How to drive a 3200GT?
Discussion
Never knock the ASR off - ever - unless you're on a track with plenty of spin-off. Speak to Craig W about vmax, if you really want to push your car to its limit.
Don't put it into sport mode in even the slightest damp weather. Otherwise it'll end up looking like mine did. Do a search on me and you'll see a few pics of a dead Maser 3200.
As far as the clutch goes, the harder you drive it, the quicker you'll burn out the clutch. Doing fast getaways at traffic lights, for instance - you may impress the guy next to you in his Toyota Celica, but you'll pay for it.
Of course, the same applies to your tyres.
To avoid engine wear, use the best available oil and check it often. Mine uses hardly any, as does Mr Tony's, but others on here use about a litre per 1000 km. Maserati recommend Selena oil, I managed to get some cheap from a Alfa Romeo dealer but it's normally quite expensive. Cheaper than a new engine, though.
>> Edited by bad loser on Sunday 10th July 21:12
Don't put it into sport mode in even the slightest damp weather. Otherwise it'll end up looking like mine did. Do a search on me and you'll see a few pics of a dead Maser 3200.
As far as the clutch goes, the harder you drive it, the quicker you'll burn out the clutch. Doing fast getaways at traffic lights, for instance - you may impress the guy next to you in his Toyota Celica, but you'll pay for it.
Of course, the same applies to your tyres.
To avoid engine wear, use the best available oil and check it often. Mine uses hardly any, as does Mr Tony's, but others on here use about a litre per 1000 km. Maserati recommend Selena oil, I managed to get some cheap from a Alfa Romeo dealer but it's normally quite expensive. Cheaper than a new engine, though.
>> Edited by bad loser on Sunday 10th July 21:12
[quote=bad loser]Never knock the ASR off - ever - unless you're on a track with plenty of spin-off. Speak to Craig W about vmax, if you really want to push your car to its limit.
Don't put it into sport mode in even the slightest damp weather. Otherwise it'll end up looking like mine did. Do a search on me and you'll see a few pics of a dead Maser 3200.
As far as the clutch goes, the harder you drive it, the quicker you'll burn out the clutch. Doing fast getaways at traffic lights, for instance - you may impress the guy next to you in his Toyota Celica, but you'll pay for it.
Of course, the same applies to your tyres.
To avoid engine wear, use the best available oil and check it often. Mine uses hardly any, as does Mr Tony's, but others on here use about a litre per 1000 km. Maserati recommend Selena oil, I managed to get some cheap from a Alfa Romeo dealer but it's normally quite expensive. Cheaper than a new engine, though.
------------------------------------------------------
This is very True!
My car uses around 1 litre of oil every 700 kms which is apparantly normal.
If you want to crash (especially in the wet) do not ever turn off the ASR Button!
Just ask Jethro Bovingdon (evo magazine) when driving my car for the April 2005 Evo Shoot.
(my car did not crash but it was a sod to control in a professional track situation without the ASR on )
Having experienced what a 3200gtm can do in the wet you DO NOT want to have this car kcik out on you on a civilian road! Be warned.
We drove on the West Circuit in the Wet without ASR and it was a Massive wakeup call ! It is not a joke.
If this is turned off and make sure you have ample space when doing so! Be Warned! oh and have your bible.
The GearBox is much better when warmed up (which can take only a few minutes) and if you dont want to run the clutch out, don't do standing starts even if faced with the chap in the Subaru at the lights.
Clutches run at around £1750 - £2,500 approx.
Rolling starts are much better!
The Original Exhausts are Shite by the way - Potential to rust away.
Get a Tubi or Larini.
Email me for pics / vid clips for the Larini.
Personally I feel the Turbo Delivery is much smoother with a Larini. This also may apply to the Tubi.
Prices differ a lot on these systems though.
Do you homework and you wont be let down.
Get a New Speakers System (for what its worth)
Custom Fit for example is preferred as original Maser Speakers are not very good once you have experienced an upgrade (I use Apline for example)
Amp not neede if the head unit is powerful enough (again email me for pics)
The Car is amazing in a straight line but be careful in the wet as its not the best handling car made but you will love it for the reaction you will receive when on the road.
The Turbo's are great fun and the engine is awsome.
Just be careful about taking the ASR off.
Oh did I mention about NOT taking ASR off ?!
Enjoy.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Sunday 10th July 23:37
Don't put it into sport mode in even the slightest damp weather. Otherwise it'll end up looking like mine did. Do a search on me and you'll see a few pics of a dead Maser 3200.
As far as the clutch goes, the harder you drive it, the quicker you'll burn out the clutch. Doing fast getaways at traffic lights, for instance - you may impress the guy next to you in his Toyota Celica, but you'll pay for it.
Of course, the same applies to your tyres.
To avoid engine wear, use the best available oil and check it often. Mine uses hardly any, as does Mr Tony's, but others on here use about a litre per 1000 km. Maserati recommend Selena oil, I managed to get some cheap from a Alfa Romeo dealer but it's normally quite expensive. Cheaper than a new engine, though.
