looking for owner's opinion on 3200gt

V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
Hello everyone, I just registered on the forum. I'm currently looking for reviews on a 3200 GT, I've read a lot about it regarding reliability, price of parts etc. I have owned sports vehicles "classic" from major brands.



bmw: m3 e46
audi: rs4 b7
corvette: c5 z06
Mercedes-Benz: c63 w204 sedan phase 1 to be completed

looking for new experiences, I came across the 3200 GT. I like the design and what it represents for the brand (latest Maserati engine, boomerang headlight, etc.) appeals to me.



I would like to know your feedback regarding the driving of the vehicle, its handling, the way in which it delivers power, etc. I heard that the car is rather Raw, but I wouldn't want to lose the acceleration sensations compared to my previous vehicles (C5, C63). This would also be my first turbo sports car and I'm not really sure what to expect. So I am contacting the owner of the 3200 for your experiences. For those who have driven the vehicles I have owned, comparing is a good point. THANKS
 
Phil H

Phil H

Member
Messages
4,281
I had my Assetto Corsa for nearly 4 years and loved it to bits, although I didn't share the comparisons you've enjoyed. Raw but great to drive, and the turbos are addictive to say the least. Independent support for 3200's is ok although parts availability can be painful as I'm sure your research will show, so it's wise to seek as well maintained an example as possible and keep on top of it.

If I was after another I'd be looking at this:

https://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/for-sale/maserati-3200-gta-assetto-corsa/516

You will find cheaper of course, but as ever 'you get what you pay for'.

At least one member on here has two, so they can't be all that bad!

Good luck with the search.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
thank you for your feedback, the noise of the 3200 is incredible from the videos that I have seen. Do the turbos give you that push in the back when they kick in?My last car did not have one but the torque was significant with the displacement, and linear but very present shove.
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
11,098
I have owned mine, on and off, for over twelve years. I came Frome a 1970 manual Corvette Stingray, the a Cerbera and a Tuscan. All were powerful and had linear power delivery. The 3200 being as it is power delivery is non linear and gives a massive shove in the back. Their foibles are well documented, the throttle body and pedal pot being common culprits, both can be upgraded with contactless replacements. One important thing is that it was only 2001 onwards cars that were OBDII compliant, which makes clearing the odd cel they through up easier with any generic code reader.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
the 3200 feels faster than that?? more shove in the back than the cerbera? the power is almost the same but the cerbera is much lighter however.
 
davy83

davy83

Member
Messages
2,854
The 3200 is a fairly unique and quite addictive car. The turbos definitely generate drama, and the noise is fabulous. The handling often gets slated but i think it's worth noting that many cars have issues with ball joints and the geometry not being set up right so you get reviews of cars that are just not right. I think the Bilstein adjustable shocks and Ferrari controller along with the Bosch stability regulation on the brakes makes for a car with great handling and compared to my previous Chimeara much more forgiving, even when driven quickly. I also think it has a decent balance between sporty and comfortable, using the sport button to switch when needed. I have never been pushing the car and thought I wish the handling was better, but often come through a corner and thought, that went better than I had feared :). when they are running well they are easy to live with, decent boot, room for 4 adults, comfortable seats, good air conditioning, brakes can suffer if the vacuum servo is not up to scratch making breaking feel like hard work, but again when its all ok its really very good, and quite reassuring at high speed. I am somewhat biased having owned one for over 17 years now, intending to own it for a year and just can't bring myself to sell it, and have never regretted keeping it.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
I had character cars and I ended up with the c63 which offers a lots. however the 3200 seems not to be lacking.
One thing that was really lacking in the Corvette was the interior styling. leather certainly but nothing to do with the Maserati design, I also suppose a nice smell escaping from the connoly leather.the c63 has a great seat but the dashboard remains rather standard for my taste
 
Last edited:
highlander

highlander

Member
Messages
5,305
davy83 said:
The 3200 is a fairly unique and quite addictive car. The turbos definitely generate drama, and the noise is fabulous. The handling often gets slated but i think it's worth noting that many cars have issues with ball joints and the geometry not being set up right so you get reviews of cars that are just not right. I think the Bilstein adjustable shocks and Ferrari controller along with the Bosch stability regulation on the brakes makes for a car with great handling and compared to my previous Chimeara much more forgiving, even when driven quickly. I also think it has a decent balance between sporty and comfortable, using the sport button to switch when needed. I have never been pushing the car and thought I wish the handling was better, but often come through a corner and thought, that went better than I had feared :). when they are running well they are easy to live with, decent boot, room for 4 adults, comfortable seats, good air conditioning, brakes can suffer if the vacuum servo is not up to scratch making breaking feel like hard work, but again when its all ok its really very good, and quite reassuring at high speed. I am somewhat biased having owned one for over 17 years now, intending to own it for a year and just can't bring myself to sell it, and have never regretted keeping it.
Click to expand...
if bringing her through to your holiday home in the highlands this year, drop me a line, would love to see her again
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
11,098
vamos said:
the 3200 feels faster than that?? more shove in the back than the cerbera? the power is almost the same but the cerbera is much lighter however.
Click to expand...
Cerbera was a relentless shove which just kept going, the 3200 is non linear which makes it feel much different. You need to drive one.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
I see, the c63 and the corvette have the same type of continuous acceleration which increases with the revs
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
It is true that as I have read often, the linear power of NA vehicles makes them feel slower than turbo vehicles (the rate of change of acceleration). I understand why the 3200 feels fast.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
finally I was able to experience the 3200 GT today.

