3200GT servicing

[yeti]

Hi All,

Interested in the 3200GT, just wondering what kind of servicing costs I can expect? I've been through the search facility and some profiles, a few people seemed to have deals on their servcicing from main dealers - doesn't help me much!

Also what's the service interval? And how good are the warranties you can purchase with the car?

thanks!

[scobbo]

You need deep pockets. If you use a main agent expect intermediate services to be £1000-£1500. Every 3 years or 30K miles it will need a cambelt service which will be over £2000. Mine is six years old and as well as servicing has needed a new water pump (£900), a new starter motor (£800), new rear discs and pads all round (£750). I have had mine two months and spent £2000 on it already. The only rated alternative to main dealers is Bill Mcgrath near Luton (Who I use).

There has been alot posted on this forum about 3200GT warranties. They are expensive and it may be better to bank the premium and put it towards the cost of any failure.

[3200gt]

Had mine about 3 years, got it with 4k on the clock and its now got 34k. Service costs are about £750 from Lancasters main dealers in Essex. Over the course of the 3 years it has cost me about £2500 in service costs including all consumables. Three sets of tyres are the costly bit with rear P zeros at £200+ and the last set only lasted 6k. Next service is going to hurt though, cambelt + front discs and pads all round + usual service items (all at £95 an hour). Might have to sell my missus to pay for it. Or at least stop her buying shoes!!!!!!!!!
Whilst were talking about 3200's are all the hand brakes on these rubbish?

[maserati3200gt]

3200gt said:

Had mine about 3 years, got it with 4k on the clock and its now got 34k. Service costs are about £750 from Lancasters main dealers in Essex. Over the course of the 3 years it has cost me about £2500 in service costs including all consumables. Three sets of tyres are the costly bit with rear P zeros at £200+ and the last set only lasted 6k. Next service is going to hurt though, cambelt + front discs and pads all round + usual service items (all at £95 an hour). Might have to sell my missus to pay for it. Or at least stop her buying shoes!!!!!!!!! Whilst were talking about 3200's are all the hand brakes on these rubbish?

And I thought it was my Misses who was causing me financial stress with jimmy Choo !



P.S Simpy you need deep pockets to "run" the Maserati.
You can Buy one but if it plays up ....
Well... then you need Deep Pockets.
The Oldest Maserati Dealer in the Uk Charges £89.50 + Vat plus parts .

But then My Friend got charges £77 per hour to service a Renault ! so it doesnt seem so bad !


>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Monday 17th October 02:51

[sco]

Basic service from a main dealer - £700 inc VAT.

In my opinion warranty/not warranty is a bit of a lottery and depends on your attitude to risk/reserves if something goes wrong. A decent warranty is expensive and people on here seem to have had problems claiming on them.

I have gone the non-warranty route and so far I am "up", but obviously that could change pretty quickly.

Call me a cynic but I also think the cost of work done under warranty is less competitive if the garage knows someone else is picking up the tab, which can contribute to "it would have cost x" scare stories.

PS: The handbrake is terrible.

>> Edited by sco on Monday 17th October 09:37

[3200gt]

Anyone know a decent fix for the handbrake prob? that doesn't include adjusting it every 2 weeks.

>> Edited by 3200gt on Monday 17th October 12:48

[chris_crossley]

3200gt said:

Anyone know a decent fix for the handbrake prob? that doesn't include adjusting it every 2 weeks. >> Edited by 3200gt on Monday 17th October 12:48

The handbrake on mine is spot on. Three clicks and you can use it on a STEEP hill. Unlike my Cerbera's that used to both roll backwards on a MEDIUM hill.

As for the warrenty, we got one and so far where up and it seems to cover most stuff. I also think our dealer is slagged off a bit too much. Yep, they stuff up but so far they have gone the distance to make up.

Service was £600 fixed price for first three years. Saw the real bill and all and it came to about £1k. Cheaper to service than the TVR. That cost £600 every 6k miles. Granted parts are expensive for the Maserati.

I think it's important to point out that supercars are not sports/family cars. They generally have a heavy life and the bits they need tend to be expensive. Tyres and brake pads/disc are not cheap for any of these cars.

You really need to facter in £3k worth of costs a year for most of these toys. I have 1 set of tyres a service and a warrenty factered in for each year. The rest is on the £3k reserve. So far i have never touched it and mines 3 1/2 years old. I will be getting another warrenty. I also intend to keep the car for another year. Got my cambelt done on the final fixed price service.

Hope this helps.

[yeti]

Thanks Peeps,

3k a year I can stomach, it's hardly a Mondeo. I don't want Ferrari running costs though on a car that isn't a Ferrari...

I think I will go the warranty route if possible, and if they are sensibly priced, the threat of a gearbox or engine replacement would make it worth it for me.

