Discussion
Am thinking bout buying 1, dont really know that much about them,never driven 1, have seen a couple of 05 Regs for mid to late 30's in dealers, would need to be CC gearbox, is this system as good as the Ferrari 360?? also how firm is the ride, i like a sporty ride but not a bone shaker any thing else to look for or not?? any help or advice greatly accepted..
sjw ferrari said:
Am thinking bout buying 1, dont really know that much about them,never driven 1, have seen a couple of 05 Regs for mid to late 30's in dealers, would need to be CC gearbox, is this system as good as the Ferrari 360?? also how firm is the ride, i like a sporty ride but not a bone shaker any thing else to look for or not?? any help or advice greatly accepted..
Hi Simon
You should get lots of advice on here..
Here’s my tuppence worth...
Mine is a 02 52 with CC, Mediterraneo Blu with Beige, had it now 18 months and in that time done 20,000 miles (my daily driver) - absolutely love it.... I bought it for the engine, performance, and understated elegance of a proper 4 seater. It really does get admiring glances and not irritating attention.
Yes, the ride is firm, but not exactly a bone shaker. I’d describe it as a sporty ride. I find the handling pretty good, even for my sort of spirited driving. Usually get 14-18 mpg, although sub-10 on a good hoon.
With the launch of the new Coupe, prices could be interesting. There are certainly plenty of choices at the dealers, so you should be able to find the best colour combo for you.
If you are around on Sun 4th March, come to the East London meet (under events), I’ll be there as will be Ticheri with his GranSport. There may even be one or two more. We’ll take you for a spin (a proper drive), and answer all your questions……
Cheers,
Johnnyboy…
Hi, as I am a n00b here, I don't expect to be taken as seriously as above, but I do know a lot about these Masers, as my father had one in '02.
They are fantastic cars. The cambiocorsa system is much maligned, but it works very well with the 4.2L engine (which is fantastic) and provides very smooth shifts if you lift slightly on the upshifts and blip the throttle more than it automatically blips on the downchanges. The exterior is reminiscent of an Aston Martin DB7 or a vanquish; in fact many people mistook the car for a vanquish while my dad owned it. The engine is very good, revs very easily and provides plenty of power. The interiors are fantastic, all hand-made, and it is very well done, except for the ergonomics, which are a little sketchy.
It's a great choice. Don't get the drophead one, though.
They are fantastic cars. The cambiocorsa system is much maligned, but it works very well with the 4.2L engine (which is fantastic) and provides very smooth shifts if you lift slightly on the upshifts and blip the throttle more than it automatically blips on the downchanges. The exterior is reminiscent of an Aston Martin DB7 or a vanquish; in fact many people mistook the car for a vanquish while my dad owned it. The engine is very good, revs very easily and provides plenty of power. The interiors are fantastic, all hand-made, and it is very well done, except for the ergonomics, which are a little sketchy.
It's a great choice. Don't get the drophead one, though.
Second Johnnyboy... it's a great car, with plenty of power and now that the new GT hits the streets (and current Coupes start to move out of official warranty) you will see lots of aftermarket tuning kits, which should sqeeze some decen extra HP/Torque from the V8.
Prices, as far as I can see, are very firm. In fact, I am looking to change mine for a GS (mine is a 03 Coupe CC) and in the last 12 months I lost not 1 penny in depreciation, as I can see from current asked prices. There are not many good used examples outta there, and I bet demand will firm-up after the new Coupe release (which will be on the 70K price tag).
Ed
Prices, as far as I can see, are very firm. In fact, I am looking to change mine for a GS (mine is a 03 Coupe CC) and in the last 12 months I lost not 1 penny in depreciation, as I can see from current asked prices. There are not many good used examples outta there, and I bet demand will firm-up after the new Coupe release (which will be on the 70K price tag).
Ed
David A said:
Buy one, buy a spyder and make sure its a cambiocorsa. Nuff said.
Dave
p.s. to all those who blah blah blah about scuttle shake - don't buy one then. I can live with it so I'm sure its not that bad !
Dave
p.s. to all those who blah blah blah about scuttle shake - don't buy one then. I can live with it so I'm sure its not that bad !
MacLambo said:
I have a '53 Spyder blue, with cream. Beautiful car, handles well, sounds fantastic, turns heads, but if you do not like scuttle-shake, don't but a Spyder.
Is scuttle-shake so bad in these? I thought Maserati had sorted this on later models?
Jamie
LittleBro said:
David A said:
Buy one, buy a spyder and make sure its a cambiocorsa. Nuff said.
Dave
p.s. to all those who blah blah blah about scuttle shake - don't buy one then. I can live with it so I'm sure its not that bad !
Dave
p.s. to all those who blah blah blah about scuttle shake - don't buy one then. I can live with it so I'm sure its not that bad !
MacLambo said:
I have a '53 Spyder blue, with cream. Beautiful car, handles well, sounds fantastic, turns heads, but if you do not like scuttle-shake, don't but a Spyder.
