Just test driven a Maser 3200GT - questions?
Discussion
Hi there I have just test driven a 3200GT and liked it a lot. I have a couple of questions that maybe owners could help out with.
Firstly, the car seemed to 'tramline' a bit and I noticed that the tyres were worn. Would that be a symptom, or something more serious?
How do I know if it is the standard exhaust? I have heard they rot but it looked ok (car was 2000W reg).
Also, anyone how much are the alloys to refurbish?
Firstly, the car seemed to 'tramline' a bit and I noticed that the tyres were worn. Would that be a symptom, or something more serious?
How do I know if it is the standard exhaust? I have heard they rot but it looked ok (car was 2000W reg).
Also, anyone how much are the alloys to refurbish?
any car with big wide tyres will tramline - i guess it depends on what you are used to and how excessive it was. for example, i don't really notice it but a friend with "a normal car" would often comment.
wheel refurb, depends really, normally budget at least 50 per wheel.
exaust, the backboxes might look ok but its hard to tell around the area where the tailpipes come out (this is where mine gave out - and the only sign was a badly burned bumper!)
wheel refurb, depends really, normally budget at least 50 per wheel.
exaust, the backboxes might look ok but its hard to tell around the area where the tailpipes come out (this is where mine gave out - and the only sign was a badly burned bumper!)
dave80s said:
Hi there I have just test driven a 3200GT and liked it a lot. I have a couple of questions that maybe owners could help out with.
Firstly, the car seemed to 'tramline' a bit and I noticed that the tyres were worn. Would that be a symptom, or something more serious?
How do I know if it is the standard exhaust? I have heard they rot but it looked ok (car was 2000W reg).
Also, anyone how much are the alloys to refurbish?
Firstly, the car seemed to 'tramline' a bit and I noticed that the tyres were worn. Would that be a symptom, or something more serious?
How do I know if it is the standard exhaust? I have heard they rot but it looked ok (car was 2000W reg).
Also, anyone how much are the alloys to refurbish?
Tramlining! if your so inclined you could almost do the entire length of the M4 on the inside lane without your hands on the wheel. That's wide tyres for you!
Aftermarket exhaust's are mostly made from stainless steel and so a quick look under the rear spoiler will tell if they are or are not. If they look like untreated metal they will be stainless. If they are black or brown look forward to replacing them.
Mine went around the back box/inlet pipe joint. I have also heard of them failing around the back box/tailpipe area which is not so easy to see but with the engine running feel around both areas and if they are blowing you will easily be able to feel it.
Just for info my original box's lasted over five years so not to big an issue, but stainless should last yonks.
watch your nuts 
Sorry had to say it, Your wheel nuts. They have a bad habbit of chrome being damaged.
Hence look bad. There quite expensive.
Make sure its had all the service recalls including the steering one.
As for tramlining. As mentioned, it's got massive tyres. So it will.
Mine was bullet proof and went on for nearly three years. I really regret selling it now.
Oh, make sure you get the RED key!!!!
Sorry had to say it, Your wheel nuts. They have a bad habbit of chrome being damaged.
Hence look bad. There quite expensive.
Make sure its had all the service recalls including the steering one.
As for tramlining. As mentioned, it's got massive tyres. So it will.
Mine was bullet proof and went on for nearly three years. I really regret selling it now.
Oh, make sure you get the RED key!!!!
Thanks for the advice. I have learnt a lot from this forum. Couldn't see under far enough to check the exhaust thoroughly, but when I go back for a 2nd look I will take the overalls.
It did have red key but the owner only mentioned one recall, the steering one. What are the others? (2000W reg).
One or 2 wheel nuts were starting to go.
It did have red key but the owner only mentioned one recall, the steering one. What are the others? (2000W reg).
One or 2 wheel nuts were starting to go.
Sorry if I am stating something you already know but 2001 onwards cars were subject to quite a few detailed quality improvements so are generally a better proposition used. Nothing so major as to make earlier cars undesirable but worthwhile going for a 2001-on car if you have the choice.
See for a different view www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=303191&r=3947817&hm=40473#3947817
As Craig has posted the link above there's no point in repeating everything other than to say that post 2000 cars were NOT modified in any significant way - Other than the suspension and steering rack on the Assetto Corsa special edition of course.
There were 3 call backs:
1) 10.02.2000 ABS Software issue
2) 20.10.2000 Rubber hoses connecting with Brake fluid reservoir degrades causing contamination of fluid and failure of seals
3) 13.06.2005 Steering rack mounting subframe susceptible to cracking
Check with any main dealer, preferably last one who serviced vehicle, with your VIN number who will be able to confirm that all recalls done. If not, they are a free fix anyway irrespective of time or ownership.
Hope this helps
dave80s said:
It did have red key but the owner only mentioned one recall, the steering one. What are the others? (2000W reg).
