| Author |
Message |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 599
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 12:27 pm: | |
Ken
Please post your impressions from second test drive. (4200) Also check out other's coments in "Other Italian"
Best
Jim |
KCCK (Kenneth)
Member
Username: Kenneth
Post Number: 326
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 12:12 pm: | |
Thanks, James. That is news to me.
In that case I shall arrange to have another test again. |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 598
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:49 am: | |
Ken
They are the same box. The Maser softwear is slightly upgraded. If the one you drove was bauky something was wrong.
The version in the 575 is the same as in the new Maser.
Best
Jim |
KCCK (Kenneth)
Member
Username: Kenneth
Post Number: 325
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:43 am: | |
I am not keen on the F1 Box on the Maserati. I think the F1 system on the 360 is much smoother by far.
Also, the brake on the Maserati is jerky.
I have not driven a 575M, but I hear that its F1 Box is a 3rd generation product and is best of the breed. |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 596
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:24 am: | |
John
I believe that test was an aboration. Test drive one and I think you'll agree. |
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:18 am: | |
F1 Question:
First, thanks for all the input guys. I appreciate all the info. Frank, I found your comments particularly interesting... I'd love to get a feeling of how all the current Maserati dealers feel about their franchise. ie. rocky start, but seems like it's working out... couldn't be happier, not sure it's going to work, committed to make it working, etc. I find the Shelton info comforting, but my gut feeling is Maser does much better in "exotic car" rich locations like South Florida. Where people will pay a premium to be unique. There's a lot of areas where an M5 would be nearly as rare as a Maserati and I'm curious how those dealers are fairing.
Getting back to the F1. I must have missed something. I followed the Maser early on with great interest and from what I remember, the F1 in it was routinely criticized. Have they changed the F1 after intro? Do all 2002 F1's have the "same" F1 or are there difft. versions of it. Or was it that the initial test Maserati sent out for review had some preproduction programming? The gist I got from the early reviews was that the F1 in the Maserati worked well only when driving hard and that the shifts were extremely balky under slower paced driving conditions. Thanks---- John |
ross koller (Ross)
Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 708
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 9:51 am: | |
ming, yes i am still without a 456 but largely due to life and career issues that need to be sorted before i commit to another fcar. but this has been to my advantage since the prices keep dropping..... |
Ming Cheng (Onlinesys)
Junior Member
Username: Onlinesys
Post Number: 188
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 9:42 am: | |
Hi Ross,
Are you still hunting for the used 456GT/M456?
I am with you Ross. I test drove both the Maser 3200GT and the 456 and... (see my profile).
I could live with the old car and I find the 456 will be a classic in the long run.
The 4200 is a lot better model but I would rather wait for another one or two years when the depreciation curve starts to be flattened!
|
ross koller (Ross)
Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 703
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 7:03 am: | |
i guess it depends whether you like used or new. if you can live with used, i think the 456gt is a better deal in the long run, especially for depreciation. if you have to have new, then the maser will still depreciate faster than comparable cars in that performance range (merc cl, aston db7 etc).
however, as far as the best deal in town on a new car, then the 4200gt's sitting on the show room floor today are it. i bet you can get a monster deal on one if you play it right - ie go to a dealer that seems to be swamped with them. and while you are at it, use it to get your name somewhere high on the list for the next modena spider (or whatever hard to get ferrari you want- even if you don't want it, somebody else will and will pay you for your spot a few years down the road).
as for driving them, i have driven both gearboxes and found the manual to be better (although slightly notchy); great engine !; fit and finish looked good; good room in the backseat; but i don't really like the styling enough for it to win me over vs a used 456. |
Alex Hancock (Alexhancock)
New member
Username: Alexhancock
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 6:59 am: | |
In Europe we're a bit ahead of you guys in the States. The 3200GT was introduced in '99 and can be picked up for about �32K (�60K+ list). A similar Porsche would be worth another �10K.
Having said that I bought one - just over a year old with 7K miles, nearly 2 years warranty (3 years in Europe) and 12,000 servicing fixed at �600. The first owner took the big hit - I paid nearly �20K less. I'll probably trade it in this year or next for a 4200, again about a year old.
They are absolutely fantastic cars - very solid and fast with a lot of character. Once everyone's aware of how good they are the dealers will gain in confidence and stop discounting.
