difference between early and late Maserati 4200s

[maser sod]

Hi

Can anyone tell me any of the basic differences between the early and late Maserati 4200s? What more do you get from an 04/05 than you do from an 02/03?

Without much thought I can see the following differences:

1. multispoke wheels changed to a 'teledial' style
2. change to grill
3. extra badges added?

If you can add to the list, then much appreciated. I'm sure most of them are subtle.

[catchme]

Wasn't the Skyhook thingy remapped on the later model also?

And didn't you get the optional V8 and Trident badging on the flanks of the later models?

[maser sod]

catchme said:

Wasn't the Skyhook thingy remapped on the later model also?

And didn't you get the optional V8 and Trident badging on the flanks of the later models?

Cheers.

updated:
1. multispoke wheels changed to a 'teledial' style
2. change to grill
3. extra badges added (V8 and trident on flanks - optional)
4. Skyhook remapped


I'm just trying to work out how close the last of the 4200's got to the Gransport.

I'm caught at the moment between buying a late 4200 manual and GS. I dearly want a manual but if the GS is that much better and similar cash then maybe I will embrace the flappy paddles.

[dunny]

Hi Maser Sod

I picked up my '05 4200 GT today and absolutely love the manual box. Having had SMG M3 E46, various tiptronics and semi autos etc., I've lost faith in paddle change and felt robbed of that great feeling when you get a manual change right. I paid £33750 for an '05 with 2 owners, 11 mths warranty and 24k miles and feel like it should have cost a lot more as it's in great condition and feels like new. What a car and the manual box makes it feel like the challenge it should be to drive it. When it comes together I can't stop grinning and I've only managed 100 miles or so today.

Take a look at www.maseratiforum.co.uk for some good info on Gransport but as I understand it they ran out of a budget in the selling price to strip out too much weight with thinner glass, carbon body panels etc. so the Gransport is as much about a different image as a lightweight version. Mine's Rosso Mondial with Nero leather and very loud sports exhaust! When I've got 19" wheels on it and the suspension lowered a little (assuming I can), a Gransport grill and my own Carbon seats in the front, it'll be everything I want at roughly £10k less money, plus you still have the info centre, satnav and other comforts you'd forgo in the Gransport. The sound is awesome and up to 3k rpm it has a high pitched Ferrari noise but after that on full load it changes to a Nascar rumble...incredible. I checked underneath and the rear silencers have just been replaced by pipes but it's never going back to standard that's for sure!

With all that said, I love the car so much I'm already wondering how good the deal will be to upgrade to a Gransport when the warranty runs out!!!

Anyway if you need any push to buy any version of a 4200, just do it. I've owned a lot of cars, but this just lights me up each time I turn the key and it's going to take a long time before I tire of the experience. I couldn't afford a 360 and also have young kids, but this car seems to tick all boxes at a level I could afford.

[maser sod]

Thanks Dunny,

I know maseratiforum.co.uk well - I guess I'll see a few of the guys from there today at the Bristol Italian Moto Festival (just about to head off to it now). I had my eye on the car you have just bought, I saw it advertised on autotrader - but i guess you beat me to it!

I'll be following a similar upgrade path to you. It will be interesting to find out if the special GS back boxes, with the valve that opens at higher revs, is compatible with the 4200.

I believe the GS may actually be a little heavier than the 4200, hence (on paper) no performance difference between the two, despite the former churning out a little more bhp.

Cheers