here is my report: 1999 model manual gearbox

after test starting with the negative points, the car behaves rather well but I find the steering a little strange. a little fuzzy in the center, and above all too light and very fast, I think you get used to it. the clutch is heavy and city driving is not its best point finally the drive by war accelerator is sensitive and that requires finesse.
now the great points... and there are many

It's a magnificent car, the boomerang and this leather-scented interior make the car very special from the start, as TVRs can be with something more subtle. startup, what a sound!! not an advance on the c63 but sound like a big boat it's very rich in melody and super smooth. the gearbox is firm and precise (same as M5 E39) the gears shift well, the engine has a lot of flexibility and the sound coming out of the exhaust makes you smile. now what does the power delivery look like?? is he a raw? I have heard all kinds of criticism about turbo vehicles all my life: lag, lack of revs and sound, the new turbo engines have less lag but look like diesels with their big torque at the bottom and the super torque curve flat etc. the 3200 GT is an old school turbo car...but the engine is quite big (3.2l), despite the boost threshold I find decent torque at low revs in 2nd gear I push to 2000rpm and the car starts correctly at this moment I I'm not surprised obviously, to say I was expecting worse... then come to 2500 rpm a strange noise comes, a whistle. the car feels like it's taking a breath and the shove increases very perceptibly. between 2500rpm and 4000rpm the car pushes harder and harder the torque is really there, the whistling increases I am impressed it's a lot of drama, what is this thing? I keep pressing the accelerator and the whooooosh, a jet noise invades the cabin, the shove in the back is quite inexplicable, the acceleration from 4000rpm-6000rpm is just magical the car never seems to run out of steam and accelerates again and again . it's wild really wild, no way it's only 370bhp. I laughed like a 10 year old child I had no idea what this car actually was, the way the car accelerates has nothing to do with the NA vehicles I have possessed it is very different. I need one! a 2001 model is preferable as they told me. what a car!
 
Ian3200

Ian3200

Member
Messages
851
vamos said:
finally I was able to experience the 3200 GT today.

here is my report: 1999 model manual gearbox

after test starting with the negative points, the car behaves rather well but I find the steering a little strange. a little fuzzy in the center, and above all too light and very fast, I think you get used to it. the clutch is heavy and city driving is not its best point finally the drive by war accelerator is sensitive and that requires finesse.
now the great points... and there are many

It's a magnificent car, the boomerang and this leather-scented interior make the car very special from the start, as TVRs can be with something more subtle. startup, what a sound!! not an advance on the c63 but sound like a big boat it's very rich in melody and super smooth. the gearbox is firm and precise (same as M5 E39) the gears shift well, the engine has a lot of flexibility and the sound coming out of the exhaust makes you smile. now what does the power delivery look like?? is he a raw? I have heard all kinds of criticism about turbo vehicles all my life: lag, lack of revs and sound, the new turbo engines have less lag but look like diesels with their big torque at the bottom and the super torque curve flat etc. the 3200 GT is an old school turbo car...but the engine is quite big (3.2l), despite the boost threshold I find decent torque at low revs in 2nd gear I push to 2000rpm and the car starts correctly at this moment I I'm not surprised obviously, to say I was expecting worse... then come to 2500 rpm a strange noise comes, a whistle. the car feels like it's taking a breath and the shove increases very perceptibly. between 2500rpm and 4000rpm the car pushes harder and harder the torque is really there, the whistling increases I am impressed it's a lot of drama, what is this thing? I keep pressing the accelerator and the whooooosh, a jet noise invades the cabin, the shove in the back is quite inexplicable, the acceleration from 4000rpm-6000rpm is just magical the car never seems to run out of steam and accelerates again and again . it's wild really wild, no way it's only 370bhp. I laughed like a 10 year old child I had no idea what this car actually was, the way the car accelerates has nothing to do with the NA vehicles I have possessed it is very different. I need one! a 2001 model is preferable as they told me. what a car!
Click to expand...
Mine showed 410bhp on a rolling road... standard... at 20 years old... they were never 370bhp... Ferrari lied to defend Ferrari sales, simple
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
11,098
The throttle narrows it's band if wide open throttle isn't used, so it pays to stamp on it! lol. There is a reset procedure that sets it back.
 
V

vamos

New Member
Messages
12
are you talking about the c63? yes the accelerator is restricted to be lower than the e63 power after remap you gain a lot of power and torque
 
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