4200 or 4.2 Granturismo as first Maserati??

MrCoop

MrCoop

Junior Member
Messages
410
Afternoon

So...after much trawling the internet and trying to explain to the wife that it's a good idea, I still haven't bought my first Maser. Was quite naive when I started my search, thinking that I could pick up a decent 4200 for £16k. Having spoken to Dicky, it makes sense for me to up my budget and get something that's 'sorted' and lower mileage. However, upping the budget isn't quite so easy as committed to house renovation etc and so will realistically make the purchase mid-2015.

I've driven a few 4200's (test drives) and love it. I've also driven my mates 4.7 Grancabrio a few times and loved that too. Given my job, I can't have a Maser as a daily drive and so anything I would get would be a weekend/non-client day car. That's fine, because I want it to be a treat when I do drive it (daily drive is a Jaguar XFR, so plenty of thrills but doesn't have any soul).

The plan was to introduce myself into Maser ownership by way of a 4200 and then upgrade to a 4.7 GT as and when funds allowed. The reasons for a 4200 are that it looks great, sounds great and goes great. I appreciate the running costs aren't great but what the ****, it's only a weekend car. I'll be honest, I much prefer the way the Granturismo looks and in an ideal world, this is what I'd buy as my first Maser. I've seen numerous 4.2 Granturismos for sale at the £30k mark, ok so this is about £10k more than a similar mileage 4200, and it got me thinking...for a newbie like me, who is not what you'd describe as a great driver nor mechanically minded, would it be better to just go with a Granturismo? My biggest concerns about Maserati ownership are reliability issues and costs if anything go wrong. Does the Granturismo make life easier in this respect or am I kidding myself thinking that newer is better?

I know I'm probably comparing apples with pears and the advice will be, 'drive them both and buy the one you like'....

Thanks

Kupe
 
Steve GS

Steve GS

Member
Messages
1,526
MrCoop said:
Afternoon

So...after much trawling the internet and trying to explain to the wife that it's a good idea, I still haven't bought my first Maser. Was quite naive when I started my search, thinking that I could pick up a decent 4200 for £16k. Having spoken to Dicky, it makes sense for me to up my budget and get something that's 'sorted' and lower mileage. However, upping the budget isn't quite so easy as committed to house renovation etc and so will realistically make the purchase mid-2015.

I've driven a few 4200's (test drives) and love it. I've also driven my mates 4.7 Grancabrio a few times and loved that too. Given my job, I can't have a Maser as a daily drive and so anything I would get would be a weekend/non-client day car. That's fine, because I want it to be a treat when I do drive it (daily drive is a Jaguar XFR, so plenty of thrills but doesn't have any soul).

The plan was to introduce myself into Maser ownership by way of a 4200 and then upgrade to a 4.7 GT as and when funds allowed. The reasons for a 4200 are that it looks great, sounds great and goes great. I appreciate the running costs aren't great but what the ****, it's only a weekend car. I'll be honest, I much prefer the way the Granturismo looks and in an ideal world, this is what I'd buy as my first Maser. I've seen numerous 4.2 Granturismos for sale at the £30k mark, ok so this is about £10k more than a similar mileage 4200, and it got me thinking...for a newbie like me, who is not what you'd describe as a great driver nor mechanically minded, would it be better to just go with a Granturismo? My biggest concerns about Maserati ownership are reliability issues and costs if anything go wrong. Does the Granturismo make life easier in this respect or am I kidding myself thinking that newer is better?

I know I'm probably comparing apples with pears and the advice will be, 'drive them both and buy the one you like'....

Thanks

Kupe
Click to expand...
So you looked at a 4200 and then a gt. And just skipped the GS. Shame as a verry capable car lots of frills. And cheaper than the gt
 
Fangio63

Fangio63

Member
Messages
614
I've had both... and they are both great cars... but very different.... 4200 feels like a sports car... GT feels like a cruiser..

Ultimately it will boil down to your view of the transmission. ... the cc box on the 4200 is fabulous fun, but can be quite hard work - and an acquired taste.. Auto in the GT not as involving - but with the paddles and the sport button on there's plenty of fun to be had..

GT - better sorted electronically in my opinion - but still behind the germans. - and there's no better looking car...

There'll be plenty on here to tell you otherwise in a mo.. but the difference between a 4.7 and a 4.2 aint much.. .. and a sports exhaust upgrade in the fullness of time would I think give you all you'd ever need..

Running cost are not eye watering (save for brakes) ... and the forum is working on that..... and many drivers use their GT as a daily.... There's plenty of high milage ones around as a testament..

For me the GT is the better car... better looking... and when you want to cane it ... it's all there... The 4200 needs a bit more attention. and if it's just a weekend car then that might be just the job..

Plenty of both around right now ... be fussy and keep us posted...
 
