Maserati 3200 or BM 645??

[neilmc73]

Anyone got any general advice on what I should go for out of the two cars above? I'll hav about 12k to spend. I've had several BM's over the years and would consider myself to be fairly loyal to them, however, after stumbling across the Meridian Modina showroom (Ferrari/Maserati) in the new forrest, my head was turned to the Maserati. I was surprised to see how much car you can get for your money from the 3200. Apart from the obvious fuel/ insurance cost etc, can anyone offer up any reasons why I should stay away from the 3200? I have a very good local garage I use for all my work/service etc and I can always source parts online. I have read that a 2001 is the one to go for. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Neil

[wackojacko]

I'd say 645i just for the looks and because well .... it's a V8 BM

[jimmy156]

From what i have read on here the 3200 has atronomical running costs. Niether will be cheap to run, but the BMW will have the running costs you would expect from a V8 bimmer and the 3200 will have the running costs you would expect from a V8 italian supercar.

[Jimbo.]

£12K buying the 3200GT is the cheap bit: running costs are best described as eye-watering, verging on obscene, no matter how good your local indie or your parts sourcing abilities.

[Phil Dicky]

Ive driven two 3200's and the power is very all or nothing from memory...i loved it but was to a daily driver and couldnt get comfy......
One thing it must have is the red key....its linked to the ECU without you cant get copies

[Steameh]

The 4200 is dropping down to the 12k levels now too, are they any less ruinous to run?

[poing]

If it's your only car then the BMW otherwise the Maserati.

[Veeayt]

wackojacko said:

I'd say 645i just for the looks

[neilmc73]

Thanks for all the info. I have looked into the 4200 also but don't think I can afford one. My wife has a diesel fiesta, so that does all the running around at little cost. The 5 series I have just now is more like a toy/hobby. I only do about 6000 miles a year, so I am trying to convince myself that the Maserati.

Thanks again

Neil

[bga]

If it's a toy/hobby then the Maserati every time for me. The BMW's are accomplished but not exiting to look at or drive.

[AndrewW-G]

The problem with sourcing parts online for a Maserati, is that very often there are no parts available, online or in person . . . the great clutch drought of 2006 springs to mind, where there were no clutch kits to be had in the UK and most of Europe, irrespective of whether you were buying them in person, from a dealer, online or simply praying to the great chicken in the sky to lay one for you. I know of at least two cars that spent a few months waiting for a run of them to be produced

The 3200's are better for spares than the Ghibli it replaced (for example, you cannot buy a new left hand headlight for a 96 GTA, as there are none left!), but it's still a bit interesting at times

[AndrewW-G]

Steameh said:

The 4200 is dropping down to the 12k levels now too, are they any less ruinous to run?

Less yes, but still not in the way that a realtivly high volume BMW is

[monthefish]

Of those two, the Maser is a lot cooler, but the BMW is probably the 'safer' bet.

I'd personally go for the Maser.

[neilmc73]

Thanks for all the feedback. I like the fact that you see very few Maserati's on the road, I can't actually remember seeing a 3200 at all apart from at a show, so as far as a head turner goes, the mas wins that battle. I think the 645 is a classy big machine, especially now that even the topliss ones are coming down to my
price range. I think the thought of owning an "Italian Supercar" is to big an opportunity for someone like me....who shouldn't have a supercar!

[theironduke]

Maser. Definitely the Maser.

You'll be able to say "shall we take the Maserati darling?"

Full of win!!!

[jonah35]

645 to avoid eye watering costs.

see my 'most unreliable car' thread where a few said the maser.

my only memory of a 3200 was going to an birthday party in one when they were brand new. The car didn't start!

[stewjohnst]

Phil Dicky said:

Ive driven two 3200's and the power is very all or nothing from memory...i loved it but was to a daily driver and couldnt get comfy......
One thing it must have is the red key....its linked to the ECU without you cant get copies

Alternatively, buy one without and just don't lose the keys you have...

Brother bought one without a red key (Maserati replacement cost £2,000 - useful to know when haggling) and ran for 18 months without losing his spare keys. Although, that said, 3200's can be enough of a gamble as it is.

[Gold]

Stretch to a Merc SL500?

[neilmc73]

I like the thought of driving into a carpark and someone saying to their mate "what kinda car is that, is it a jag" and then them seeing the back and saying "god, it's a maserati". I always considered a maserati in the ferrari/lambo bracket. I accept that the 3200 doesn't come close to these but, having a ten year old car that costs the same as a 3 year old mondeo but, cost nearly 70k when it was new, does it for me. My wife is letting me do my own thing...she doesn't know they do 16mpg. Given that I live in Argyll in the west coast of Scotland, it would actually cost me a fiver to drive to the nearest petrol station but, we have some cracking driving roads up here!

[Vulgar LS2]

Have you thought about the VX Monaro VXR, V8 power,releable, very tunable and very rare.