Midlife crisis car - 996 TT or Maserati 4200 facelift model?
Discussion
Rapidly approaching my 40th and thinking of treating myself to get over my downward spiral into old age.
Popped into ADG on Saturday and they had a stunning 4200. 2005. Just 15000 miles for £22k. The thing is mint and totally distracted me from my 996 TT thoughts. I know they're pricey to run, but ADG can look after the thing and they're only a couple of miles from me.
Thinking its going to be far more of an 'event' than the Porsche. Just wondered if anyone had experience of both and what you'd go with.
Popped into ADG on Saturday and they had a stunning 4200. 2005. Just 15000 miles for £22k. The thing is mint and totally distracted me from my 996 TT thoughts. I know they're pricey to run, but ADG can look after the thing and they're only a couple of miles from me.
Thinking its going to be far more of an 'event' than the Porsche. Just wondered if anyone had experience of both and what you'd go with.
Maserati. My all time favourite car manufacturer. Nothing on four wheels exudes class more than a Maserati. Unfortunately they're pretty flawed, aren't they? Especially when you're drawing comparisons with all the other exotica you can buy for the same money. And then 4200 can't be bought with a manual gearbox as far as I remember. If you're sexed up for a Mazzer and can stretch budget, the Gransport is a fantastic machine and the ultimate choice, with all the niggles properly sorted out before they stopped making them.
ajb85 said:
Maserati. My all time favourite car manufacturer. Nothing on four wheels exudes class more than a Maserati. Unfortunately they're pretty flawed, aren't they? Especially when you're drawing comparisons with all the other exotica you can buy for the same money. And then 4200 can't be bought with a manual gearbox as far as I remember. If you're sexed up for a Mazzer and can stretch budget, the Gransport is a fantastic machine and the ultimate choice, with all the niggles properly sorted out before they stopped making them.
I would also get the Grandsport. Just letting you know that you can get the 4200 as a manual, but it is a rare example if it does. 
Speaking as a man who has a massive thing for 911s, I'd still go maser.
The 996 (& 997) turbo is a super quick car, stupidly so really & there kind of lies the rub.
It's almost too quick for roads.
Plus the fact that it's hugely ugly when compared to a basic 997 carrera, built poorly compared to an air cooled era 911 & also eye-wateringly expensive when it comes to anything going wrong.
If you test drive one & think "I must have this power in my life" then fair play to you & go get one.
The maser however exudes class & "old money" as I call it. Something to savour & cherish on high days & holidays.
I also think swmbo would be more inclined to some maser full bore acceleration compared to some 911 turbo!
The 996 (& 997) turbo is a super quick car, stupidly so really & there kind of lies the rub.
It's almost too quick for roads.
Plus the fact that it's hugely ugly when compared to a basic 997 carrera, built poorly compared to an air cooled era 911 & also eye-wateringly expensive when it comes to anything going wrong.
If you test drive one & think "I must have this power in my life" then fair play to you & go get one.
The maser however exudes class & "old money" as I call it. Something to savour & cherish on high days & holidays.
I also think swmbo would be more inclined to some maser full bore acceleration compared to some 911 turbo!
Thanks for all the replies.
Still swerving towards the Maser.
I don't think I'd touch the performance of the 911. And the interior would be far too similar to my old Box to feel special enough. Whereas the Maser, well, it's simply stunning inside.
Still swerving towards the Maser.
I don't think I'd touch the performance of the 911. And the interior would be far too similar to my old Box to feel special enough. Whereas the Maser, well, it's simply stunning inside.
Edited by Luke. on Thursday 12th July 21:35
Maser for sure. I've driven the 3200 and if that's anything to go by the 4200 is probably that bit more special. Both of them will be an occasion everytime you get in and go for a drive. The TT is butt ugly and doesn't have the same class as the 4200.
My next motor will be either the GranSport or the 4200. Look at the GranSport too, it's a really stunning motor.
My next motor will be either the GranSport or the 4200. Look at the GranSport too, it's a really stunning motor.
LordHaveMurci said:
I drove a 4200 & a 996 C2, bought a 996 as it was a much more focused drivers car. 4200 is lovely though, no manual on Gransport put me off one of those.
The 4200 are mainly the Cambiocorsa boxes so the manuals are rare as you like and actually meant to be a really good box. The 3200 I drove was an auto and it wasn't amazinb but the manual boxes do have end float problems to watch for and have a tendency to eat clutches at a fair rate.LordHaveMurci said:
I drove a 4200 & a 996 C2, bought a 996 as it was a much more focused drivers car. 4200 is lovely though, no manual on Gransport put me off one of those.
Me too, although it was a 3200 and a 996 C4 in my case...The Maser was at Meridians in the New Forest. Salesman was great, had a lovely drive, and he gave me lots of time and bore all my stupid questions. To his MASSIVE credit - after me telling him I was going to look at the Porsche the next day - he asked me what I would be using the car for mainly.
I told him that I wasn't rich, and if I was dropping 30k on a car, I was damn well gonna use it near on every day, which meant a 140 mile round trip commute to my job in London.
He smiled, and said to me 'look, I'm probably doing myself out of a sale here - but at this dealers, we try to be disarmingly honest with all our clients, which is why we have such a good reputation! If you are going to use a car like you've said you are, then this Maserati is not for you mate. They're great cars, full of character, but that kind of use will bankrupt you - so all the best, go buy the Porsche...'
My 996 wasn't entirely fault or expense free - but it was manageable costs, just. My friend has a 996TT - same story, has had a few big bills, but all what you might expect for this type of car - and our Porsches never actually let us down, broke down, or left us stranded. The costs were really for servicing and replacing parts that were getting iffy.
After doing tons of research (and there are lots of threads on here too) it seems the Masers are massive, monstrous life-changing money pits, prone to leaving you stranded on occasion too. Fabulous cars with great souls and presence, but boy, you seem to pay for that.
There are some stories about people who have been lucky enough to own a 3200 / 4200 that's had lots of cash thrown at it by a previous owner, use it for a year or two benefitting from the previous expense, and then selling them on having had no expense or issues. So you can be lucky.
But from what I've read, if you're in it for the long haul of ownership, it will make your wallet and heart cry at some point...
Do some searching and Googling for yourself though, good luck, and let us know what you end up with!
If you ever need/want 4 seats the 4200 (or better yet the GS) is the way to go. You'll never get a stranger coming up to your car and telling your car sounds like music in a common of garden 996... If asked what car you drive, which reply do you like best: a "Porche" or a "Maserati"? Just look at the engine, interior styling etc. and you'll see the difference...
Cheers
Cheers
Think Ray hits the nail on the head there about Maserati ownership.
My 'goal' has not changed for years. When I have the surplus cash for a real enthusiasts car that I can cherish (and probably leave in the garage most of the time), I will buy a 3200GT manual. These days that's hardly a lavish choice, there are some high mileage early ones sub 10k. I think if it was right now I would spend 12k+ on one that has had the money spent on it, and would happily travel the length and breadth of the country to find the right one.
The GranSports I adore, I just LOATHE the way the yanks forced us out of those lovely boomerang lights from the 3200.
My 'goal' has not changed for years. When I have the surplus cash for a real enthusiasts car that I can cherish (and probably leave in the garage most of the time), I will buy a 3200GT manual. These days that's hardly a lavish choice, there are some high mileage early ones sub 10k. I think if it was right now I would spend 12k+ on one that has had the money spent on it, and would happily travel the length and breadth of the country to find the right one.
The GranSports I adore, I just LOATHE the way the yanks forced us out of those lovely boomerang lights from the 3200.
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