4200

Look for the 4200 but the GT model. It will prevent you from dealing with the CC trans issues plus you'll have a 6MT to enjoy. It will be hard to find them but worth it.
I've owned my GT for over a year now and don't regret it one bit.
Maserati Life Forum might have more info for you. You should post on there too.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

+1 for checking the "other" forum. +1 for the GT "stick shift" version - but there is lots of debate on this subject on the "other forum." Are you looking for a coupe or spyder?
Jon

 

For the 4200 series, "GT" signifies the stick shift for both spyder and coupe. "CC" signifies "cambio corsa" for both and coupe. In North America, you see many ads that will describe the cars as a "GT" but that are actually cambio corsa equipped.

 

In the long term, I think the 3200GT, especially the Assetto Corsa special edition, may be a better "investment" than the 4200.

I have not owned a 4200, so I cannot compare it with the 3200GT apart from visually (I find the 3200GT more attractive, but the 4200 is a beauty too), but my 2.5 years of 3200GT ownership have been virtually trouble-free.

 

If you have to win money to buy a Maserati, then you probably shouldn't buy a Maserati.

 

#Savage lol

 

If you don't have any money to start with then that's valid, however we don't know that.
Today I would love either a 3200 or 4200 next to my 360 but I can't afford to because until next year I don't have the available cash to buy one. However I do have regular money to maintain one as well as my Ferrari.

Anyway 3200 or 4200. Well first of all Andrew well done for winning on the lottery. You are only the 3rd person I have any connection with whatsoever to have won anything more than a tenner.
My mother-in-law's (deceased now) next door neighbour's parents won a £1m about 20-23 years ago and a girl I worked with in the late 90's won £25k in a syndicate.

Anyway that done there is a forum in the UK SportsMaserati and you can work out the rest of the domain. I'm not taking anything away from here at all because US forums are a wealth of technical information over many UK forums IMHO but the UK ones will know about UK cars for sale.

I heard stories of manual 3200's having some clutch or gearbox bearing issue. The auto did not and as such was recommended?
The rear lights on a 3200 are worth it alone . 4200 are cam chains as opposed to belts and are naturally aspirated whereas 3200's are turbo.

So many reasons for one over the other depending on the individual but ultimately it comes down to driving them I think.
There are a couple of 4200 Spyders on eBay between £15k and £17k I quite like the look of.

 

I really can't add much to what has been said.

Maserati 3200 GT buying guide.

buying a 3200- what should i look for

Can't find anything on 4200's there

Aldous Voice who is on here too.

https://aldousvoice.com/

Whilst his website is mainly about Ferraris he might be worth contacting as you will see he services/repairs Maserati too

 

daglocks, I'm glad you have the financial means to own a Maserati and that you're giving it serious thought. My first comment may have been harsh but there are people who buy on a whim and are then disappointed with what they've done.

My Spyder GT has been very reliable but maintenance costs are at exotic car levels so be prepared for that. If you can find one, a manual transmission cuts out a (probably the) major service cost. On a manual the clutch can last a long time; I've read of more than 50K miles. On major services, I'd say oil changes are the big one. There are at least 6 screen filters inside the engine so oil cleanliness is very important. Good luck in your search.

 

4200 is FAR more reliable than the previous model.

It's not just the investment. It's what you spend to keep it running.

 

Go for a 4200 GT (stick shift) but do have money set aside for repairs. Repairs are somewhat frequent, even if small, but pricey since they're rare and the parts prices add up.

Make sure to have a PPI done prior to purchasing it.

 

Congrats on the big win!

I would suggest you take a serious look at the GranSport. It is the best sorted 4200 (the pinnacle, you might say) and they are selling for a song these days (at least in the USA).

Make sure you do a PPI and buy a car with a solid service history. You don't want to buy a car with deferred maintenance.

