3200 or 4200

mjheathcote · Jan 9, 2022

You need to drive the 4200 CC.
When I was looking to buy 10 years ago it was initially a 3200.
All the specialist I spoke too said stretch to a 4200, and as said, that was 10 years ago and parts supply is much worse now!
But completely understand if it just has to be a 3200.

Phil H · Jan 9, 2022

I've had a 3200 and 4200 (both were very good cars), and if I was looking now I'd probably go after the latter as it's less risky than the 3200. If it has to be a 3200, the Nuvola car has a lot going for it; mileage, history (hopefully), auto, dealer reputation, and yes it's expensive but as MAF said

MAF260 said:
The most expensive 3200 you can buy is a cheap 3200!

Just remember, there is no such thing as a risk free Maserati, especially of that age. They can be ruinous, but when the sun shines and they're on song they are an absolute delight.

Lozzer · Jan 9, 2022

Y118 OCW was registered 2 months after mine, and mine is Obd2.
Parts supply for ANY Maserati can be sporadic, wheel bearings anyone?
I think a good idea would be to test drive all available options, even those that you don't think you'll like.What about a manual 4200?
To add the 3200 is old school, and pretty manageable to look after at home.

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

Lozzer said:
Y118 OCW was registered 2 months after mine, and mine is Obd2.
Parts supply for ANY Maserati can be sporadic, wheel bearings anyone?
I think a good idea would be to test drive all available options, even those that you don't think you'll like.What about a manual 4200?
To add the 3200 is old school, and pretty manageable to look after at home.

Yes, I was hoping that Y118OCW was OBDII when I spotted it but I'm advised that it's not because it's a 2000MY in spite of the reg. I hear that the parts supply for the 4200 is relatively better. However, I can only find 2 manual 4200's for sale, one of which has a long wait for for a new airbag ECU, which leaves me wondering about the reality of parts availability for that too. I've always had manuals until about 2 years ago when I picked up a Jag S Type as a daily driver. Perhaps it's made me lazy but I don't particularly want to go back to a manual now. I've browsed through the 3200 workshop manual which I found on here and that didn't frighten me away, although I'm sure there are plenty of quirks and tricks to working on these cars.

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

TimR said:
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...

The market is a curious thing ... Check this one out!

rs48635 · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
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.

FYI your 88 3.2 Carrera SC is one of the last "fix at home" 911s and your mention of main dealer hints that you may not be into DIY work. I did almost every job on my 1984 3.2 Carrera so was unfazed by the 3200. Only just realised the connection in cubic centimetres!

Suggest you locate a good Maserati specialist nearby OR get handy with basic mechanics. Any 3200 will benefit from some fettling (clearing CEL) at home, which would drive many insane going to the dealer / specialist every time.

TimR · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
The market is a curious thing ... Check this one out!

Lovely colors. Manual...my kind of motor.

And I’ve seen punters in auction happy to bid tens of £thousands for a Porsche 997 with obvious bore scoring- it smoked and ticked and they just kept bidding as if it didn’t need a total rebuild...!

Nowt as strange as folk

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

rs48635 said:
FYI your 88 3.2 Carrera SC is one of the last "fix at home" 911s and your mention of main dealer hints that you may not be into DIY work. I did almost every job on my 1984 3.2 Carrera so was unfazed by the 3200. Only just realised the connection in cubic centimetres!

Suggest you locate a good Maserati specialist nearby OR get handy with basic mechanics. Any 3200 will benefit from some fettling (clearing CEL) at home, which would drive many insane going to the dealer / specialist every time.

Well, my ownership of the Carrera dates back more than 25 years. The car was relatively new back then, so I preserved the re-sale value of it by collecting main dealer stamps in the service book. This does not reflect my ability with a spanner!

Oneball · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
The market is a curious thing ... Check this one out!

That doesn’t sound good in the write up. Remember they’re like estate agents. “Easily fixable” is going to be like “the roof may need attention”!

