3200/ 4200 advice/ guidance/ gentle shoving, please
Discussion
hi gang 
i am about to sell my current steed in order to free up some cash to start up my own little empire, and im considering a 3200/ 4200 as a replacement. They seem such good value and cool enough for me not to spend all day feeling bitter and jaded that i no longer have a cool car. though obviously, theyre not cool enough to rid me of all my bitterness. only extensive therapy and a night out with shakira could do that.
so then, erm....here goes...
which is least likely to ruin me? the 4200 or the 3200? i can live with vertical depreciation *wincesatpastexperience* and the mpg doesnt frighten me too much cos my current motor isnt exactly frugal, but....
which one is most likely to leave me brokenhearted at the roadside most often? is there a marked improvement in build quality between early and late 3200's? and even more improvement with the 4200? or are they all equally a gamble? *practicessayingallonblackjustincase*
assuming, that some of the above answers point to some 3200's being ok to live with, id really like a 3200 assetto corsa. anyone know where theres one for sale? failing that, whats the best spec to have on either. id like it to be as sporty as poss, and manual if poss, but i will consider the paddle shift if enough of you tell me its isnt like driving through jam.
also, ill be using the car everyday and will do about 12k a year. any one have any ideas what sort of servicing bill that will accumulate throughout the year?
lastly, if anyone could point me in the direction of the fundamental differences between the two, and their ownership experiences of either, id be greatly appreciative.
theres a half eaten bag of maynards sours for anyone who sorts this whole thing out for me and just gives me the keys to exactly the right car.
thanks gang
i am about to sell my current steed in order to free up some cash to start up my own little empire, and im considering a 3200/ 4200 as a replacement. They seem such good value and cool enough for me not to spend all day feeling bitter and jaded that i no longer have a cool car. though obviously, theyre not cool enough to rid me of all my bitterness. only extensive therapy and a night out with shakira could do that.
so then, erm....here goes...
which is least likely to ruin me? the 4200 or the 3200? i can live with vertical depreciation *wincesatpastexperience* and the mpg doesnt frighten me too much cos my current motor isnt exactly frugal, but....
which one is most likely to leave me brokenhearted at the roadside most often? is there a marked improvement in build quality between early and late 3200's? and even more improvement with the 4200? or are they all equally a gamble? *practicessayingallonblackjustincase*
assuming, that some of the above answers point to some 3200's being ok to live with, id really like a 3200 assetto corsa. anyone know where theres one for sale? failing that, whats the best spec to have on either. id like it to be as sporty as poss, and manual if poss, but i will consider the paddle shift if enough of you tell me its isnt like driving through jam.
also, ill be using the car everyday and will do about 12k a year. any one have any ideas what sort of servicing bill that will accumulate throughout the year?
lastly, if anyone could point me in the direction of the fundamental differences between the two, and their ownership experiences of either, id be greatly appreciative.
theres a half eaten bag of maynards sours for anyone who sorts this whole thing out for me and just gives me the keys to exactly the right car.
thanks gang
Do it get a 4200 - you know you want to!!!! - if you want frugel go buy a smart or some such sh1te, everyday is an experience - suggest you drive a manual and a cc I prefered the manual - service every 6k miles - eats tyres - brings out the hooligan in you . I use mine every day do about 400 miles a week and no regrets - compare cars to a highly strung woman - and you know italian woman are better looking than german woman :-)
cheers Tim
~drive it like you stole it~
cheers Tim
~drive it like you stole it~
dttheliman said:
Do it get a 4200 - you know you want to!!!! - if you want frugel go buy a smart or some such sh1te, everyday is an experience - suggest you drive a manual and a cc I prefered the manual - service every 6k miles - eats tyres - brings out the hooligan in you . I use mine every day do about 400 miles a week and no regrets - compare cars to a highly strung woman - and you know italian woman are better looking than german woman :-)
cheers Tim
~drive it like you stole it~
cheers Tim
~drive it like you stole it~
is the 4200 better than the 3200 then?
No I didnt mean that, but the fuel/service/tyres/insurance/depreciation costs are large with cars like this....Maserati is no better or worse in my experience
Depends if you are used to running cars like this.
im not. so does this mean ill have to just absorb constant tantrums as part of the experience?
nervous said:
sjp63 said:
Depends if you are used to running cars like this.
im not. so does this mean ill have to just absorb constant tantrums as part of the experience?
nervous - I can see where you're coming from here and perhaps others can't.
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
mr_tony said:
nervous - I can see where you're coming from here and perhaps others can't.
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
thats excellent advice, thanks MR T.
does anyone know of an assetto anywhere? i cant find one.
nervous said:
mr_tony said:
nervous - I can see where you're coming from here and perhaps others can't.
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
Maserati - in your head you're thinking about the MErak that Clarkson drove to (literal) destruction during the budget supercars feature.
