New Member on the hunt for a 3200

[tonym3]

Hi all
My names is Tony I am based in sunny Essex and have a unhealthy addition to cars, over the years I have had a number of different cars including recently a TVR, a Lotus and a 308 Ferrari. So I am not easily scared by stories of what might go wrong!! I have always worked in or around the car trade, presently I help run a Ford Main Dealer, and in my spare time buy and work on my own cars.

I have just sold my TVR Chimera and am on the look out for a 3200 and thought it was best to turn to the experts.

My budget puts me at the low end of the scale, looking to spend around £7000-£10000 on a nice example with good history, mileage doesnt really scare me as long as its in good mechanical order.

I have seen a few around on the normal sites including one in Surrey at a dealerr its a V reg Auto in Silver reg number V209LDA I am off to see and drive it on Tuesday and wondered if any one on here knew of the car. It apparently just had £5000 spent on a engine re-build so my thinking is that the main things should all be OK then possibly just budget for tyres and exhaust if needed.

I have had a good read through a few of the Maserati sites and I think I have read all the scare stories now and yet still I want one. My main concerns with any car are structual problems, gear box and engine. Im confident the one I mentioned above should be OK from the engine point of view, and from what I read the early Auto box is pretty tough, so how are these for rust?

Any help or advice would be appreciated or if anyone has a car for sale that would fit the budget I would be interested.

Just to confirm I am not fixed on the Auto I quiet like the idea but I am consious I never keep any cars too long so re-sale has to be a thought and from what I gather the manual is the more popular.

Thanks

Tony

 

[BennyD]

Tony, welcome to the madness. I don't know much about the 3200 but I am sure there will be a 3200 sufferer along shortly! Good luck with your quest.

 

[tonym3]

Thanks Benny I was looking at the 4200 but my feelings are that I can get a better condition 3200 for the money and the back lights must be worth all that worry!!

 

[2b1ask1]

Go easy Benny... Welcome Tony, if you have been in the trade there won't be anything that will scare you silly, seems with the 3200's you need to make sure it has had the throttle body done, given their age I'd say the pressing issue is perishing hoses and they must have had cam belts changed on age not mileage although one member on here has resurrected one from a snapped cam belt recently with excellent results. I took the plunge and went straight to a 4200 CambioCorsa which may not have the coveted lights but does seem to have the edge on reliability and build

 

[Marti]

Hi Tony, welcome! I brought my 3200 not so long ago for just under £7k it was the cheapest out there at the time. Had a good inspection from Bill McGrath to sort out minor bits and bobs , soooooo pleased with her.......your love it!

 

[safrane]

Richard grace has a couple for sale although at the top of your budget...however they are all already fettled

 

[dickygrace]

Richard grace has a couple for sale although at the top of your budget...however they are all already fettled

Cheers for the recommendation, Tony contacted me this afternoon so we'll see.

 

[tonym3]

Anyone have any opinions either way on the Auto?
I now it's a bit slower but the way I drive it's still going to have lots more power than I need, I quiet like the idea of having an auto for myself but will it effect resale values when it comes to sell on?

Thanks

 

[Emtee]

Hi Tony, I won't interrupt your thread other than to welcome you to the forum and to wish you good luck in your search. I hope it's fruitful. Regards, Miles.

 

[Andyk]

A big welcome tonym3...Hope you fond the right car for you....

 

[tonym3]

Thanks Andy and Miles, been having a good look through the forum today and seems a really knowledgable and helpful place.
I had forgotten this was a hello thread!!! My fault for the drift

 

[Andyk]

Tony.....with a name like Tonym3...do live by the M3 motorway of own a BMW M3...or neither of the above...

 

[Emtee]

I had forgotten this was a hello thread!!! My fault for the drift

Go for it Tony, the hello thread is the perfect place and you'll soon find out we have the most impressive thread drift anyway.

 

[tonym3]

Andy if only it was as exciting!!! I joined SELOC.org lotus forum many years ago when I first got my Elise and tried Tony which was already in use so. Added my surname initial M then got to 3 before I had a user name that was valid!!!!
I use it on all the forums I join so I do not have to remember all the logins.

 

[Andyk]

Also on Seloc......Not very often but had many Lotus over the years...Elise, ESPRIT, Exige.......A few of us on here have had or still have Lotus and members on Seloc.....

 

[tonym3]

Something about cars that should go wrong!!
We still have the Elise had her for over 8 years now and will never sell her.
Still my favourite car.

 

[MAF260]

Welcome Tony. The 3200 is a fantastic car and great value for money. My first Maserati was a 3200 auto which got me hooked on the brand! I found the auto box excellent and very well suited to the twin turbos. In sport mode there was little that could touch it for mid-range acceleration. I suggest you drive both manual and auto to work out which is best for your needs. Pricing doesn't seem to be affected by either gearbox, so buy based on condition and make sure you get a full independent inspection so you know exactly what you're buying. The newest 3200 is now 11 years old so hoses, suspension components, throttle pots etc. could all be prone to perishing/failure due to age.
Dicky Grace has an excellent reputation and will see you right. Even if he doesn't have what you want in stock, he will source it for you.
Good luck with the search!

 

[dickygrace]

Dicky Grace has an excellent reputation and will see you right. Even if he doesn't have what you want in stock, he will source it for you.
Good luck with the search!

Cheers Maf, although sourcing good 3200's is a time consuming task.

 

[mjheathcote]

Also on Seloc......Not very often but had many Lotus over the years...Elise, ESPRIT, Exige.......A few of us on here have had or still have Lotus and members on Seloc.....

Indeed
::

 

[Parisien]

Welcome Tony...stay long and prosper!

Buy a good 'un and you'll fall in love with it......whereas a bad 'un............you'll be pleading the 5th amendment!!!!!


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