My new 3200GT: first impressions & advice needed
Discussion
Hi All,
Have just picked up my new toy: a 3200GTA in dark blue w/tan leather. So far, I'd say it's a mixture between my old Cerbera and my old Jaguar XJR (both of which were also in blue; is there a theme developing here?). Bodywork, etc. is in good condition, and interior-wise, it's nice, especially having received re-connollising on the front seats.
Coming home from the dealer, driving-wise, it was lovely and smooth, with plenty of power available under the right foot. Nice engine/exhaust burble, and quite a few admiring (and/or 'what's that?-type looks) glances from people.
Didn't push it too hard though, just in case. Noticed that the fuel-gauge needle seemed extremely keen to drop, and worked out that I probably got around 15mpg on a 75-mile journey that was half motorway and half A-roads, but I guess that's to be expected.
After filling up with Super Unleaded, the Oil Level warning light came on, though went off again once I stopped and re-started the car.
Once thing I noticed was the slightly odd braking characteristics of the car. With not even that much pressure on the pedal, it seems to want to trigger the ABS. Is that normal with these?
Only mystery noise was a kind of squeak from the front nearside, possibly the front suspension or possibly tyre rubbing; this is at low speeds (and possibly at higher speeds too, but hard to tell). Any ideas?
Other than that, I'm thoroughly looking forward to some fun, as I learn all about my new car's strengths.
Have a 1-year warranty, so some piece of mind I guess.
Cheers,
Wiggyfella
Have just picked up my new toy: a 3200GTA in dark blue w/tan leather. So far, I'd say it's a mixture between my old Cerbera and my old Jaguar XJR (both of which were also in blue; is there a theme developing here?). Bodywork, etc. is in good condition, and interior-wise, it's nice, especially having received re-connollising on the front seats.
Coming home from the dealer, driving-wise, it was lovely and smooth, with plenty of power available under the right foot. Nice engine/exhaust burble, and quite a few admiring (and/or 'what's that?-type looks) glances from people.
Didn't push it too hard though, just in case. Noticed that the fuel-gauge needle seemed extremely keen to drop, and worked out that I probably got around 15mpg on a 75-mile journey that was half motorway and half A-roads, but I guess that's to be expected.
After filling up with Super Unleaded, the Oil Level warning light came on, though went off again once I stopped and re-started the car.
Once thing I noticed was the slightly odd braking characteristics of the car. With not even that much pressure on the pedal, it seems to want to trigger the ABS. Is that normal with these?
Only mystery noise was a kind of squeak from the front nearside, possibly the front suspension or possibly tyre rubbing; this is at low speeds (and possibly at higher speeds too, but hard to tell). Any ideas?
Other than that, I'm thoroughly looking forward to some fun, as I learn all about my new car's strengths.
Have a 1-year warranty, so some piece of mind I guess.
Cheers,
Wiggyfella
15mpg sounds right.
the brake pedal has a long travel and the first inch or so can be very dead but then they come on. the pads work well when hot and the braking is very good once warmed up and you are flowing through bends at speed, not so good around town. never get the ABS coming on.
oil light - check the level but be wary that the warning lights on these cars have a mind of their own!
the brake pedal has a long travel and the first inch or so can be very dead but then they come on. the pads work well when hot and the braking is very good once warmed up and you are flowing through bends at speed, not so good around town. never get the ABS coming on.
oil light - check the level but be wary that the warning lights on these cars have a mind of their own!
Check your oil level if you haven't done so already, the opening of the fuel filler flap triggers the oil level check. They are very sensitive and will often trigger if only halfway between the marks.
Fuel consumption would reflect enthusiastic driving, I get 20 on a "fun" commute, 24 on a motorway shlep, less than both on the way to the Goodwood Italia breakfast ahem....
As with many Italian cars most warning lights are there to tell you the sensor has failed, but with the oil level it may pay to check it.
I get CEL's quite often, but they go out and the car drives fine, so I'm not fussed.
Can't help with the squeaks, brakes sound dodgy, I've only felt the abs once, and I needed it! Quite a long travel which is disconcerting, but it generally stops in time!!
Have fun!
Fuel consumption would reflect enthusiastic driving, I get 20 on a "fun" commute, 24 on a motorway shlep, less than both on the way to the Goodwood Italia breakfast ahem....
As with many Italian cars most warning lights are there to tell you the sensor has failed, but with the oil level it may pay to check it.
I get CEL's quite often, but they go out and the car drives fine, so I'm not fussed.
Can't help with the squeaks, brakes sound dodgy, I've only felt the abs once, and I needed it! Quite a long travel which is disconcerting, but it generally stops in time!!
Have fun!
I go along with the above.
I had the ABS come on last week braking into a roundabout when somebody came around on the 'outside' but that was down to me going from fast to 0 very quickly!
Oil level light does come on after petrol cap is opened, then sometimes the sensor forgets and stays off, other times it stays on until you top up your oil. 3200's vary wildly with the amount of oil used. Mine is less than a litre per 1000 miles, others on here use more.
Always use Selenia Motor Racing Oil - available from your nearest Alfa dealer for an arm and a leg. Your dealer should have given you a 2 litre can - mine did.
Don't use 'sport' unless the roads are bone dry. Especially with the auto, when it changes gear at very high revs.
Don't turn the ASR off - ever. Unless you're on a track and a very good driver, that is.
I had the ABS come on last week braking into a roundabout when somebody came around on the 'outside' but that was down to me going from fast to 0 very quickly!
