First car purchase is a Maserati !

[ScottyC]

Hello all,

I am looking for some friendly advice as I am eager to make my first car purchase shortly (needs to be before xmas) and I am thinking about a Maserati 3200 or 4200.

I have looked at the one in the weblink below:

http://www.website-progress.co.uk/eastbarnet/stockdetail.asp?carID=616 

Seems in good nick but I have some questions/issues which I would like some advice on:

+ Car has only 18k miles on it. It has a FSH but it was in a garage for 3 years until recently and wasn't serviced for that period - should this be a concern (it was put through MOT recently)?
+ My dad says that I should avoid any car that is belt driven which the 3200 is. Apparently the 4200 has a chain drive and he recommends going for that. Is having a belt drive that much fuss - anyone had issues with the belt drive on a 3200?
+ I've read that pre 2001 model 3200 manuals had issues with jerky acceleration/braking - have you experienced this?
+ Do you see any red flags in the car in the advert?
+ Any other tips gratefully received !!

Many thanks for you help to a newby on this site.

Regards,
ScottyC

[sjm18]

Hi there - my advice is buy a 4200. Totally reliable, cheaper to run and just happen to know one for sale - mine in fact! Have a look on the classifieds. Up for £30k.

Just buy a good one though. Pref a 4200, and get a popular colour combo, and low mileage - makes it easier for you to sell on later!

Good luck!

[faisaldin11]

sjm18 said:

Hi there - my advice is buy a 4200. Totally reliable, cheaper to run and just happen to know one for sale - mine in fact! Have a look on the classifieds. Up for £30k.

Just buy a good one though. Pref a 4200, and get a popular colour combo, and low mileage - makes it easier for you to sell on later!

Good luck!

I agree bout a 4200
try www.nuvolalondon.com a maserati specialist

[rs48635]

Yeah and if you ever go out to dinner, phone first and order your meal!
Maybe you need to do some research and drive a few cars. (look for old EVO reports and even classic car mag for 3200. Get over to http://www.maseratiforum.co.uk and Enrico's pages http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri00a.htm
Everyone has different reasons to recommend either car as they are both top motors. They are very different cars that happen to look the same (until you know better). Good luck and welcome the Maserati world

[Mattt]

ScottyC said:

+ My dad says that I should avoid any car that is belt driven

Not so sure on that one, it rules out a lot of excellent cars.

When you say first car, you mean as in first ever or just your first italian? Impressive if it's the first ever, and good luck with the insurance!

[rubystone]

Mattt said:

+ My dad says that I should avoid any car that is belt driven

I guess that rules out the Daf Daffodil I was going to recommend then....

[3200gt]

gone off a TVR then?

[sjp63]

3200gt said:

gone off a TVR then?

wot he said

[halfpenny43]

Another question on Maserati ownership.

I am almost certainly going to purchase a 996 before Christmas - got 45k ish to play with which I hope will get me into a Turbo. However a couple of years ago I went to a Maserati day at the MIRA proving ground and drove both a Cambiocorsa and Gransport.
I have always wondered what it would be like to own a Masa however one thing sticks in my mind.
At the said day at MIRA, a sales person from Masa suggested that depending on how the car is driven, I would need a new clutch at some point every 10 - 15k miles. At I guess 4 grand a clutch including fitting, it seems you need rather deep pockets to run a Maserati if the above is correct.

Can anyone with any experience confirm if this is indeed the case ??

[sjp63]

halfpenny43 said:

Another question on Maserati ownership.

I am almost certainly going to purchase a 996 before Christmas - got 45k ish to play with which I hope will get me into a Turbo. However a couple of years ago I went to a Maserati day at the MIRA proving ground and drove both a Cambiocorsa and Gransport.
I have always wondered what it would be like to own a Masa however one thing sticks in my mind.
At the said day at MIRA, a sales person from Masa suggested that depending on how the car is driven, I would need a new clutch at some point every 10 - 15k miles. At I guess 4 grand a clutch including fitting, it seems you need rather deep pockets to run a Maserati if the above is correct.

Can anyone with any experience confirm if this is indeed the case ??

Yes. CC can eat clutches, similar to Ferrari F1's - depends on what kind of driving you do.....City traffic will wear the clutch a lot quicker than motorway driving.

My first car lasted 15K from new (me driving) and my second 7K (1 previous owner). Virtually no motorway driving - mostly town and country.

Would I have another?

Yes great cars, preferred them over my E46 M3's any day.

[Popeyed]

If you have any concerns about running costs, then maybe a Maserati is not for you; this year I will have spent about 4-5K on keeping mine on the road, and that is with nothing overly large or costly going bang, just a few consumables and a couple of other items which needed attention. You have to remember these are 60-70K cars new and when they go wrong, they can be expensive to fix. And that just doing 3 to 4 thousand miles a year.

[crikeymikey]

Popeyed said:

If you have any concerns about running costs, then maybe a Maserati is not for you; this year I will have spent about 4-5K on keeping mine on the road, and that is with nothing overly large or costly going bang, just a few consumables and a couple of other items which needed attention. You have to remember these are 60-70K cars new and when they go wrong, they can be expensive to fix. And that just doing 3 to 4 thousand miles a year.

Wise words.

