3200 Buyer's guide
Discussion
On the depreciation front, we all know a 911 is going to be a substantially better investment (new) but if you look at the Jaguar XKR, a car to my mind with more in common than the Masser, then at least on paper (ie Glasses Guide) there is very little between them.
It will also be interesting to see how the BMW 645 fairs long term
It will also be interesting to see how the BMW 645 fairs long term
Personally I'd buy another, it's a great car. Flash problems are not common, and to be fair he did buy a car without the official warranty,which in hidsight really cost.
If I was going to buy now however I'd buy privately, get it inspected by a dealer but only on the condition that it still ahd full dealer warranty. the warranty is transferrable so you pay well under dealer cost, and get the full benefit of full dealer support. Ok a new years warranty after however much time will cost a grand, but thats nothing compared to what you'll save by not paying the dealer profit margin.
If I was going to buy now however I'd buy privately, get it inspected by a dealer but only on the condition that it still ahd full dealer warranty. the warranty is transferrable so you pay well under dealer cost, and get the full benefit of full dealer support. Ok a new years warranty after however much time will cost a grand, but thats nothing compared to what you'll save by not paying the dealer profit margin.
So, to recap, the general advice I'm getting is:
- buy a well sorted one with all campaigns proven to have been done
- buy from a Maser dealer, haggle hard on the ticket price, get a Maserati warranty thrown in
- 2001 cars may be better in build quality, but that should not rule out earlier well looked after cars
- make sure timing belt done at 3rd annual service
- make sure it has a red key
- check for head gasket and turbo casing problems
- be prepared for some further depreciation - but haggle as hard as possible in the first place to reduce this
Does that some the 3200 up - or is there anything else to add?
Also, is buying privately still dangerous, even if there is still some warranty left. Afterall, from what I am hearing, dealers are putting a huge mark up on these cars - and the horror stories deflect potential customers straight to the dealers' doorsteps. Hence those who operate the Maserati franchise are really fixing the economics of their market firmly in their favour to buy high from them, sell low back to them.
>> Edited by TUS 373 on Friday 6th August 14:41
- buy a well sorted one with all campaigns proven to have been done
- buy from a Maser dealer, haggle hard on the ticket price, get a Maserati warranty thrown in
- 2001 cars may be better in build quality, but that should not rule out earlier well looked after cars
- make sure timing belt done at 3rd annual service
- make sure it has a red key
- check for head gasket and turbo casing problems
- be prepared for some further depreciation - but haggle as hard as possible in the first place to reduce this
Does that some the 3200 up - or is there anything else to add?
Also, is buying privately still dangerous, even if there is still some warranty left. Afterall, from what I am hearing, dealers are putting a huge mark up on these cars - and the horror stories deflect potential customers straight to the dealers' doorsteps. Hence those who operate the Maserati franchise are really fixing the economics of their market firmly in their favour to buy high from them, sell low back to them.
>> Edited by TUS 373 on Friday 6th August 14:41
Just one thing to add - buy from a maser dealer OR someone who regularly posts on this forum and who [puts hand in back pocket] just happens to have one for sale!
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26696&s=209
PS. before you ask, yes I will take a serious offer, it has the red key, all the manuals, four wheels, an engine and some spare tyres....
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26696&s=209
PS. before you ask, yes I will take a serious offer, it has the red key, all the manuals, four wheels, an engine and some spare tyres....
You noticed that as well? Some of the switchgear in my car is definitely out of the Ferrari parts bin - thought it came from a 355. I chopped a 355f1 in for the Maser and noticed the same indicator stalks (sad, I know).
If you ever need any bits for your car, check whether Ferrari (or a good factor) does an equivalent part - example for a wheel bearing on a 3200:
Ferrari 335 (same as on a 3200)- £250
Maserati - £570
I like the 550 styling, always wanted a Ferrari V12 and want a GT car. Funnily enough, LHD 550's (my preference) are currently more expensive than equivalent RHD examples. Bet you didn't know that?
If you ever need any bits for your car, check whether Ferrari (or a good factor) does an equivalent part - example for a wheel bearing on a 3200:
Ferrari 335 (same as on a 3200)- £250
Maserati - £570
I like the 550 styling, always wanted a Ferrari V12 and want a GT car. Funnily enough, LHD 550's (my preference) are currently more expensive than equivalent RHD examples. Bet you didn't know that?
I understand that several parts from the 550 are on the 3200, some are interior / switchgear, but I think there may be quie a few others - as you say ferrari wheel bearings etc too. Dealer took great pains to tell me what they were once, but I've now forgotten - anyone else know?
Re 550..
Didn't know RHD was cheaper than LHD, interesting. 550's now cropping up in the 50-60k region (I'm sure still some depreciation to go but a lot of the car for the money even so...)
I'd still want a 12 cylinder car, and I've just found these
www.saclassics.com/showroom.php?car=48
www.saclassics.com/showroom.php?car=49
I kind of like them - perfer the dark colour to the giallo though!
