Looking at 4200 6 Speed manual - What to look out for

gjwilson

gjwilson

Junior Member
Messages
146
Since leaving the maserati ownership a few weeks ago I feel the need to get back in and looking at the above.
Had a 3200 and a more recently a QP, 3200 was auto, QP was Duo, so might as well complete the set with a manual 4200.

What is there to look out for on these cars?
Probably be a 2004/2005 model and I have test drove a few.
One was a little tired and one seemed pretty decent (new clutch a few k ago) and drove fine, but when in neutral if the clutch was pressed and then let out really quick there was a little "thud" and I do mean little (kind of like the noise the duo select made when going from neutral to 1st) , but drove well and was solid.

Is this characteristic of the manual 4200 or potential ££££££?
Any other guidance would be greatly appreciated.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
The clutch is the same its just your using the left leg instead of all those hydraulics and electrics.

The clutch will still slip and the spring tangs will fail, the difference will be that if it does, the manual you will be able to drive it still, where the CC will go into a sulk and leave you stranded, like mine did, in the middle of France.

If you do go for a manual, the gear selector cable are obsolete now and they do break up and go so make sure they are all in very good condition or there is an alternate supplier that can make them up.
 
Spartacus

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,186
Well not necessarily , the manual is connected to the gear box at the rear by cables...yes cables, which stretch . Only in italy . I dont think you can get the cables anymore but i think they can be made .
But of course you dont have a CC pump and actuator to go wrong i suppose . im no expert .
 
Last edited:
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
It's a good box but they can get tired if not maintained well. Drive one and see what you prefer.
 
Needamaser

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,499
Nicholas at PK in Edinburgh had a lovely example for ages which was for sale but I think now gone.
Phil reckoned the biggest issues with them was being badly adjusted but nice if set up properly.
Give Phil or Nicholas a shout as Nicholas has also got a GS so he could give you first hand experience form both camps.
 
gjwilson

gjwilson

Junior Member
Messages
146
Needamaser said:
Nicholas at PK in Edinburgh had a lovely example for ages which was for sale but I think now gone.
Phil reckoned the biggest issues with them was being badly adjusted but nice if set up properly.
Give Phil or Nicholas a shout as Nicholas has also got a GS so he could give you first hand experience form both camps.
Click to expand...

Many Thanks, I will be looking at all options before taking the plunge,
Have bought blind the past 3 and its been luck more than anything............cant keep chancing it!
 
Needamaser

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,499
I was considering Nicholas's car which was actually a better car than the one I bought in so far it was mechanically and bodily as new.
What swung me was (apart from price) the consensus on here was that 90% of cars made were CC so come resale you are probably attracting a smaller audience.
Couple of folk here do prefer the manual having had both.
I would imagine getting cables made would not be a huge issue.
People like Venhill will do one offs.
 
hladun

hladun

Member
Messages
149
What to look out for...a bunch of people trying to talk you into a CC to make themselves fell better because they own CC's. I bought a 6MT because it's easier to maintain and for me more fun to drive. Yes the clutch is the same but you need the $$$$$ SD computer to set it and that will cost you. Also manual trans Ferrari 360's and F430's are fetching significant premiums over the F1's (CC equivalent).
 
Ewan

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,815
hladun said:
. Also manual trans Ferrari 360's and F430's are fetching significant premiums over the F1's (CC equivalent).
Click to expand...

But the manual gearbox on the Ferrari 360 (for example) is proper mechanical manual with a very satisfying action. Whereas the manual on the 4200 is a cable affair and not nearly so nice or direct.

Definitely worth trying several versions of both manual and CC 4200's before deciding on which is the car for you. Though of course, it's not always easy to find any manual 4200's for sale, let alone to have a choice within a reasonable distance. If necessary, try a manual 4200 Spyder as it's the same set up.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
hladun said:
What to look out for...a bunch of people trying to talk you into a CC to make themselves fell better because they own CC's. I bought a 6MT because it's easier to maintain and for me more fun to drive. Yes the clutch is the same but you need the $$$$$ SD computer to set it and that will cost you. Also manual trans Ferrari 360's and F430's are fetching significant premiums over the F1's (CC equivalent).
Click to expand...

or...a manual owner trying to make himself feel better because he owns a manual. Works both ways you know!
Totally each to their own, i'm not swinging either way, even if I do own a cambiocorsa.

Ewan is correct though, you certainly can't compare a mechanical linkage Ferrari with a cable linkage Maserati.
 
Last edited:
N

nfm

Member
Messages
856
Have had my manual for 7 years, gear change as sweet as when I bought it - no issues at all other than I wouldn't rush 1st to 2nd when cold but it was always thus......

Highly recommended. Happy hunting.
 
hladun

hladun

Member
Messages
149
Guys, quit crapping on me for a second and get your facts straight. Both the 360 and the F430 have cable linkages. As I pointed out in my first post...watch out for the CC owners.
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,489
Ferrari have used cables for a while as I have recently done a lot of work on a 348 and as much as I love cambio corsa a well set up manual drives very good.
Having driven a few as they are popular here I would have one :)
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
philw696 said:
Since being here in a country full of petrol heads I have driven so many fantastic cars I could be a motoring journalist :)
Click to expand...

Top man that is great! Glad you are happy out there and enjoy your job mate you deserve it.
 
Ewan

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,815
hladun said:
Guys, quit crapping on me for a second and get your facts straight. Both the 360 and the F430 have cable linkages. As I pointed out in my first post...watch out for the CC owners.
Click to expand...

I agree that the 360 manual also has cables, but I stand by my earlier comment that it has a far more satisfying and mechanical feel (maybe helped by the traditional metal gate, admittedly) than that of the 4200. My 360 was a manual (not an F1/CC), so I'm not just trying to big up the CC box. Indeed, my two big bug-bears with my first 4200 Spyder were the rubbish CC gearbox and the rubbish chassis. Though before he-who-swears-a-lot-and-has-a-noisy-car gets all upset again, I've long defended that car as a perfectly good buy at their current value of (correctly) not a lot. The problem was I bought one new, in 2002, for £72k (which was a fair bit, back in the day), and at that price the car was disappointing. Anyway, I digress, back to the gearbox.

My point is, the 4200 manual (in my experience) is not the most satisfying gear change. But I'm happy to accept that some will prefer it to the CC. The unfortunate truth is that neither are great. Which is just another reason to stick with a 3200 instead. He says, lighting the fuse and standing back...

But just to contradict myself one more time, I'm strangely drawn to the dark green, manual (help!) 4200 Spyder (help, again!) for sale at Hamilton Grays in Loughborough. At the risk of drifting the thread, does anyone on here know this car?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.