IMO there's no such thing as a cheap Italian exotic. By definition they are supposed to be exclusive and extravagant. The best way to acheive this is to make the thing murderous to service and frighting to insure.

I've always loved the Maserati brand (Audrey Hepburn and a GT3500 in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is still a perfect combination to me) so I wish you well in your choice.

... but, whatever you think your running costs are, double them just to be on the safe side!

[sjm18]

I've had my 4200 Coupe CambioCorsa for 18 months, covered 3000 miles in that time, and just spent £1460 on a major annual service. This included me having both rear wheels re-furbed (one was slightly kerbed, one had a slight scuff on it) and having an MOT (which it passed without problems). Oh, and I also had to buy two new dustcaps because some toe-rag had pinched my front ones for some reason. Nothing else needed doing though.

I had 911's before buying the Maser and was worried about possible reliability/ service costs. It's been as solid as my 911's although it has been dearer on annual service. The most I ever spent on a 911 was about £800 once on a 965 Turbo II I had, but the rest were all about £500 at a good independent I know in Kent. So clearly £1460 is higher! But the depreciation has been the biggest cost. I reckon to have lost about £18k in 18 months.... I never lost more than about £6k on a 911 in the same time.

That said, the Maser has been the most fantastic car to own. People are nice to you at petrol stations and say kind things about it. Which is a bit different to owning a 911 where some people will treat you as if you had just defacated in their living room.

Any regrets? One: I wish I'd had more time to drive it.

If you're thinking of a Maser (or other Italian exotic) then I think you will never really rest until you have had one. Just buy the best you can!

Good luck.

[fieldl]

sjm18 said:

I've had my 4200 Coupe CambioCorsa for 18 months, covered 3000 miles in that time

Barely run in then, lightweight. Done over 4000 in mine since August. NEVER buy Bridgestone S02 tyres as they are shockingly bad. I too came from a 911 and have never looked back.

[Colossus]

Had my 4200 for 18 months now and done just over 10,000 miles in that time.Despite a few problems to begin with (engine vibrations that the previous owner never sorted out) it has been completely reliable. Major service cost me £1600 at main dealer which i needed to do for warranty reasons but will now go to independent as it is no longer in warranty.

I cannot recomend them highly enough if you go in with your eyes open, they are not cheep to run but they reward like no Porsche can ever do. If your budget can run to it then life is too short not to!

Good luck.

[sjm18]

Reading the two posts above makes me wish I wasn't selling now! I think mine is going tomorrow now...

[flattotheboards]

first car purchase?

[johnnyboy225]

halfpenny43 said:

Another question on Maserati ownership.

I am almost certainly going to purchase a 996 before Christmas - got 45k ish to play with which I hope will get me into a Turbo. However a couple of years ago I went to a Maserati day at the MIRA proving ground and drove both a Cambiocorsa and Gransport.
I have always wondered what it would be like to own a Masa however one thing sticks in my mind.
At the said day at MIRA, a sales person from Masa suggested that depending on how the car is driven, I would need a new clutch at some point every 10 - 15k miles. At I guess 4 grand a clutch including fitting, it seems you need rather deep pockets to run a Maserati if the above is correct.

Can anyone with any experience confirm if this is indeed the case ??

Hi halfpenny43...

Just thought you'd like the another viewpoint - had my 4200CC for over 2 years, done nearly 30,000 miles in her during that time and loved every mile... (YES 30,000 miles), and STILL on the same clutch... and yes, a right mix of driving.... from town to motorway..... ask those who know, I don't spare the clutch - WHAT A CAR....

ps... enjoy your 996....

pps.... what popeyed said.....

[halfpenny43]

johnnyboy225 said:

halfpenny43 said:

Another question on Maserati ownership.

I am almost certainly going to purchase a 996 before Christmas - got 45k ish to play with which I hope will get me into a Turbo. However a couple of years ago I went to a Maserati day at the MIRA proving ground and drove both a Cambiocorsa and Gransport.
I have always wondered what it would be like to own a Masa however one thing sticks in my mind.
At the said day at MIRA, a sales person from Masa suggested that depending on how the car is driven, I would need a new clutch at some point every 10 - 15k miles. At I guess 4 grand a clutch including fitting, it seems you need rather deep pockets to run a Maserati if the above is correct.

Can anyone with any experience confirm if this is indeed the case ??

Hi halfpenny43...

Just thought you'd like the another viewpoint - had my 4200CC for over 2 years, done nearly 30,000 miles in her during that time and loved every mile... (YES 30,000 miles), and STILL on the same clutch... and yes, a right mix of driving.... from town to motorway..... ask those who know, I don't spare the clutch - WHAT A CAR....

ps... enjoy your 996....

pps.... what popeyed said.....

Thanks JB and to everyone else.

I appreciate that all cars of this ilk need relatively deep pockets and yes, perhaps I simply cannot afford to run a Masser.

I am sure that like all makes, there are cars that will run 30k miles on a clutch and cars who eat clutches every 10k - I have had Porsches and Lotus's (Loti ?) and each car is unique.
I was told the information about Masser clutches by a dealer and it was a generalisation that these cars eat clutches.

But thanks for the advise anyway - certainly gives me enough to mull over.

[3200gt]

halfpenny43, you could always get an auto and not worry about clutches and crank end float.
In my experience the difference is negliable in performance.