New subforums in Maserati section...

thank you rob, after 2 months of trying i am on at this computer. HOME RUN!! dividing maserati into sub sections, maybe good. not all have all models old/new. lets try this

 

PLEASE divide into modern and vintage maserati...

 

I guess in my mind, I would use the 1989-1990 Maserati 228 and 430 models as cut-off point for vintage. Modern would start with the 2002 Coupe's and Spyders. Although some of our friends in Europe might like to see the 3200GT in the Modern as well.

Just my .02 worth....

Mike

 

BIG MISTAKE! Self interest should not be considered over the interest of an already fractured community.

 

old men, old cars. young bucks new cars'

 

Pre Fiat/Ferrari as the classics and post Fiat Ferrari as the Modern. Or Bi Turbos and older as classic and 2002 Spyders and newer as the modern. Exclude the Chrysler Labaron's LOL.

 

Rob:

This is a big decision that could have serious adverse effects: I repost here what I had posted in another recent thread "questions to the moderator"

I think we are all in agrement that the Maserati section needs to grow and grow properly, however as you say you learn to walk before you run so we don't want to spread ourselves too thin. Also I feel the main eras should be divided as such:

1926-81 includes 3500GT to Khamsin included.

1982-1997 includes all Biturbos (i.e. the de Tomaso era).

1998 to today includes 3200GT to Granturismo S and future models.

If 3 is too much then perhaps cut after 1981: classic 1957-to 1981 modern 1981 to today and future models may seem long ago for the start of a modern section but there are almlst never any Biturbo posts here anyway (no disrespect meant).

Within each of these threads would be started for each model AS REQUIRED: general discussion (as in the Khamsin thread) and then a hardcore tech thread for each model, that way they could be used as reference.

Too many threads also spreads the marmalade too thin...

This, slightly edited, is what I wrote some weeks ago in that thread. Today January 4 I will add that Alex, (Fenivision) and Walter seemed to like the idea as well in that other thread.

I am not one to ever get into knowledge competitions and other such ego issues but I do believe that this needs to be done right because the future of this Maserati section, which appears to be the most active anywhere, depends on how this is done and having finished two very deeply researched books this past 18 months and restarting now on my "Maserati the Citroen years 1968-1975, promise interrupted" book which I had started when the other two book contracts came my way, I have known that era since my father came home with Masers when I was 10 years old 35 years ago: I strongly and respectfully insist that the three eras I earmark above is the correct way of doing it and if Walter who just finished a superb book on the 300S also agrees with this idea then this idea has weight: the last of the proper GT cars was the Khamsin which ended in 81 (to be thorough 3 final cars were made in 82) and the Biturbo, a totally different type of car of which they made 37000, which is a huge number for Maserati began in 82 and in their many different guises and offspring continued till 98, when Fiat took control and the factory was closed for 6 months for a 300 M $ rebuild: the actual buildings of the old factory were not touched due to their historical classification otherwise they would have gone too so it is truly a complete rebuild of the factory so that clearly is as clear a change of era as possible.

After further throught I think, since we have seen there is very little Biturbo activity as there are few of those Biturbos running, due to the poor build quality in the early years of de Tomaso ownership, that perhaps the right way to do it to avoid too much dispersion, which as Joe (Italiancars) rightly states, is a risk, that there should be two forums: A-1926 to 1998 but with a sub forum for 1982 to 1998 era cars i.e. all Biturbos and also the Barchetta made in the early 1990's and (sic) those Chrysler TC by Maserati things.
B-1998 to today and future models.

Also within those forums there should be guidelines about what name to give a new discussion: some people particularly in the Ferrari and Lambo sections start new discussions with the silliest titles and it should be obvious that a title should be well thought out.

When someone has a technical question then they should go to the technical discussion for their model and if the needed discussion does not exist then they should start a GENERAL technical discussion on the model such as Indy technical questions or Kyalami technical questions: that way it will serve as reference. when someone calls a discussion "How do I fit this bolt" it is completely disorganized unproductive and annoying.

Anyway these are my humble thoughts, enough for now!

best regards,

Marc

 

Good idea, why not a forum for the Quattroporte III, terrific engine, terrific ZF box, technically very interesting, just look at the rear suspension, and very affordable.

 

Rob, that call is yours. But here is what will happen if you do split the forum, the Vintage section will be very active as the only other place for people interested in these cars is yahoo GT forum. That forum is what has caused the increased use of the Ferrarichat Maserati section.

Any Biturbo section on the forum will have even less postings than there are now, which is very few. Those owners will go over to the BiturboZentrum forum which is very active.

The modern era posting will drop off as people interested in those cars will move over to ************.com. Maserati Life is a very active forum for the modern era cars that also has Vintage and Biturbo sections that are not active.

