Current Alfa and would-be Maserati owner

[Contigo]

The discs can be machined if you know how, I don't mean skimmed, check Mike Roberts website for prices and info.

 

[macaroni]

Anyone had to fix a broken seat folding lever? It felt like something had come off inside and it was just flopping about.

 

[Contigo]

Sounds like fun. I'm sure the workshop manual and Eurospares diagrams will give us something to go on.

 

[macaroni]

Thanks. I read talk of a link to the 3200 workshop manual, can you please point me in the direction of it?

I have some abilities with a spanner and would like to know, in advance, which jobs I think I am capable of attempting.

Antony

 

[macaroni]

Update 2 - the 4200 I planned to drive this weekend was sold, bummer, so I went to see an old Vreg 3200 manual, green with biege interior.
It was a tired old thing, with sticky switches, a full ashtray, rusty springs and warm aircon. 4 odd tyres, and the strangest stereo I've ever seen.

It went well enough, everything electrical worked, and the brakes and clutch seemed fine. Apart from the clutch biting point was very high. as was the one I drove in the week.

Is this common?

The service history, which stopped in 2007, threw up a service costing £10,854!! No decimal point intended.

It did feel good on the road however, but at £9995, it was over-priced.

The search continues...

 

[highlander]

Update 2 - the 4200 I planned to drive this weekend was sold, bummer, so I went to see an old Vreg 3200 manual, green with biege interior.
It was a tired old thing, with sticky switches, a full ashtray, rusty springs and warm aircon. 4 odd tyres, and the strangest stereo I've ever seen.

It went well enough, everything electrical worked, and the brakes and clutch seemed fine. Apart from the clutch biting point was very high. as was the one I drove in the week.

Is this common?

The service history, which stopped in 2007, threw up a service costing £10,854!! No decimal point intended.

It did feel good on the road however, but at £9995, it was over-priced.

The search continues...

the 3200s are old cars and if not kept up to date with services they will deteriorate............which will mean expensive to get back to spec...........even getting 4 good matching tyres could set you back near a grand. I have an auto so not sure on the clutch but for me, a high riding clutch usually indicates ready to go, but I'm sure a manual owner will be along to correct me if I'm wrong. 7 years since recorded as serviced is not good but it may have been taken care of by someone with a manual (though the odd tyres indicate possible corner cutting and or neglect to me, deffo would not drive it at speed!)...........only way to be sure is an inspection to show up cost to get right but I get the feeling this was not a true shopping expedition?
if I was in your position (and I was earlier in the year) I'd beg a shot of a sorted one of each of the 3200 and 4200 then you can make your mind up based on what you should be looking for out there..........trying to decide after trying out a potentially "tired" example is not going help you make your mind up if you should jump one way or tuther.
re your earlier post, there is a manual kicking about and I was sent a link but my mac will not unzip it so can't help you there, sorry.

edit: have you looked at the sorted one on dicky grace's site? looks the biz to me

 

[Contigo]

Avoid a car like that for £10k. Look at Dicky Grace car which is an auto but still well worth a look.

 

[daverichardson]

Hi Macaroni
I bought a 2007 QP automatic in Feb this year as a second car. £20,000 ish
It is fabulous, go for it
It is a big car a proper 4 seater with lots of ooommmppphhh
It is long and wide
I am doing an excel spread sheet on running costs but so far it is very reasonable until the service next year
eg
Insurance £120
new front tyre (not needed yet) £150.00
The computer tells me I get 23.1mpg but I doubt this
I f I can help just ask
d

 

[macaroni]

Thanks guys, got 2 more to view tomorrow.

Re: insurance. Why are these cars so cheap? A 3200 is half the price of Alfa to insure!

 

[highlander]

Thanks guys, got 2 more to view tomorrow.

Re: insurance. Why are these cars so cheap? A 3200 is half the price of Alfa to insure!

no idea and not going to complain either!

 

[macaroni]

Uodate 3 - lovely late model auto. Really nice car to drive with Skyhook.
Impressed with the auto box and suits the car, so a manual isn't a necessity.
Strong contender...

