Maserati Biturbo

[monoblanco]

Like most of you I have love European cars ever since I remember. I must have been 17 when buddy of mine bought a 1986 Maserati Biturbo. I have loved those damn cars ever since.

CNN just featured a story about guy trading in a Biturbo under the cash for clunkers program:

http://jalopnik.com/5337515/maserati-biturbo-gets-cash-for-clunkers-death-sentence

That story sparked my curiosity about what the general feeling was among car enthusiasts regarding this car today. After reading a few threads I learned that the Biturbo is widely regarded as a lemon, in many was justifiably so.

Still I cannot help to love this car. I'm still fascinated by the attention to detail in the interior. The 80s style angular lines. And the way it moved. This was a pretty fast car, even by today standards.

So I just wanted to share my thoughts with you guys, and to dedicate a thread to what I still consider to be a truly gorgeous car. If not to own, maybe to admire for its cheer beauty.

Maybe some of you owned a Biturbo in the past? I'd love to hear your experiences, good or bad.

[red325]

Fuck cash for clunkers. Just my .02

but really, think about it. Our GOVERNMENT gives up to 4500$ away, which is our money, to purchase a car and then turn right around and crush it. They give away our money and then trash a car and leave it to rot in the earth. There is no gain, just loss.

[Erick]

Yes, because if you have a shitbox with a nice badge that no one will give you $3500 for... why take advantage of your only chance to get it?

Oh that's right... because it's worth to have a car NOT worth the money that you're NOT using... to sit, take space and rot further.

If anyone bought one of those, it'd probably be for something similar than what Jeremy Clarkson had in mind. And it's hilarious that I found it under this title on youtube:

[TrentW]

You made me jump!

[dvmotorsports]

There is one in my local junkyard. That is the extent of my experience.

[Kovs]

Pretty please, let's not turn this into another cash for clunkers thread.

I ALMOST went down the Biturbo road many, many years ago when I wanted something faster than my E28 535i. Thank God, I found a nice E28 M5 instead... anyway, I can appreciate your fascination since these cars were born on a shoestring budget and still managed to perform rather decently when they were running. The interior borders on gaudy, the electrics are more cursed than any Lucas era Jag, Austin, Triumph, etc., and the non-intercooled motors were hand grenades. Yet, I still find the combination of its size, performance, and looks appealing, maybe because it is E30-esque.

I would definitely own a later 430 which was significantly improved over the original Biturbo. Nice ones like this one can be found for less than $7K.... if you can find one. In fact, this one looks like a bargain at $2850:

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/find/vehicle/vehicleDetail.xhtml?adId=160481&conversationId=139797

[bimmerboy08]

one of these was sitting out front of a local mechanic's shop rotting away, but i noticed it was gone the other day. Also somebody on bimmerfest put biturbo wheels on his e30 and it looked pretty good. That is the extent of my experience.

[delatlanta1281]

Saw one the other day, the hood was cut open for at airfilter for some reason... it looked like ass.

[rloewy]

I have seen a ton of them. Never moving under their own power, however.

[2002maniac]

a biturbo is on my list. when I get one, first thing I do will be to gut out the terrible motor and electrical system. Replace with a universal harness and Ls1

[ACMF74]

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658533_1658531,00.html

[Dave]

A guy in my neighborhood has a biturbo under a car cover in his driveway. It has not moved in at least 13 years. Has gold BBS RS wheels on it.

[Hatchman]

I'd buy one just for the interior, so classy.

Other than that its pretty ugly.

[Il Duce]

Maserati is such a fail.

[Lance Racing]

I'm old enough to remember when these came out new. Smart people knew these would be nothing but trouble. And they were right.