Any thoughts on Verdi as a specialist?

cheers

[mr_tony]

Have to say Carl at Verdi always treated me fairly, the only thing with independents compared to main dealers is that they tend to take a little longer to get parts etc - but then they cost a lot less so thats fair enough.

[sco]

Judging by fixed price servicing schedules I have seen there probably isn't much in it between Ferrari and Maserati servicing costs. Not sure how other things compare but I doubt there is a big difference.

[mr_tony]

sco said:

Judging by fixed price servicing schedules I have seen there probably isn't much in it between Ferrari and Maserati servicing costs. Not sure how other things compare but I doubt there is a big difference.

Indeed - several places suggested to me that running a 3200 costs more than running a 355 or a 360! And I can probably testify to that!

[sco]

And if you take the depreciation into account a Ferrari could be cheaper to run in total.

I woner if the wife will accept that line of reasoning....

[andy355]

i think masers are more expensive to run than ferraris - if only cos more seems to go wrong. I hear much more problems about masers on here than on ferrarichat about ferraris. I had a 3200 gt auto which didnt cause me any problems, tho it did develop a gearbox clunk which im never sure was ever fixed (was very intermittent and winter only). For servicing i used maranello who were frankly rubbish. I also had the warranty which i extended at some rediculous cost, i guess the warranty prices reflect the typical level of claims i.e high! I would be tempted to buy privately and service at Verdis (honest, enthusiastic, cheapish) but the car really does need an inspection before purchase. Thats the biggest problem with the 3200 for me - the leap into the unknown and scary service/parts prices - hence this is reflected in the residuals - people buy porsches for a reason (not that i like porsches)

[jcosh]

I am certainly no expert and have not, as yet, owned a Masser, but a good friend of mine currently owns an 3200A/Corsa and a 4200 Spider. He has been using a company in the Manchester area called AutoShield Maserati (0161 8813463) for many years. He has owned several Massers and they have all been very well looked after at Autoshield. I don't know what their hourly rates are, but I can only assume they are in line with other independants.

The main man there is called Marios and he is very well regarded within the Maserati Owners Club.

Jonathan

P.S. Said friends 3200 A/Corsa is currently for sale, PM me if anybody wants his details.

[AlexHancock]

I hope you guys don't mind me adding something to this (I used to own a 3200). I get my car serviced in Barcelona where the Porsche labour rate is 65 euros an hour (considered expensive when compared to other garages) - if you live in Southern England why not check out the nearest dealer in France? I bet you'll save a lot and return with some good wine.

[JamesBondMI5]

AlexHancock said:

if you live in Southern England why not check out the nearest dealer in France? I bet you'll save a lot and return with some good wine.

Or try out RAA in Hampshire - www.cars.robertsaerospace.com - they've been doing Maser V6s for a while, but seem to be getting in a lot of V8s now as they drop out of the main dealer network. They're pretty good value on cambelts.

Mike.

[nigelo]

A recent post on an old thread but to pick up on the handbrake issue mentioned that I missed at the the time:

A point to consider is that the HB actually operates small drum brakes within the rear discs and therefore should normally be very effective. The brake shoes are not normally subject to significant wear and of course when fitting new rear discs you automatically get new HB drums as well. Since the mechanic will need to readjust linkage anyway after replacement and new shoes are only £28 (courtesy of Eurospares) a permanent solution is very inexpensive when combined with routine disc replacement. Constant readjustment suggests either sticking linkage causing abnormal brake shoe wear or severe cable stretching (neccessitating replacement) so also check both.

hope this helps

[Andyt25]

jcosh said:

I am certainly no expert and have not, as yet, owned a Masser, but a good friend of mine currently owns an 3200A/Corsa and a 4200 Spider. He has been using a company in the Manchester area called AutoShield Maserati (0161 8813463) for many years. He has owned several Massers and they have all been very well looked after at Autoshield. I don't know what their hourly rates are, but I can only assume they are in line with other independants.

The main man there is called Marios and he is very well regarded within the Maserati Owners Club.

Jonathan

P.S. Said friends 3200 A/Corsa is currently for sale, PM me if anybody wants his details.

I think this is the car I looked at today at Cortese in Bath. It was service at Autoshield and the owner had a 4200 spider as well. The car was in great condition with only 19000 miles on the clock.

[Andyt25]

Did he not sell the car after last year?

[thong]

3200gt said:

Anyone know a decent fix for the handbrake prob? that doesn't include adjusting it every 2 weeks.

>> Edited by 3200gt on Monday 17th October 12:48

the lining's fall off the handbrake shoes,done a few,pull the rear disc's off and inspect lubricate slack off hanbrake cable re ajust shoes reset cable,check for corrosion in disc/drum if its bad best replace disc,if not to corrded give it a good rub up with emery paper.