Pre or post 2001 3200 GTA

[CCCS]

Pistonheaders recommend cars manufactured after 2001 due to their superior build quality.

How "inferior" are cars built prior to Ferrari's involvement.

What are the things to expect / look out for on a pre 2001 car. Would a car with full maserati service history along with being up to date with all campaigns have had the issues addressed?

Thanks

[mr_tony]

Let me clear this up.

pre 2001 cars are not inferior at all. However, the quality control system changed at the factory about this time when ferrari took over completely.

All this means is that there seem to have been more issues with pre 2001 cars than post.

You have to judge all cars individually - there are certainly very good 99 cars out there, and I'm sure there are a few 01+ dogs too. It's more of a case of 'on average' later cars are slightly better put together - no something you can apply to all cars without exception.

[maserati3200gt]

[quote=CCCS]Pistonheaders recommend cars manufactured after 2001 due to their superior build quality.

How "inferior" are cars built prior to Ferrari's involvement.

What are the things to expect / look out for on a pre 2001 car. Would a car with full maserati service history along with being up to date with all campaigns have had the issues addressed?

Thanks

[sco]

So far my 2000 car has been fine, apart from a new battery and some handbrake shoes (I have a steep drive which seems to go through handbrakes).

I also test drove a very good 99 car.

Later cars should be slightly lower risk but watch you don't end up paying a premium you can't get back - depreciation is high on these cars and should be factored in.

[mr_tony]

maserati3200gt said:

[quote=CCCS]Pistonheaders recommend cars manufactured after 2001 due to their superior build quality. How "inferior" are cars built prior to Ferrari's involvement. What are the things to expect / look out for on a pre 2001 car. Would a car with full maserati service history along with being up to date with all campaigns have had the issues addressed? Thanks

Nothing. This seems to get seen far too simplistically. Comes down to working methods being improved, NOT component changes.

As a result 2001+ cars will have been checked more thoroughly and have less issues leaving the production line.

Of course no 3-4 years on a full service history and a full set of campaigns is probably far more meaningful given that in a car thats actually been used any defects missed by the factory will have 'come out in the wash' by now!

If you're looking at 5k miles or less and no campaign recalls on a 98 demo car then that would be a worry.

A 99 car with 30-40k under it's belt and a FSH and all campaigns should be just as good as an equivalent 2002 car.

Hopefulyl this clears this up and stops people worrying about things.

A couple of years abck when I bought mine this was far more relavent and the reason why I went for an 02. Cars were fresher fromt he factory and most of the ones I looked at have < 5k miles on - so a factory defect was far more likely to surface.

Now as time passes the factory methods become rather less important compared to service history and a full set of campains..

[Nigelo]

Guys

Ferrari's total involvement started BEFORE the 3200 was launched in 1998. In fact, the moment they took over, all production of the then current Ghibli and Quattroporte was effectively stopped with the production lines run off to clear the decks for major rationalisation. End of line Ghiblis previously selling for around 46K were dumped on to the market at 28K which pissed off many owners as it totally destroyed already fragile residuals. The 3200, which Masser, pre Ferrari, had no funds to produce, was then productionized/launched. The 3200 was therefore the first car launched under Ferrari control.

As with any manufacturer, particularly small volume, the cars were constantly updated during their production run. In general, the late 2000 (X reg in the UK) or later are the ones to go for as all major probs had been ironed out by then. Very few mods were carried out after that to my knowlege. The major issue affected 1999 and earlier cars that suffered blown head gaskets which were all subject to recalls so should have been fixed - Call Masserati UK with the full chassis number to verify this and all other recalls.

HTH