3200 Buyer in need of a bit of help!!!
Discussion
Hi all
I'm a bit new to this so go easy on me.
I am going to Nottingham (Graypaul)to look at a 3200 Manual on Sunday. It is in Verde Brooklands with Grigio Chiaro interior. 2000 year and 20K miles. It is on for £32500 which I think may be a little high.
I have really set my heart on one of these and will only buy from a main dealer but my worry is that at 4 years old it may be a bit older than I would like.
Should I let the fact that it is 4 years old put me off? Also, other than the usual things, is there anything else I should be asking/checking.
PS - I'm sooo excited
Cheers in advance
O
I'm a bit new to this so go easy on me.
I am going to Nottingham (Graypaul)to look at a 3200 Manual on Sunday. It is in Verde Brooklands with Grigio Chiaro interior. 2000 year and 20K miles. It is on for £32500 which I think may be a little high.
I have really set my heart on one of these and will only buy from a main dealer but my worry is that at 4 years old it may be a bit older than I would like.
Should I let the fact that it is 4 years old put me off? Also, other than the usual things, is there anything else I should be asking/checking.
PS - I'm sooo excited
Cheers in advance
O
Hi Pete
I brought mine from GP 3 months ago and its been back a few times for some not too inexpensive niggles. All sorted out under warranty but that was no problem as it was (and remains) under three years old. The later cars are, I believe, much better sorted and have various supension and software uprades - as always you should try to go as late as you can afford!
Enjoy the car - they are fantastic and attract so much positive attention. If you decide to go private you could always pop in after GP and try mine as circumstances dictate an unforseen sale!
I brought mine from GP 3 months ago and its been back a few times for some not too inexpensive niggles. All sorted out under warranty but that was no problem as it was (and remains) under three years old. The later cars are, I believe, much better sorted and have various supension and software uprades - as always you should try to go as late as you can afford!
Enjoy the car - they are fantastic and attract so much positive attention. If you decide to go private you could always pop in after GP and try mine as circumstances dictate an unforseen sale!
Warning : Dont turn off the "ASR" Button especially in the Wet ! I kid you not ! If you ignore this then may then gods be with you! (Seriously)
I would always suggest you buy main dealer.
Suggest Meridien for example.
Sometimes its worth the extra cash for the peace of mind.
Reputation still counts a lot for some dealers like Meridien.
If you buy outside main dealer. get a specialist report.
Some people quote the maserati as the "poor mans Ferrari" This is not only an insult but totally false!
check out prices for the clutch if you think I am joking !
Tyres = Front = Best I bought are £182 valve,balanced and fitted.
May I Suggest a Tubi from www.ScuderiaSystems.co.uk
at £1,650 - others are available but I challenge you to find a better level of customer service in the UK Period !
Call "Manu" at the company and tell him you spoke to "Pete" (ref Maserati 3200Gt)
He is Brilliant! and a Genuine Piston Head ! (petrol runs throught his veins !)
I Personally would not buy outside a main Dealer but maybe I will be shot down for this comment,
Main Dealers have a specific standard to achieve e.g minimum Tyre tread but on the down side I would suggest anything less than 5mm on tyres would really affect the handling of the car In My Opinion (IMO)
I Had a min of 4mm and the front affected the car greatly until they were replaced ! (maserati Official Standard for Second hand cars)
But If you have never experienced this type of car I can assure you , you will need to treat the car with respect otherwise it will put you into a Wall!
May I suggest a Manual for the experience (a Proper Drivers Car IMO)
The car Will not be Tailgated as People are either wondering what it is or they think its an Aston ! (Im sick of the ignorant thinking this !) but either way you will get a %99 positive response and trust me on this! People will hear it before seeing it !
The Respect on the Road is awsome and it takes getting used to if you have not owned a car of this calibre!
Downside = Fuel! When Turbo's cut in the economy goes downhill big time but lets face it! If you wanted economy you would buy a Vauxhall Diesel !
Learn to Drive it, And Respect it and the Maserati is a Stunning Car and a Great Day to Day Car once you get over the "awe" of it !
Hope this is of Help ?
P.S You should Haggle Big Time and be prepared to walk at that price.
Wait 24 hours and they will call you if you walk especially if you are a Cash Buyer.
Remember there are always other cars out there.
I would agree with previous comments that circa £30k with years official Maserati Warranty should be a good price.
Remember that £1,500 will be included in the retail price of the car to cover the Maserati Warranty.
Not too Many Cash Buyers about at the moment !
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Saturday 29th January 00:17
I would always suggest you buy main dealer.
Suggest Meridien for example.
Sometimes its worth the extra cash for the peace of mind.