------------------------------------------------------
This is very True!
My car uses around 1 litre of oil every 700 kms which is apparantly normal.
If you want to crash (especially in the wet) do not ever turn off the ASR Button!
Just ask Jethro Bovingdon (evo magazine) when driving my car for the April 2005 Evo Shoot.
(my car did not crash but it was a sod to control in a professional track situation without the ASR on )
Having experienced what a 3200gtm can do in the wet you DO NOT want to have this car kcik out on you on a civilian road! Be warned.
We drove on the West Circuit in the Wet without ASR and it was a Massive wakeup call ! It is not a joke.
If this is turned off and make sure you have ample space when doing so! Be Warned! oh and have your bible.
The GearBox is much better when warmed up (which can take only a few minutes) and if you dont want to run the clutch out, don't do standing starts even if faced with the chap in the Subaru at the lights.
Clutches run at around £1750 - £2,500 approx.
Rolling starts are much better!
The Original Exhausts are Shite by the way - Potential to rust away.
Get a Tubi or Larini.
Email me for pics / vid clips for the Larini.
Personally I feel the Turbo Delivery is much smoother with a Larini. This also may apply to the Tubi.
Prices differ a lot on these systems though.
Do you homework and you wont be let down.
Get a New Speakers System (for what its worth)
Custom Fit for example is preferred as original Maser Speakers are not very good once you have experienced an upgrade (I use Apline for example)
Amp not neede if the head unit is powerful enough (again email me for pics)
The Car is amazing in a straight line but be careful in the wet as its not the best handling car made but you will love it for the reaction you will receive when on the road.
The Turbo's are great fun and the engine is awsome.
Just be careful about taking the ASR off.
Oh did I mention about NOT taking ASR off ?!
Enjoy.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Sunday 10th July 23:37
. Actully, yes, never turn the damn thing off. Start slow till the clutch is up - you don't even need to touch the accelerator, then floor it for quick starts. Let the engine warm up - only takes a few mins of driving at <2500rpm to save turbo wear. Be careful of flooring it at speed as well - it can dump a huge amount of power and torque to the back wheels and give you a nasty twitchy moment...
Check the oil regularly - some use lots some don't. Don't skimp on servicing and consumables - it is a 70K car in effect though thats not what we paid for them!!!!
So long as its warmed up and moving your in pretty good shape. Take it easy to begin with and you will soon get the hang of when to push the loud pedal safely - this will take about a month.
Dave
Check the oil regularly - some use lots some don't. Don't skimp on servicing and consumables - it is a 70K car in effect though thats not what we paid for them!!!!
So long as its warmed up and moving your in pretty good shape. Take it easy to begin with and you will soon get the hang of when to push the loud pedal safely - this will take about a month.
Dave
Well I think they've all covered it admirably
Don't switch on sport in wet, don't turn ASR off on public roads - EVER!
Apart from that, keep an eye on oil levels (obsess about this it will save you money).
Also note that the 'low petrol light' is set only when the engine is started, so it won't necessarilty come on during a trip so don't run out of fuel - I've got pretty close a few times!
Fit a sportsexhaust (tubi on mine works very well but others have quicksilver etc which are good too). Slight improvement in throttle adjustability and a big change in timbre of engine note
and 
volume! Great stuff.
Really gonna miss mine as it's going this week.
Roll on clarence
Don't switch on sport in wet, don't turn ASR off on public roads - EVER!
Apart from that, keep an eye on oil levels (obsess about this it will save you money).
Also note that the 'low petrol light' is set only when the engine is started, so it won't necessarilty come on during a trip so don't run out of fuel - I've got pretty close a few times!
Fit a sportsexhaust (tubi on mine works very well but others have quicksilver etc which are good too). Slight improvement in throttle adjustability and a big change in timbre of engine note
and volume! Great stuff. Really gonna miss mine as it's going this week.
Roll on clarence
mr_tony said:
Also note that the 'low petrol light' is set only when the engine is started, so it won't necessarilty come on during a trip so don't run out of fuel - I've got pretty close a few times!
Nope it does come on - when driving....darn't think how low it was then - did cost a few quid to fill up after!
Clarence - WTF?
craigw said:
www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/kids/daktari.htm
see here
And I thought that was athletes foot spray!
Oh and leave the ASR on at all times (unless attempting donuts in a field, in whichcase the ASR will ruin things for you and your friends will laugh!
Obviously - The Gransport runs the same chassis, so springs / dampers etc can be tuned to give a far more 'sporty' setup.
Spring sets available from leo-nardo (only company I know does em).
Not so much the chassis thats an issue - or the springs dampers etc - it's just the power rish when the turbos kick in is fearsome in the extreeme - therefore on a wet road with poor traction its very easy to get the car out of shape. Then with the car being a 2+2 luxury GT theres a fair amount of weight and the laws of physics do the rest!!!
Spring sets available from leo-nardo (only company I know does em).
