My New Project.......Actually Two
 

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Project #1 is my long prolonged 3rd car garage addition, 10.5'x28'. I'm contracting out the concrete and doing the framing and finishing myself. It's desperately needed, next order of business is to convince my wife on the virtues of a lift so I can bring the Mustang out of storage. Project #2 is distinctly more Italian......

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Sorry for the crappy truckstop camera phone pic in central MO. It's a 2003 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa with 45k. It needs some misc TLC but is very mechanically solid, the always concerning F1 clutch still has 55% on it. The flappy paddle gearbox takes some getting used to, I still prefer a manual. It's a lot of fun and seriously freaking fast. The interior is beautiful, everything is covered in leather and the fit and finish is really good. It's not a keeper, but I'm going to have fun with it while it's in my garage.:D

Is the Mazda gone?

Oh and more pics!!!! Those are sweet....

Nope, the Mazda isn't going anywhere. It's proven to be the practical daily driver that I hoped it would, the rear suicide doors and back seats are perfect for my kids. Surprisingly my wife also enjoys driving it, that one I didn't see coming as she's a truck gal.

I'll post more pictures of the CC once I get it good and cleaned, right now it's in desperate need of a detail.

Very cool, Matt. Interior pics?

I'll try to get a few today Paul. It needs a good detail, but the wife informs me that I need to bury a drainage line for our guttering. Yay!

The inside is REALLY nicely styled, and the materials used are simply beautiful. Even compared to my late 996 that had the updated interior, it's far nicer than any Porsche that I've owned.

Very nice! Good projects!

Nice! Wonder what your neighbors think you do for a living? ;)

I might be interested in the final product when you are ready, and am just up the road in KC. Can you tell us some background about where you got it, previous history, what it needs, what you plan to do to it, and rough ballpark on value? I see a few Quattroportes around here, and they are sweet!

JA

Well from what I can tell, if the revolving door of 996s, Rovers, Mercs, Masers, insert future cars here doesn't bother her,
I'm going to go out on a limb and say you should have nothing to worry about. ;)

Can't wait to see that Verde Goodwood shine, but I really want to hear some youtube clips! :cool:

What do your neighbors think you do?

Love the Maser.

Never drive it in auto mode, always drive it in manual sport mode, never back slowly up a hill, drive it hard, shift it hard, stay out of stop-and-go traffic, and let off the throttle between shifts. And have your local Maser/Ferrari service guy reflash the TCM with more a aggressive shift algorythym.

Otherwise they will eat clutches every 2500-5000 miles.

I'm not telling you, Matt, you already know....just for those interested in an older F1-trans Italian.

JA, I'll send you a PM with more info.

Hell, I don't know. Sell drugs maybe?:cool:

Amen. There's a knack to driving one of these in manual mode, it's much like learning how to drive stick. When you get it right it's a lot of fun and can be smooth, even in sport mode. For those that do the above there are many reports of 50k on original clutches. When it comes time for replacement, there are several upgrade options that further increase life. In Europe where people actually drive these things daily, there's quite a few with over 100k without any major work.

A couple of other thoughts:

My previous best sounding car was a 1999 996 C2 with an Evolution MS intake and Cargraphic exhaust. This thing absolutely blows it out of the water. Fantastic doesn't even begin to describe the exhaust note, it's equal parts muscle car and Ferrari. I'm big on sound, that single factor makes this car worthwhile.

It's not fragile or cheap feeling. No kidding, it just feels like a real car. I expected shoddy workmanship and bits falling off, but it is definitely not the case. I could drive this thing without worry every day.

The back seats are actually usable, way bigger than a 911. With my wife in the passenger seat you could easily fit an adult in back. Behind me would be workable for adults for a short trip, but excellent for kids.

Looks like the McDonalds in Concordia, MO.

Nice looking car.

The comment was directed at Motion. With what vehicles he owns/has owned, the question fits the questioner.

Matt,

I am really interested in your opinion on this car: Your others adventures in autos have all been great but this one has a bit of intrigue, it's outside the norm.

Blue exterior? What color interior? Engine, the rest...

Paul, it's actually Verde Good Wood, a fancy way to say metallic forest green. Inside is tan, I'm not sure which fancy Italian word they use to describe it.:)

Otherwise it's the standard dress for a 2003 4200 Coupe Cambiocorsa - 390 HP 4.2L V8 that shares most parts with the 360 Modena, same F1 automated gearbox as the 360. I'm not sure what was optional vs standard on these but it has xenons, leather quilted headliner, trident embossed seats, electronically adjustable dampers, heated memory seats, power folding mirrors, nav, 6 CD changer, etc. It's pretty loaded and everything is covered in leather.

Very cool "project" car!!

Final thoughts on the Maserati - I really didn't like it. The engine is simply fantastic, it makes incredible noises, is incredibly flexible, and makes epic power. The Cambiocorsa gearbox sucks. Hard. It's clunky around town, much like someone learning to drive stick for the first time. Auto mode helps smooth things out, but it still is a very poor imitation of a true automatic and wears out the clutch very quickly. The only time it makes sense is when you hammer on it, which is almost never. The steering is well weighted but vague, the ride is floaty in normal mode and stiff in sport mode, though sport mode still doesn't provide what I would consider to be good handling. Excellent brakes. Inside and out it is freaking gorgeous, everything on the interior is covered in leather and beautifully finished, the outside is far more attractive than photographs lead you to believe. The subtle curves are hard to capture in pictures.

It sold yesterday, and I'm glad it's gone. Just for a bit of perspective, I preferred to drive the RX8 over the Maserati. Ultimately it was a rather confused car, a race engine and gearbox mated to a soggy luxury coupe. With a true automatic it would have been a good GT car, like a Mercedes SL. With decent suspension and steering it would make a nice budget Ferrari. For anyone interested, I would buy the GT model with a 6-speed manual, then invest in lowering springs and sway bars. That should yield a luxury sport coupe that is easy to live with, but likes to dance.