Help, looking at a 3200

[alfatwo]

Still not had a chance to go and see the car. The guy I am dealing with seems very nice, by the way if anyone knows of anyone interested in a very good Alfa GTV Cup Edition from 2001 let me know.

I want an Maser!

Any pics of the GTV Cup......


Dave

 

[Sam84]

The chains get very loud when they are worn so I wouldn't let it worry you at all. Get it drive it and enjoy it.

I would watch out for these things.

1) check cam belt has been done relatively recently. (If not barter something off the ask and factor in £599 at a specialist like Mike Roberts)
2) check for clutch life, not easy to do but check the last time it was replaced as in town driving can result in wear as little as 20-30k miles.
3) ask if the car has history showing any end float issues with bottom end rebuild. The pull clutch on these car can cause problems but if there was an issue then it would have shown itself on a car with mileage like this one.
4) Look at the oil pressure gauge during the test drive and see it remains at 5 or just under for the full duration of the test drive.
5) Check the Throttle Body to see if it has been changed if not don't worry but that is THE achilles heel of the car and will annoy you with limp mode and CEL if it is on the way out.
6) Check the thermostat stay at a steady 90-100 (dead centre or just below) on the gauge as some of these thermostats do give grief.
7) Check the condition of the Radiator as they can need recoring.


Where are you based? If it is close I can come and look over the car and connect the OBD to scan for any codes.

That is a very kind offer indeed, I will take you up on the offer if geography allows. will make it worth your while!
Sam

 

[Sam84]

Any pics of the GTV Cup......


Dave

Hi Dave,
This is the ad on a very well known car forum...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...no-74-price-reduced/1991985?isexperiment=true

I am looking for a sale so price is negotiable. The car is in great shape and I have spent a fair bit on it but I just have to have a Turbocharged Maserati before I have to worry about having responsibilities!
cheers
Sam

 

[Sam84]

Good Morning all,
I have been chatting to the good people at the dealer who have the car I am interested in...
http://www.arunltd.com/cardesc/maser...pe-fh-2dr-2460

I asked them a few questions:
1. Has the big 68,000 miles service been done?
2. Any info on the crank shaft end float being replaced?
3. When was the last cambelt?

The answers were:
1. "We serviced the car, including timing belts, on 31st October 2013 at 65,359 miles."
2. "I cannot see anything about crankshaft end float adjustment but I did not know this was a common issue?"
3. "We have sold the car to the last 2 owners and it has been regularly maintained by Addspeed who are a performance car specialist in Horsham. There are a number of invoices from them over the years including a new clutch in Sept 2007 at 55k miles, refurbished throttle body, new Turbo dump valves and new knock sensors in Oct 2009 at 63k miles."

Can I get peoples thoughts, do I have any room for negotiation taking into account the car is aesthetically very good? Thank you in advance for all help.
Regards,

Sam

 

[allandwf]

End float cannot be adjusted out, it is due to thrust washer wear, manifests itself as a drop in oil pressure when clutch is depressed. Have it inspected, £300 well spent, if comes out good, then priced about right for a good one imho.

 

[Sam84]

End float cannot be adjusted out, it is due to thrust washer wear, manifests itself as a drop in oil pressure when clutch is depressed. Have it inspected, £300 well spent, if comes out good, then priced about right for a good one imho.

I think I will go and have a look at the car tomorrow or Tuesday, if I like it I think it will be inspection time.
Any other thoughts most welcome. Normally I am quite impulsive but I don't want to miss anything with a car which can have pretty big bills if not careful.

Many Thanks,

Sam

 

[allandwf]

If endfloat hasn't manifested itself by now then probably be ok, but get it inspected, good its a later car too, they were improved.

 

[mjheathcote]

It looks nice, lovely colour combo.
The reply from the dealer, who is no Maserati expert, can be taken as:
Rubber timing belt done but not the chains that are now due.
End float not checked.
Throttle body is a cheaper refurbished one, not the newer superior contactless one.

So really if the end float check is okay, a few £'s are needed to be spent for future reliability.

 

[Sam84]

It looks nice, lovely colour combo.
The reply from the dealer, who is no Maserati expert, can be taken as:
Rubber timing belt done but not the chains that are now due.
End float not checked.
Throttle body is a cheaper refurbished one, not the newer superior contactless one.

So really if the end float check is okay, a few £'s are needed to be spent for future reliability.

I totally agree, thank you for confirming this.