Reputation still counts a lot for some dealers like Meridien.
If you buy outside main dealer. get a specialist report.
Some people quote the maserati as the "poor mans Ferrari" This is not only an insult but totally false!
check out prices for the clutch if you think I am joking !
Tyres = Front = Best I bought are £182 valve,balanced and fitted.
May I Suggest a Tubi from www.ScuderiaSystems.co.uk
at £1,650 - others are available but I challenge you to find a better level of customer service in the UK Period !
Call "Manu" at the company and tell him you spoke to "Pete" (ref Maserati 3200Gt)
He is Brilliant! and a Genuine Piston Head ! (petrol runs throught his veins !)
I Personally would not buy outside a main Dealer but maybe I will be shot down for this comment,
Main Dealers have a specific standard to achieve e.g minimum Tyre tread but on the down side I would suggest anything less than 5mm on tyres would really affect the handling of the car In My Opinion (IMO)
I Had a min of 4mm and the front affected the car greatly until they were replaced ! (maserati Official Standard for Second hand cars)
But If you have never experienced this type of car I can assure you , you will need to treat the car with respect otherwise it will put you into a Wall!
May I suggest a Manual for the experience (a Proper Drivers Car IMO)
The car Will not be Tailgated as People are either wondering what it is or they think its an Aston ! (Im sick of the ignorant thinking this !) but either way you will get a %99 positive response and trust me on this! People will hear it before seeing it !
The Respect on the Road is awsome and it takes getting used to if you have not owned a car of this calibre!
Downside = Fuel! When Turbo's cut in the economy goes downhill big time but lets face it! If you wanted economy you would buy a Vauxhall Diesel !
Learn to Drive it, And Respect it and the Maserati is a Stunning Car and a Great Day to Day Car once you get over the "awe" of it !
Hope this is of Help ?
P.S You should Haggle Big Time and be prepared to walk at that price.
Wait 24 hours and they will call you if you walk especially if you are a Cash Buyer.
Remember there are always other cars out there.
I would agree with previous comments that circa £30k with years official Maserati Warranty should be a good price.
Remember that £1,500 will be included in the retail price of the car to cover the Maserati Warranty.
Not too Many Cash Buyers about at the moment !
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Saturday 29th January 00:17
No disrespect to m3200gt's views but personally I think that the 5/6k saved by buying outside main dealer channels can produce significant overall savings. True, you MUST get the car thoroughly vetted by acknowleged experts (eg Bill McGrath) and be prepared to search out proper estimates for the work needed to get it fully up to scratch.
Service history is absolutely mandatory of course and main dealers in the main do a pretty good job, albeit at a price. Don't rely on stamps in the service book - Insist on getting copies of the actual invoices. Later cars (I am reliably told X-reg onwards) are definitely the ones to go for as the the most important post-build mods were standardised by then.
Though highly important to have, don't be mesmerised by main dealer history - some are far from perfect. My 3200gt manual was main dealer serviced exactly 1 week prior to buying privately direct from the previous Owner.
What was invoiced? Tyre depth recorded on the £1,500 invoice, new rear discs / pads and a minor textbook service.
What did I find within 100 miles of that service?
- Flexible turbo hose (connecting intercooler to Y-piece at front of throttle body) loose - The "jubilee" clip was not even finger tight!!
- Tappet clearances incorrect on 3 exhaust valves, all too tight one of which was 0.33mm instead of between 0.4mm/0.44mm. If left, this could easily have caused burnt valves requiring a partial engine rebuild.
- 6 tappet clearance shims (above 3 + 3 others) badly worn through the case hardening which was visible without removing the shims. If left, this would eventually damage the camshaft lobes.
- Front tracking set to 2.8mm toe OUT instead of 0.7mm (+/- 0.2mm) toe IN.
In short, VERY poor workmanship bordering on neglect - A smallish point but why bother recording the tyre depth and not bother checking the tracking? Bizarre!
I'm lucky - I have always repaired, serviced and maintained all of my cars (including my previous Ferraris over a 20 year period and subsequent Ghibli) wherever possible and the 3200 is no exception. The above catalog of "workmanship" is what I personally found and not some cr@p that another dealer competing for business, had embellished for the purpose.
To properly check your intended purchase, there are some very good people out there but choose carefully.
Service history is absolutely mandatory of course and main dealers in the main do a pretty good job, albeit at a price. Don't rely on stamps in the service book - Insist on getting copies of the actual invoices. Later cars (I am reliably told X-reg onwards) are definitely the ones to go for as the the most important post-build mods were standardised by then.
