3200GT - a second chance

[Wodanaz]

Good evening everyone
I’ve been a fan of the 3200 since one first passed me by some 20 odd years ago

Tried a couple a few years back but none had a history book that eased the mind

Now there’s another for sale with 62k miles and a 10/2001 register - VIN ending 3822; so that’s supposedly when Ferrari took over quality control and the cars where better built (myth? Truth?)

It had the throttle sensor replaced and for the past 3 years several maintenance done (seller didn’t disclose information prior to 2017)

So what’s the current take on these? Money pits? Worth the risk?

Would love a 456 but those are double the price and only the Mondial is around the same (still a tad more if you want a nice 3.2…)

Car will be weekend, long drive only thing but still planning on using it regularly

Thanks in advance

Miguel

[CCCS]

I’ve had my 3200 for 15+ years.

It’s a 1999 car. Ferrari did become involved around 2000 but I don’t believe their involvement had a significant effect on production quality. Rather later cars might be better than earlier cars in the same way most cars develop during their production life. Saying that I don’t think you’ll notice any difference in cars based on when they were built (save some minor changes like obd port).

Mine costs around £1000-1500 in maintenance and servicing. I did get a £6000 bill one year when the engine had to come out due to cylinder head gasket failure (I think).

The usual answer is “lots of information on sportsmaserati.com”.

Edited by CCCS on Friday 3rd February 16:25

[wildoliver]

I came really close a few years ago.

I hold my hands up from the start, it was for the wrong reasons. In short I couldn't (and can't) afford a Ferrari. However I do love the design and still do, and the nature of the car. The 4200 didn't appeal to me at all as it was too close to a knock off Ferrari for my taste and I loved the slight bit of Maserati heritage left in the 3200 and the power delivery.

In the end what really killed them for me was the owners, in particular the lack of care lavished on the cars. Every single one I looked at, including at dealers was a shed. From mechanical issues in most cars when you dug deep enough, badly repaired accident damage and interiors that were in a st state. And the owners just considered this normal and were accepting of it. I quickly realised that regardless of how much I spent I would be buying a restoration project.

But I do still like them and would still buy one. So go figure.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Never owned one, driven them though. I'd say anything of that age now has been looked after. Take TVR for example, back around 2000 everyone bought TVR/Maser/Porsche because they had a few quid. Didn't look after them, crashed them, weren't enthusiasts and some could afford the proper maintenance. So like you say, there were dogs about.

Now, I'd say anything decent will have had the money spent and be worth a closer look. HOWEVER, go in with your eyes wide open and your chequebook firmly shut until you've done your background checks and satisfied yourself you haven't bought a pig in lipstick.

[rallye101]

There was a thread on " readers cars" a while back when a guy who was rather handy with a spanner bought and made good a 3200...
I can remember that if he hadn't done all the work himself then the project would have been ££££££

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

Pistonheads own 'The Brave Pill' article on this from 2020

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Think general consensus is 4200 was a more developed car, or the car the 3200 should have been, built that still has issues. The 3200 can be good, but will throw up a lot of niggles & bills if maintenance skimped (like most cars).

[wink]

Wodanaz said:

I’ve been a fan of the 3200 since one first passed me by some 20 odd years ago

So what’s the current take on these? Money pits? Worth the risk?

I had one, good fun, sold it for more than it cost me, no complaints. On the other hand a friend lost £15k on an apparently decent car, so maybe it's just down to luck. IMO later cars with OBD port are a better bet, and the auto is nicer to drive than the manual. Both the throttle pedal pot and the throttle body cause trouble, but upgraded parts are available and not really expensive. Suspension bits will cost a fortune if you can find them. Remember you're buying a car that's over 20 years old, made from costly and and scarce components. Same goes for any supercar of similar age.
In summary, they are lovely but don't expect ownership to be cheap and easy.

[madras]

I think they are cheap for what they are as they have the risk premium built in. Spend as much as you can for the best you can find would be my advice as some parts are not available anymore. I think they have been past the very lowest point of ownership and not having had money spent on them, and from here the condition should only get better and prices highly unlikely to go any lower - they are around double it seems in LHD in Europe, no idea why? Maybe they just appreciate them more or are more willing to take a risk on repair bills?

I've owned 2, and 4200 manual and auto, 4200 spider, gransport. the 3200 has the most character for sure. Early cars can be trouble (first one was a 99), so yes get as late as possible too. Go and drive a few and get a feel for a good one/good owner. It's an exciting car, more so than a 456 I would say, and I don't think it would cost more than 456 to run. Think integrale/F355 running costs.

[ex-devonpaul]

Tmx78 said:

I don't think anyone will contradict me in what I'm going to say.
the car may have problems but many are known and I think the price will go up

They were saying that about 3200, 4200, and GS about 12 years ago when I bought one. At which time they were a similar price to a 911 turbo, NSX, Ferrari 456, Noble, and a whole host of other cars that have gone up.

Sure, the foibles are known, and the 3200 is a proper brutal sportscar compared to it's successors, but you can't get quite a few parts for them, the ones you can get are rather expensive. They are just starting to become special or numerous enough for the pattern market to start remaking things, but things like cracking suspension arms and even stupid little things like window switches and interior lights were not available a couple of years ago (I reckong 3D printing could solve that).

Buy one, run it, maintain it, and enjoy it, but don't expect to make any money on it.

Paul