Topic: Does anyone know anything about Maserati?

[Daves_76_SS]

I am looking at an '87 Biturbo, and I can't find anything on them.  I have wanted one since I was in high school, and am now at a point where I want to get one!  But, I would really like to get some info on them before I buy one.
Thanks in advance for any info!

[Rocking-M]

I am like you and like the look.

But, after reading a lot of discussions on them I'd say "Run away"

However if you would like a better discussion than that and some first hand
experiences go to,

http://forum.mirafiori.com/mirafiorum/

if you don't want to register I could post a question in the BS section
and you can read the answers. Let me know and I'll be glad to post for you.

[Daves_76_SS]

What have you heard?  This is exactly why I posted this, because I wanted the good, the bad, and the ugly!  Have you had one, or now someone who does?  If you wouldn't mind I would like to hear all of your comments on it!

[Rocking-M]

No but I have a Fiat and a Lancia and considered a Biturbo when one came up cheap
recently.

Many of the folks on the Mira list have had them and talked me out of the foolish notion.
I don't remember there specifics but having dealt with Italian cars and loving them myself it was
still enough to scare me off. And I do all my own mechanic work too.
Top Gear also mentioned the reliability issues of the Biturbo. 

[Daves_76_SS]

From what I understand, Maserati was in financial trouble in the 80's, and the Biturbo was the car that saved them.  However becuase of thier "financial difficulties" the build quality was crap.  Can the same be said for the drivetrain?  As bad as I want one, I will steer clear if they are that bad!  By the way, the one in the picture is the one for sale.  1987.  24,000 miles - $8770.

[heffay]

my dad had a biturbo spider a few years ago... looked just like that only the top was blue (my least favorite part about the one he had)
no trouble w/ the car while he had it.
many gurus call it the poor man's maserati but, that is simply based on price.  it really is the easiest on the wallet of all the maseratis.

now, what i thought of it...
it was probably the quickest car i've been in that i can think of right now.  i had a 90 taurus SHO that was FAST.  the maserati would blow the doors off the SHO once the turbos kicked in.  it's so small and light that most every car you meet on the road will not keep up w/ it... not even close.
did you know the dash is deerskin suede?
the ride of the car is... well... maserati-like... you definitely know your in a maserati.  steers and handles like it may as well be on rails and the feedback from the car is not diluted and remains subtle at the same time.
the only reason he sold it is because that's what he does... he buys and sells vehicles like it was going out of style.

if you pm me i will give you my dad's email if you want to ask him some questions... he would know a lot more than i do.

[Daves_76_SS]

Thanks!  PM Sent!!!!!!!!

[Rocking-M]

Hey Dave, here is a good review for the Biturbo,

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_17688.html

I wouldn't be to fond of turbo through a carb though.

[Rocking-M]

And this,

First,

Good luck. Hope you like all the typical Italian problems compounded by a French
drive train, French hydraulics and even some various British bits.

It's still way beyond me why anyone would design an engine with the timing chain
in the middle of the motor! Oh yeah... they're French!

Reply to first,

no need to badmouth the French

The V-6 is a Maserati built. The timing chaing in the middle was done to make
the engine as short as possible. Citroen did use this italian engine in the
SM. I briefly owned one. There are lots of cars out there with 30k miles and
rebuilt engines. Kind of makes you wonder. They sure look fancy with triple
DCNF's up top, and quad cams., and make decent power. As far as hydrolics go,
you either dig it, or not. I do

Reply to the reply

Maserati..... ah so seductive.  A hand grenade surrounded by sexy Italian
coachwork.  The pin is controlled by the ignition key.

and the final salvo in this exchange,

The V6 in the Merak is just a Bora V8 with two cylinders chopped off, which is
why it is a 90 degree vee instead of the 60 degrees which is preferred for true
V6s.  I can't remeber if the Merak has some or all of the Bora's hydraulic
controls, maybe jsut the brakes, but not the steering and moving seat..  I don't
think it would be much tougher to own than a V8 Ferrari, they are supposed to be
much more refined feeling and civilized versus the F cars.  You will have fewer
parts vendors to chose from and less readily avaialvble info.  Check out
www.maseratilife.com           , reformed Maserati owner  : )

[heffay]

just got off the phone w/ dad and here are some preliminary questions answered...

his was an 86
they tend to run extremely hot especially in town.  he had a manual fan switch to run the fan whenever he wanted.  in town driving the fan was on at all times pretty much.
in 86 they were only automatics and he said he would never buy the auto again but, in 87 or 88 they added the manual tranny.
he said his leaked oil like a sieve but, not sure if the oil leak was model oriented or driver oriented.
also, wheel size changed in 87 or 88 as well.  he never found correct tire size for his 86... he had to go w/ a 60 series instead of a 50.
he remembers it being a real dog up to about 20mph then THE TURBOS KICK IN
it never broke down on him... although, he drove it sparingly.

granted, he'll probably go into this when you email him but, i thought it would be good to post as well.
so dave... give my dad dave a type and see what he says.

[petercb750]

Does anyone know anything about Maserati? - yes, enough to stay away from them!
Oil leaks, over heating, and serious tin worm (well, the early models anyway).  And BIG bucks to repair.
Nice if you had a new one back in their day - for a while.......

[736cc]

I've work in various automotive shops for many years. Top of the list for POS includes Land/Range Rover and any Italian car.

[Rocking-M]

Hey 736, thems fightin words. Italian cars are not POS's. Just takes some brains to work on them.

[736cc]

Actually, most of those mechanics in those shops I've been to ain't got any brains otherwise they'd own their own shops. Note I didn't say they are POS (I can't work on the new cars anyway except maybe a lightbulb); the mechanics I work w/ always say that about certain cars (especially Range Rovers). Italians make the most beautiful cars and motorcycles, but hi-strung and labor intensive. Things constantly go wrong.

[Rocking-M]

Yea, I hear that all the time about Italian cars,
but having had them off and on for the last 30 years I'd say there
as good and dependable as anything else.
The son just bought a 99 Corvette with 70k on it,
he's had it a month,
it's been to the shop twice with warranty work.
GM dependability for you, and I'm a GM man (trucks anyway).

Anyway the thing about Italian cars is the mechanic must learn to think
Italian when working on them. It also helps to know a few Italian curse words
I use Spaghetti, Pasta, momma mee ah, etc....

[736cc]

Spaghetti wiring, for sure! I saw a Lambo dash apart once, it had a gazillion different colored wires. And a Toppolino has ALUMINUM wiring! Mama Mia!!

[Daves_76_SS]

Well, I've been talked out of the Maserati by many people and have decided to buy a jaguar instead.  I'm going to look at this one in about an hour!  I'll let everyone know how it goes!

[Rocking-M]

Nice looking Jag!

[heffay]

don't know jack about jags except that sometimes they have very large hoods.
some people say that means they also have large... um... engines   

nice looking... color's boring though

[chung]

Gotta love Italian Quality. It's either Gold Or #$%*e. A good example is FIAT (fix it again Tony)
If the car was priced right and I had the money to re engineer it so that it actually worked "most of the time" I would get it.

But alas, I'll keep buying lottery tickets and hold out for a Ferrari