Would either a 3200GT or 4200GT be a viable daily driver?

[rgracin]

We are currently considering changing the wifes Foucs ST for something a little more interesting. We both like the Maserati's, but I really want to know if they can really be relied upon as dependable everyday transport, or are they best for weekends etc.

Budget would be £16k to £18k tops.

Advice appreciated.

[limpsfield]

rgracin said:

We are currently considering changing the wifes Foucs ST for something a little more interesting. We both like the Maserati's, but I really want to know if they can really be relied upon as dependable everyday transport, or are they best for weekends etc.

Budget would be £16k to £18k tops.

Advice appreciated.

I use mine 3-4 days a week and have put around 4,000 miles on it since June.

There is no reason why you couldn't use it daily - personally I wouldn't want it to be my only car as I feel a bit guilt about "just" doing the school run in it - and paranoid about someone dinging it.

The only downside to using them lots is of course the mpg - I reckon I get around 17 if I am lucky.

Great cars - you should definitely do it if you can. www.maseratiforum.com is also a good one for owners experiences.

[rgracin]

Thanks. It wouldn't be the only car, but 17mpg might smart a little. The wife tends to pootel along most of the time and manages around 30mpg from the Focus ST.

[3200gt]

did 20k in mine in the first year I had it. If anything it gave it a good bedding in and (touch wood) I've not had any trouble since and I've had it for 10 years now. Not used as a daily for the last nine but I know it'll fire up first turn of the key still without any fuss. mpg averages about 15 or 16 scraping 20 on a long mway cruise.

[pacoryan]

Used my 3200 everyday, it would 24 mpg on a cruise, never broke down, fantastic car. They have very different characteristics to drive though - do a search and you'll see the debate, plus the auo vs manual debate on 3200's....

£15k should buy you a lovely 32 and leave a few notes in the bank just in case.

[fade2grey]

yup, they sure would. Once all the niggles are sorted out they are really well sorted cars. I used the GS 7 days a week for a couple of years rain, snow or shine, parked on the drive etc. Never had any issues. You'll love it.

[Popeyed]

Just remember that they are somewhat more expensive to run than a Ford. My 3200 was in for a new starting motor, found it also needed a new throttle body: £1500 for that part alone thankyou very much!

[rubystone]

Hand on heart, you aren't going to get anywhere near 30 mpg from a 3200. It isn't going to enjoy snow and servicing is going to be a shocker. I do know someone who has a 3200 as his everyday car but in truth he only uses it sporadically; he works in the city in the week...I would say that the 4200 is a more reliable bet, but just as expensive to run. Buy her an Audi TT.

[brid]

The only thing that ever stopped my 4200 being viable as a daily driver one day, was last years cold weather killing the battery after the car was stood for a few days.

After a good charge, all was well, but it was good i had another car in reserve to use.

[F1GTRUeno]

You'd have to pick the 32 over the 42 as well, it's just far cooler.

[Mario149]

I had a 4200 as a daily driver for 6 months, did 5.5k miles in it. The battery went once, but it was old, and that was the only time it broke down as it were. Warning lights came on a few times but then they do as it's italian, nothing that a battery reset won't solve. If it's something really wrong you'll know about.

There is no reason in principle why they should not be used as daily drivers, they have 4 seats and a good sized boot. You just have to have a bit of respect for it as at the end of the day you're still putting near enough 400bhp through the rear wheels. The only thing to bear in mind is that despite being cheap, they are still getting on for Ferrari costs to run, it all easily adds up: 10k miles per year will cost you the thick end of £4k in super unleaded alone, add £1.5k+ servicing maintenance per year on average to keep it in top condition and you're pushing £5k+ before you've even insured and taxed it.

If you can afford it, go for it, I really don't regret owning mine. But just be sure you're happy with the financial side otherwise you'll constantly be worrying and it will ruin the experience.

[pacoryan]

Wow, what petrol are you buying???!!! 10,000 miles @ 20 mpg = 500 gallons = 2270 litres @ say 1.21 per litre = £2,750 per annum.

Agree you need to allow £1500 to service it, insurance obviously depends but the tax is cheap and depreciation negligible!

[Mario149]

pacoryan said:

Wow, what petrol are you buying???!!! 10,000 miles @ 20 mpg = 500 gallons = 2270 litres @ say 1.21 per litre = £2,750 per annum.

Agree you need to allow £1500 to service it, insurance obviously depends but the tax is cheap and depreciation negligible!

20mpg is very optimistic, you'd only achieve that going everywhere on the motorway at 70mph. Real world, mixed driving in a 4200 produced 15, maybe 16mpg on average, drops to single figures if you go through say London.

15mpg, Shell Super Unleaded at 125ppl, 4.5 litres per gallon, over 10k miles = £3,500+

Edited by Mario149 on Tuesday 5th October 14:05

Edited by Mario149 on Tuesday 5th October 14:07

[nickcowen]

A friend of mine had a 4200 and he never had any problems with it, he is a sales man and drivers all over the country so it raped his poker for fuel. My favourite car i'v been driven in and drove.

[maser_spyder]

Agreed with the 15-16mpg.

It's a 4.2 litre, Italian car with 400BHP.

You will never get anywhere near Ford Focus economy!

Servicing is going to be a shock too if you're used to run-of-the-mill parts pricing....

£35 for an oil filter, £10 each for spark plugs (and you obviously need 8, not 4), etc.

[rotorheadcase]

Over on maseratiforum there is a feeling amongst some that the 3200 will become a "classic" because of the boomerang lights, the twin turbos, being the last true Maserati... could all be wishful thinking though.

Neil

[doodlebug]

maser_spyder said:

Agreed with the 15-16mpg.

Don't put the OP off. I manage 18mpg on my daily commute, although it is on mainly 'fun' B-roads . I even managed 24mpg on my 4000km Euro trip last June.

MPG seems to improve the faster you go. Driving Miss Daisy makes very little difference to mpg, so full beans everywhere is my advice.

[maser_spyder]

doodlebug said:

maser_spyder said:

Agreed with the 15-16mpg.

Don't put the OP off. I manage 18mpg on my daily commute, although it is on mainly 'fun' B-roads . I even managed 24mpg on my 4000km Euro trip last June.

MPG seems to improve the faster you go. Driving Miss Daisy makes very little difference to mpg, so full beans everywhere is my advice.

I've had mine 5 years, the only time I've managed more than 16 mpg was a 70 mile run at constant 70 mph, where we just topped 20mpg.

Very boring though!

[Mario149]

The other thing to remember is that like all car trip computers, the displayed mpg and actual mpg you calc when you fill up tend to be two quite different numbers! Also, if memory serves, the mpg value on my 4200 used to only change in 0.7 mpg steps, nothing smaller

[pacoryan]

Apologies, I was thinking 3200 fuel consumption, not 4200. Nice thing with a Turbocharged engine is it doesn't drink fuel when just pottering along.

Mine would do 24 on a 70-90 mph motorway shlep and averaged 20 on my fast B-road plus a bit of urban crawl commute.