Maserati 4200 buying tips
Discussion
Just sold my 04 Spyder after 3+ years of absolutely reliable ownership. Only one coil pack outside of service items.
The only advice for the gearbox is never drive it in the auto setting and run it in sport mode and change using the paddles. this should minimise clutch slip and maximise its life. Mine had an almost new clutch when I got it and I had used only 28% in my 3 years and 10k miles of keen driving.
Don't listed to the worriers, a good one is much stronger than the armchair experts will tell you.
The only advice for the gearbox is never drive it in the auto setting and run it in sport mode and change using the paddles. this should minimise clutch slip and maximise its life. Mine had an almost new clutch when I got it and I had used only 28% in my 3 years and 10k miles of keen driving.
Don't listed to the worriers, a good one is much stronger than the armchair experts will tell you.
ric p said:
Just sold my 04 Spyder after 3+ years of absolutely reliable ownership. Only one coil pack outside of service items.
The only advice for the gearbox is never drive it in the auto setting and run it in sport mode and change using the paddles. this should minimise clutch slip and maximise its life. Mine had an almost new clutch when I got it and I had used only 28% in my 3 years and 10k miles of keen driving.
Don't listed to the worriers, a good one is much stronger than the armchair experts will tell you.
Hi RicThe only advice for the gearbox is never drive it in the auto setting and run it in sport mode and change using the paddles. this should minimise clutch slip and maximise its life. Mine had an almost new clutch when I got it and I had used only 28% in my 3 years and 10k miles of keen driving.
Don't listed to the worriers, a good one is much stronger than the armchair experts will tell you.
What your getting next?
I’ve gone back in time. To the TVR world, which was where I came from before my Italian phase.
We’ve been going to the Haynes monthly Sunday meet on and off since it began and realised there are still so many cars still to try. Originally I changed the toys every year or 2. Then the 328 lasted 3 years, 355 8 and Maser 3+. Great though they were, there are still many toys out there.
So it became a TVR V8s, and a w124 Mercedes 320 coupe as a daily barge on the side. Plan to own for a year or so then swap again. No idea what to yet!
We’ve been going to the Haynes monthly Sunday meet on and off since it began and realised there are still so many cars still to try. Originally I changed the toys every year or 2. Then the 328 lasted 3 years, 355 8 and Maser 3+. Great though they were, there are still many toys out there.
So it became a TVR V8s, and a w124 Mercedes 320 coupe as a daily barge on the side. Plan to own for a year or so then swap again. No idea what to yet!
ric p said:
I’ve gone back in time. To the TVR world, which was where I came from before my Italian phase.
We’ve been going to the Haynes monthly Sunday meet on and off since it began and realised there are still so many cars still to try. Originally I changed the toys every year or 2. Then the 328 lasted 3 years, 355 8 and Maser 3+. Great though they were, there are still many toys out there.
So it became a TVR V8s, and a w124 Mercedes 320 coupe as a daily barge on the side. Plan to own for a year or so then swap again. No idea what to yet!
Fair play to youWe’ve been going to the Haynes monthly Sunday meet on and off since it began and realised there are still so many cars still to try. Originally I changed the toys every year or 2. Then the 328 lasted 3 years, 355 8 and Maser 3+. Great though they were, there are still many toys out there.
So it became a TVR V8s, and a w124 Mercedes 320 coupe as a daily barge on the side. Plan to own for a year or so then swap again. No idea what to yet!
Interesting to hear how long you kept them as I've been a Spyder owner for 18 months now coming from a Stag which is obviously a huge step up in performance but still have a fondness for Stags although can't see me going back to one, my brother had a F430 and went to 981 Boxster Spyder to Lotus 410 which until I went out in the 410 wouldn't have believed how rapid it was, fantastic car but like yourself there'll be something different on the drive within a couple of years.
Happy TVR hunting.
The 355 was the prettiest but to get the most out of it, you needed to be wringing its neck at silly speeds. I’d say the Spyder was the best all round car for understatedness, performance and definitely value. It was a great gt.
I just felt I wanted something a bit more raw and that you could drive hard but at lower speeds. I did look at TR6 and Stag era cars having had Spitfires and a Dolly Sprint but, when I drove them, they did feel old. I’d forgotten how old. Whereas 90 era cars seemed to be a good balance of useable new and classic fun.
Lotus and Porsche are definitely 2 manufacturers that I intend to sample in due course. Would love an Esprit.
I just felt I wanted something a bit more raw and that you could drive hard but at lower speeds. I did look at TR6 and Stag era cars having had Spitfires and a Dolly Sprint but, when I drove them, they did feel old. I’d forgotten how old. Whereas 90 era cars seemed to be a good balance of useable new and classic fun.
Lotus and Porsche are definitely 2 manufacturers that I intend to sample in due course. Would love an Esprit.
MaserCoupe said:
Hi there, you won't be disappointed with the 4200, they are a superb car and that 4.2litre 4cam chain drive V8 is magic!! A very lovely and revvy engine with a fabulous exhaust note!
They do have some foibles so do your homework. I spent a couple of years looking and trying different ones until I found one, being patient reaped rewards.
The 4200 Coupe/Spyder had a mid life face-lift (around 2004 if memory serves me) whereby the front grill was slightly bigger, the rear bumper received venting and the dashboard numericals/facia was changed. The interior also received an update by getting a smaller ashtray to give way to a cupholder. The run-out models also received the factory fitted 19inch Gransport rims. By late 2006 early 2007 the Gransport model had arrived.
