Maserati 3200 GTA to CSL?
Discussion
All,
Am struggling with a heart versus head decision, as always. Been in a Maserati 3200 GTA for 2.5 years, and enjoyed its sense of occasion, image, rarity and (straight-line) performance; oh yes, and its noise (had custom silencers made recently). It's an automatic though, with the advantages and drawbacks that this brings.
Should/could I consider a CSL as my next toy (I tend to do weekend and evening rides mostly, with occasional motorway journeys to South coast, etc.)? I'm attracted by the CSL's no-compromise performance, albeit allied to surprising practicality (its boot is larger than my Maser's, and the rear seats fold). It also has a fully auto transmission option for when I'd be stuck in traffic-jams.
In terms of image, I often go with the 'return to parked car' test to see how happy I am with my car, and have to admit that the 3200 has always done well on that score, i.e. it always looks striking when I go back to it.
Would the CSL give me the same sort of flutter when I return to it, and indeed attract the right sort of attention from admirers? My 3200 went down well in Europe over the summer, including people in Casino Square and amongst all the exotica there, with many giving me appreciative thumbs-ups.
Grateful for any thoughts.
Cheers.
Am struggling with a heart versus head decision, as always. Been in a Maserati 3200 GTA for 2.5 years, and enjoyed its sense of occasion, image, rarity and (straight-line) performance; oh yes, and its noise (had custom silencers made recently). It's an automatic though, with the advantages and drawbacks that this brings.
Should/could I consider a CSL as my next toy (I tend to do weekend and evening rides mostly, with occasional motorway journeys to South coast, etc.)? I'm attracted by the CSL's no-compromise performance, albeit allied to surprising practicality (its boot is larger than my Maser's, and the rear seats fold). It also has a fully auto transmission option for when I'd be stuck in traffic-jams.
In terms of image, I often go with the 'return to parked car' test to see how happy I am with my car, and have to admit that the 3200 has always done well on that score, i.e. it always looks striking when I go back to it.
Would the CSL give me the same sort of flutter when I return to it, and indeed attract the right sort of attention from admirers? My 3200 went down well in Europe over the summer, including people in Casino Square and amongst all the exotica there, with many giving me appreciative thumbs-ups.
Grateful for any thoughts.
Cheers.
As far as image goes, yes the Masser is head and shoulders about the CSL IMO. The CSL is a striking looking car, but only to those who know what it is. To everyone else, it's just another BMW, which is a bad thing quite a lot of the time (Que the optional indicator comments)
At the same time though, some people go for it because it's not Porsche/Ferrari in your face kind of thing, so each to their own I suppose.
At TD's you get folk people asking if it's a real CSL as they're so rare (Maybe not Masser rare) and not many people have seen them in the metal outside of tracks. I myself have only ever seen one other one the road in the 3 years of ownership. There's a guy that stays about 3 miles from me and I've yet to see his!
G/Box is great on track, on M'Way and around town in traffic etc, exactly as you describe really. (Only, it's a Manual with Hydraulic gubbins, but we won't nit pick!)
I do still love mine and can't think of what to replace it with when the time comes. Practical, 4 seats, reasonably comfortable and Epic quick when she needs to be. Not silly expensive to run either, servicing etc costing alot less than that on Porsches anyway.
HTH,
Baz
At the same time though, some people go for it because it's not Porsche/Ferrari in your face kind of thing, so each to their own I suppose.
At TD's you get folk people asking if it's a real CSL as they're so rare (Maybe not Masser rare) and not many people have seen them in the metal outside of tracks. I myself have only ever seen one other one the road in the 3 years of ownership. There's a guy that stays about 3 miles from me and I've yet to see his!
G/Box is great on track, on M'Way and around town in traffic etc, exactly as you describe really. (Only, it's a Manual with Hydraulic gubbins, but we won't nit pick!)
I do still love mine and can't think of what to replace it with when the time comes. Practical, 4 seats, reasonably comfortable and Epic quick when she needs to be. Not silly expensive to run either, servicing etc costing alot less than that on Porsches anyway.
HTH,
Baz
A friends standard M3 got a lot of positive attention on a hoon round Europe this year, even when parked next to a dax rush. It has yet to stop traffic the old Tuscan tho 
- a French guy stopped in the road got out of his car and had a chat to us whilstwe were waiting for some lights to change. He didn't care about the tail back he was causing.
- whilst stopped had people drive past do a u turn to come back to say hello
- oh yes and the time it was in a million little pieces blocking the auto route
custard
- a French guy stopped in the road got out of his car and had a chat to us whilstwe were waiting for some lights to change. He didn't care about the tail back he was causing.
- whilst stopped had people drive past do a u turn to come back to say hello
- oh yes and the time it was in a million little pieces blocking the auto route
custard
if your heart is with the Maser then get another one or keep the one you have BUT
1. CSL is far rarer than the 3200 (only 422 imported into UK - 3200 had 356 in 2001 alone)
2. CSL is lighter and faster, 245bhp/tonne to 234 bhp/tonne
3. CSL is not a hard drive indeed similar to 3200 as that was reknown as having a pretty firm ride
Best thing is get atest drive as the thing thatmakes the CSL is the noise
1. CSL is far rarer than the 3200 (only 422 imported into UK - 3200 had 356 in 2001 alone)
2. CSL is lighter and faster, 245bhp/tonne to 234 bhp/tonne
3. CSL is not a hard drive indeed similar to 3200 as that was reknown as having a pretty firm ride
Best thing is get atest drive as the thing thatmakes the CSL is the noise
Good feedback and opinions so far thanks.
I'm still very much 50/50 about this, as I can see the appeal of both choices.
Also, and I suspect I'd be opening up an entirely new (albeit familiar!) can of worms with this one, I'd also considering getting (back) into a 911. I had a 964 Targa a while back, which handled fantastically, and would consider a 996 manual.
Once my 3200 comes back from the garage (coolant leak, alloy refurb, brakes/handbrake adjust, plus some minor bodywork repairs), I daresay I'll fall in love with it all over again, but until then...
I'm still very much 50/50 about this, as I can see the appeal of both choices.
Also, and I suspect I'd be opening up an entirely new (albeit familiar!) can of worms with this one, I'd also considering getting (back) into a 911. I had a 964 Targa a while back, which handled fantastically, and would consider a 996 manual.
Once my 3200 comes back from the garage (coolant leak, alloy refurb, brakes/handbrake adjust, plus some minor bodywork repairs), I daresay I'll fall in love with it all over again, but until then...
pop over to Bedford Autodrome (not far from you) on Monday 16th and have acould of rides on a CSL or two and see how you feel (if you dare)
http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/event_details.php?ve...
http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/event_details.php?ve...
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