Billy3200
Junior Member
- Messages
- 60
I asked in a previous thread for advice as I was planning a trip to southern Italy in my 3200GT, having now completed the trip I thought I would share some photos and some thoughts.
Firstly it was absolutely fantastic! The car behaved impeccably over the 3,000+ miles, dealing with altitude in the Alps and then 40 degrees of heat in southern Italy. Our route took us through the Mount Blanc Tunnel, down to Genoa, a quick stop in Portofino, Spoleto, round Naples and across the country towards Bari and final point south was Ostuni. We then came back via Bolgna, (to see Maserati original workshop , just a door and a plaque but had to be done + the fountain, Modena (Lamborghini Museum and the Panini Museum) back through the tunnel and home.
Once properly on the route the "check engine" light that I get infrequently never appeared again no matter how hot, fast or slow I travelled. I think there is a lot to be said for these cars being properly used - mine definitely seems to like it! The 3200 in my eyes is a true GT rather than a sports car - the ride was comfortable and the poorly designed seats did not inflict any pain (This is the one item I would take from a 4200!) On the way back, now fully laden with wine and olive oil as well being two up with a our luggage, I was passed by a Porsche Carrera GT - obviously I wanted a second look at such a rare car and the pick up from barely legal to nearly twice that was just wonderful, especially when fully laden. (Obviously if the Carrera driver wanted he could have left me at any point!). There is a recent post on the forum of a GS having trouble when fully loaded to keep with SUV's - there has to be something wrong with that car from my experience of a standard manual 3200.
I recommend doing a road trip to Italy - the weather, food and wine can be fantastic and all Italians seem to love Maseratis. I will be going back!
BTW - the "group buy" brakes are now properly bedded in and are a great improvement on the old set which were way passed their best.
Firstly it was absolutely fantastic! The car behaved impeccably over the 3,000+ miles, dealing with altitude in the Alps and then 40 degrees of heat in southern Italy. Our route took us through the Mount Blanc Tunnel, down to Genoa, a quick stop in Portofino, Spoleto, round Naples and across the country towards Bari and final point south was Ostuni. We then came back via Bolgna, (to see Maserati original workshop , just a door and a plaque but had to be done + the fountain, Modena (Lamborghini Museum and the Panini Museum) back through the tunnel and home.
Once properly on the route the "check engine" light that I get infrequently never appeared again no matter how hot, fast or slow I travelled. I think there is a lot to be said for these cars being properly used - mine definitely seems to like it! The 3200 in my eyes is a true GT rather than a sports car - the ride was comfortable and the poorly designed seats did not inflict any pain (This is the one item I would take from a 4200!) On the way back, now fully laden with wine and olive oil as well being two up with a our luggage, I was passed by a Porsche Carrera GT - obviously I wanted a second look at such a rare car and the pick up from barely legal to nearly twice that was just wonderful, especially when fully laden. (Obviously if the Carrera driver wanted he could have left me at any point!). There is a recent post on the forum of a GS having trouble when fully loaded to keep with SUV's - there has to be something wrong with that car from my experience of a standard manual 3200.
I recommend doing a road trip to Italy - the weather, food and wine can be fantastic and all Italians seem to love Maseratis. I will be going back!
BTW - the "group buy" brakes are now properly bedded in and are a great improvement on the old set which were way passed their best.
