456M or 4200GT
Discussion
You cant really compare the 2 a 456M is still 60k whilst a 4200GT is now down near 40k checking the latest top marques. Presuming you are talking second hand as new on either is lunacy.
My wisdom having owned a 456 and having been loaned a 3200GT for the weekend by Maranello, would be to advise caution. The 456 can produce 8K annual service bills (as mine did when they need cam belts and a new warranty - as per the article I wrote for Evo), whilst the Masers shed value unbelievably well. This makes them a good used buy.
The 456 was not as much of an experience as I thought it would be, for sure it looks lovely, and sounds great but interior was fairly plasticy for a car which costs 170K new, it wasnt built as well as I expected, had loads of TVR style niggles - and it was definately more of a GT / European express rather than a cross country blast.
The Maser though is more in the vein of a proper sports car and has much lower running costs. My advice would be to find a 3200GT Auto for £28-30K and use it. Has to be Auto as the manual is pretty jerky, and the twin turbo 3.2 is awesome - after all its pretty much the same engine that is used in a 288GTO!!!!!!!!
Or ignore all that and buy a 911 which is faster, better built, much more rewarding to drive, cheap to service and holds its value.
Bennno
My wisdom having owned a 456 and having been loaned a 3200GT for the weekend by Maranello, would be to advise caution. The 456 can produce 8K annual service bills (as mine did when they need cam belts and a new warranty - as per the article I wrote for Evo), whilst the Masers shed value unbelievably well. This makes them a good used buy.
The 456 was not as much of an experience as I thought it would be, for sure it looks lovely, and sounds great but interior was fairly plasticy for a car which costs 170K new, it wasnt built as well as I expected, had loads of TVR style niggles - and it was definately more of a GT / European express rather than a cross country blast.
The Maser though is more in the vein of a proper sports car and has much lower running costs. My advice would be to find a 3200GT Auto for £28-30K and use it. Has to be Auto as the manual is pretty jerky, and the twin turbo 3.2 is awesome - after all its pretty much the same engine that is used in a 288GTO!!!!!!!!
Or ignore all that and buy a 911 which is faster, better built, much more rewarding to drive, cheap to service and holds its value.
Bennno
Disagree on several points, but enjoyed reading your post nonetheless! Hope you're OK. you must agree on the 911 bit as you ended up buying one after looking at masers!!!! I have a M3 and a T350C at the moment M456.
M3 is probably as fast as the 911, it perhaps feels even a bit quicker, but its nothing like the experience.
Ferrari and bargepole could be used in the same sentence, at least until I can get enough together for a 360!!!
And Maserati must be latin for depreciation?? Although I keep looking...
Bennno
bennno said:
you must agree on the 911 bit as you ended up buying one after looking at masers!!!! Bennno
Actually, I don't. And this is in no way dissing particular marques, it's whatever floats your boat. If you are in a position to own any one of these you should feel privileged.
I'd already decided to buy a Maser 3200 before I had one for the weekend; the reason I didn't buy one was too many things bugged me. Didn't like the gearchange or the transmission shunt on the manual, and while I could have made an exception to my dislike of automatics, it felt significantly slower than the manual and lost the 'afterburner' effect when the turbos kick in. There wasn't enough headroom in either and dynamically there was room for improvement. Being honest though, I could have lived with this if the seats didn't make my legs ache after 30 mins driving. I already know the 4200 is significantly improved in all areas, including seating....
Removing the Maser from the equation left me with the usual suspects; M3/M5, XKR or a 911. I don't know why, but BMWs just leave me cold, visually and dynamically. No, I don't get it either but there you go. XKR felt like a BIG car, and a little ponderous in the twisties. Ended up with a 911 by default. It's reasonably quick, though not as quick as the 456M, but the main thing is that it doesn't make my heart beat that bit faster whenever I look at it, sit in it or drive it. I had originally planned on chopping it by now, but pulling the trigger on a Stradale a couple of months ago means I have to keep my head down for the moment, or my wife will go nuts.
As I said, it comes down to whatever turns you on!
Kevin
Andrew Richmond said:
Thanks for the thoughts - I was offered a loaded 52 plate manual 4200 coupe from a dealer for £45k a few weeks ago but having driven both I would prefer an 03 car.
Following on from earlier comments regarding value, have just see an '02 '02' plate 3200 GT Spyder with 4k miles change hands in cold blood for £42k in the trade
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