Maserati Cambiocorsa

[propaganda]

Test drove a 4200 cambiocorsa back to back with a manual today. I found the cambiocorsa not too bad but felt that I was thinking about which gear I was in all the time (if that make any sense at all) whereas with the manual it was business as usual. The sales guy reckoned it takes a few weeks to be really comfortable with the cambiocorsa box. Does anyone know whether as you get used to the cambiocorsa box the changes are more fluid. I felt the way I was driving it the it was slightly bumpy in the changes. I would welcome any comments regarding the Cambiocorsa box vs the manual.

BTW the 4200 is awesome.

[Andrew Richmond]

Gearbox wise I have found that low mileage 02MY 4200's are lousy with the manual box but they free up after a few thousand miles. I am told that the 03MY manual box is better.

I agree that with the cambio I was never sure what gear I was in. Whilst I have driven 02 and 03 cars with the cambio box it never felt great and I hated the lurch on the change up. At least with a manual you can always touch the gear lever to know instantly what gear you are in without having to take your eyes off the road.

I would stick with the manual. However, most people go for the cambio. Mind you I must be strange as I can't work out why people buy a 911 with tiptronic either!

[propaganda]

Andrew, thanks for the reply.

It seems that most of the 4200s sold in the UK have the Cambiocorsa box, most of the motoring pundits seem to prefer the manual but the paying customers go for the F1 shift. Is it the Cambiocorsa shift association with F1 that attracts people? Anyway my head says go for the manual but I do like the idea of Cambiocorsa - I presume there would be no rev limiting effects when accelearating towards the redline in low gear. BTW how do you find the 4200 compared to the 3200? Why are there so many used spiders available compared to coupes?

>> Edited by propaganda on Sunday 14th September 23:23

[maranellouk]

Can't comment on the Maser as I haven't driven on yet(guess I should stop here). However, when the 360 F1 spider was delivered it took me a few hours to get used to it. Hearing the optimal change approaching had my right hand hovering over the reverse switch which didn't really do much as far as changing up goes.

After a few hours I did get used to it and within a day or so the jerkiness had gone. No probs switching between the 335 and the 360F1. The 355 gets the daylight use as it's yellow and I go sleep after the 360 comes out at night so don't have troubles adapting.

Still have the left foot twitching for the clutch when I am going for it in the 360 but that is beyond my control

[Andrew Richmond]

The 4200 is better than the 3200 in that the power is linear (no turbos) and it has 4 airbags. However, the rear lights are very plain, the idle exhaust note is inferior (but you can hear the engine when you rev it, unlike the 3200 where turbo noise dominates) and the 02 cars I drove had poor damping. The 03 cars are better damping wise and have stability program rather than just traction control.

I believe that the 02 spyders' have poor scuttle shake (hav'nt driven one) but the 03 cars are meant to be better and have a glass rear screen. There's no rear seats though as the wheelbase is shorter (think how much it would shake with the full wheelbase!).

I just don't like the cambio box or tip shifts on auto boxes. Should get a manual cheaper second hand!