Saw this 3200 for sale......hmm

mdss

Junior Member
Messages
50
Hi Guys,
I called this 3200 that appeared on autotrader. It looked interesting and given The low miles and low owners i thought maybe worth a look.

The seller was helpful and gave me some pics of the underside which was average at best with light surface corrosion on trackrods and arms etc and quite grubby but looked ok but would need a light underside clean and resto to make befitting for a 30k car IMO.
I then did an MOT check and could see a pretty long list of things needed which included a shock which has been leaking for some time(mentioned on previous MOT's) along with exhaust blowing, steering rack leaking(likely a new rack needed) and perished tyres.

What a amazes me is prior to me checking the MOT history i asked him if the car had any issues at all as I would be travelling a long way and he said it had non!

I then asked about service history all of which had been done by a local garage and more worrying is the fact in 18 years of his ownership it has never ever had a single cambelt change and major service!

I called the seller and asked about if there was any negotiation on the price given the long list of things needed not to mention the cambelt and need for a major service(fluids,plugs etc)
He told me it was cheap enough and that the car was worth £20k and there would be zero negotiation at which point I thanked him for the pics etc and said good luck with his sale.

I agree the car is cheap but as we all know its likely that car needs 5-7k spending on it to rectify issues and also service at a reputable specialist.
It looks like a decent car on the whole but could turn into a money pit due to the lack of correct maintenance

I thought this info might be useful here for anyone that has also spotted it

I think I would prefer to hold out for a car with better provenance and maybe a few more miles on the clock even.

Here is the link for the car in question:
 

RichTaps

Member
Messages
199
10k for a car with 30k miles is really good value.

In regards "Issues", I'd say that lots of people would not consider a slightly weeping shock as a real 'issue' as such, but maybe indicates the guy is certainly keen to get rid and painting an optimistic picture.

If the overall condition of the car is nice, I'd say at 10k its a good buy, especially if you can do the work yourself. If you'd need a garage to do the work, I'd look somewhere else. To be honest, If you are not keen on DIY, I'd struggle to recommend a 3200 in general... these cars can be fussy to say the least, and a visit to the garage can often turn into a 2k+ bill.
 

mdss

Junior Member
Messages
50
10k for a car with 30k miles is really good value.

In regards "Issues", I'd say that lots of people would not consider a slightly weeping shock as a real 'issue' as such, but maybe indicates the guy is certainly keen to get rid and painting an optimistic picture.

If the overall condition of the car is nice, I'd say at 10k its a good buy, especially if you can do the work yourself. If you'd need a garage to do the work, I'd look somewhere else. To be honest, If you are not keen on DIY, I'd struggle to recommend a 3200 in general... these cars can be fussy to say the least, and a visit to the garage can often turn into a 2k+ bill.
Thanks for the reply
Yes i concur, 10,750 looks cheap but as you said unless you intend to do all the work yourself it could get expensive.
The fact the cambelt has not been done in 18 years is somewhat worrying at least to me anyway.
The exhaust flanges are very rusty and signs of a lot of blowing etc so may need new exhaust sections along with the other bits

You summed it up well but that car is not for me.
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
They benefit by being used, especially a 3200, so don't put much emphasis on low mileage, this is not always a good thing. I would want to make sure it had an OBDII socket being 2001, it makes things easier for any niggles.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Terry Tibbs would like it!

It’s a shame it has been run on such a shoestring budget. I couldn’t cope with having a list that long of advisories on an MOT.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
My end float went at 35k, I know a lot of others that did around the same mileage. Get it checked.
 

RSM Masser

Member
Messages
2,437
It would still want end float checking.
Agree
Other than that
Cam belt service £500 at Maserati shed
Tyres £150 a corner - Black Circles
Custom stainless exhaust with silencer delete £400-500
Shocks refurbed £130each plus postage

life with a Maserati - Priceless
 

Lozzer

Member
Messages
2,280
My Spidey sense is tingling over that car, don't know why, it's not just the MOT history either.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
My old 3200GT may be for sale at some point, as I'm struggling with the clutch now after my knee replacement
One of the last manual cars off the line in Sept 2001, 26k from new,1400mls into its 12k+ engine
rebuild..
If anyone feels they would seriously like to take it on give me a shout

Dave
 

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TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
My old 3200GT may be for sale at some point, as I'm struggling with the clutch now after my knee replacement
One of the last manual cars off the line in Sept 2001, 26k from new,1400mls into its 12k+ engine
rebuild..
If anyone feels they would seriously like to take it on give me a shout

Dave
Looks great....!
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Here's a couple more pics if anyone's interested!
 

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Lozzer

Member
Messages
2,280
Here's a couple more pics if anyone's interested!
Dave , I've never seen one with such an exemplary MOT history, that alone probably puts it out of my price range , it's a lovely thing indeed. :) again it's what I would sort of expect at the mileage, compare that to the 30k miles one in the op.
 
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GroovyBoovy

Junior Member
Messages
61
When I was looking for a car i remember and made a note of this 1 for sale around Janurary 2019, on 29,000 miles it was on for £14,000, then went up to £14,500, 2 owners, in Kent, for some reason I had a note saying the mileage was wrong??, dont remember why i noted this.
Rob
 

Lozzer

Member
Messages
2,280
When I was looking for a car i remember and made a note of this 1 for sale around Janurary 2019, on 29,000 miles it was on for £14,000, then went up to £14,500, 2 owners, in Kent, for some reason I had a note saying the mileage was wrong??, dont remember why i noted this.
Rob
MOT history the mileage has a discrepancy but is then corrected , it's maybe that, considering the work that needs doing and the past MOT history the mileage just doesn't appear honest to me, just my gut feeling and I may be completely wrong , if I am I apologise to the seller.