Life's too short to wait - who know's what's around the corner!
Cheers
Alex |
Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Junior Member
Username: Kaz
Post Number: 141
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 6:05 am: | |
John -
Interesting this would come up. Yesterday I spent several hours over at Shelton speaking with management.
During the discussions I mentioned two things I saw on Fchat, Are F Cars Selling and Maser Sales. I surprised to find the following:
Last Saturday Shelton sold 5 cars in one day. 3 F-Cars and 2 Masers.
Maser just completed a Euro $1.9 Mil upgrade to production facility.
Maser F1 shifter works beautifully
Maser is offering a 4 year warranty
Maser 390 bhp V8 will the replacement motor for the new 360 due to it�s reliability and service ease.
Tomorrow all dealer Svc Mgr�s will be at FNA NJ for the second time to discuss any Maser issues.
There is no question they are in it for the long haul. Also the fact that Napolis put his stamp of approval on it says a lot to me.
|
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 488
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 10:03 pm: | |
Regardless of what Ferrari does, one thing will remain true: You buy that car far a GREAT low price, and it will still depreciate even further, once you start putting miles on it.
I am not trying to knock the car down.......only referring to basic economic priciples. |
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 9:49 pm: | |
To clarify a bit... I'm sure I'd be happy with the ownership of the Maser... my concern mainly is on the price in terms of future depriciation. I understand these cars are not flying off the shelf, but it seems there are great discounts off MSRP to be had now. I'm trying to get an idea of if any near term thing may happen to cause prices to move down more and in the long term, I'm trying to find out if Ferrari is moving ahead with or scaling back it's investment in Maserati. Thanks --- John |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 592
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 9:25 pm: | |
The FI is the best version yet. It's the same as the 360's with better software which will soon come to the 360 and is in the 575 even though the 575 manual doesn't mention the low range 1 and R.
If you search this forum you'll find several comments on driving and owning a maser. The coupes are rock solid unlike the early spyders which have a bit of cowl shake. The back seat and the trunk work well. Sport mode and asr are fine and they keep updating software such as CD operation. Fit and Finish is excellent. Interior is super ext is what it is I like it some don't.
If you drive it I think you'll like it. This is my daily driver rain sleet and snow. Fine in snow.
Great high speed tourer. Check the other threads.
Best
Jim |
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 486
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 9:20 pm: | |
John: I would wait......prices will start falling, IMO.
While looking through the classifieds of a recent Autoweek magazine (Mid Feb,2003), I couldn't help notice that all the Maser dealers where still trying to sell a number of 2002 models.
Prices will have to come down. Unless the 2003 models don't come out till July!!!!!!! |
Tyler (Bahiaau)
Member
Username: Bahiaau
Post Number: 536
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 8:08 pm: | |
Napolis on this board has a lovely blue coupe. He says he loves it. I'm sure he'll chime in.
|
John Lee (Gjockey)
New member
Username: Gjockey
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 8:00 pm: | |
Hello,
I'm a current 2001 360 Spyder(w/tubi) owner and have been thinking out loud lately about purchasing a "fun" 4 seater. Curious what the board's thoughts are about the Maser GT Coupe. Initially, I would NOT have considered the car as I heard it had a very poorly working F1, but recently I found out that they are available with the 6-speed. I like the rarity and interior beauty of the car (I think the exterior is so so). I'm sure performance is great and with tubi, I'm sure the driving experience will put a bigger smile on my face than any other 4 seater. I also like the warranty on the car.
A downside is I hear there are some fit and finish concerns (probably no worse than what you expect on any Ferrari), but the biggest downside is there is no track record to be able to guess what these cars may be worth in a few years.
Has anybody purchased a Maser GT recently or kept abreast of how well/poorly they are selling? What would be a reasonable price for a 6 speed coupe? I understand they are going for a decent amount under sticker. Is there any reason to suspect that the Maser brand could fail and that Ferrari would abandon them? Or are the 2 companies inseperably intertwined now. Thanks --- John
Please jump in with any thoughts... If you think buying a Maser GT is stupid at this point, please feel free to elaborate. Maybe it would make more sense to hold off for another x months to get a better feel for where this company is heading. Is the 2004 Maser Quattroporte expected to be unveiled anytime soon? If that car looks to be a dud, I guess Maser would be on very shaky grounds. I wish the next generation M5 were available... sigh |