Look at the number of postings since the Lamborghini forum on this board has split. Modern era cars 2,500. Vintage cars 500. Why the difference? Could it be because the Vintage owners have the VLG (Vintage Lamborghini Garage) yahoo forum which is a very good, and active. While the modern era owners are left to choose from Lambo Power which is a free for all flamefest or Lamborghini Talk which for some reason doesn't have the activity it should.

Rob, you have to look at the numbers from your side and judge if it will result in decreased activity on the forum.

If I were to vote in my own self interest, split the forum into 4 - Historic (pre 3500 and race cars), GT cars, Biturbo era and Modern era. From there split it into individual models. That way I can go right to the GT and Historic sections only. Then since I have no interest in a Merak, Kyalami, Indy etc. I can by pass them as well and go right to the models I'm interested in.

But this forum is not for my self interest. This is the only forum where all Maserati owners are together as Maserati owners. It is a community that has been fractured for 15 years, it is a community that needs to come together as owners.

If it does split, by splitting the forum into a discussion section and a technical section as some have suggested is the way to go.

Joe

 

"It is a community that has been fractured for 15 years"

In one country only Joe, don't forget this is an international forum with many posting from Europe, Australia and eleswhere and there has been no such problem in Europe just certain clubs that are a bit asleep.

best regards,

Marc

 

Marc,
I am not talking about the club situation in the US. For many years there has been split between the Biturbo owners and the GT owners. Add to that for the last 5 years the modern era owners are split into another group. Those factures are world wide not only in the US.

Joe

 

I see, yes those splits....well GT enthusiasts will never be made to like Biturbos, owners of Biturbos fell snubbed and are probably right, I am certainly guilty of not having any interest in Biturbos, then yes many new owners know nothing of Maserati history. The first way, the first step to bridge that gap is to get classic pre 82 Masers into dealerships for display so the new car clientele can see them as you do with your Ghibli IIRC: well done! Cocktails, one per dealership, involving some familiarisation with Maserati's former road cars will eventually generate some purchases of classics by new Maser owners. I discussed this with the Brit who was head of Ferrari Maserati North America back in 2002 when Maserati came back and he visited the launch of Shelton Maserati: he said yes that is something we would like to encourage eventually...he was speaking to please me but saw that there was merit to the idea. The problem is that you will get dealerships to display a classic GT but you will never get a new Maserati dealership to display a Biturbo: their reputation of unrelaibility, down market cost which has landed them sometimes in good heands, often in very bad hands makes them backstage cars and this is not going to change.

I have other ideas but right now need to keep them for myself.

best regards,

Marc

 

You guys are too focused on division. I think you're both wrong except that yes, here in the USA Biturbos do have a much lesser reputation than they do in the rest of the world.
There are plenty of owners that have both pre 1982 cars and Biturbo era cars and like both. I am one of them. NO dealers in the USA don't want to hear about Biturbos and frankly most don't give a sh*t about Boras, Khamsins, Meraks either. They might put some nice looking ones on display but that's about it. Just forget about it, enjoy the cars and let the snobs go f*ck themselves as probably no one else wants to anyway!

The original request was to have tech section. I hope THAT at least happens. It's a good starting point ...

We could start with just Maserati General, Classic & GT cars, Biturbo Era Cars, Modern Cars and Technical.

Sharing technical information across the marque is good enough. The 99% of Ferrari guys on here manage to survive with this and cross flow of information is always preferable.

In fact, if you're looking for the broadest potential of answers I'd ask in the Ferrari Technical section if it's a more general type of question. The moderator can always move it if he sees fit.

Bob S.

 

Marc, chill out. I think you're getting way too detailed. The existing Ferrari structure seems to work although I find having a seperate section for each model a bit over the top but then they have the traffic volume. We do not. BTW, the 3200GT is a biturbo era car and most of the technical stuff (engine/transmission/differential) on it has very little to do with the 4200 coupe.
Technical discussions and pictures on this forum are great. Accessing technical details compiled by long time owners/service people sucks. It has no database capability.

 

Yes my answer was a bit long winded maybe my radiator was steaming but hey I care!

Yes the 3200GT had an improved engine based on Biturbo but you have to cut somewhere to idstinguish eras and it was MUCH improved.

Mike "Bumper-yanovich" aka Mexico 074 has a Biturbo too, the only one I ever drove!

best regards,

Marc

 

I don't care much where the dividing line between eras goes. I just think having two sections would make it easier to keep track of modern technical threads and threads about Meraks or 3500 Vignales. I am interested in both.

 

Almost the reverse is happening at "Maserati-Life"
http://www.************.com/forums/

Seems most of the activity is for the Modern cars. 4687 threads, compared to the Vintage threads at 103 and Biturbo thread at 84.

I think a lot of the Vintage Maserati folks live on Yahoo-Group's "Maserati or Maserati GT Cars" forums.

Mike

 

I'd like to see 2 forums:

pre 1998.

1998 and beyond.

 

Where would this hot rod fit in?
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Not helpful Tillman.