North Zummerset Newbie
- Thread starter Andy4200
- Start date
makeshiftUK
Member
- Messages
- 1,091
philw696
Member
- Messages
- 25,424
There are many keyboard warriors out there forever giving their opinions and never owned an exotic Italian thoroughbred.
I ran 2 4200's both Cambio Corsa for 4 years each no major headaches at all.
The 2nd one I bought with a failed oil water pump unit very rare but it happens.
I repaired that one on my driveway in WsM using axle stands and an engine crane on here as Project 4200 I think.
Turned out to be such a nice car I shipped it to New Zealand when I went there and still going strong 6 years on.
If your handy on the spanners you can save yourself some money for the parts and many of us on here have done
I ran 2 4200's both Cambio Corsa for 4 years each no major headaches at all.
The 2nd one I bought with a failed oil water pump unit very rare but it happens.
I repaired that one on my driveway in WsM using axle stands and an engine crane on here as Project 4200 I think.
Turned out to be such a nice car I shipped it to New Zealand when I went there and still going strong 6 years on.
If your handy on the spanners you can save yourself some money for the parts and many of us on here have done
midlifecrisis
Member
- Messages
- 16,218
Welcome to the forum, spent many a summer in Weston-super-Mare in my youth or more precisely RAF Locking. Often pop back for reunions etc. Great part of the world. Can't go wrong with a 4200 CC or manual, had one for 8 years now have a GT Sport. Love them...
Vampyrebat
Member
- Messages
- 3,129
Welcome aboard Andy..........Not much more to add really as everyone seems to have covered all the aspects. The manuals are a much rarer beast (approx. 13% are the GT's) and I think this is starting to reflect now in prices as the 42 was the very last 'true' manual car they produced. Have you a preference between the Classico or the Face-lift? Or is this not a priority?.............Enjoy the forum!
Andy4200
Member
- Messages
- 143
Thanks. Yes trying to find a manual could be tricky. I was just thinking a manual would be mechanically simpler but it does restrict the search somewhat.
I think with the rarity of the manual it might be better if I wasn't too worried whether it was a Classico or face-lift.
I think with the rarity of the manual it might be better if I wasn't too worried whether it was a Classico or face-lift.
CatmanV2
Member
- Messages
- 48,771
Still looking. Which is why I have a deep suspicion that my next car will be an MC shift....
C
Wattie
Member
- Messages
- 8,640
Welcome, you don't know Joyce King by any chance?
philw696
Member
- Messages
- 25,424
Did she change her name from McKinney after you then mate ?
zagatoes30
Member
- Messages
- 20,936
It is a big step up from Alfa. I have had Alfas for 30 plus years and even the SZ doesn't compare to a 4200. Running costs are similar to equivalent performance sportscars from Italy and Germany and you need to go in with your eyes open which you appear to be doing. Clutch circa £3k, heater matrix is just the labour so if your handy with tools its a £100 job. Suspension arms are the biggest issue IMO they are expensive circa £800 each and there are two on each corner replace as needed you would be unlucky to need a full set in one go but budget for a corner a year and you won't be far off.
I bought my Spider on the basis that the running costs would be less than the depreciation on a modern and despite mine needing most of the above that was probably about right over the 3 years I had it, however, the noise, the performance, and the sheer fun made up for it in spades. I would have another tomorrow even knowing what I know but unfortunately the Irish VRT system would add about £5k to any UK price.
I bought my Spider on the basis that the running costs would be less than the depreciation on a modern and despite mine needing most of the above that was probably about right over the 3 years I had it, however, the noise, the performance, and the sheer fun made up for it in spades. I would have another tomorrow even knowing what I know but unfortunately the Irish VRT system would add about £5k to any UK price.
Last edited:
Andy4200
Member
- Messages
- 143
Thanks for your thoughts. The number of people who have had one and would have one again shows how good they are.
I guess I shouldn't exclude the Cambiocorsa judging by peoples comments. One thing that could be annoying possibly is that I understand it should always be driven in sport mode for clutch life/response, which is fine, except that also means you are always driving with firm suspension which might not always be what you want. I guess the 2 cannot be interdependent.
I guess I shouldn't exclude the Cambiocorsa judging by peoples comments. One thing that could be annoying possibly is that I understand it should always be driven in sport mode for clutch life/response, which is fine, except that also means you are always driving with firm suspension which might not always be what you want. I guess the 2 cannot be interdependent.
Zep
Moderator
- Messages
- 9,264
You are right, one is linked to the other. But the clutch life is a mixture of driving style, amount of stop start traffic and after all of that, sport mode. If you can deal with the shifts out of sport, the car will too.
2b1ask1
Special case
- Messages
- 20,269
Not at all, yes it is fair to say there are some on here will say they never drop it out of Sports mode and to be fair I'm probably one of them. but there are times when you want a softer ride and a more chilled cruise. Remember these are GT cars as in Grand Tourer so if you want to drive to Milan in a day you can easily and that is the sort of journey where dropping out of sports into cruising mode is perfectly reasonable and you will arrive fresh and de-stressed. If you are spanking it over the twisties you will most definitely want it in sports. The 4200 is noticeably softer than the GS anyway so even Sports Mode is not that hard going.
Auto is there if you want it for the fully relaxing time band like the rest of it the paddles are there for the fun bits. I haven't driven either of mine in auto in probably 8 years but my Mrs. has only got into the paddles in the last year and would insist on driving it in auto. I wouldn't worry about clutch wear in auto either. The trick to making the clutch last is positive pull aways not faffing about also not giving it a massive boot in 1st as there is no point the MSP will just bury you when the rears light up!
Andy4200
Member
- Messages
- 143
All good info this. What a great forum.
To be honest I'm not generally going to be driving it hard. I would quite often have the kids in the back anyway, as you say it's a GT and I plan to use it for longer family trips generally. I think my wife would initially rather drive in auto so it's good to hear you can use it in that mode as well. I was led to believe auto was completely terrible but that was probably a comment from Road testers, not someone who lives with one day to day.
To be honest I'm not generally going to be driving it hard. I would quite often have the kids in the back anyway, as you say it's a GT and I plan to use it for longer family trips generally. I think my wife would initially rather drive in auto so it's good to hear you can use it in that mode as well. I was led to believe auto was completely terrible but that was probably a comment from Road testers, not someone who lives with one day to day.