Maserati BiTurbo

[Jims5543]

I almost bought one of these about 12 years ago. I still wish I had not passed it up, it came with running spare car that had been wrecked. I know they do not have the best reputation, well, the engine is supposed to be amazing, its the rest of the car that the problem.

Anyone else lust after these?

[kaisen]

They're still dirt cheap. I'm sure you can waste the exact same amount of money today as it was back then. Engines have lots of troubles too. If ever a car perpetuated the myth of "Italian cars are money pits"....

[notfarnow]

http://mars.superlink.net/%7Erriegler/sml/

I like them too, and they're supposed to be bags of fun once they're sorted out. Hard to find a really good one though; few people are willing to put $$ into a car that won't be worth much when it's done.

I'd also struggle to spend money on a car that isn't particularly attractive. If I was going to have an oddball, high-maintenance, Maserati-engined coupe I'd probably get a Citroen SM.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by notfarnow
http://mars.superlink.net/%7Erriegler/sml/

I like these quotes found at above link:

"Every car is a parts car"

"Since the term automobile implies self-propulsion, I cannot refer to the Biturbo as such - rather it is a clock, garishly surrounded by pigskin. If you really like to waste money, go for the spyder (at four times coupe price) and you won't even be assured of keeping your clock dry."

[the]

you must like cadillac cimmarons, too.

[Nostril Cheese]

Avoid them like herpes.

truly awful cars.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by the
you must like cadillac cimmarons, too.

No, but I also like the Conquest TSI's as well, I love 80's Turbo sports cars.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
Avoid them like herpes.

truly awful cars.

This is kind of why I walked away the 1st time 12 years ago. But I still like tham a lot. If I did not have my RX7 I would probably have a Starquest of some sort.

[kaisen]

I owned two different Conquest TSi's back in the day (88-90) and I really enjoyed them! Lotsa great features, decent performance, rear-drive and lots of potential. The styling has aged fairly well, except the futuristic center stack (buttons, buttons, buttons). I would buy one again in a heartbeat.

Just a warning: the front fascia/spoiler is very expensive and good luck finding one that isn't cracked. They're pretty low.

[MRM]

Is that related to the Chrysler Maserati of the mid 1980s that almost killed the brand?

[Joeaksa]

Friend of mine owns two of them. Like yours, one is a parts car. They rust easily and the electrics are terrible, otherwise a nice car.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by MRM
Is that related to the Chrysler Maserati of the mid 1980s that almost killed the brand?

Completely different. The TC was a front-drive LeBaron-looking convert. Only had a Maserati engineered motor (joke) when equipped with a 5 speed.

[dd74]

Originally posted by the
you must like cadillac cimmarons, too.

I had one of those. An embarrassingly bad car. The upside is the car was given to me.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by dd74
The upside is the [cimmaron] was given to me.

And you still paid more than it was worth...

[bell]

this is my favorite turbo 80's car

i sold this one years ago when it started to rot out....

[Jims5543]

Dodge Omni GLH Turbo! Yes, another favorite due to its sleeper status, a buddy of mine had one and it suprised many cars.

[nostatic]

looks like a bad impersonation of an Audi Quattro

[Noah930]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro

Anyone else lust after these?

No. Kinda ugly, IMO. I recall reading years ago in some car mag (C&D?) that an editor nominated this as the car you'd most want to give to the ex- in a divorce. Makes you look like a classy guy, but the car's reliability (or lack thereof) constitutes sweet revenge.

[JSDSKI]

I used one of these as a daily driver for a couple of years - got it real cheap. It was a weird metallic brown (taupe) and I left it dirty and kind of grungy. It was a perfect sleeper in traffic and a blast on boost. Looked like a Nissan and freaked new cars out stoplight to stoplight...

The weakness was the toothed belt timing chains, cylinder sleeve seals, and the usual Italian car industry plastic switches and parts that appears on everything from Lambo's to Vespa's to restaurant equipment.

I can't recommend it - too finicky and too weak in engineering design.

[dd74]

Originally posted by kaisen
And you still paid more than it was worth...

You got that right, brother.

The Cimarron was the only car I've owned where when I stepped on the accelerator, the car actually second-guessed me. Left hand turns very nearly required a Day Planner.