Not so much the chassis thats an issue - or the springs dampers etc - it's just the power rish when the turbos kick in is fearsome in the extreeme - therefore on a wet road with poor traction its very easy to get the car out of shape. Then with the car being a 2+2 luxury GT theres a fair amount of weight and the laws of physics do the rest!!!
Glad you like your new 3200, agree with all the above. I got a lot smoother with mine by not even touching the accelerator to move off and just using first to get it rolling a bit more. I tend to drive 3rd gear upwards most of the time with only very slow corners in 2nd as I find that a bit harsh with the turbos.
I reckon it takes a good couple of weeks of normal driving to get fully confident with the car and then it is very rewarding.
I found it harder to adjust to going back to a "normal" car, only lightly touching the pedal and wondering why you are driving like a granny.
Enjoy the attention.
I reckon it takes a good couple of weeks of normal driving to get fully confident with the car and then it is very rewarding.
I found it harder to adjust to going back to a "normal" car, only lightly touching the pedal and wondering why you are driving like a granny.
Enjoy the attention.
Thanks Guys for all your advice. I drove 70 miles today in town and on fast roads today.
The oil pressure drops when I change gears is this normal? A couple of times when I was braking and I changed gear the oil warning light came on - is this because I'm cr@p at changing gear or does it need to be checked out? Didn't happen this evening but I was being more decisive with the gears.
When is the best time to change gear (approx what revs/speed) I used to be able to feel when to change but I'm finding it really hard to tell with this car.
The oil pressure drops when I change gears is this normal? A couple of times when I was braking and I changed gear the oil warning light came on - is this because I'm cr@p at changing gear or does it need to be checked out? Didn't happen this evening but I was being more decisive with the gears.
When is the best time to change gear (approx what revs/speed) I used to be able to feel when to change but I'm finding it really hard to tell with this car.
No it's not normal for the oil light to come on, no matter how badly you change gear.
I've never noticed my oil pressure dropping, either.
Get it checked out.
Do you make sure you let the car run through all its checks (let all the dashboard lights go out, other than engine management)? This is very important or you'll get warning lights and error lights. Make sure you do this as well after stalling the car when you might panic and start the car without the checks.
I don't know when I change gear. I'd guess at 3000 rpm normal driving, 5000 ish if I'm accelerating harder.
In my car, the best engine note is at 4000 rpm so I quite often do 80 mph in 4th just for the sound.
Sad, aren't I?
I've never noticed my oil pressure dropping, either.
Get it checked out.
Do you make sure you let the car run through all its checks (let all the dashboard lights go out, other than engine management)? This is very important or you'll get warning lights and error lights. Make sure you do this as well after stalling the car when you might panic and start the car without the checks.
I don't know when I change gear. I'd guess at 3000 rpm normal driving, 5000 ish if I'm accelerating harder.
In my car, the best engine note is at 4000 rpm so I quite often do 80 mph in 4th just for the sound.
Sad, aren't I?
not sure about the pressure drop when you change gear, but oil warning light coming on sounds like it might just be very low on oil and be triggering low when you slosh it around.... Check the dipstick! You don't want this to run out of oil thats a $$$$$$$ job!!!
As for changing gear, I found it much easier after I got the tubi fitted as I could hear when to change rather than checking the rev counter!
When you start the car keep it under 3k revs until the temp gague of the water gets up to vertical (90deg)...
I tend to use the whol eengine in the right circumstances, but cruising I prefer to do 'off turbo' under 3k revs. This is the advantage of the 3200 over the later N/A cars as you cna let the tubos die out and drive remarkably sedately if it takes your mood...
As for changing gear, I found it much easier after I got the tubi fitted as I could hear when to change rather than checking the rev counter!
When you start the car keep it under 3k revs until the temp gague of the water gets up to vertical (90deg)...
I tend to use the whol eengine in the right circumstances, but cruising I prefer to do 'off turbo' under 3k revs. This is the advantage of the 3200 over the later N/A cars as you cna let the tubos die out and drive remarkably sedately if it takes your mood...
Oil pressure low on gear change? Hmmmmm....sounds familiar. I have just taken my manual 32 into an Approved Service Centre for a check over. I didn't point out the oil pressure fluctuation as I thought it just one of the miriad of eccentric characteristics that come as std, but the Centre immediately identified it as a problem. I forget the technical term, but basically the crank shaft is moving forward and backwards during gear change and blocking oilways - hence the sudden loss and then return of pressure. Make any sense? I hope you have warranty - it could be 50 hrs! Only happens to manuals. The oil light was coming on to just for a second on acceleration - was that happening with you?
No warning light came on today. It has just been serviced and MOT'd a few days ago and had the latest campaign done. I'll check the oil level tonight and take it into the garage if it happens again. I took out a warranty after reading some old threads on here. I'll make sure I let the car do all it's checks before I start the engine.
It happened when I was braking and changing gear, it was okay when I was accelerating.
Thanks for the info guys. Today felt really good I think I'm getting the hang of things a bit better. Cheers
It happened when I was braking and changing gear, it was okay when I was accelerating.
Thanks for the info guys. Today felt really good I think I'm getting the hang of things a bit better. Cheers
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