Cheap RHD Ghibli II in Germany

Nayf

Member
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2,734
Wonder how tricky it would be to convert to a manual?
Probably very. Yet to try a manual one.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,756
The manual is much preferred. It's the 6 speed Getrag box from the M3 and a joy to use. That said, I always slightly struggled with the seat-to-clutch/pedal position - but maybe that's just me.
 

Rwc13

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1,668
Looks very nice and a bargain at that or ice with that mileage if the condition is as good as it looks. If you are happy to drive it in a more leisurely way, the auto works very well.
 

outrun

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5,017
That does look nice. Near Hamburg so easy to get to as well and to get it back, all you need to do is make it to Ijmuiden or Zeebrugge.
 

GeoffCapes

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14,000
That does look nice. Near Hamburg so easy to get to as well and to get it back, all you need to do is make it to Ijmuiden or Zeebrugge.

Or direct to Harwich, which is how I went the last time I went to Hamburg.
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
The manual is much preferred. It's the 6 speed Getrag box from the M3 and a joy to use. That said, I always slightly struggled with the seat-to-clutch/pedal position - but maybe that's just me.

From the E39 M5.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I'm thinking maybe an auto in one of these would be a better bet as they are a little fragile.
Maybe wafting along rather than thrashing it to within an inch of it's life might be a better option.

Thoughts?
 

Rwc13

Member
Messages
1,668
I had an auto for 18 months. Always wanted to own one and the automatic was perfect for wafting around. I would never buy one to drive it hard.
 

dickyb

Member
Messages
432
It's all down to personal preference, my comments regarding the auto were tongue in cheek and they are perfectly nice to drive in a wafting and relaxing sort of way. There is no difference in terms of fragility between auto or manual so that's not something you need to consider, both are very strong and reliable transmissions and you certainly don't need to thrash the 2.8 in either version to enjoy it. The Italian market 2 litre version is rather different as it was only available with a 6 speed manual (even when the 2.8 still had a five speed) and it thrives on revs but that makes it much more of an occasion and its actually faster than the 2.8. The 2 litre car is actually a well kept secret, they're 95% as good as a Cup but 1/3 of the price :)


Wonder how tricky it would be to convert to a manual?
Probably very. Yet to try a manual one.

Its quite an involved process as there are a number of significant differences between the various versions. Obviously you'd need a gearbox, pedal box, clutch master and slave cylinder etc but you also need to consider that the auto differential is different to the manual as is the propshaft so both would need to be changed for the manual versions. The flywheel would need to be carefully sourced as there are several different versions depending on the number of bolt holes on the crankshaft and there were also several different clutches which are only compatible with certain flywheels. The ECUs are also different between auto and manual so they would also have to be changed, as would the centre console (gear lever surround) and you would have to disable the inhibitor which only allows the car to start when in Park. Its all doable but finding the parts would be difficult and with all the issues surrounding the various mechanical components it would probably be easier to swap out the entire engine/gearbox assembly from the donor car rather than just swap the gearbox. With all that in mind it would probably be best just to buy a manual car in the first place.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
The first auto I drove was certainly exciting. It was raining, left hand drive, constantly cut out at less than 2000rpm and when you fired it up an annoying female Japanese voice nodded you good morning. Combine the latter two over an entire day.
Oh and the steering and suspension were broken.

I believe it’s still for sale to this day (two years after the I drove it). I know it’s an absolute pit (it failed to sell at £2k at auction) but I still harbour a longing to rescue it... but not at £10k.
 

Jono

Junior Member
Messages
36
It's all down to personal preference, my comments regarding the auto were tongue in cheek and they are perfectly nice to drive in a wafting and relaxing sort of way. There is no difference in terms of fragility between auto or manual so that's not something you need to consider, both are very strong and reliable transmissions and you certainly don't need to thrash the 2.8 in either version to enjoy it. The Italian market 2 litre version is rather different as it was only available with a 6 speed manual (even when the 2.8 still had a five speed) and it thrives on revs but that makes it much more of an occasion and its actually faster than the 2.8. The 2 litre car is actually a well kept secret, they're 95% as good as a Cup but 1/3 of the price :)




Its quite an involved process as there are a number of significant differences between the various versions. Obviously you'd need a gearbox, pedal box, clutch master and slave cylinder etc but you also need to consider that the auto differential is different to the manual as is the propshaft so both would need to be changed for the manual versions. The flywheel would need to be carefully sourced as there are several different versions depending on the number of bolt holes on the crankshaft and there were also several different clutches which are only compatible with certain flywheels. The ECUs are also different between auto and manual so they would also have to be changed, as would the centre console (gear lever surround) and you would have to disable the inhibitor which only allows the car to start when in Park. Its all doable but finding the parts would be difficult and with all the issues surrounding the various mechanical components it would probably be easier to swap out the entire engine/gearbox assembly from the donor car rather than just swap the gearbox. With all that in mind it would probably be best just to buy a manual car in the first place.





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Jono

Junior Member
Messages
36
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I had one about ten years ago-the 2litre Dicky was referring to-lovely engine.However,and there is a big one,parts are now becoming almost impossible to source and if found:think of a number and........
Sadly,this is the case with all models in theDe Tomaso biturbo era-(as opposed to the new biturbo era) which means unless values increase substantially these cars will become undriveable.Clearly Maserati aren't interested having expunged that period from their corporate history.


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dickyb

Member
Messages
432
yes you are quite right, it seems that the Biturbo era is a period in Maserati's history that they would rather forget. If you ever see Maserati put on a display of historic cars there is never a Biturbo era car included and parts for these cars are becoming very hard to find. Its a real shame because despite their early problems, the late Biturbo and Ghibli, QPIV etc were really nice cars. There was some very innovative engineering in the pipeline including a 2 litre Biturbo engine with 6 valves per cylinder. It is rumoured that when Ferrari took over control of Maserati in the mid 1990s they killed off the Ghibli Open Cup race car because it was faster around Fiorano than their own F355 Challenge car!
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
yes you are quite right, it seems that the Biturbo era is a period in Maserati's history that they would rather forget. If you ever see Maserati put on a display of historic cars there is never a Biturbo era car included and parts for these cars are becoming very hard to find. Its a real shame because despite their early problems, the late Biturbo and Ghibli, QPIV etc were really nice cars. There was some very innovative engineering in the pipeline including a 2 litre Biturbo engine with 6 valves per cylinder. It is rumoured that when Ferrari took over control of Maserati in the mid 1990s they killed off the Ghibli Open Cup race car because it was faster around Fiorano than their own F355 Challenge car!
And then there’s the Maserati Chubasco, which suddenly disappeared when Maranello popped up.
 

ian roberts

Member
Messages
70
I agree with the 2.0 6spd comments. I had a 1994 car for about 3 years and used it daily. It was a great car in every respect, quite fragile but as long as you kept on top of things it was great. The second I sold it for a 2.8QP I regretted it. I now have a last of the line 1999 2.8 auto, again its fantastic and a completely different animal to the 2.0. I know where my old 2.0 is and I am biding my time to get it back :)
 

Jono

Junior Member
Messages
36
And then there’s the Maserati Chubasco, which suddenly disappeared when Maranello popped up.

Just think-if Fiat/Chrysler had launched the Chubasco they would have been well ahead of the SUV game like Porsche with the Cayenne(look at the 911 range today!),and used the profits to finance models like the Alfieri years ago.The Levante has come far too late.As it is,tinker here,tinker there.. zilch.


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