Is scuttle-shake so bad in these? I thought Maserati had sorted this on later models?
Jamie
No its not, thats our point, everyone waffles on about it being the worst car in the world for it. Everyone also says the cambi gearbox is pants. MAKE YOUR OWN MIND UP. Drive one, hell drive a couple and decide for yourself. If you want an ultimately rigid roofless car, buy a merc sl or porker, but then you haven't got a maser have you!
I would very very happily buy another spyder cambiocorsa. They are just as fast in the real world as a coupe and i have it on good authority that they will "have" an M3 all the way up to the limiter and beyond.
Dave
Ditto all the possitive comments 
Mine is an '02' CC Spyder which i have owned for three years and covered 22k miles (now at 37k miles). At the start the CC did take time to get used to (about two months) but after that time the only thought I had/have on the matter, is how good it is, so would only have this system if I bought another Maser. Scuttle shake is definately there (less so on cars 03> ) but is not that bad that you cant do a 1.33 round the Top Gear track
it is the only niggle on the car for me during my ownership but only as much of a niggle as poor fuel consumption on a car is (to give some perspective) and this realy is the only thing on the car, everything else has been fantastic!
Its fast, has great badge kudos (only possitive reactions from people), massive feel good factor to drive (makes you feel special), has understated, classic, stunning looks, even the rear light thing does not offend (just not AS nice as 3200), reliable, engine is superb with exhaust & induction note (slightly modded) that is as good as my old TVRs (thought i'd miss them)
Servicing is £700 for 6k mile £1000 for 18k mile so not cheap, but with no other bills for repairs is not bad for a car in this catagory, Just had clutch replaced which cost £2000 but I knew this cost when I purchased the car so no surprises, I have to come clean though, i got caught out last week in France after a 950 miles in 13 hours bash to the coast, CC pump failure
£1300 all in 
but they had my car in the morning, dropped everything to get on it and get me back home, i was away by lunch time after they expressed the part from somewhere else in france! I was quite impressed at not having to make the return trip in a Laguna 
Aparently this failure is quite common when a new Clutch is fitted BE WARNED!
Not a bad record for three years I think, and although I look after my cars mechanicaly and cosmeticly, I do drive them quite hard, so if anyones going to break it, i will! (I used to break Tonka toys on a rgeular basis when I was a kid)
I'd say go for it, you may move onto something else in a couple of years but you'll look back on the ownership of one of these with very fond memories.
Good luck, and hope this helps
Right, i'm off to look at some Grandsports
Mine is an '02' CC Spyder which i have owned for three years and covered 22k miles (now at 37k miles). At the start the CC did take time to get used to (about two months) but after that time the only thought I had/have on the matter, is how good it is, so would only have this system if I bought another Maser. Scuttle shake is definately there (less so on cars 03> ) but is not that bad that you cant do a 1.33 round the Top Gear track
it is the only niggle on the car for me during my ownership but only as much of a niggle as poor fuel consumption on a car is (to give some perspective) and this realy is the only thing on the car, everything else has been fantastic! Its fast, has great badge kudos (only possitive reactions from people), massive feel good factor to drive (makes you feel special), has understated, classic, stunning looks, even the rear light thing does not offend (just not AS nice as 3200), reliable, engine is superb with exhaust & induction note (slightly modded) that is as good as my old TVRs (thought i'd miss them)
Servicing is £700 for 6k mile £1000 for 18k mile so not cheap, but with no other bills for repairs is not bad for a car in this catagory, Just had clutch replaced which cost £2000 but I knew this cost when I purchased the car so no surprises, I have to come clean though, i got caught out last week in France after a 950 miles in 13 hours bash to the coast, CC pump failure
£1300 all in but they had my car in the morning, dropped everything to get on it and get me back home, i was away by lunch time after they expressed the part from somewhere else in france! I was quite impressed at not having to make the return trip in a Laguna Aparently this failure is quite common when a new Clutch is fitted BE WARNED! Not a bad record for three years I think, and although I look after my cars mechanicaly and cosmeticly, I do drive them quite hard, so if anyones going to break it, i will! (I used to break Tonka toys on a rgeular basis when I was a kid
) I'd say go for it, you may move onto something else in a couple of years but you'll look back on the ownership of one of these with very fond memories.
Good luck, and hope this helps
Right, i'm off to look at some Grandsports
Edited by pvapour on Saturday 24th February 09:42
many thanks for all your replys, if you listen to the dealers they will tell you what you want to hear, going to test drive one in a week or so to see, having just got into F1 on my 355 im impressed, if its simular think i will go for one, its just a bit different!! would get a clutch readout before buying anyway, as for the servcing bills im used to Ferrari prices so nothing too shocking there, i love Johnnyboy 225 's colour, would defo look for one like that!! love the Grandsports but just a bit much at the mo, will keep looking!!
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