most buyers aren't stupid!

The 3200 biggest selling point for me is the engine (power delivery) and rear lights, but another of it's biggest failings is also it's engine (reliability, belt changes). I am not afraid of supposed unreliable cars but the 3200 is definitely in the "very scary" category if you buy one that is anything less than perfect.

I can only think of a Tuscan that really pushes my buttons and it's just a matter of finding one for reasonable money with a recent rebuild from the likes of TVR Power.

V8 Vantages are nice, but Tuscan excites me more. Most German cars bore me to tears, although the 993 drove nicely...the Tuscan still excites me more!.

Spider 4200 with Tubi exhaust would be quite an experience - Agreed

[V6Alfisti]

GingerNinja said:

Mate of mine owned a 4200 - lovely thing, and possibly one of the few 2+2's where the +2 is genuinely useable. I went from Surrey to Cornwall in the backseat and was pretty comfortable....and I'm 6'1"

I'm amazed nobody does a banana light conversion for the 4200's - you'd think everyone would get that done.....

They do!

http://www.francoauto.nl/achterlicht-ombouw/ not cheap though.

[CraigVmax]

quite expensive from memory