Maserati 3200 - These seem really good value now

[PeterE320Cdi]

I was just browsing Autotrader and to my surprise and delight my wife suddenly took an unusual interest and said - OK I would like one of those, in black.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...SERATI&model=3200&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=

These do seem good value or is it a case of selling body parts if anything goes wrong?

 

[wobbly]

Looks like a lot of car for the money.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Lots of bling and badge kudos for the money, but Masers of old do have a reputation.

stats007 has some experience of the marque and might be able to shed some light on what to look out for.

 

[Gucci]

I looked at these - stunning cars. Insurance is quite high I think and of course servicing and fuel are pricey too. Got to have the boomerang rear lights - before the design clinic softened the design for the US

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Got to have the boomerang rear lights - before the design clinic softened the design for the US

Boomerangs look so much better IMHO - really distinctive - not something that could be said of the replacement.

 

[shadowninja]

Servicing costs are shocking. They make AMG servicing costs look budget. I think the 3200 main service costs over £1k. Parts: starter motor costs about £400, for instance.

 

[Vickster]

Immensely unreliable by all accounts, pretty though

 

[DansSlk]

Yeah they are that price for a reason.

Just repairing some nice suspension and body damage to one now after a failure of the wheel (NOT the tyre) not the fault of the car as such but for the numbers on the road we seem to have an awful lot come past the workshop doors.

Look for a 4200 still not perfect but much better.

 

[R2D2]

Nice cars and good fun. I've driven a 4200 version at over 150mph at millbrook and obviously i love the car BUT we are talking 9 year old Italian car-there'll be tears before bedtime!! If you can handle the tears financial and emotionally then its a great car. If.

 

[Brett]

Running costs are massive - 15mpg is "normal", not to mention servicing costs. General consensus is that you should expect to spend £2k a year and have contingency of £2k - £3k "in case".

Fantastic looking car though - actually put a deposit down on one once but ended up with my CLK55 instead. Visit www.maseratiforum.co.uk for lots of helpful advice/pointers.

 

[andrewcliffe]

Lovely car but a bit of a risk. Talk to Bill McGrath Maserati if your serious.

 

[stats007]

Bill McGrath doesn't service 3200s - he specialises in the older cars. Better off speaking to Emblem.

I personally wouldn't buy a 3200 - recents stories of end float problems and rebuilds confirmed that. Lesser issues are well know such as throttlebodies failing (£1k), axle sensors wearing, engine timing out from the factory etc.

I'd budget £5k a year running costs with a warranty. Major service at a specialist is £1k. OEM discs and pads are very expensive £1k all round. Tyres £600 a set. Cambelts need doing 30k - camchain at 68k I think.

The 4200 is a much better car - though you don't have the option of a true auto and they're about £7k more than you're looking to spend for an early one.

Decent warranties are about £1500 a year now - very few companies will cover them.

The boomerang lights look nice for a while but have started to look dated IMO.

 

[chriswt]

Bill McGrath doesn't service 3200s - he specialises in the older cars. Better off speaking to Emblem.

I personally wouldn't buy a 3200 - recents stories of end float problems and rebuilds confirmed that. Lesser issues are well know such as throttlebodies failing (£1k), axle sensors wearing, engine timing out from the factory etc.

I'd budget £5k a year running costs with a warranty. Major service at a specialist is £1k. OEM discs and pads are very expensive £1k all round. Tyres £600 a set. Cambelts need doing 30k - camchain at 68k I think.

The 4200 is a much better car - though you don't have the option of a true auto and they're about £7k more than you're looking to spend for an early one.

Decent warranties are about £1500 a year now - very few companies will cover them.

The boomerang lights look nice for a while but have started to look dated IMO.

You wonder why people keep buying commonal garden Porsches and then you read posts like this!!

 

[Ade B]

Running costs are massive - 15mpg is "normal", not to mention servicing costs. General consensus is that you should expect to spend £2k a year and have contingency of £2k - £3k "in case".
.

Sounds like my CE

 

[MikeL]

I was just browsing Autotrader and to my surprise and delight my wife suddenly took an unusual interest and said - OK I would like one of those, in black.

.....

Funnily enough my wife said more or less exactly the opposite

Mike

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Thanks for all the advice. Those are some quite eye watering figures. I think thats one to add to the "when I win the lottery" list.

 

[Stratman]

Funnily enough my wife said more or less exactly the opposite

Mike

So, you'll have to make do with a white one then

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Funnily enough my wife said more or less exactly the opposite

Look on the bright side Mike. Summer season is fast approaching, and hoardes on hen parties will be heading down the M5. One of them is sure to approve of an R107 if they get to be the new Mrs L!!

 

[andrewcliffe]

Maserati are also very unlike MB to deal with. We had a Ghibli in our workshops recently, needed discs and pads. Took three attempts to get the right parts, despite there apparantly only being two options on the computer when giving chassis number and so on.

 

[shadowninja]

Maserati are also very unlike MB to deal with. We had a Ghibli in our workshops recently, needed discs and pads. Took three attempts to get the right parts, despite there apparantly only being two options on the computer when giving chassis number and so on.

That's because you speak so quietly.