elephant4009
Junior Member
- Messages
- 52
Hello Everyone.
Had my 2001 3200 since July last year & been visiting this site for quite a while, so really no excuse for not making a post. Anyway, it's a Netuno Blue Auto in good, if not perfect condition. Exterior paintwork is virtually unmarked but has clearly been resprayed in one or two areas. The interior is tan, which unlike black does unfortunately show up cracks. For some reason the immobiliser & central locking has been replaced by an aftermarket item. It was owned by a chap in Hadfield, Glossop (that's The league of Gentlemen Royston Vasey to you & me) he seemed to have looked after it & had it serviced by Autoshield Manchester, which is where I will be taking it. It's done 67,000 miles & appears to me to be in excellent mechanical order. Until last week that is (I'll come back to that) it has never failed to start. In fact beyond the £10,000 purchase price & fuel, it has yet to cost me a penny. Lucky eh?
Much as I love this car, I think I would actually prefer a manual. I'm not sure I appreciate the indirect link between engine revs & roadspeed. Moreover, despite the engine sounding great at tickover & full blast, at average speed it can sometimes just sound like a drone. I also have a problem with it's power delivery which seems to be either pootle mode or turbo nutter, 'I haven't got long left to live mode.' I do however love the looks & handcrafted feel, which I believe elevates it above the 4200. That said, I want a 4200 as well. I want the elastic response of that engine, the noise, the tractability, the power, a car that can thrill without driving at manic speed. I also want a car that has genuine real world usability. My car has the traction of an ice cube on grease. It is laughably incompetent. From driving a selection of 4200's, I know they just got better & better with age. The post 2005 models seems really well sorted in this respect.
So, I am still looking for a 4200. Ideally I would prefer a manual but a late model Race change would do (Reading the specs I suspect they are almost identical to the GS & therefore a bargain at the under £20000 asking price which seems the norm. I have been close to purchasing a couple of cars. One of the first I went to see was owned by a very prominent member of this forum from Warrington. It was very pretty & in his heart of hearts I don't think he really wanted to see it go. The latest I was interested in, was in a garage in Manchester, a 2007 model. The attitude of the owners however prevented me from pursuing that purchase. So there we have it, I shall be getting a 4200 but am ill prepared to abandon the 3200, which for me, always seems more of an event to drive.
Oh, I nearly forgot to mention my recent starting problem. So, coming back from holiday I went to start the old girl but despite churning over at what seemed to me to be the usual belt - nothing, not even a hint of ignition. Could it be the cam or crank sensors, the throttle body etc etc? All manner of usual suspects raised their head. Thankfully, scanned this forum & one or two members had suggested that notwithstanding that a battery turned the starter, might not be sufficient to energise the ECU. Took the battery out & it registered just 12 V. Charged over night & at nearer 14V. Popped the battery back in & barely touched the key & the engine roared into life. Coincidence? I have the feeling not.
Anyway, I think I have rambled on far too long for a Newbie, just pleased to be here amongst what are quite clearly a set of true enthusiasts.
Had my 2001 3200 since July last year & been visiting this site for quite a while, so really no excuse for not making a post. Anyway, it's a Netuno Blue Auto in good, if not perfect condition. Exterior paintwork is virtually unmarked but has clearly been resprayed in one or two areas. The interior is tan, which unlike black does unfortunately show up cracks. For some reason the immobiliser & central locking has been replaced by an aftermarket item. It was owned by a chap in Hadfield, Glossop (that's The league of Gentlemen Royston Vasey to you & me) he seemed to have looked after it & had it serviced by Autoshield Manchester, which is where I will be taking it. It's done 67,000 miles & appears to me to be in excellent mechanical order. Until last week that is (I'll come back to that) it has never failed to start. In fact beyond the £10,000 purchase price & fuel, it has yet to cost me a penny. Lucky eh?
Much as I love this car, I think I would actually prefer a manual. I'm not sure I appreciate the indirect link between engine revs & roadspeed. Moreover, despite the engine sounding great at tickover & full blast, at average speed it can sometimes just sound like a drone. I also have a problem with it's power delivery which seems to be either pootle mode or turbo nutter, 'I haven't got long left to live mode.' I do however love the looks & handcrafted feel, which I believe elevates it above the 4200. That said, I want a 4200 as well. I want the elastic response of that engine, the noise, the tractability, the power, a car that can thrill without driving at manic speed. I also want a car that has genuine real world usability. My car has the traction of an ice cube on grease. It is laughably incompetent. From driving a selection of 4200's, I know they just got better & better with age. The post 2005 models seems really well sorted in this respect.
So, I am still looking for a 4200. Ideally I would prefer a manual but a late model Race change would do (Reading the specs I suspect they are almost identical to the GS & therefore a bargain at the under £20000 asking price which seems the norm. I have been close to purchasing a couple of cars. One of the first I went to see was owned by a very prominent member of this forum from Warrington. It was very pretty & in his heart of hearts I don't think he really wanted to see it go. The latest I was interested in, was in a garage in Manchester, a 2007 model. The attitude of the owners however prevented me from pursuing that purchase. So there we have it, I shall be getting a 4200 but am ill prepared to abandon the 3200, which for me, always seems more of an event to drive.
Oh, I nearly forgot to mention my recent starting problem. So, coming back from holiday I went to start the old girl but despite churning over at what seemed to me to be the usual belt - nothing, not even a hint of ignition. Could it be the cam or crank sensors, the throttle body etc etc? All manner of usual suspects raised their head. Thankfully, scanned this forum & one or two members had suggested that notwithstanding that a battery turned the starter, might not be sufficient to energise the ECU. Took the battery out & it registered just 12 V. Charged over night & at nearer 14V. Popped the battery back in & barely touched the key & the engine roared into life. Coincidence? I have the feeling not.
Anyway, I think I have rambled on far too long for a Newbie, just pleased to be here amongst what are quite clearly a set of true enthusiasts.