Lozzer · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
Yes, I was hoping that Y118OCW was OBDII when I spotted it but I'm advised that it's not because it's a 2000MY in spite of the reg.

Take a cheap Obd2 reader with you if you go to check any out, that will soon confirm it

rs48635 · Jan 9, 2022

Oneball said:
That doesn’t sound good in the write up. Remember they’re like estate agents. “Easily fixable” is going to be like “the roof may need attention”!

what was 'bad' in the write up?
Looked a good spec with the dark grey paint and Bordeaux interior W402RPC. It is manual gearbox so amazed the oft quoted "end float" has not been mentioned. Until now. My own manual 3200 may or may not have this issue.

Oneball · Jan 9, 2022

rs48635 said:
what was 'bad' in the write up?
Looked a good spec with the dark grey paint and Bordeaux interior W402RPC. It is manual gearbox so amazed the oft quoted "end float" has not been mentioned. Until now. My own manual 3200 may or may not have this issue.

“Minor corrosion”, easily fixed dents, windows don’t close and my favourite “minor blemish” that looks like filler over rust that has then popped

rs48635 · Jan 9, 2022

Oneball said:
“Minor corrosion”, easily fixed dents, windows don’t close and my favourite “minor blemish” that looks like filler over rust that has then popped

Dents and window closure I can live with. The windows "get better" all by themselves on my own car, just need regular use.
The dread rusty arches will get most 20+ year old cars in regular use. Can be sorted with liberal application of cash, like most things. At least none of the issues involve parts.

Has the O.P. been to test drive any yet? Maybe come to the next forum meet for a sniff and poke. If time allows you might even get to see some cars.

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

Oneball said:
“Minor corrosion”, easily fixed dents, windows don’t close and my favourite “minor blemish” that looks like filler over rust that has then popped

View attachment 95270

Yes, I noticed all of that too … And the market has bid a 100K miles manual car up to just over £12K. It’ll be interesting to see if it goes any further; it ends soon.

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

rs48635 said:
Dents and window closure I can live with. The windows "get better" all by themselves on my own car, just need regular use.
The dread rusty arches will get most 20+ year old cars in regular use. Can be sorted with liberal application of cash, like most things. At least none of the issues involve parts.

Has the O.P. been to test drive any yet? Maybe come to the next forum meet for a sniff and poke. If time allows you might even get to see some cars.

When and where is the next forum meet?

rs48635 · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
When and where is the next forum meet?

13th Jan might be the next
See this thread https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/2022-events.34579/

Oneball · Jan 9, 2022

rs48635 said:
Dents and window closure I can live with. The windows "get better" all by themselves on my own car, just need regular use.
The dread rusty arches will get most 20+ year old cars in regular use. Can be sorted with liberal application of cash, like most things. At least none of the issues involve parts.

Has the O.P. been to test drive any yet? Maybe come to the next forum meet for a sniff and poke. If time allows you might even get to see some cars.

I just absolutely detest doing bodywork so it always puts me off. Rusty wheel arch no thanks. Engine rebuild not a problem

allandwf · Jan 9, 2022

Oneball said:
I just absolutely detest doing bodywork so it always puts me off. Rusty wheel arch no thanks. Engine rebuild not a problem

Wheel arches become a bit like bonnet chips, just get them redone every couple of years.

Oneball · Jan 9, 2022

williamsmix said:
Yes, I noticed all of that too … And the market has bid a 100K miles manual car up to just over £12K. It’ll be interesting to see if it goes any further; it ends soon.

Worth remembering that there’s a number of these auction sites and some attract a buyers premium and some don’t.

williamsmix · Jan 9, 2022

Oneball said:
Worth remembering that there’s a number of these auction sites and some attract a buyers premium and some don’t.

It sold for £12,250. I don’t think there’s a buyer’s premium on Car and Classic. Personally I was surprised it went for that, given the mileage and being a manual but then I hadn’t actually seen it or driven it …

3200 or 4200

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