There were 3 call backs:
1) 10.02.2000 ABS Software issue
2) 20.10.2000 Rubber hoses connecting with Brake fluid reservoir degrades causing contamination of fluid and failure of seals
3) 13.06.2005 Steering rack mounting subframe susceptible to cracking
Check with any main dealer, preferably last one who serviced vehicle, with your VIN number who will be able to confirm that all recalls done. If not, they are a free fix anyway irrespective of time or ownership.
Hope this helps
Interesting - when I bought mine it was pretty common perception that in late 2000/early 2001 Ferrari instituted a quality control programme that addressed a number of minor issues on the Maserati production line. Nigelo certainly seems to have some good info so it looks like that may not have been strictly accurate. It didn't stop me buying a 2000 car anyway! 
Perhaps that 'myth' came from the fact that for 2001 new cars gained a standard 3-year warranty and fixed price servicing within that period and also the fact that by 2001 any car built would come with fixes to problems identified early in the model's life e.g.
- weeping head gaskets on '99 and early '00 cars (fixed Oct '00)
- weak rear trailing arms on '99 cars (warranty fix)
- interior tweaks to stop extensive squeaking where leather rubbed on leather
- approx 50 'campaigns' relating to a raft of mainly electronic stuff such as programming of throttle, electronic suspension, ABS, and traction control. Though of course most if not all of these should have been applied to a car of any age by now.
Hope that helps - good luck with your search!
Chris
Perhaps that 'myth' came from the fact that for 2001 new cars gained a standard 3-year warranty and fixed price servicing within that period and also the fact that by 2001 any car built would come with fixes to problems identified early in the model's life e.g.
- weeping head gaskets on '99 and early '00 cars (fixed Oct '00)
- weak rear trailing arms on '99 cars (warranty fix)
- interior tweaks to stop extensive squeaking where leather rubbed on leather
- approx 50 'campaigns' relating to a raft of mainly electronic stuff such as programming of throttle, electronic suspension, ABS, and traction control. Though of course most if not all of these should have been applied to a car of any age by now.
Hope that helps - good luck with your search!
Chris
Dave80s said:
..The one I tested had a new suspension actuator (in the service history), and a sport button - so I take it that it has skyhook suspension, is this an option worth paying more for?
Definitely. The sport setting doesn't just stiffen the shocks, it applies a completely different strategy (mapping) to the settings which vary according to the input received from lateral and longtitudinal acceleration sensors fitted to the car as well as speed etc. Basically, the more agressive you drive, the more it is noticable and yes, it does work very well. Sport mode also applies a much more agressive traction control setting. On autos, which have the sport button regardless of skyhook, this also applies a more agressive kickdown allowing gearchanges at higher revs.
The active ride system is derived form earlier Maserati models, my previous Ghibli GT being a good example. That had 4 settings on an LED touchpad where 2 or 3 were ideal for road use with 1 for excessively bumpy roads and 4 for track days etc. The 3200 took this a stage further with 14 settings (some sport some not) and combined it with traction control etc as mentioned above. Naturally, Ferrari adopted and further developed this technology for their own vehicles.
Hope this helps
Edited by nigelo on Sunday 25th February 11:03
Hey heey! cant wait til Saturday!!!!
Yes it has the sport button too! its a 2000 model GT.
I got it from Cortese near Bath.
Full service History, recent cambelt and pads and discs all round on last service.
I actually lauched it off a hill on my test drive,
but it landed so firmly!...is that what the "sky"hook suspension is for 
Its a completely different car to my Tuscan
Yes it has the sport button too! its a 2000 model GT.
I got it from Cortese near Bath.
Full service History, recent cambelt and pads and discs all round on last service.
I actually lauched it off a hill on my test drive,
but it landed so firmly!...is that what the "sky"hook suspension is for Its a completely different car to my Tuscan
Edited by woody-ott on Sunday 25th February 17:04
See you here www.maseratiforum.co.uk soon then!
Decent tyres and a geometry check will help the tramlining, mine barely does it unless in the lorry-grooves on the M3 when any car does it.
Cortese are a good bunch too!
Decent tyres and a geometry check will help the tramlining, mine barely does it unless in the lorry-grooves on the M3 when any car does it.
Cortese are a good bunch too!
Good luck with the purchase, one point on the tram-lining i would make is the 3200gt does not like the Pirelli PZero to much for some reason, when i was fitting them i would only recommend Michelin Pilot, The difference in drive is extradinary you can almost drive with no hands, not that i would recommend it!!!! But as everyone has said large low profile tyres do tramline to varing degrees.
I absolutley agree with the other comments made regarding the recalls, make sure they are up to date it costs nothing to have them done. the other thing to consider depending on the mileage of the vehicle is timing chains!!! they technically should be changed at 66,000 miles and are quite expensive to do.
I absolutley agree with the other comments made regarding the recalls, make sure they are up to date it costs nothing to have them done. the other thing to consider depending on the mileage of the vehicle is timing chains!!! they technically should be changed at 66,000 miles and are quite expensive to do.
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