3200 or 4200

[drellis]

I found my 3200ac an event to drive, I didn't rate the handling at all, a bit 80's. But as already said, the character, i had an auto and I used to love starting off slow from the lights the floor it and it dropped into first , with the traction off it was lively. Never fancied a 4200 on the looks ( though probably a superior driving and mechanical machine)

 

[stikey]

spot on

 

[Oneball]

My ears were burning so although I replied to your PM I thought I’d post here too so I can get massacred by the assembled loons



I think to say I recommissioned a low mileage car does a disservice to the car I bought. There were a few things that needed sorting, a couple of 3200 foibles; pedal pot, clutch pedal bush, shock actuator. There was also a some electrical stuff and a leak that I think people put up with on low mileage cars for some weird reason, look at all the garage queens that people keep on chargers. None of which cost me much money so for purchase price plus maybe £1000 I had one of the best 3200. The low mileage meant the underside of my car was like new and it drove superbly.

I’d spend the most you can afford and have low mileage and buy from a reputable source or have a PPi. Richard Grace is your man to speak to in the first instance. https://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/

Why I don’t have it anymore: I sold it partly because it annoyed me once too often but if I’d loved it I’d have kept it and I didn’t. It took me another “mistake” of a car, an e93 M3, to realise why. All this guff in the press about manuals is bollock. Buy an auto or a CC. With hindsight if mine had been an auto I’d still have it.

Which one? If it’s a 3200, have an expensive, low mile, OBD2, auto.

As to comparison with 4200 and GranT. I’ve never owned either so can’t comment on that side of things. All 3 look special, the GranT feels a bit ordinary inside perhaps because it’s more modern. 4200/GT sound best. 3200 feels twice a fast as the other two but isn’t. The 3200 feels far more like an exclusive coachbuilt car with the benefits and foibles that brings.

Which one, part 2? I’m not sure what you want it for or your budget but I’d go for an auto 4.7 GranTurismo. Well actually I’d go for a GC but you didn’t mention that.

 

[rockits]

The reasons many people love the 3200 are not reasons that appeal to me personally and actually the reverse so the 4200 always made more sense to me. I prefer a SC or NA motor and turbos are not my cup of tea. I can understand why many might like the turbo delivery and want that though. I prefer the build and crescendo that F136 V8 offers to a tee.

I've found my 4200 to be very cost effective to run and have spent way more on SL's over the years. Of course I only do about 1k miles per year in my 4200 so I guess you wouldn't expect any huge bills. Also when I car has done 15k miles in 15 years it shouldn't really need much and has proven to have been the case.

I have had a couple of project 4200's and the amount of money/time you can pour in is immense so not always justifiable. Then you are still left with a car that is worth less than the very best examples. That is why I went with the very best and don't regret that decision at all. In fact the best thing I ever did.

 

[conaero]

I found my 3200ac an event to drive, I didn't rate the handling at all, a bit 80's. But as already said, the character, i had an auto and I used to love starting off slow from the lights the floor it and it dropped into first , with the traction off it was lively. Never fancied a 4200 on the looks ( though probably a superior driving and mechanical machine)

4200 gbox at the back so it’s much better balanced. The 3200 is incredibly nose heavy and it shows. Turbos are addictive though.

 

[rs48635]

4200 gbox at the back so it’s much better balanced. The 3200 is incredibly nose heavy and it shows. Turbos are addictive though.

good point - they are very different cars to drive.
The heaviest component at the rear of my 3200 is the 50 litres of water in the (plastic) boot lining.

 

[rs48635]

...and reading the sub-text bear in mind you need to have an appreciable love for these cars or you will walk away a bitter man.
The best kept and most reliable 3200 or 4200 might confound a modern car driver. common "issues"

why doesn't it start first time every time. (who cares - just listen to the sound once if has fired up)
what made the CEL come on ( will go out at next power-cycle ^^^ see above)
Sure the driver's seat used to motor out of the way when passenger enters the rear
why are the hazard lights blinking lazily without being selected. (they all do that sir, charge the battery)

 

[philw696]

@williamsmix
If you're handy with the spanners and you really want to get to know and understand these cars look out for a project they crop up more often than you think.
I bought a 04 4200 F1 back in 2014 with a noisy engine and no oil pressure.
It was a failed water/oil pump unit £1500 back then but the engine was savable and the car so good I shipped it to NZ and ran it there for 4 years it's still going strong there today.
Others have since carried out the same repair on the forum.

 

[Lozzer]

To add another point is the timeline of each model, the 3200 was the last of the Maserati Bi-Turbo era, if you could call it that, meant to be a replacement for the Shamal, and that appeals to me personally, don't know why, the 4200 was a whole new beginning for the brand, and it shows.

 

[CT3200GT]

I have been using my GTA as daily driver over the last 4 years. I spent 12k on refurbishments and upgrades when I bought it. CEL light came up twice these years, once for the throttle body and once for a knock sensor. She drives great in every respect..
I am a turbo fan therefore biased but I think the car is much more fun to drive than the 4200.
It is expensive to maintain and needs a Knowledgeable specialist to look after it.
Most poor cars are result of cheap DIY jobs and cheap solutions to issues which eventually result to failures.
If you really fancy the 3200, find a good one, not a cheap one and get it inspected first.
no matter how good it looks, be prepared to spend money as the very well maintained ones are not for sale..I mean if someone keeps it top notch he wouldn’t sell.
Parts are rare and expensive..
I think despite the maintenance they are still a lot of car for the money and a very special car..
Good luck!

 

[mjheathcote]

The 4200 of course, is a Ferrari in a nice suit.

 

[Lozzer]

Not convinced?