Lets be clear - this isn't going to happen to a 3200 or a 4200. MAseratis are well made - hell these days 10% of the MASerati workforce is quality control - they take this more seriously than the germans me thinks...
My car - an 02 3200 driven regularly, fast, and no miss daisy antics (included le mans, eurohoons, VMAX etc) let me down once with a failed air con compressor (a Bosh part failure no less).
Nothing else - couple of warning lights etc and a failed sensor here and there but nothing to leave you stranded.
However, they cost buckets to run sometimes as parts are expensive, it's a low volume motor, and labour costs are high as it's a prestige marque.
4200 will probably cost less to run, purely as the NA engine services more quickly and your main cost is always labour.
Personally I'd take a 3200 again any day, and I'd put aside around 3k per year for parts / maintenance, plus pay out for a warranty at around about 1200 a year. With that kind of investment I'd sleep pretty easily with one parked outside.
If you're thinking no warranty and 2k maintenance per year then you're probably trying to cut it too fine..
thats excellent advice, thanks MR T.
does anyone know of an assetto anywhere? i cant find one.
PM me.
I too had (still have) real concerns over ownership of a 3200. I bought mine 4 months ago and there is always a little `niggle` of worry when I walk out to the car each morning - will it let me down today or not?? So far its not and as a previous BM, Merc, Porsche owner I have to say build quality is suprisingly good especially the interior. I remember all the horror stories I had read and heard and as with all marques there are bad apples but I genuinely think modern Maserati have turned the corner. Mine has now done over 80K miles, is that a sign of dodgy build quality?? I am not a poor man but I cant afford to send the car into Gray Paul or the like and pay whatever, whenever and am trying to work to a budget. I bought some proper technician manuals off ebay and a local decent garage recently fitted a new clutch for me, they followed the manual procedure with no problems, no special tools required and GP even advised on some things. Saving over a main dealer price over 1200.00. (the clutch failed which is German and the g/box is BMW) I went for as later 3200 I could as there were some build improvements.
A lot of the threads I read at the time of looking said you can reckon on running costs of a pound a mile which includes everything, insurance, petrol etc etc. Think I`m up at the moment but not by much!!!
Is it a sensible purchase? of course not!! But is it worth it - absolutely, every penny!
A lot of the threads I read at the time of looking said you can reckon on running costs of a pound a mile which includes everything, insurance, petrol etc etc. Think I`m up at the moment but not by much!!!
Is it a sensible purchase? of course not!! But is it worth it - absolutely, every penny!
I agree. although i drive a different marque the feelings are the same. i can hardly afford the car so what happens if the engine goes pete tong?
Nervy is the same with his three, although he seems to have a more laid back attitude to such things.
:subliminalmessegetonervybuythe
ingmasser:
Nervy is the same with his three, although he seems to have a more laid back attitude to such things.
:subliminalmessegetonervybuythe
ingmasser:Glad to see not everyone had the experience that I did. 
BSR did indeed have the 4200 and despite the fact he is now homeless and penniless because of it, he still states it's the best car he's ever had.
There's a chap called David_A that's on his 2nd or 3rd now Nervy, have a chat with him too.
BSR did indeed have the 4200 and despite the fact he is now homeless and penniless because of it, he still states it's the best car he's ever had.
There's a chap called David_A that's on his 2nd or 3rd now Nervy, have a chat with him too.
Indeed my kids are thin,cold and hungry because of my 4200 ownership but I aspire to own one again above feeding and clothing the said creatures.
If you are trying to decide which of the two to get I urge you to go and listen to the engine noise of each. Both are great cars, and the 3200 looks better but the interior and engine of the 4200 are IMHO the clinchers.
Get one. Dont delay.
If you are trying to decide which of the two to get I urge you to go and listen to the engine noise of each. Both are great cars, and the 3200 looks better but the interior and engine of the 4200 are IMHO the clinchers.
Get one. Dont delay.
I owned 2 4200s for a total of 2 1/2 years and they never let me down once, in about 20,000 miles of motoring.
Yes there were minor faults( with the 2002 car - the 2004 was bullet proof) however as the car was under warranty I paid nothing to have any of them sorted.
The 4200 is a more sorted more reliable car than the 3200 and cheaper to run. The 3200 has a better exterior look and a true automatic if you want one.
both are fantastic.
3 months after selling mine I still lust after every one I see - especially a Gransport in Black!
Yes there were minor faults( with the 2002 car - the 2004 was bullet proof) however as the car was under warranty I paid nothing to have any of them sorted.
The 4200 is a more sorted more reliable car than the 3200 and cheaper to run. The 3200 has a better exterior look and a true automatic if you want one.
both are fantastic.
3 months after selling mine I still lust after every one I see - especially a Gransport in Black!
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