Where next from my Alfa GTV??? Feel free to chip in!

[2plus2]

Hey All,

I'm really interested in your views. My head's in a mess and I've spun myself incirlces thinking about the next car. I had my lovely GTV for 3 years as a fun car for me instead of the family's main steed of a Citroen C8 for Wife, kids dog and kit (really happy with it as a load lugger)! I also have a Moto Guzzi V11 sport that I love.

I'm ready to change the Alfa for a couple of reasons a) she's still OK to sell on b) I fancy a change c) for the first time ever my business is doing OK so I can afford something else! I only do about 3k a year in the Alfa as long trip are either in the Citroen or I travel on train/ plane a lot for work,

I still want a coupe. I still want something that looks and drives good. I need to be able to take my kids in it occasionally (the Alfa is getting a bit tight for my 1 and 7 years olds. Not a BMW.

I've looked at all sorts of options from

1. Brand new through my company as a lease (e.g. C Class Coupe, A5)
2. Something second hand and newish (e.g. Alfa GT, Brera, MB Clk) £6-8k price range
3. Something a bit older but mid-life crisis like nonsense car (e.g. Maserati 3200/4200 GT, 911) £12k ish price range

I appreciate the financial elements of this might appear odd but I've got my reasons and a strange accountant! Sadly two seaters and convertibles are not on the table.

If truth me told I really fancy a Maserati, they have got plenty of room for passengers and are Italian and a bit daft!
But never owned anything so exotic or potentially expensive to run.

I may have totally missed something though?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers

Pete

[Skylinecrazy]

Audi RS4?
BMW M5?

[Blayney]

Skylinecrazy said:

Audi RS4?
BMW M5?

No BMW.

Monaro?
Jag XK8?

[s4s1995]

When moving from this



to this



Needed to be something special my other choice was a 3200GT

I have four kiddies so have to spend a bit of time in this

Edited by s4s1995 on Monday 14th January 21:20

[SWH]

Clearly you need to keep it and buy something else as well, sure we can come up with a list of logical excuses

Failing that, the Maserati would be suitably special I think.

[carinaman]

Porsche 928? R34 Skyline?

[carinaman]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[_Neal_]

Of your list I'd probably go for the 4200GT. More special than a 911 at that price point in my view.

As an aside, at the very budget end a Fiat Coupe 20vt is like a more practical version of the GTV - room for 2 kids in the back.

[irocfan]

carinaman said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

is it just me or do the bonnet lines look a little off? But 12k for an AM - put a smile on my face!

[arguti]

re buying a company car, if you own your own company, you will be paying employers and employee's national insurance on the benefit in kind which is why I shudder to think what a Maserati will cost you in taxes, NI, etc.

This is my next company car currently being prepped for my use - as it is a 1978 model, the list price is pretty low so costs very little in tax and NI. Apologies for all the bikes.....

[2plus2]

The DB7 is incredibly tempting... pity it's about 400 miles away from me! Might have a look around at those too. never even thought you could pick one up for that sort of money. I am going to look at a 3200 and 4200 Maser tomorrow weather/work permitting.

[carinaman]

2plus2 said:

The DB7 is incredibly tempting... pity it's about 400 miles away from me! Might have a look around at those too. never even thought you could pick one up for that sort of money. I am going to look at a 3200 and 4200 Maser tomorrow weather/work permitting.

The V12 DB7s seem to start at that and half again.

I'd read around some of the forums about the Maseratis, ask some specialists.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...


Not a Coupe, but then as about as much of a Coupe as the Alfa GT and Brera are.

[2plus2]

@arquti if I buy a Maser it will be as a private individual only the new car lease route would be through my company - lovely Alfa btw!

Mmm I'm also pondering a newer 3.2 V6 GTV too...

@carinaman thanks for being my virtual shopping assistant! You can't beat a fantasy car shoppoung spree.

[2plus2]

also just phoned up to view this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

turns out it's the current Wheeler Dealers programme car they're selling on and asked if I minded being filmed. That's a first except for CCTV.

[andymadmak]

You have to go either Aston or Maserati. Anything else just won't feel special enough. As a practical matter the Maserati 4200 is a good 4 seater in coupe form and a fabulous car to drive/own. The 3.2 DB7 is lovely, and it is an Aston (so earns huge man points), but as a driving experience an XK8 walks all over it.
As for anything else, ask yourself this - when your kids go to school and want to boast about what daddy has tucked away in his garage, do you think they would like to say "daddy has a BMW/Audi/Alfa Romeo/Nissan" or would they prefer to say "daddy has a Maserati" ?

Maaaaaassssseeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaati!

[carinaman]

Have fun viewing the DB7.

I mentioned that 147 GTA as I thought it had had the catalysed exhaust manifolds replaced with normal manifolds. Seems there may be some concerns about the amount of under bonnet heat emitted by the catalysed manifolds on the 3.2s, inc. a 3.2 GTV you may considering.

[2plus2]

exactly Andy! Going Maser viewing tomorrow

[carinaman]

I'm not sure kids are into Maseratis as much as Fairladys, Gran Turismo and all that.

I've not looked at that advert for that one at £11,500 with a recent £4500 service bill. Is it a proper boomerang LED rear light one?

Are the 4200s slightly less 'high maintenance' than the 3200s?

Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 15th January 16:34

[andymadmak]

carinaman said:

I'm not sure kids are into Maseratis as much as Fairladys, Gran Turismo and all that.

I've not looked at that advert for that one at £11,500 with a recent £4500 service bill. Is it a proper boomerang LED rear light one?

Are the 4200s slightly less 'high maintenance' than the 3200s?

Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 15th January 16:34

The boomerang lights were only ever on the 3200 (twin turbo V8) The 4200 has the naturally aspirated (and more powerful) Ferrari V8 based engine. The common concensous is that the 42 is less trouble than the 32. My 42 has been great!

[2plus2]

OK tomorrow is... viewing Maser 3200 and 4200, Carrera 4 (996) and a Brera V6 Q4 all around £12k with the Breara at £7.5k. I've looked at insurance and the Brera and Porsche come fairly close with the masers coming about about £150 more. Nobody has really mentioned the Carrera yet... any opinions?

Cheers