3200 GTA Assetto Corsa VS 4200 GT Manual

[simonigrale]

Before I start I apologise for my keyboar_ its faulty !!! - I'm missing that letter between c an e so i will use _ :-)

Just wonere_ what peoples opinions are on the above cars.

I have recently sol_ a 348tb which i ha_ for 3 years _ue to the arrival of our baby girl.

I have just finishe_ a 2 year stretch working for a ferrari main _ealer so I've hear_ all the horror stories from the mechanics that hate anything that is over 1 year ol_ or anything they have to _iagnose without a computer.

The reason I'm comparing an auto with a manual is that I'm trying to eliminate the major issues other than hefty service bills. I know the 3200 manual uses a pull clutch that can _amage the crank an_ the 4200's f1 system can be a nightmare.

My ol_ man runs an 07 Gransport but before that he ran a 4200cc for 4 years. He has foun_ them both really goo_ but _oes very few miles. The Gransport is a grea tool!!!

Basically what I'm asking is which woul_ be the car of choice. I like the i_ea of the Assetto Corsa because they're rare, love the boomerang lights an_ can imagine the wooshing turbos are great fun. I _rove a 4200 manual a few weeks ago an_ really enjoye_ the raw muscle car feel an_ that ferrari base_ engine is to _ie for.

Thanks in a_vance an_ sorry about the lack of the fourth letter in the alphabet.

Simoni

[simonigrale]

My ol_ mans 2007 Gransport LE

[Colossus]

Haven't driven the Assetto Corsa but did run a 4200 GT manual for 2 years and loved it. It was incredibly reliable, beautiful to look at and had an engine to die for. The ride was perhaps not as good as some of the best coupes out there at the time but was not bad and gave a slightly raw edge to the car, although never harsh.

My understanding of the AC is that it was the pinnacle of the 3200 and that the power deliver is very much old school turbo, but that when it comes on stream you had better be ready because it comes thick and fast. Good fun in the dry but I understand is a bit of a handful in the wet.

I personally would go for the 4200, the manual is a good box, those that say it isn't simply didn't have the linkage adjusted properly (it is a relatively simple and low cost job but does need to be done at each service) and the electrics are better resolved than the earlier car, which are now really starting to show their age. Great cars and if you buy well will give much enjoyment

[allgonepetetong]

Colossus said:

The ride was perhaps not as good as some of the best coupes out there at the time but was not bad and gave a slightly raw edge to the car, although never harsh.

Interesting. What are the best coupes that you are thinking of?

[simonigrale]

A CL Merc or 6 series for a guess. Both boring in comparison to a Maserati in terms of thrills an sense of occasion.

[Colossus]

A regular 911 has a more composed ride and will beat the 4200 in the bends and yes a 6 series is also smoother but is in my view aiming at a different market to the Maser and 911. Maser is by no means bad but just not as sophisticated a ride as say a 911 of a similar vintage. I would still choose one over a 911 every single time, way more of an event and that engine is simply sensational.

[Xeno]

I had a 4200 with the F1 gearbox, lovely car but the 'box was awful, can imagine a manual would be fantastic. Stunning car, gorgeous interior, pathetic mpg (12-14), no problems in approx 15,000 miles and sold for more than I paid for it. Would have another.

Never driven a 3200 but they seem to have a reputation for unreliability?



911 996 is better at pretty much everything, so I'd definately take the Maser'

[Allandwf]

I'm seriously considering selling my, fully sorted, TVR Tuscan for an Assetto Corsa, it's an itch that won't go away!

[brid]

Owned a 4200 CC and test drove a 3200 AC a year after i got rid of the 4200 and still felt i had a Maserati itch to scratch.

I'm glad i did the test drive because it was a completely different experience - the AC feels like driving a TVR. Utterly raw. I was concentrating so much on keeping the car on the road i was scared to take my hands off the wheel to change gear. Definitely feels like it's got a lot of power gagging to be let loose at the wrong time which didn't put me in a very comfortable position. The ride was very harsh (obviously, its their 'track' car) and handling was very sharp. It felt like wrestling with a bengal tiger just trying to keep the car out of a ditch, as opposed to enjoying the experience. This was on a few country back roads.

It wasn't for me. I'd lulled myself into thinking i could handle very raw cars after coming from driving a 911, M3, 4200 and RS6 - I was totally wrong. Those cars are like riding a child's pushbike with stabilisers by comparison.

Obviously getting used to the car would change the experience somewhat, but it was just on a completely different level to the 4200.

Edited by brid on Sunday 6th November 10:13

[simonigrale]

I know this is on a completely _ifferent level in terms of cost but what about a ferrari 456 M GT / GTA. I coul_ stretch to one but woul_ i be buying a better car than a Maser???

I was in Mai_stone visting a pal last week an_ went to the ferrari centre where i bought my 348 from 3 years ago. They ha_ a couple of 456 Autos in there, they looke_ a lot of car for the money. Very elegant.

Now I'm a 'sensible' father a 4 seat Gran_ Tourer is very appealing but at 30 i _on't think i'm ol_ enough or mature enough to pull one off.

I just think if a bought a 355 or similar I coul_n't enjoy the car with my family

[Xeno]

456 interior is ghastly. Lovely from the outside though.
Not fancy a Quattroporte?

[Colossus]

Looked very hard at a 456 but in the end I went with the Maser 4200 and frankly had no regrets. Maintenance costs were something that put me off together with the fact that it was a much older car and therefore more likely to suffer from failures and breakages. I also wanted a manual and that is quite rare in the later 456's where I think the default choice was an auto.

The 4200 is a proper GT car and I drove to the South of France in mine with wife, my two daughters and enough luggage for 2 weeks. No one complained and car never missed a beat. Not sure the 3200 AC is so capable in that regard.

[AA355]

1st thing I would by is a keyboard
Then I think I would go for a 355

[Allandwf]

AA355 said:

1st thing I would by is a keyboard
Then I think I would go for a 355

Hopefully one with a "U" key!

[Oelholm]

Now that is some lovely cars, best of luck to you!

Now... Why don't you just copy+paste a "d"? Highlight one, right click and choose copy - and every time you need to use it, presse ctrl+v... Job done.

[Mario149]

I'd get the 4200 over the AC (and did), the 4200 engine is truly special.

BUT, since someone else mentioned it, if you're feeling like you've got deeper pockets, a manual 456 could be the way to go. 5.5 litres of V12....mmmmm. Test drove one, liked it a lot, and fundamentally an Fcar is always going to make you feel more special than a Maser.

[simonigrale]

Xeno said:

456 interior is ghastly. Lovely from the outside though.
Not fancy a Quattroporte?

Love QPs but they're too normal sort of. Plus the one to have is the GTS facelift an they're 80k ish.

The 456M has better interior than the earlier car.

[johnnyBv8]

I’ve had both 3200 and 4200 – for me it has to be the 3200. I found the engine is much more characterful than the 4200, the 3200 looks better (some lovely design touches lost on the 4200) and has a better quality interior (absolutely everything is leather, whereas the 4200 followed the approach of 95% of manufacturers with a mix of leather and fake leather!). I suppose if I were to get a 4200 again, it would have to be the Gransport, as they feel a bit more special and are more accomplished than the 3200 or standard 4200. I wouldn’t have another standard 4200.