Though highly important to have, don't be mesmerised by main dealer history - some are far from perfect. My 3200gt manual was main dealer serviced exactly 1 week prior to buying privately direct from the previous Owner.
What was invoiced? Tyre depth recorded on the £1,500 invoice, new rear discs / pads and a minor textbook service.
What did I find within 100 miles of that service?
- Flexible turbo hose (connecting intercooler to Y-piece at front of throttle body) loose - The "jubilee" clip was not even finger tight!!
- Tappet clearances incorrect on 3 exhaust valves, all too tight one of which was 0.33mm instead of between 0.4mm/0.44mm. If left, this could easily have caused burnt valves requiring a partial engine rebuild.
- 6 tappet clearance shims (above 3 + 3 others) badly worn through the case hardening which was visible without removing the shims. If left, this would eventually damage the camshaft lobes.
- Front tracking set to 2.8mm toe OUT instead of 0.7mm (+/- 0.2mm) toe IN.
In short, VERY poor workmanship bordering on neglect - A smallish point but why bother recording the tyre depth and not bother checking the tracking? Bizarre!
I'm lucky - I have always repaired, serviced and maintained all of my cars (including my previous Ferraris over a 20 year period and subsequent Ghibli) wherever possible and the 3200 is no exception. The above catalog of "workmanship" is what I personally found and not some cr@p that another dealer competing for business, had embellished for the purpose.
To properly check your intended purchase, there are some very good people out there but choose carefully.
Nigelo has valid points.
Its a case of speak as you find I guess.
If you know what to look for then you will save £'s
but if you dont then got to a main dealer but check on here for the overall opinion and experiences.
Afterall , with the best intentions , things can go wrong but its how they are resovled which builds customer confidence.
There are many dealers who sell maserati's
take www.adgsevenoaks.co.uk who have several in stock but check the warranty even though this is a highly respected "Ind" Dealership and get a Decent Maserati Mechannic to check over the car.
Afterall, a few hundred quid could save you thousands in the long run!
for my 2p's worth, I bought Main Dealer (Meridien) and everything has been excellent and the car has been totally reliable.
This is not to say that there are bargains to be had but for me I felt this was the right way to go and it so far proved correct.
Its a case of speak as you find I guess.
If you know what to look for then you will save £'s
but if you dont then got to a main dealer but check on here for the overall opinion and experiences.
Afterall , with the best intentions , things can go wrong but its how they are resovled which builds customer confidence.
There are many dealers who sell maserati's
take www.adgsevenoaks.co.uk who have several in stock but check the warranty even though this is a highly respected "Ind" Dealership and get a Decent Maserati Mechannic to check over the car.
Afterall, a few hundred quid could save you thousands in the long run!
for my 2p's worth, I bought Main Dealer (Meridien) and everything has been excellent and the car has been totally reliable.
This is not to say that there are bargains to be had but for me I felt this was the right way to go and it so far proved correct.
Thanks for all your replies.
I am trading in a Boxster for the 3200 so I agree that the performance difference will be huge.
I drove a 3200 about 3 years ago and it was a bit intimidating. I will have take things easy at first.
I suppose I'm over cautious but will only ever buy and service at a main dealer. I have done this with the Boxster and it has been fine.
I think you are right about the price as well, I was thinking around the 30K mark.
I'll post again when I get back on Sunday and you let you know how I get on. Once again thanks for all your help.
I just know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight!!!
Pete
I am trading in a Boxster for the 3200 so I agree that the performance difference will be huge.
I drove a 3200 about 3 years ago and it was a bit intimidating. I will have take things easy at first.
I suppose I'm over cautious but will only ever buy and service at a main dealer. I have done this with the Boxster and it has been fine.
I think you are right about the price as well, I was thinking around the 30K mark.
I'll post again when I get back on Sunday and you let you know how I get on. Once again thanks for all your help.
I just know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight!!!
Pete
Ocean.
I bought an 02 manual from GP Nottingham last week.
With 8600 miles on the clock, I paid £35k. It has GPS and CD (but no Autochanger). It had no spare, but one of those spray repair kits.
Don't know if that was over the odds but I did try less and they wouldn't take it. (ticket price was £36k)
Before that, I got a March 01 Auto with 27000 miles for approx 31.5k (hard to say exactly as part ex involved).
Hope that helps.
I bought an 02 manual from GP Nottingham last week.
With 8600 miles on the clock, I paid £35k. It has GPS and CD (but no Autochanger). It had no spare, but one of those spray repair kits.
Don't know if that was over the odds but I did try less and they wouldn't take it. (ticket price was £36k)
Before that, I got a March 01 Auto with 27000 miles for approx 31.5k (hard to say exactly as part ex involved).
Hope that helps.
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