Calling all 3200GT owners

[Paul3200]

Hi Bajan

Welcome to the club. I too am a newbie. Just picked mine up on Saturday 13th. I am not a maser expert but I do have car knowledge. The service history and the master red key are crucial. Also the code cards should be present. These are needed in the event of a engine start over-ride. Your budget seems just right for a good 3200. As for the finer details of the 3200 I'm sure the other guys on here will advise what else to look out for. Obviously if you buy from a dealer you have a warranty offered which will help you sleep. Read through the history before you commit. The car itself should show you signs of care. As for inspection there are the usuals...RAC etc but if you look around you can find maser experts who may offer this service. Perhaps one of the members here who live close by may offer to look at one for you. I would shy away from independent car sales forecourts as they generalise and may not be as knowledgeable in specialist marks. Other than that your on the right forum for advice and info. Good luck.

Additional comment: When I say Independent car dealers I mean an every day garage with a maser for sale alongside a ford fiesta. Specialist Indies forgive me !

Regards
Paul

 

[Parisien]

Hi Bajan, welcome to our esteemed Maserati forum.


Great choice of car and hopefully we can help a little bit with a few timely tips.

Always advisable to get an independent Maserati specialist inspection done, costs between £150 and £250. This one thing can save you between £1000 - £5000...depending, plus give you room to negotiate.

The fullest MSH possible, full bulging wallet of invoices for repairs of a now 9 yr old car needed. As Paul mentioned, red key an absolute necessity.

Known issues must have been dealt with...other 3200 owners will advise

Let us know how you get on and we can help some more.


P

 

[Parisien]

This is a list of indie garages, see whose nearest and see how it goes -

INDEPENDENT MASERATI GARAGES UK

http://classicmaseratis.co.uk/

http://www.emblemsportscars.com/home.aspx

http://www.grimaldiengineering.co.uk/

http://www.cars.robertsaerospace.com/

http://www.autoshieldmaserati.co.uk/...rati/Home.html

http://www.davidaskew.co.uk/

http://www.giallo.co.uk/

http://www.mpsupercars.com/

http://www.auto-sportiva.com/

http://www.shiltech-ferrari.com/

http://www.ferrarimaserati.co.uk/

http://www.sgmsportsltd.com/

http://www.dadsspeedshop.com/

http://www.autofficina.co.uk/about-autofficina

http://www.bhpmsport.com/

http://www.verdi-ferrari.com/about.php

http://www.theferraricentre.com/service

http://www.auto-sportiva.com/maserat...icing-kent.htm

http://www.sbraceengineering.co.uk/



P

 

[Parisien]

This is a link to ML in the USA for a pre-purchase check list.....useful for a 3200 also

http://www.maseratilife.com/forums/modern-maserati/2875-diy-pre-purchase-inspection.html


P

 

[Andyk]

H Bajan...a big welcome to the forum...I'm sure you will get all the info you need on here to buy your dream Maserati...

 

[ENZ525]

Hi Bajan, welcome to the forum...
As has already been mentioned, an independent inspection is highly recommended...also worth having a chat with one or 2 indies/dealers on the phone to see what advice they give,
after all, you may be a future customer...also, you will get first hand knowledge from the guys that are dealing with these day in day out...
buy a bad one and you could spend a lot of money trying to put the car right...the budget should also include ongoing maintenance and service costs which are not cheap,
good luck in your search,
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[Paul3200]

Hi All

Just posted my avatar pic of the car. For the benefit of all in SM the registration is V95 GLF. Is there an archive of owners cars where history is stored. I don't know if any previous owners of my car were SM members ? If there is such an archive would be useful for future owners.

Regards
Paul

 

[dem maser]

Never seen that one....might be from another forum....what cars the 3200 are....

 

[Andyk]

Hi All

Just posted my avatar pic of the car. For the benefit of all in SM the registration is V95 GLF. Is there an archive of owners cars where history is stored. I don't know if any previous owners of my car were SM members ? If there is such an archive would be useful for future owners.

Regards
Paul

No archice currently for that one....You will find that if you car has been owned but anyone on her they will shout up about it............Hope you are enjoying her Paul...

 

[Bajanblue]

Wow

Hi Bajan, welcome to the forum...
As has already been mentioned, an independent inspection is highly recommended...also worth having a chat with one or 2 indies/dealers on the phone to see what advice they give,
after all, you may be a future customer...also, you will get first hand knowledge from the guys that are dealing with these day in day out...
buy a bad one and you could spend a lot of money trying to put the car right...the budget should also include ongoing maintenance and service costs which are not cheap,
good luck in your search,
Regards,
Enzo.

