Considering a Maserati - 3200, 4200 or Gransport

[rockits]

Dicky's get inspected by Autoshield I think.

The CC box is a race box and on the whole very robust/strong. Shifts at 75% and higher are very good and at full tilt very very good. I can't say anything bad about the CC box on down or upshifts at 75%-100%.

Most boxes of this type & year/era are not so good in auto or at 50% or less. Later boxes on most manufactures are better but you would expect this as that is just technical advancement. The CC box and the 4200/GS cars as a whole just have so much more heart & character than much that I have owned/driven.....& I've had a few!

These are not your new breed of often technical advanced and flawless technically but boring/dull/teutonic cars. There are some minor flaws but that adds to the enjoyment and character of the car.

Not much around that hits the spot like these cars do at the price levels they are currently at. I did have to go through various cars & many years to get to this point. A sensible petrol heads purchase.

 

[rockits]

Forgot to say. The CC box is best in manual mode with sport setting on.

 

[alfatwo]

Dicky's get inspected by Autoshield I think.

The CC box is a race box and on the whole very robust/strong. Shifts at 75% and higher are very good and at full tilt very very good. I can't say anything bad about the CC box on down or upshifts at 75%-100%.

Most boxes of this type & year/era are not so good in auto or at 50% or less. Later boxes on most manufactures are better but you would expect this as that is just technical advancement. The CC box and the 4200/GS cars as a whole just have so much more heart & character than much that I have owned/driven.....& I've had a few!

These are not your new breed of often technical advanced and flawless technically but boring/dull/teutonic cars. There are some minor flaws but that adds to the enjoyment and character of the car.

Not much around that hits the spot like these cars do at the price levels they are currently at. I did have to go through various cars & many years to get to this point. A sensible petrol heads purchase.

Bit like the old manual 3200GT German Getrag then.. its awkward and fairly hard work at low speed when it's cold but once warmed up it's ok , even then not for the limp wristed!

6th to 3rd down change is superb lighting up the rear wheels at well over a 100


Dave

 

[m1980k]

Prior to buying, I was convinced that manual was best and started looking for a manual facelift car. But I bought a GS and have grown to love the CC box. It has a very racy, aggressive character.

 

[Ewan]

A properly adjusted CC box is a lovely thing and not brittle at all. Way better (obviously) than that dreadful Porsche tiptronic nonsense, and far less brittle than the engines and coffin arms of the 996 and 997 cars. I prefer the CC box of my GS to the auto of my QP GTS, and (many years ago now) preferred my 360 to my 993 or 996.

My advice is look at a few, test a few, and buy which ever you prefer. But don't worry about Internet stories, just get out there and get testing! The sooner you buy one, the sooner the fun will start.

 

[philw696]

Ewan is spot on I've had 3 cc boxes and best experience ever loved my 360 Modena but for everyday life my 4200 is perfect.
Don't skimp on maintenance though.

 

[alfatwo]

Prior to buying, I was convinced that manual was best and started looking for a manual facelift car. But I bought a GS and have grown to love the CC box. It has a very racy, aggressive character.

I'm old school and like changing gear by hand with a clutch...I've tried all sorts of paddle shift equipped cars over the years, there fine..

But for me you can't beat a manual stick shift!


Dave

 

[rockits]

I do agree Dave but the manual box in my GTi-6 is a better box than my 4200 manual.

I know my manual 4200 is not a great example & the box is not as good as it should or could be but it isn't great. It detracts from this 4200 rather than adds to it.

My other 4200 is a really great example and with the CC box it really adds to the whole package and really suits the car. I guess some cars suit different boxes but for me the CC is spot on for the 4200. They hit that nail on the head.

My old Boxster S....manual all day long. Most Merc/AMG's slush box all day long. Maybe a better manual example of a 4200 might help but I can't see it matching or getting close to a CC for me on a 4200.

 

[spkennyuk]

I found these pictures taken at oulton park last year.

The silver 4200 on the right is a 2002 original spec
The black car in the middle is a GS
The red 4200 is a 2005 face lift model.

The picture hopefully shows the difference between the size and shape of the front grill and bumper between the three cars. Just to add a little more the front grill chrome or black mesh was also available as an option on the facelift 4200 and also part of a pack for the facelift 4200 called the vintage pack which included mesh inserts in the front wing near the side indicators.

View attachment 39015

View attachment 39016

View attachment 39017

View attachment 39018

Pictures below Cheshire show the mesh on the rear bumper and behind the rear wheels which is a feature on the GS and facelift 4200's. I think Contigo mentioned them earlier in the thread.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Those photos are really helpful. Especially the rear mesh which is only visible from a rear shot. Thanks.
The GS is beginning to grow on me. Its a case of trying booth a CC 4200 and a GS and then deciding if the premium for the GS is real value-add for me.