Think I'll probably keep the 3200 at least for now though, not sure I'll find a garage in docklands wide enough for a 512TR!!!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Friday 6th August 16:52
Re 550..
Didn't know RHD was cheaper than LHD, interesting. 550's now cropping up in the 50-60k region (I'm sure still some depreciation to go but a lot of the car for the money even so...)
I'd still want a 12 cylinder car, and I've just found these
www.saclassics.com/showroom.php?car=48
www.saclassics.com/showroom.php?car=49
I kind of like them - perfer the dark colour to the giallo though!
Think I'll probably keep the 3200 at least for now though, not sure I'll find a garage in docklands wide enough for a 512TR!!!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Friday 6th August 16:52
512TR is a gorgeous car. Looked closely at these myself many years ago. 512M is supposed to be slighlt better, but also a bit more £. Unfortunately, they are a bit snug for anyone 6'+.
As for the 550, I would get it black on black.
Scroll down to the black one here - what are those 6 tail pipes all about?
www.verdiferrari.biz/sales.asp
This is better:
www.ferrari.co.uk/frameworks/locator/details.asp?VehicleID=1633
As for the 550, I would get it black on black.
Scroll down to the black one here - what are those 6 tail pipes all about?
www.verdiferrari.biz/sales.asp
This is better:
www.ferrari.co.uk/frameworks/locator/details.asp?VehicleID=1633
flasher said:
I dont think those facts are right Andrew. There are thousands of 330Ci BMWs sold every year and very few Masers so that doesn't ring true.
I had lots of calls on mine but no-one bid above £21K. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I well remember your posts on here bemoaning the fact that yours wouldn't sell. It's a specialist and very small market and many people are frightened to death of maseratis.
What I meant flasher is that the number of potential buyers of 3200 GT's is high relative to the <1000 or so out there in the UK, hence repeat business is less important.
I advertised mine in Autotrader and on PH and have a few enquiries - most were people starting off on the route to buying one and were looking for free advice (I don't mind that) but they all wanted to pay trade!
mustard said:
It will also be interesting to see how the BMW 645 fairs long term
But surely only Stevie Wonder or the late great Ray Charles would consider the 6 series worthy of comparison with the Maser?
Any car that's been Bangled should be avoided like the plague, and alll they seem to prove is that some people would buy anything with a BMW badge on it!
mustard said:
Maybe the wrong place to advertise it
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=27274&s=209
Ain't that Flashers old car
On the cusp of buying a 1999 circa 2000mls 3200gt and enquired at marenello's cost of renewing the warranty an unbelievable £3200 Tried several other dealers and trident direct with no joy
Has anybody got an similair experiences or ways to get a more realistic price. It has put me off buying the car as I would be nervous runnning a 3200 without a warranty
Has anybody got an similair experiences or ways to get a more realistic price. It has put me off buying the car as I would be nervous runnning a 3200 without a warranty
Hi everyone, yes I am selling Flash`s old car but before you all laugh at me for advertising the car on PH dont forget, as he said, everything was sorted on the car except the exhaust and the red key, both of which are now resolved. Also his car never actually caused him too many probs, it was more to do with dealers, parts, Maserati UK etc. The car, by the way, is really nice and he did really look after it.
As a dealer, I have had four 3200GTA`s in a row, done countless miles in them, used them every day, and have never had a major problem and have never broken down.
Little things that fall off or stop working you learn to ignore as the cars are really the only option for Lazy driving Automatics with ultimate cool and space for our kiddie and her pushchair.
I love the cars and this Black one is actually a really nice car, that is why I was happy to buy it, happy to drive it, and happy to sell it on again.
My advice is actually to shop around for your main dealer servicing costs. I found Duncan at Dick Lovett in Swindon actually wanted my service business whereas HR Owen in London had enough work without my business.
As a dealer, I have had four 3200GTA`s in a row, done countless miles in them, used them every day, and have never had a major problem and have never broken down.
Little things that fall off or stop working you learn to ignore as the cars are really the only option for Lazy driving Automatics with ultimate cool and space for our kiddie and her pushchair.
I love the cars and this Black one is actually a really nice car, that is why I was happy to buy it, happy to drive it, and happy to sell it on again.
My advice is actually to shop around for your main dealer servicing costs. I found Duncan at Dick Lovett in Swindon actually wanted my service business whereas HR Owen in London had enough work without my business.
Justin is right my car was sorted when I sold it on to him...so the next owner gets all the benefits of my ownership. The point is that it wasn't i the condition it should have been when I bought it!! As I said before on a previous page, I had lost confidence in the car after a couple of months and loads of issues.
I guess I could and should have kept it for another year or so now it is sorted but I needed something more economical as it gets used every day. Maybe I'll have another toy in the future....
Saw a nice silver one on the M5 today and had a few tinges of regret....
I guess I could and should have kept it for another year or so now it is sorted but I needed something more economical as it gets used every day. Maybe I'll have another toy in the future....
Saw a nice silver one on the M5 today and had a few tinges of regret....
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