Picked up the 3200 last night
Discussion
After months of watching the helpful advice and encoragement of owners on this forum I took the plunge and went for a 3200. Picked it up yesterday and very pleased with it.
I bought it outside the main dealer network from a general sports/prestige dealer which I know is going against the accepted wisdom here but I made such a substantial saving that I thought it worth the risk - you pay your money and take the choice.
I wasn't happy with the state of the interior of the car when I first saw it (general wear plus use of a silicon spray that had made the black leather shiny). In the course of checking out the history of the car the dealer who had regularly serviced it gave me the number of their trim specialist. For a reasonable price he renovated all the interior to an excellent standard before I collected it - very pleased with the result.
Out this evening to make my Porsche driving mates green with envy.
No doubt will be back with the photos and the usual list of new owner questions for the experts!
I bought it outside the main dealer network from a general sports/prestige dealer which I know is going against the accepted wisdom here but I made such a substantial saving that I thought it worth the risk - you pay your money and take the choice.
I wasn't happy with the state of the interior of the car when I first saw it (general wear plus use of a silicon spray that had made the black leather shiny). In the course of checking out the history of the car the dealer who had regularly serviced it gave me the number of their trim specialist. For a reasonable price he renovated all the interior to an excellent standard before I collected it - very pleased with the result.
Out this evening to make my Porsche driving mates green with envy.
No doubt will be back with the photos and the usual list of new owner questions for the experts!
Good thanks. The Porsche boys loved the engine and interior. A few jibes about reliability/fuel consumption but I was expecting that.
Overall the car sailed through the "mates test" and most people who have seen it love the understated nature of it. When you see it first it doesn't jump out at you but when you look at it more closely you realise it is a bit special.
After the first weekend driving now getting used to pulling away in first without hitting the revs too hard. Second is still not easy though.
Overall - lot of stylish car for the money, I'm a fan.
Overall the car sailed through the "mates test" and most people who have seen it love the understated nature of it. When you see it first it doesn't jump out at you but when you look at it more closely you realise it is a bit special.
After the first weekend driving now getting used to pulling away in first without hitting the revs too hard. Second is still not easy though.
Overall - lot of stylish car for the money, I'm a fan.
Good, thanks for asking.
Had the "code" warning come up the other day but it went out after restarting - so ignored that.
I am not finding much of a difference between sport and non-sport mode - is that just my lack of driving expertise?
Changed the radio to an MP3 Becker unit which is good.
I do quite like it when it "crops up" in coversation that I have a Maserati - sad I know but people are much more positive and interested in it than other brands (speaking as a previous Porsche owner where there was always a bit of negative feeling for some reason).
How are you getting on with yours now? It seemed a shame that you went off it a bit recently, but I am sure the new one will compensate...
Had the "code" warning come up the other day but it went out after restarting - so ignored that.
I am not finding much of a difference between sport and non-sport mode - is that just my lack of driving expertise?
Changed the radio to an MP3 Becker unit which is good.
I do quite like it when it "crops up" in coversation that I have a Maserati - sad I know but people are much more positive and interested in it than other brands (speaking as a previous Porsche owner where there was always a bit of negative feeling for some reason).
How are you getting on with yours now? It seemed a shame that you went off it a bit recently, but I am sure the new one will compensate...
Yep, the thumps from the turbos does suggest lambo style accelleration when you're actually more in line with a 911..
All part of the fun though!
MAin difference you will find with sport mode is in the T/C - it's a lot less nannying in Sport Mode.. (So be careful with sport mode when it's raining!!)
All part of the fun though!
MAin difference you will find with sport mode is in the T/C - it's a lot less nannying in Sport Mode.. (So be careful with sport mode when it's raining!!)
Steve,
IMO the Sport mode gives a more responsive feel to the car.
I prefer the Sport mode on the road (especially on dry days)
This of course is a matter of personal opinion but the more confident I have become with the car the more the Sport mode has featured in my driving.
The car feels tigher in the overall feel with the road and the steering feels that little more connected with the chassis.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Friday 11th February 16:32
IMO the Sport mode gives a more responsive feel to the car.
I prefer the Sport mode on the road (especially on dry days)
This of course is a matter of personal opinion but the more confident I have become with the car the more the Sport mode has featured in my driving.
The car feels tigher in the overall feel with the road and the steering feels that little more connected with the chassis.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Friday 11th February 16:32
sco said:
Gotcha - but as well as turning off ASR (which as you say was lighting up all the time in normal mode) does the sport option does something to the suspension as well? The owners manual is typically vague about it.
Sco
"Sport" was an optional extra fitted to some 3200s but not all, whereas "ASR" was standard. The Sport mode does not switch off ASR but adjusts it allowing more traction slip (or less traction control if you prefer) - It also adjusts the motorised valves on the shock absorbers stiffening up both bump and rebound settings ie stiffer and more sporty handling
Hope this helps
Being honest I was never sure I could feel the difference in suspension settings between sport mode on and off, even after driving over the same road in the same conditions back to back. Maybe I'm just a complete pleb! The ASR intervention point however was very noticeably different.
Hope you enjoy the car!
Chris (ex-3200 owner)
Hope you enjoy the car!
Chris (ex-3200 owner)
Thanks for the comments - very useful. One further question now:
I am switching it on to a private plate. Both the front and rear plates look like they are stuck on rather than screwed on with most other cars I have seen. Do you just yank them off? Could that do any damage? How do I fix the new ones?
I am switching it on to a private plate. Both the front and rear plates look like they are stuck on rather than screwed on with most other cars I have seen. Do you just yank them off? Could that do any damage? How do I fix the new ones?
maserati3200gt said:
chris how are you finding the lotus compared to the maserati 3200 ?
Obviously two different cars but what do you miss and dont miss about the maser?
Pete
It's early days with the Exige really - I'm still running it in, and with the roads really greasy lately I've been taking it quite easy, but it feels like it's going to be a lot of fun.
Obviously I miss the creature comforts of the Maser and the thump in the back when you floor it, but the Lotus feels so much more focused. Both cars attract loads of positive reaction from other road users which is always nice. And so far the Lotus is proving surprisingly practical in daily use. The one thing I do really miss is the quality soundtrack of the Maser, the Lotus sounds pretty tame by comparison, even though it does have a Stage 1 exhaust. I'm limited to 4000 revs at the moment though, maybe when I can use all 8000+ and have the power cam kick in then It'll sound better!
I will always have fond memories of my Maserati and in fact could easily see myself going for a second hand Gransport in a couple of years time. Meantime I'll stay in touch with all things Maser by lurking here!
Chris
On the subject of Sport mode, I did the 2 day Maserati driving course in Italy and after 16 hours of messing about on various track and simulated road conditions you really start to apprecaite sport mode. In dry conditions with well maintained roads its is more predicatble, safer and a lot more fun. However in the wet......
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