Maserati - Am I nuts ?

[shipley]

I don't do big miles, we have a people wagon and a Merc estate for the 'loaded' journeys and my current toy is starting to bore me.

I've had loads of Italian cars and despite their foibles, I'm still drawn to them.

I fancy something exciting and was close to buying a 996 but am now drawn to a Masser because of their exclusivity and noise !

With examples like the 4200 (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2492553.htm) or the prettier rear of the 3200 (e.g http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2526712.htm) am I being stupid to even consider one ?

Has anyone had any direct experience of owning one and (ignoring fuel)are the running costs crippling ?

[rfn]

A friend owns a 3200GT. It costs him a fortune. It's an X reg and has done 28,000 miles, is on it's second cluthc (possibly third), and generally costs a lot to run.

Great to drive and passenger in. It has very Italian tendencies, and Ferrari running costs.

[nottyash]

I have a friend who bought a 3200 in 2008. It had 44000 miles on when he bought it and it hasnt cost him a great deal. Think he has done over 20000 miles in it.
He has lived with niggly warning lights popping up here and there, nothings ever broken, but he said tyres were expensive, which comes as no surprise.

[Wills2]

If you are from Shipley, get one and in red, as that place could do with cheering up.

[shipley]

Its Sussex not Yorks

[Wills2]

shipley said:

Its Sussex not Yorks

Well get it anyway and scare the yokels!

[Ravix]

shipley said:

Has anyone had any direct experience of owning one and (ignoring fuel)are the running costs crippling ?

Check this thread

My comments on ownership costs around page 4

[shipley]

Thanks Ravix - I didn't see that other thread.

[niggtv]

I have one of the last 3200GT cars - 2002 (i.e. the one with the turbos and the boomerang lights. It has been utterly reliable. Parts and servicing is expensive, but there are plenty of good specialists around. They are also pretty heavy on fuel if you give them a hard time.

They're great cars if you buy carefully - far better to top good money for one that has been looked after, than buy cheap and spend a fortune getting it right. Best to get a specialist inspection....could save you getting stung. In contrast to the experience of someone that has posted above, the clutch on mine lasted about 33k miles, and was recently changed before it started slipping - would've lasted a bit longer!

Understated, get a good response from everyone, quite spacious, very fast.

[Seeker UK]

I went to look at a 3200 once at a local dealer.

The car was out at a garage having the radiator replaced.

"Yeah" said the dealer, "took me ages to find an official Maserati repairer and the radiator is costing £1500 to replace."

Seeker walks out considering other vehicles to buy.

[hidetheelephants]

Seeker UK said:

I went to look at a 3200 once at a local dealer.

The car was out at a garage having the radiator replaced.

"Yeah" said the dealer, "took me ages to find an official Maserati repairer and the radiator is costing £1500 to replace."

Seeker walks out considering other vehicles to buy.

That's insane; even a custom-built radiator with a spiffy copper core and gold-plated tank-ends would cost half that. Is getting your bottom violated for basic spare parts a regular thing with high end voitures?

[CDP]

hidetheelephants said:

Seeker UK said:

I went to look at a 3200 once at a local dealer.

The car was out at a garage having the radiator replaced.

"Yeah" said the dealer, "took me ages to find an official Maserati repairer and the radiator is costing £1500 to replace."

Seeker walks out considering other vehicles to buy.

That's insane; even a custom-built radiator with a spiffy copper core and gold-plated tank-ends would cost half that. Is getting your bottom violated for basic spare parts a regular thing with high end voitures?

Only if you're stupid enough to bend over.

[Vulgar LS2]

Are you mad? YES

Am I considering a QP? YES

You only live once, and these cars will be too old or outlawed one day so if you can, do it now.

[robsco]

Nothing tugs at the heartstrings like an Italian sports car. And you know you're going to end up buying one regardless of the stories on here, so just get it over and done with.

[dcb]

hidetheelephants said:

That's insane; even a custom-built radiator with a spiffy copper core and gold-plated tank-ends would cost half that. Is getting your bottom violated for basic spare parts a regular thing with high end voitures?

Yes.

Limited production runs, high performance,
not mass market, exotic parts etc etc

Let's not forget that the cost of getting a radiator
and getting it fitted is more than just the cost
of the radiator.

Exotica like Maserati aren't built to be easy to work on:
lots of jobs that would be simple on Fords and VWs are
engine out and three days minimum on exotica.

A GCSE in gynaecology can help too. Being able
to paint the entire hallway of a house, via a
long paintbrush through the letterbox, is another way
to express the complexity of working on some machines.

[niggtv]

Radiator costs about £700 fitted, less if you go for a recore.

[CDP]

dcb said:

A GCSE in gynaecology can help too.

That wasn't on the options list at my school. Pity.

[Lukewarm]

I went to the Classic Car Show at the NEC last year in the hope that I would find the car to replace my 928. I came away with about eight options.

One of which was a Masarati 3200, I spoke with the club members who (surprisngly?) reassured me that they were great to live with. To be honest they sounded much like a 928, buy one with good history and keep it maintained by someone who understands the car and it won't be too bad.

After six years with a 928 I would say give the 3200 a chance, what could possibly go wrong?

Of course I ended up taking a different option but I know I could still regret it.