Mileage worries me (a Porsche thing). Giallo Cars has a GS but 65k miles! Price reflects this obviously. But off-loading in 5 years could be a problem I guess.
I think as a third car and the second weekend car I'm likely to share around 3k miles per annum between the Maser and the Turbo. I may even put the turbo into storage for a year and just use the Maser for 3k miles. The turbo has only 35k miles (2002) and is highly desired.

Not sure how mileage sensitive a GS would be. I don't want an ultra-low miles garage queen but I think around 35k-40k miles would be realistic without an even bigger premium for low mileage GS.

 

[rockits]

My manual 4200 has 89k miles & was a cheap example that is OK but not your best example. Typical scenario when a couple of owners over a couple of years don't spend the money any car like this needs to keep it in fine fettle. Regular maintenance & looking after is essential to keep it good. Not a fortune but regular small investments.

The engine in this 89k miler is very very strong and goes very well. Well run in and maybe stronger than my 13k miler 2007 plate 4200. Although at 13k miles it obviously has much more to give as it settles in.

As long as the car has good solid history & maintenance I wouldn't be concerned about mileage. The cars can cope with it well as long as it is a good example.

 

[Wack61]

My 4200 has 98k on it now . bought from catman in february , i've done about 3000 miles in it without any major issues, the odd electrical gremlin which is self fixing with a battery reset

It was very reliable in the 4 years catman had it too, performance cars are seen as fragile and people will pay top money for a low mileage one but maserati's are much more able to stand the miles

 

[highlander]

The mileage thing has been discussed many times on here. Unlike in Europe, here in the UK we are fixated almost to an OCD level on finding the lowest mileage, sometimes even ignoring more important stuff like maintenance regimes in preference to a low miler. You only need to look at the prices of these cars on the continent with quite high miles to see that. There is no denying it is single minded, tunnel vision thinking on mileage in the UK but unfortunately it is the way of car life in the UK so if you buy a high (er) miler, you will Pay less to get it than a low miler but with a predicted 3k miles a year any potential depreciation should be levelled out to original purchase price IMO.

 

[allandwf]

^ I totally agree re mileage. What I know now, especially with Maserati, if I wanted a car to use it would need to have miles under it's belt. They really are the better for it.

 

[dickygrace]

I know Dicky Grace cars' are inspected and prepared by Autotech. Can I assume that they will have the expertise to check this and set it up correctly?

Our cars are usually inspected by Autoshield Maserati, unless they have been done elsewhere. Voicey did the clutch change on the Blu Med GS that we have in stock. Autoshield do know how to set up a clutch properly too.

 

[Contigo]

Those photos are really helpful. Especially the rear mesh which is only visible from a rear shot. Thanks.
The GS is beginning to grow on me. Its a case of trying booth a CC 4200 and a GS and then deciding if the premium for the GS is real value-add for me.

Mileage worries me (a Porsche thing). Giallo Cars has a GS but 65k miles! Price reflects this obviously. But off-loading in 5 years could be a problem I guess.
I think as a third car and the second weekend car I'm likely to share around 3k miles per annum between the Maser and the Turbo. I may even put the turbo into storage for a year and just use the Maser for 3k miles. The turbo has only 35k miles (2002) and is highly desired.

Not sure how mileage sensitive a GS would be. I don't want an ultra-low miles garage queen but I think around 35k-40k miles would be realistic without an even bigger premium for low mileage GS.

Seen that Giallo Mediterraneo car and I know Matthew has looked after it. You won't go far wrong buying from him at all. If I were in the market for a GS now at good money it would be that car for sure.

 

[Contigo]

Trust me on the mileage thing, best to buy a car which has been used frequently than one which has been a garage queen. The Garage queen is saving up all the issues for the next owner who will start to use her frequently!

 

[mjheathcote]

You also have to consider the higher mileage car will have issues with parts wearing out! Pro's and con's with both lets be honest.

 

[allandwf]

Consumables, brakes etc. will wear out. But that can be said for both. I have yet to change anything other than routine maintenance items on mine in 4 years, other than one burst hose, but than can hardly be put down to mileage, and the cars on 80,000 now.

 

[Contigo]

You also have to consider the higher mileage car will have issues with parts wearing out! Pro's and con's with both lets be honest.

True, I didn't mean astronomical miles I mean one with say average miles. I'd much rather take an average miles, frequent use car down to the South of France than one which has done only 800 miles a year that's for sure. I know which one is more likely to let you down.