The 4200 came as a four seater Coupe and in two seater Spyder format, both were available as a Cambio Corsa (paddle shift system) and a manual (3 pedal) gearbox. Not all cars came with a space-spacer spare wheel, some cars came with a cigar lighter air pump/latex bottle (fix a flat type). Maserati also gave an option of fitted luggage and/or a leather Golf-bag......Not sure how many people went for that?
One of the main/essential things to look for is Clutch wear and clutch wear reading on the CC's. Make sure the car you end up seeing has that somewhere in it's history and budget accordingly, they are not cheap to replace. Another thing to look out for is cam cover oil weeping/misting as they are a common occurrence.
Having tried half a dozen CC's (which were ok) I then found out that Maserati actually produced a manual (meaning 3 pedals). Searching for a manual can be daunting but they do exist and when I found and tried one, it immediately felt more engaging (that's just me and I'm not knocking anyone with a Cambio corsa car). For me, I just didn't want the additional hassle (on top of the Clutch), of having to deal with an F1 pump replacement (they can and do go wrong) which can be ££crippling......
Manual three pedal cars have a very light action clutch and the gear change is via a pair of cables, some will experience a notchiness in the gear change, which will be an adjustment in the cable that needs tending to. Otherwise they are pretty robust with scheduled gearbox oil changes.
Look out for suspension bushes/joints wear and make sure the sky-hook suspension is fully operational.....The built in Sat-Nav or Nav-track / infotainment is archaic by todays standard but this is missing the point, adequate would be a fairer description and is still a welcomed addition to making the car a pleasure, so make sure this is working.
If you find/smell dampness in a car and boot the windscreen seals front and back will need looking at, Air-bag lights also tend to be a pain and on mine it was traced to the passenger air bag switch that needed replacement. You'll need to plug a diagnostic tool to reset and eliminate. Invest in a trickle charger and get a quality battery with the correct ampage (as these are a power hungry/drain car with their alarms if not exercised regularly) so a flat battery will be an occurrence and will sometimes trigger dash board fault lights....
Maserati produced 5371 Cambio corsa Coupes and 1078 manual coupes for world wide market. In the spyder format it was significantly less at 3134 CC's and 574 manuals.
They are a stonkingly capable and charismatic car, the last of the breed from Maserati for which you can revel in. 177mph is plenty quick and they are alot of car for not bonkers money.................Go for it!!! They're a wonderful slice of Italiana!!
You still have it ?They do have some foibles so do your homework. I spent a couple of years looking and trying different ones until I found one, being patient reaped rewards.
The 4200 Coupe/Spyder had a mid life face-lift (around 2004 if memory serves me) whereby the front grill was slightly bigger, the rear bumper received venting and the dashboard numericals/facia was changed. The interior also received an update by getting a smaller ashtray to give way to a cupholder. The run-out models also received the factory fitted 19inch Gransport rims. By late 2006 early 2007 the Gransport model had arrived.
The 4200 came as a four seater Coupe and in two seater Spyder format, both were available as a Cambio Corsa (paddle shift system) and a manual (3 pedal) gearbox. Not all cars came with a space-spacer spare wheel, some cars came with a cigar lighter air pump/latex bottle (fix a flat type). Maserati also gave an option of fitted luggage and/or a leather Golf-bag......Not sure how many people went for that?
One of the main/essential things to look for is Clutch wear and clutch wear reading on the CC's. Make sure the car you end up seeing has that somewhere in it's history and budget accordingly, they are not cheap to replace. Another thing to look out for is cam cover oil weeping/misting as they are a common occurrence.
Having tried half a dozen CC's (which were ok) I then found out that Maserati actually produced a manual (meaning 3 pedals). Searching for a manual can be daunting but they do exist and when I found and tried one, it immediately felt more engaging (that's just me and I'm not knocking anyone with a Cambio corsa car). For me, I just didn't want the additional hassle (on top of the Clutch), of having to deal with an F1 pump replacement (they can and do go wrong) which can be ££crippling......
Manual three pedal cars have a very light action clutch and the gear change is via a pair of cables, some will experience a notchiness in the gear change, which will be an adjustment in the cable that needs tending to. Otherwise they are pretty robust with scheduled gearbox oil changes.
Look out for suspension bushes/joints wear and make sure the sky-hook suspension is fully operational.....The built in Sat-Nav or Nav-track / infotainment is archaic by todays standard but this is missing the point, adequate would be a fairer description and is still a welcomed addition to making the car a pleasure, so make sure this is working.
If you find/smell dampness in a car and boot the windscreen seals front and back will need looking at, Air-bag lights also tend to be a pain and on mine it was traced to the passenger air bag switch that needed replacement. You'll need to plug a diagnostic tool to reset and eliminate. Invest in a trickle charger and get a quality battery with the correct ampage (as these are a power hungry/drain car with their alarms if not exercised regularly) so a flat battery will be an occurrence and will sometimes trigger dash board fault lights....
Maserati produced 5371 Cambio corsa Coupes and 1078 manual coupes for world wide market. In the spyder format it was significantly less at 3134 CC's and 574 manuals.
They are a stonkingly capable and charismatic car, the last of the breed from Maserati for which you can revel in. 177mph is plenty quick and they are alot of car for not bonkers money.................Go for it!!! They're a wonderful slice of Italiana!!
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