 

[hodroyd]

Sam,
Definitely spend the few hundred on an Indie Inspection, it is valuable long term and could save you a packet..!!
Cheers
R

 

[Sam84]

So the dealer has confirmed the chains were not replaced well they serviced the car. I have seen somewhere on here someone posted that the big 68K service is around £1600, am I right in thinking that?

My plan is to view the car tomorrow if I am happy with it and the price then I will get an inspection done. I think a long warranty and for the 68k service to be done by the dealer is going to have to be part of the deal for my piece of mind. It isn't the best time of year to be selling a car, talking of which, anyone want my Alfa at a very good price? hahaha.

I must say I thought the guys on the Alfa Forums were very good but here is amazing, cant thank you good folks enough for your time. hopefully in the years to come I will be able to be as helpful!

 

[Almichie]

Looking at the mileage in the last five years (2k, so less than 500 a year) you need to pay a lot of attention to rubbers, bearings, brakes, anything with a seal and rotating part, and gaskets. Parts will have been sat for a long time without movement and this can cause issues; take it for a long test drive and look for leaks.

As previously make sure you get an inspection even if they say it's been inspected, use someone else and be there with it when inspected. If they won't allow an independent inspection walk away.

I've had a number of issues with mine since purchase (drop links, shock failed, oil leaks, coolant hose split, coolant leak, knock sensors, discs, pads and now caliper plate lift causing pads not to fit!) and it appears to have been the same circumstance(few miles per year); a lot to be said for regular use. If you are a dab hand with a spanner you can reduce running costs considerably (and really it's not that scary). Just be prepared for some bills, as well as regular maintenance costs. Go in with your eyes wide open is the best advise e.g. Realise that parts are 3-4 times as expensive as a regular car, most parts are only available from Maserati.

Any questions just ask, the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask!

 

[Contigo]

Bang on the money Almichie.

These cars like any car really do need use and not to be sat for long periods , I know as mine has done 5K miles in 7 years and that will change for sure. Replaced lots of bits since getting the car in September and these cars do need a kind of constant health check just like any car of that age. My RS4 (B5) was the same and it pretty much goes for any performance car.

The test drive is the key as said above, any issues will raise their ugly head in a good 1 or 2 hour drive so make sure you get to spend some time with the car and at the wheel.

I would add that not to worry too much about the cam chain but factor in changing the Throttle Body for a contactless one over the next year or so to improve the car.

 

[outrun]

Almichie is bang on here. My recently purchased 3200 is with PK Supercars right now and the report on parts to replace is all based on lack of use. I'm changing the hoses to the turbos (both split as they have dried with age and on boost, air is escaping hence the turbos are not spooling enough and the car is only as fast as a 911 instead of a 911 turbo!!), rear suspension rose joints (a common problem which has also affected my GS), clean up of brakes and replacement fluid with better quality fluid that does not crystallise in the brake lines with lack of use, a couple of gaitors and front lower bushes which are being updated to polyurythene versions that wear better. It's really not much at all for a 14 year old car but will still add up to a few quid. Factor in an oil change and adjustment of the idle rate etc adds up but as Parisien mentioned, reconaissannce is rarely not worth the investment.

Definitely pay for the inspection. If it's a good one, well done and enjoy it. If not, there will be another. Especially, if you stay in touch with the crowd on here!

 

[Contigo]

That reminds me. When I took my car to Mike R he said that when he went to change the brake pads for the improved EBC RedStuff he saw that much corrosion around the calipers of a white compound that he had to get a dentist size drill out to hack way at it. It took him a fair amount of time to clear it all up and get it sorted! Again just been sat with no use. Also he replaced vacuum hoses which had perished.

Here is a graph to show what it is running since getting fettled with a contactless TB and removing the centre cats.

 

[outrun]

Did removing the cats not have effect on emissions and hence the MOT? Was it easy?

Cheers

 

[alfatwo]

Contigo,I didn't know 3200's had centre cats....well mine dosen't have them just the two at the front

Dave

 

[Almichie]

Contigo,I didn't know 3200's had centre cats....well mine dosen't have them just the two at the front

Dave

More likely the restrictive centre x pipe fitted as standard

 

[Contigo]

Sorry yes I meant the X pipe centre section. Mine was like this

Mechanic friend lobbed it off and put two stainless steel sections to replace that muffler box which stifles the sound. I reckon it has freed up a few ponies.

 

[Parisien]

Scabbie enough Contigo.......

P