C

Chrisbassett

Member
Messages
3,909
As someone who had to rely on others to maintain & service my 4200, I think that as long as you get a sorted car to start with and a warranty to cover the first couple of years parts & labour then you wouldn't have any issues. My big ticket items were clutch replacement, cc gearbox synchronisation (it forgot how to change gear a few times), the F1 pump wiring and an issue with a leaking timing chain cover, but most of the rest was as expected. Indie prices are low enough not to worry.

The problems start when you suddenly realise that your exhaust is 3-times too quiet and you want to wake the neighbours up a bit more, but the forum has you sorted there!
 
D

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,255
id go for the GT if it was between the 4200 and that otherwise the GS does the job better than the GT and its cheaper....just
 
Contigo

Contigo

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I'd go for a GS if it were a choice of the NA cars.

The 4.2 GT would not cut it for me and I'd only be looking at the 4.7 but I have my reasons.
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
Both are great and you sum it up well. If it was a DD then I would say GranTurismo but as a weekend car, both are fine. 4200 is less refined, more darty and more of a handful in the wet. GranTurismo is much more up to date, looks better (IMHO having owned both) and has longer service intervals and the option of no clutch to fail. No bad choice but easier to find a good GranTurismo.
 
Andy Marshall

Andy Marshall

Member
Messages
297
They are such different cars. My 4200 Spyder feels sporty and compact, my Granturismo feels large and, well, GT- like! The extra weight of the GT can blunt performance in the 4.2 versions, so if budget really is an issue I would actually advise that you start with a 4200, maybe even a Spyder if its to be a weekend car. It will make you feel special. If you can find a GS Spyder then so much the better. I got my Spyder first, with the view to "upgrading" to a Granturismo when times were right. As it happens, I ended up keeping the Spyder too, simply because it's just too lovely to sell!
As for reliability, well, aside from the odd electrical issue (nothing serious) my Spyder has been utterly reliable - its on 55k miles now too. Mine is a manual (not CC) so clutch life has never been an issue. The Granturismo has just popped it's check engine light on for the first time (39k miles) and it too has one or two electrical foibles - but hey, it's Italian, sounds like the Angel calling for Armageddon and I love it!
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,164
Two very different cars....I'm with BB on this......I would take the more modern car but both a fantastic......For me the GT is just a fantastic looking machine and you feel very special sat on one....The 4200 is special to without a doubt bit the GT for me just takes it for drama....Drove both again an see what you like...
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,995
I love the looks of the GT, but wish they made the size of the 3200/4200. It's a big car.
 
russellp

russellp

Junior Member
Messages
66
I've had a similar experience to Andy's.
I bought a 4200 spyder manual as a weekend car and it has been completely reliable.
When I retired (and gave up a company car) I bought a GTS Auto.
I could not find anything with the styling flair, 4 seats and great performance.
It is BIG and clumsy in tight parking situations especially when an audience gathers but I wouldn't be without it now.
If you can live with two seats for the weekend use consider the Spyder.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
The GT for me is much more mainstream.
Looks great, but plenty of plastic, thinking plastic grill, engine surrounds, inlet manifold.
Dash with mainstream central sat nav screen, oblong air vents etc.
Typical GT car with auto gearbox (mostly).
So an easy just jump in a cruise type of car, like most other GT's...

The 4200/GS however is certainly more hand finished, more unique, more Maserati...
Its more of a Ferrari in a nice suit, with the stunning engine bay with alloy inlet manifold, dry sump engine, skyhook suspension, and of course the cambiocorsa gearbox you need to 'drive' to get the best out of it, and you are rewarded accordingly.

The choice is yours!
 
Contigo

Contigo

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CatmanV2 said:
Rather surprised you can't get a decent 4200 for £16k.

C
Click to expand...

You can. If you look that's the average now and over 20's for facelift. I'm quite surprised as the 3200 now seems to be in a similar area apart from the odd dog priced at level's which drag them all down a little. Once those are weeded out I reckon 3200 prices will go well in excess of 4200's
 
MrCoop

MrCoop

Junior Member
Messages
410
Contigo said:
You can. If you look that's the average now and over 20's for facelift. I'm quite surprised as the 3200 now seems to be in a similar area apart from the odd dog priced at level's which drag them all down a little. Once those are weeded out I reckon 3200 prices will go well in excess of 4200's
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I was looking for a facelift at £16k. Dicky had advised that a facelift was the one to get if funds permitted. I'm just being unrealistic in expecting to buy a low miler, sorted facelift for the money I have.
 
rs48635

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
The newer GranTurismo is no slouch, sounds awesome , is stunning to look at from outside and inside.

The 4200 is more involving, and edgy to drive but still well within reach of the average driver.

Both are special places to be, the newer car will be less rare.

For me, as a weekend car and first Maserati then logically I wiould look for 4200 spyder or a GranSport Spyder.
But I already have two notches on my trident. ;) The key for me was to buy what I loved. That way I will never be disappointed by niggles, expenses and running costs.

Safe bet is the newer Granturismo 4.2, and save for an exhaust if it turns into a keeper.
 
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