Oil level light does come on after petrol cap is opened, then sometimes the sensor forgets and stays off, other times it stays on until you top up your oil. 3200's vary wildly with the amount of oil used. Mine is less than a litre per 1000 miles, others on here use more.
Always use Selenia Motor Racing Oil - available from your nearest Alfa dealer for an arm and a leg. Your dealer should have given you a 2 litre can - mine did.
Don't use 'sport' unless the roads are bone dry. Especially with the auto, when it changes gear at very high revs.
Don't turn the ASR off - ever. Unless you're on a track and a very good driver, that is.
Thanks for the feedback and advice so far. While worried at the time, it sounds as if the Oil Level light coming on after the petrol flap is opened is just a quirk of the model, so I won't worry about it too much. FWIW, I did pull over to check the level, and it was fine. Will go and buy some Selenia though, for the future. Is it the Racing grade 10W60?
As for the ABS coming on, or at least the brakes giving me the impression that it was triggering, I'll check with the dealer. Will also ask about the suspension 'squeak'.
Cheers.
As for the ABS coming on, or at least the brakes giving me the impression that it was triggering, I'll check with the dealer. Will also ask about the suspension 'squeak'.
Cheers.
The 'squeak' from the front suspension area could mean a new lower suspension arm. I had the same symptoms 2 months back - at first I thought it was a problem with the power steering, and it also sounds like the tyre rubbing on the inner arch. I got mine fixed at Emblem Sports Cars in Poole. If you get the garage to look at it, make sure it is done under load, otherwise the problem will probably not manifest itself on the ramp.
Oh, and if you do need any parts, don't buy them from a main dealer!
Enjoy the car and nice choice of colour!!
Oh, and if you do need any parts, don't buy them from a main dealer!
Enjoy the car and nice choice of colour!!
aeronut said:
The 'squeak' from the front suspension area could mean a new lower suspension arm. I had the same symptoms 2 months back - at first I thought it was a problem with the power steering, and it also sounds like the tyre rubbing on the inner arch. I got mine fixed at Emblem Sports Cars in Poole. If you get the garage to look at it, make sure it is done under load, otherwise the problem will probably not manifest itself on the ramp.
Oh, and if you do need any parts, don't buy them from a main dealer!
Enjoy the car and nice choice of colour!!
Oh, and if you do need any parts, don't buy them from a main dealer!
Enjoy the car and nice choice of colour!!
Cheers, and oh dear. Hopefully, it won't be as serious as this, or even as serious as another poster I saw on Maseratiforum.co.uk, for whom the problem turned out to be a suspension issue that led to a cracked chassis!
_DeeJay_ said:
Congratulations on your new purchase. Expect a very similar thread from me in a weeks time (I put a deposit down on a car with the same colour interior/exterior last week)
I just hope yours didn't come from a garage in Cambridge!
D
I just hope yours didn't come from a garage in Cambridge!
D
No, not from a garage in Cambridge. Can I ask why?
Wiggyfella said:
_DeeJay_ said:
Congratulations on your new purchase. Expect a very similar thread from me in a weeks time (I put a deposit down on a car with the same colour interior/exterior last week)
I just hope yours didn't come from a garage in Cambridge!
D
I just hope yours didn't come from a garage in Cambridge!
D
No, not from a garage in Cambridge. Can I ask why?
Because mine is, would hate it to have been sold twice
I'm abroad at the moment so can't collect mine for a while....
The problem with the abs kicking too early is fairly common and the problem is coming from the rear phonic wheels, which are ecessively corroded and confuse the ABS system. The dealer has a legal obligation to fix, so ask for this to be repaired.
Well done with the purcahse by the way
Hope this helps
Well done with the purcahse by the way
Hope this helps
wicked1 said:
The problem with the abs kicking too early is fairly common and the problem is coming from the rear phonic wheels, which are ecessively corroded and confuse the ABS system. The dealer has a legal obligation to fix, so ask for this to be repaired.
Well done with the purcahse by the way
Hope this helps
Well done with the purcahse by the way
Hope this helps
Thanks for that. Sorry to ask though, what are phonic wheels?
Cheers.
sorry for off topic
am i right this is what u talking about ? selenia motor racing oil ? 10W60 ?
www.juna-auto.ru/pics/catalog/4941/pic.1.270.jpg
am i right this is what u talking about ? selenia motor racing oil ? 10W60 ?
www.juna-auto.ru/pics/catalog/4941/pic.1.270.jpg
mazdarati said:
sorry for off topic
am i right this is what u talking about ? selenia motor racing oil ? 10W60 ?
www.juna-auto.ru/pics/catalog/4941/pic.1.270.jpg
am i right this is what u talking about ? selenia motor racing oil ? 10W60 ?
www.juna-auto.ru/pics/catalog/4941/pic.1.270.jpg
I believe so. Anyone else confirm?
don't be scared of ASR/Sport.
you need to get used to the light throttle and be wary of the turbos spooling up in the wet - it will catch you out but once you get used to it you will have lots of fun. takes a while, but now all my driving is SPORT on /ASR off.
people are too keen to say leave all the driving aids on, fine, but you won't learn a heck of a lot about the car if you do...
you need to get used to the light throttle and be wary of the turbos spooling up in the wet - it will catch you out but once you get used to it you will have lots of fun. takes a while, but now all my driving is SPORT on /ASR off.
people are too keen to say leave all the driving aids on, fine, but you won't learn a heck of a lot about the car if you do...
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