Thanks all - I'm a bit overwelmed by the help and that's before I get the car! Enzo thanks for this I'd budgeted on £1.5-2.5k per year of service and maintenance but obviously it could be a lot worse if you buy the wrong car. I guess there is no such thing as an average Maserati (that is the beauty) but am I way off the mark?

 

[conaero]

Hi Baj I echo the advice above. The single most important thing for me is to get the enfloat checked. They are known to wear usually only the manuals due to poor quality bearings and the design of the pull clutch system.

If you get it wrong you are looking at £5-10k or even a new engine.

 

[rs48635]

Congratulations and welcome to Paul

Well done for swiiming against the tide and buying one of these awful, unreliable, comically depreciating Italian monstrosities! The majoroity are not always correct.

You are now members of a very elite, secret order of people who have hidden skills, perception and knowledge. Also the biggest smiles of almost any car owner in the world, driving sheer beauty for the price of a city centre mini-cab!

Baj
Maybe some people here "got lucky" when buying thier car, but for most people "the harder I work, the luckier I get".
Keep on doing research, buy what you love but be prepared to compromise (not so many great cars out there now) a little. Might be worth getting a car in your 2nd choice colour IF it is much better condition/history/provenance.

It is vital to get a proper expert inspection, the AA or RAC will not do! By all means print off the AA or RAC buyers checklist for yourself, his applies to buying any car. Ask to be left alone for 10 minutes while you do it, and tick off items as you go. I was casually interrupted while doing this before buying current car, I finished the check but missed one cheapo rear tyre. Cost me £150 for lack of experience.

 

[rs48635]

Yes sorry i should have told you a few things that if i was buying again i would definetely have done

Throttle pot and body! More important is the body....with the car running great i would still recommend you get the contactless TB....itll solve your future probs trust me!!

Most engine lights on these cars are TB related and if i had it done from the beginning would have saved a lot of trouble and money!!.

Dem
you'll scare off all the new guys
No doubt for you, a new throttle body could have been a good investment upfront, but not the case for us all.

Next if you find a good used or cheap new, a pot....
I was told they need a new pot every 50k...

Is it really advisable to swap out electronic components on milage basis? I was told to diagnose and prove a fault, confirm the failed item and only then replace it. Follow up the failed item to bench testing, where it is returned to service if fault not found (NFF). This was consdered good practice for electronice fitted to RAF jets in my time!

My car might need a throttle body soon, but have wasted all that cash on tyres, fuel and servicing. So far the TP reset procedure or main ECU reset has cured all my CEL errors. I still wonder how many replaced components actually have a proven, measurable fault

 

[Parisien]

Very good point Rob, this has been raised before about how MDs diagnosed and others....part of the problem was the complexity of the faults and ultimate dodgy diagnosis....leading to un-necessary expenditure

P

 

[ENZ525]

Thanks all - I'm a bit overwelmed by the help and that's before I get the car! Enzo thanks for this I'd budgeted on £1.5-2.5k per year of service and maintenance but obviously it could be a lot worse if you buy the wrong car. I guess there is no such thing as an average Maserati (that is the beauty) but am I way off the mark?

For normal service and maintenance I think you have it covered Bajan...
the trouble comes when one takes the car in for a 'normal' service and is then presented with a list of unexpected things that need doing,
this is where a proper prepurchase inspection should give you a head start...

 

[Paul3200]

Hi All and thanks Rob for your confidence in the 3200 While I'm here I do have another worry being a newbie. I have not yet encountered a speed bump and I have noticed how low she is at the front. Does anyone have advice on approaching those dreaded speed bumps ? My theory is make contact with the left wheel directly over them rather than central approach with an everyday car.

Regards
Paul

 

[conaero]

Rob you old cynic, you know we all hold the 32 in high regard, it's what started the modern Maserati revival!

Still remember the day I picked mine up, Cheshire cat does not even come close!

 

[dem maser]

I have the AC which is lower and i dont have a prob with speed bumps.....
Today i viewed a property that was high up with a steep drive so i went back in my car to see of ot gets there and it did, they not bad over bumps.....

 

[Paul3200]

Speed bumping

I have the AC which is lower and i dont have a prob with speed bumps.....
Today i viewed a property that was high up with a steep drive so i went back in my car to see of ot gets there and it did, they not bad over bumps.....

Thanks Dem. I forgot to mention it has a sports exhaust so I don't know if that sits at the same height as standard or not, but anyway its all about common sense. I will evict my partner from the vehicle at at every speed bump with a tape measure. Traffic behind will understand

 

[dem maser]

I dont struggle paul, even with a wife thats pregnant.....
I have larinis on aswel, go over it slow and no prob....yesterdays low kerb that i climbed gave me no probs....if it can make that then itll make anything....
Dont know how lower mine is to yours but it is lower.....