Maserati 3200 - unwanted attention?

[thumb5]

Hello all,

I'm thinking of getting a 3200GT, and have found the various threads on this forum very helpful with respect to pros and cons. It seems to be very much a head vs heart decision! One thing I'd like to know more about is whether the car is as prone to "unwanted attention" - in the form of theft, vandalism, etc. - as the insurance companies seem to think. I'd be very grateful to hear your experiences, good and bad.

Thanks,

Ian

[3200gt]

Getting a 3200 is a heart over head decision, however when used frequently they are not as unreliable as most people seem to think. Yes parts/service costs are expensive but no more than any other small volume car of equal quality. You get a lot of car for your money!

Back on subject, take reasonable care as to where you leave it and get a tracker fitted if it hasn't already got one and you shouldn't have trouble. Any damage caused by "interested" parties to mine has been done accidently by trying to read the make badge on the rear boot as most people do not recognise them. I've never experienced anything malicous, only lots of finger prints on the glass where people are being nosey!

Any colour/spec preference?

Good choice and enjoy.

[purpleperil]

thumb5 said:

prone to "unwanted attention" - in the form of theft, vandalism, etc. -

It depends what you mean by unwanted - you can't be a shrinking violet and drive one - They attract lots of attention - generally smiles, waves, finger pointing, photographs and lots of conversations with absolute strangers at filling stations and supermarkets! They're GREAT!!

[sco]

One of the nicest things about owning one is the positive attention it gets from people who know cars and people who don't. Personally I think Maserati have (perhaps unwittingly) nurtured an understated image which people seem to like.

Never has any bad attention or vandalism, sometimes leave it on the drive over night.

[andy355]

i owned a 3200 to for 2 years. only ever received good attention. then had a 355 spider which apart from a tramp attacking me was also all good. i think red ferraris sometimes attract bad attention (mine was blue) but masers are unusual and quirky enough only to get the thumbs up and smiles

[thumb5]

Thanks for the encouraging replies so far!

3200gt said:

Any colour/spec preference?

Early days, but I'm gravitating towards dark blue or grey, with dark interior, and probably manual. Maybe a silver Assetto Corsa if I'm feeling flush and can find a nice one.

[David A]

My old 3200 and current spyder have only attracted good responses and attention (even had an unmarked BIB wave an apology after cutting me up the other day!)

Dave

(actually apart from the lady in the yellow mini on the A30 who needs to realise that the left lane on a roundabout is for going left and straight on all have been good! - dopey cow!)

[neilcharlton]

i think its been said before the more quirky the car the less bad attention it gets - see my previous post on " do you sleep with it" .
When people dont know what they are they tend to leave them alone . ala BMW Mcoupe , TVR etc etc

[aeroresh]

This is why I think Im going to choose a Maser over my second fav choice of a DB7 Vantage. I just know the Vantage is going to attract too much of the "wrong kind" of attention. Certainly, too much to leave it parked up on the street for more than 30 minutes.

[maserati3200gt]

Never had a Bad Experience when driving My 3200 GTM - The Attention is all good! (Seriously)
I Miss the looks and Performance of the car but not the Handling (Especially in the Wet!) and the Awful main Dealer Servicing /Bills!
Just make Sure you Save enough to cover those "Bills" !






>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Sunday 16th April 02:37

[BRM]

"When people dont know what they are they tend to leave them alone"

One of the main reasons to go for a masser. They are subtle and understated OK you pay the price on running costs but no more than any 360+Bhp car.

Id have one any day over the high spec Beemers/Audi/Merc a gentleman’s sport car just make sure not to get one in obnoxious yellow !


Im currently looking out for a 1999 3200 manual in black under 50K miles, if anyone comes across one give us a shout.

[jimszero]

Only ever had a fantastic repsonse from people - it truly is a great car.

I've had builders down tools and knock on the window asking for details on her, tramps jump up and down shouting Maserati! Maserati! at me, policemen pull up at the lights and urge me on (didn't comletely trust that one though)...

Shame I'm having to sell mine... www.pistonheads.com/sales/72674.htm

[spicy]

jimszero said:

Only ever had a fantastic repsonse from people - it truly is a great car. I've had builders down tools and knock on the window asking for details on her, tramps jump up and down shouting Maserati! Maserati! at me, policemen pull up at the lights and urge me on (didn't comletely trust that one though)... Shame I'm having to sell mine... www.pistonheads.com/sales/72674.htm

New mini forces sale???

[fred3939]

So far its been all good ! Have to agree, because its a very understated car you only get positive attention from ppl who know their cars.

Get used to people behind you pearing over their dashboard trying to figure out what car you are driving.. best response so far was when I was fillin up, middle aged lady says " so is that your cheap car "

[maser sod]

jimszero said:

I've had ... tramps jump up and down shouting Maserati! Maserati! at me

Oddly, of all the people who have talked to me about the Maser, it was a Big Issue seller who was the most knowledgeable. Without even clocking the boomerangs, he went "ah, the twin turbo version ..."

[thumb5]

maser sod said:

jimszero said: I've had ... tramps jump up and down shouting Maserati! Maserati! at me Oddly, of all the people who have talked to me about the Maser, it was a Big Issue seller who was the most knowledgeable. Without even clocking the boomerangs, he went "ah, the twin turbo version ..."

So should I take that as an indication of what running a 3200 does to one's finances...?

[spicy]

Today for the first time I had a negative response. Comments were made to staff about the flash motor parked out the back and that we were conning them etc etc. Had I been told at the time I would have actively suggested they check out the competion which is 3-4 times the price.

In the UK working hard and being successful seems to be bad but in the US they look for the trimmings. Envy vs aspirational where did we go wrong.

[3200gt]

spicy said:

In the UK working hard and being successful seems to be bad but in the US they look for the trimmings. Envy vs aspirational where did we go wrong.

Tell me about it! That is the one reason I no longer use mine everyday. Turn up in a 3200 and you have ex clients. Turn up in something like an M3 and no one bats an eyelid. In pure cost terms they are probably about equal but in style terms they are poles apart.
Maybe it says more about peoples lack of taste than anything.

[David A]

3200gt said:

spicy said: In the UK working hard and being successful seems to be bad but in the US they look for the trimmings. Envy vs aspirational where did we go wrong. Tell me about it! That is the one reason I no longer use mine everyday. Turn up in a 3200 and you have ex clients. Turn up in something like an M3 and no one bats an eyelid. In pure cost terms they are probably about equal but in style terms they are poles apart. Maybe it says more about peoples lack of taste than anything.

Depends on the client - new business hide it round the back, if they know you its ok. I've had clients in both the old 3200 and in the spyder. in fact the only people ever in the back of the 3200 were clients (that sounds bad doens't it)

trouble is, that with a tubi on its quite difficult to hide! the screensaver is a giveaway during presentations as well !

Dave

[3200gt]

David said:

in fact the only people ever in the back of the 3200 were clients (that sounds bad doens't it)Dave

Dave, Im almost scared to ask your line of business!