 

[macaroni]

Update 4 - a stunning 2000 manual. Absolutely perfect in every way and owned by an impressively fastidious owner with a an even more impressive car collection.

Another strong contender, but a tricky one as I will be using mine as a semi-daily driver, doing at least 100 miles a week. This car hasn't covered 1000 miles in the last 4 years.
I would be far too fearful of damaging it.

 

[macaroni]

Didn't get a chance to drive a 4200 and to be honest, I'm not feeling it for them. A 3200 it must be.

So, the choice is between the 2002 auto with Skyhook or the 2000 stunner, for quite a bit more money it has to be said.

I've spoken to the most recently used garages for both and am happy with what I am being told. Both have full and comprehensive service histories and want for nothing.
Having said that, both had really cheap tyres on!

Or just keep my Alfa 156 gta, which managed an impressive 30.8 mpg will averaging over 70 mph on a 425 round trip.

Any advice gratefully received!

Antony

 

[Contigo]

Go with the heart. The low miler one which has had little use could be hiding some pretty heavy bills if it suddenly going to become a daily driver. I like Manual but the late 2002 cars were a better proposition as had improved ASR and quicker steering and were just of a better build quality.

 

[highlander]

some thoughts.
I have the GTA after never owning any auto before...........have never looked back, love it's intuitive gear changes on the open road, especially when I kick down a gear and floor it!
have had the car a little over 3 months and done 3000 miles...........100 a week is child's play to a sorted car.
the cars you are referring to sound like as good an examples as you will get so do not get hung up on tyres - if the cars are good. tyres are easily replaced and relatively cheaply compared to another 3200 with "good" tyres but needing major gearbox or engine work.
really?........... if higher mpg is important to you then no maser is going to suit you

 

[Trev Latter]

I have to agree with Phil on this. The later cars are reputed to be better sorted, but that will always be the case with any make/model. My personal preference is for a manual on a 3200, but I can see how an auto would be better for a daily drive, especially if a fair bit of stop/start traffic is likely.

If the service history on both cars is complete and backed up by invoices I can't see there being too much to worry about, but a low miler suddenly being put to work might have a few bills around the corner. It's not a problem if it's budgeted for. 1000 miles in four years is very low. Cars are always best used and serviced rather than parked and admired. If it was my money, in your position I would probably go for the newer, higher miles auto for a daily drive and the manual for weekends and fun. I would probably try to find one that had a bit more regular use though.

Tough choice...Good luck with it.

 

[macaroni]

Thanks guys, I agree with you all.

No Highlander, mpg is not my main concern, but I will miss that economy. Then again, I thought I would miss the 50+mpg I got from my 20v JTD 156 and I don't.

The auto box did seem to work very well, especially in Sport mode.

I think I'll go for that one...

 

[highlander]

Thanks guys, I agree with you all.

No Highlander, mpg is not my main concern, but I will miss that economy. Then again, I thought I would miss the 50+mpg I got from my 20v JTD 156 and I don't.

The auto box did seem to work very well, especially in Sport mode.

I think I'll go for that one...

or do what I did and keep the alfa for work stuff (and mpg ) and the maser for weekend fun!

 

[macaroni]

Well, I also have a 205 gti, with a gti6 engine, which I use also as a semi daily driver and trackdays, which I will never sell, so much as I would love to keep the Alfa, which has been brilliant, I can't...

 

[Contigo]

Check everything over twice, all buttons and switches. Air con make sure super cold, check all LED's in rear boomerangs, check ball joints and rose joint in rear suspension track control link. Check TB for signs of rework (end caps will be different and usually have a marking on them), check for starting hesitation (should fire quickly), check the car after getting up to temp that the cooling fans kick in and click off after a short period. Check the key fobs buttons all work to remote lock and unlock the car. Check for red key (3 keys in total), check for radio card and maserati key card. Check rear arches for rust they do go. Check throttle pot for rework and grey and white wires being soldered together potentially meaning the throttle pot is warn and on its way out (mine is I should know!).

Check that the ASR kicks in (I kid you not) it should come on under hard acceleration when pulling out of a junction, you will see the ASR light flickering on the DIS.