 

The 4200/Grabsport engine is pretty bullet proof. 3200GT is raising up in value quickly these days. I believe all pre-new QP/Ghibli/Levante era Maseratis will go up in value. These are not as mass produced as the Ferrari/Fiat/De-Tomaso/Citroen/Orsi era cars....!! Now as Maserati has decided to make stylish cars with less "hand build feel" like before, both the 4200 and 3200GT will be "hot". I just bought a 4200 because I wanted better quality and more performance than the 3200GT I had ten years ago, which is a car I miss and resulted in a come-back with Maserati!! These cars are both so old now that ypu need a full check on both of them. The 3200 tended to wear out earlier than the 4200 in my opinion. I guess as many as 50% are no longer on the road, even if their styling is super timeless.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I need the prices to not rise too much. I feel a 4200 Spyder end of next summer. Earliest time I'll probably have cash hanging around

 

I believe all pre-new QP/Ghibli/Levante era Maseratis will go up in value. These are not as mass produced as the Ferrari/Fiat/De-Tomaso/Citroen/Orsi era cars....!!

Please explain.

Thanks.

 

Well, all of these have gone up in value the last years. The 3200GT just started a few months ago in Europe! The 4200 is still cheap (even though it is a better car than all its older sisters...). However, it seems that these cars are build is a lot smaller numvbers, and will probably be more sought after as time goes by. The latest era with Chrysler involved, and not very hand made feel anymore, there is a definite change in Maserati feel. Therefor it is likely that these cars will hold their value better.

 

When the 4200 line started it had Ferrari DNA and it competed with the likes of Porsche. They actually had manual transmissions. Maserati's today compete with BMW and are basically "luxury vehicles". They're in a different market segment. Nothing really wrong with that but Maserati's are not the same. Only the name lives on.

They may go up in value if there are buyers who covet them. I'm not sure there are such buyers in today's market.

 

... so, Ferrari's/FCA's "masterplan" actually worked, eventually?! ... I have never understood how "Ferrari DNA" would ever rescue Maserati. Would not that be an oxymoron, if there was one in the auto business ?!

 

In my case. the reason I bought my Spyder was not that I was a great lover of Maserati. I had a Series 4 Alfa Spider that I was happy with. I bought the Maserati because piece by piece it was an outstanding car and was a great bargain. The car buy of a lifetime.

 

Great cars.

Does everything a Vatnage does, with far better looks and equal performance.

True gems.

 

It is true that the 4200 may not yet go up in value in the current market situation. I feel that despite the fact that they have a Ferrari/Maserati engine, they are more "exclusive" than their new sisters (except Quattroporte V which is a fantastic design and has a great feel + that same engine). However, the 3200GT is now definately on its way up. Two-three years ago, we asked ourselves the same question about that model. Now the fact that a 4200 is cheaper to maintain with its cam chain rather than belt, has great sound and performance, will be factors that people who intend to keep their cars for a long time will really apprechiate. They do also chare the same design platform, but unfortunately without those beautiful rear boomerang lights... It means that there will be less cars availible for sale, something that will also help the prices raising up.

About the "rescue" with Ferrari controlled leadership (Maserat was owned by Fiat since 1992 anyway...), in the summer of 1997, Maserati needed new technology, more money and what Ferrari did was to redesign the Quattroporte IV to become the Quattroporte V6/V8 Evoluzione. The following year, the first 3200s came out. That was a completely new car and it was selling well. Then later on in 2002, the 4200 came. So it is safe to say, that the Ferrari DNA, leadership and new investments have saved the marque. Not the 80/90-ies biturbo era image, but the exclusive brand Maserati was given a new birth. But these new volume models..?!?! No, they do no good for Maseratis exclusive, low volume "Aston Martin" kind of brand equity.

 

So the fact that Maserati didn't make very much if any money until they drastically changed direction is to be completely overlooked?

You're looking at it from a historically romantic viewpoint. Companies don't survive on romance alone. They had to change. So did Lamborghini and plenty of us ***** about the very same thing with that marque as well. There was no room for Maserati as a low volume exclusive manufacturer in the marketplace. Lamborghini was on life support for mamn, many years until Audi took over. None of that makes the previous cars unworthy of consideration for collectors but they certainly weren't as well manufactured as today's cars.

Personally, I don't think Maserati is out of the woods just yet.