Newbie looking to buy a 4200 Spyder CC - any advice?

N

Newbie

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Hi, I've joined the Forum as I'm thinking of buying a 4200 Spyder Cambio Corsa. I've always liked the bodyshape, and they're cheaper (and rarer) than Ferraris :) I looked at one last year but wasn't able to test drive it so am planning a trip to Auckland to look at the 2002 model that Continental Cars are advertising. What should I be looking out for and what are the likely ownership problems - apart from thirst for fuel?!
Thanks in advance ;)
 
Ewan

Ewan

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6,850
These got a lot better over their model run, with the later cars being noticeably more solid and with a smoother gear change. Personally I'd avoid the 2002 cars and wait for maybe a 2004 or so. It would cost hardly any more, but be a whole lot better to drive.
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
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Drop PhilW a PM as he is down there with a Classico 4200, has worked for Maserati Auckland and is a well respected font of knowledge on here.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

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9,047
Ewan said:
These got a lot better over their model run, with the later cars being noticeably more solid and with a smoother gear change. Personally I'd avoid the 2002 cars and wait for maybe a 2004 or so. It would cost hardly any more, but be a whole lot better to drive.
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Depends whether you want the smoother pipe and slippers gear change, and what you define as better to drive...and what firmware has been flashed too!
http://www.sportsmaserati.com/showthread.php/21752-Renewed-Software/page2?p=512789#post512789
 
philw696

philw696

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25,799
Newbie said:
Hi, I've joined the Forum as I'm thinking of buying a 4200 Spyder Cambio Corsa. I've always liked the bodyshape, and they're cheaper (and rarer) than Ferraris :) I looked at one last year but wasn't able to test drive it so am planning a trip to Auckland to look at the 2002 model that Continental Cars are advertising. What should I be looking out for and what are the likely ownership problems - apart from thirst for fuel?!
Thanks in advance ;)
Click to expand...

It's a very nice car we had it in at Maserati when I worked there and being sold by Ferrari it is very well presented.
Phil.
 
N

Newbie

New Member
Messages
8
Ewan said:
These got a lot better over their model run, with the later cars being noticeably more solid and with a smoother gear change. Personally I'd avoid the 2002 cars and wait for maybe a 2004 or so. It would cost hardly any more, but be a whole lot better to drive.
Click to expand...

Thank you, but that might be a long wait as I think I've only seen two (both 2002) advertised this year. I don't think there are many in New Zealand ;(
 
N

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New Member
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2b1ask1 said:
Drop PhilW a PM as he is down there with a Classico 4200, has worked for Maserati Auckland and is a well respected font of knowledge on here.
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Thanks very much - I see he has already spotted the thread and posted a reply :)
 
N

Newbie

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8
Newbie said:
Thanks very much for that. Hoping to get up there at the end of this month :)
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Been up a couple of times to test drive it. Roof problems both times and, for various reasons, have decided against it. Thanks for all the advice :)
 
philw696

philw696

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That's a shame as it's a nice car.
Get them to fix it and take out a Jansen's warranty in the deal.
 
N

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philw696 said:
That's a shame as it's a nice car.
Get them to fix it and take out a Jansen's warranty in the deal.
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It was "fixed" after the first test drive by replacing a blown fuse but the fault recurred when they tested it on the day we flew up for the second test drive :frusty6: The root cause (perished bungee cords) was apparently fixed three weeks later but the promised update didn't happen until I cancelled the purchase. As communication from the dealer had been virtually non-existent from the get-go unless I chased them up, I felt I was being given the run-around. I had also been told that they couldn't offer a warranty because the car was too old, so the combination of factors led me to pull out of the deal. It was a shame, because the car looked and sounded great but I'd just lost all confidence :(
 
philw696

philw696

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25,799
For the record the repair of the cords is like a sellotape repair. It will fail.
It will need a new roof.
Saw it a couple of times whilst at Maserati.
I think to get good customer service from the Dealership you have to be spending at least a $100,000. Just wrong I know.
 
N

Newbie

New Member
Messages
8
philw696 said:
For the record the repair of the cords is like a sellotape repair. It will fail.
It will need a new roof.
Saw it a couple of times whilst at Maserati.
I think to get good customer service from the Dealership you have to be spending at least a $100,000. Just wrong I know.
Click to expand...

That's what I was afraid of and, yes, I did feel that we were "just" buying a cheap car ($55K) and being given the runaround until we paid up and disappeared with the car :bad_smelly: We were dealing with the Sales Manager and I certainly felt that the level of customer service declined dramatically once we'd paid the deposit :road_rage-28: Fortunately, quoting the Consumer Guarantees Act got us out of the deal and our deposit refunded immediately - the only time I got an almost instant reply to my email :happy2:
 
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