 

[philw696]

Great pictures

 

[FIFTY]

The 4200 of course, is a Ferrari in a nice suit.

I suppose using the same logic you could call the 3200 a re-bodied Shamal.

 

[rockits]

They are great pictures

I've got a ton of great hi res pictures of my 4200 from Dean Smith when my 4200 was featured in Modern Classics.

 

[Nibby]

If you've set your heart on a 3200 then that's what I would be buying, find one you like, have it checked over by an expert is a must as some of the warranties are not worth the paper they're written on and enjoy. I set my heart on a Maserati Spyder and kept getting people say go for a Porsche 996/997 convertible they're more reliable(which they ain't), there was no danger of me changing my mind as I knew exactly what I wanted and it wasn't a bland 911 convertible.

 

[williamsmix]

If you've set your heart on a 3200 then that's what I would be buying, find one you like, have it checked over by an expert is a must as some of the warranties are not worth the paper they're written on and enjoy. I set my heart on a Maserati Spyder and kept getting people say go for a Porsche 996/997 convertible they're more reliable(which they ain't), there was no danger of me changing my mind as I knew exactly what I wanted and it wasn't a bland 911 convertible.

Good point about warranties; not much point in having low limits and lots of exclusions given the costs of fixing one of these! I’ve had two 911s: an 88 3.2 Carrera SC and a 69 2.7 911T which was an absolute dog of a rust bucket! It was horrible to drive and I laugh at today’s prices for these early cars. The 3.2 was a great car to drive but main dealer servicing was not cheap … I’ve been there are done that with Porsche.

 

[redsonnylee]

I’d buy a 3200 again but would only go for one that’s OBD compliant or as in the above posts an AC.

I had mine for over 10 years and although having the Unidiag KWP software it was a pain when I had the CEL’s away from home. I ended up carrying a spare laptop all the time to deal with these, but the connection was erratic so although I was never stranded it cost me a-lot of time on some trips.

Living in London with a small garage hindered me on doing a lot of DIY, however with the knowledge I have now I could do a reasonable amount myself.

The engine with the twin Turbos gets very hot and this caused me a a few problems, i had electrical wiring and fireproof webbing disintegrating. Three throttle bodies, as you have to get them fixed or refurbished properly. All the suspension, radiators, hoses, wishbones, brakes, discs, some rusting and lots of batteries to name a few.
Although parts are very scarce now, there’s always someone who can help. My 1994 Ghibli needed a new water pump and we’ve adapted an old Fiat one. So I wouldn’t be too concerned on that front.

I do believe you have to have nerves of steel if you don’t have a reasonable knowledge as you can easily spend a fortune if you can’t do a few jobs yourself.

As they say have memories & not dreams be them good or bad.

 

[williamsmix]

I’d buy a 3200 again but would only go for one that’s OBD compliant or as in the above posts an AC.

I had mine for over 10 years and although having the Unidiag KWP software it was a pain when I had the CEL’s away from home. I ended up carrying a spare laptop all the time to deal with these, but the connection was erratic so although I was never stranded it cost me a-lot of time on some trips.

Living in London with a small garage hindered me on doing a lot of DIY, however with the knowledge I have now I could do a reasonable amount myself.

The engine with the twin Turbos gets very hot and this caused me a a few problems, i had electrical wiring and fireproof webbing disintegrating. Three throttle bodies, as you have to get them fixed or refurbished properly. All the suspension, radiators, hoses, wishbones, brakes, discs, some rusting and lots of batteries to name a few.
Although parts are very scarce now, there’s always someone who can help. My 1994 Ghibli needed a new water pump and we’ve adapted an old Fiat one. So I wouldn’t be too concerned on that front.

I do believe you have to have nerves of steel if you don’t have a reasonable knowledge as you can easily spend a fortune if you can’t do a few jobs yourself.

As they say have memories & not dreams be them good or bad.

Here is my shortlist of cars that I'm considering / those within a realistic distance of home on central south coast. There are others that I'm aware of but they are further afield. I don't think any of them are OBDII compliant though, which may now be a deciding factor(?)

X702BBY 39000 Miles 1 Owner £19,990 Comment: Looks to be the best of the bunch but used very lightly for a decade, in need of shakedown(?).
W903MKU 65000 Miles 4 Owners £12995 (reduced from £16K last June) Comment: Looks genuine, in need of recommissioning, last owner for 16 years.
V827GAN 79000 Miles 7 Owners £13995 Comment: Recently recommissioned after 7 year lay up. Appears to have been well sorted and is being used.
W337UJM 56000 Miles 3 Owners £16750 Comment: Engine rebuilt at 40K miles (due to rad damage). Last owner for 17 years.
V316MVO 70000 Miles 8 Owners £12995 Comments: Appears to have been well sorted and is being used.
Y118OWC 62000 Miles 6 Owners £15000 Comments: 2000MY so not OBDII. Not in commission.

And the wildcard 4200:
RX55FRN 35000 Miles 3 Owners £18950 Comments: Last owner for 8 years. 2005 facelift model.

 

[TimR]

All somewhat over optimistically priced in the current market...IMHO (& yes, that includes the 4200- which is long way off what its likely to achieve if the guy actually wants to sell it- IMO ) There's no way a 3200 commands 4200 money. Not in my mind anyway. And even if the very "best" examples are top of the 4200 pick, you still own a 3200, and all that means in the real world, sadly. You need brave pills and a suitcase of cash to hand...
If you are thinking about a 4200, the facelift is the better car . And if its CC..Id just suck it up and get into a decent GS for the money...!
For a car like the 3200, you need to widen your search criteria beyond "on the doorstep" if you hope to find something that offers a real prospect, honestly...