3200GT and main dealers

[simonp03]

Hi all

This is my first posting here and I'm gonna have to start with that ol' "Looking for a 3200 ..." question ;-)

If all goes to plan in Aug/Sep, I'll be looking for an 01 3200GT. Based in S/E and not one to want to gamble on an independant dealer, means I'll be heading off to Maranello Sevenoaks or Egham.

Not yet spoken to these chaps, but does anyone have any views on either of these + key negotiating tactics!

The reason I ask is that I've received excellent from my BMW dealer for nearly 3yrs and moving to another dealer is gonna have to instill confidence. Hence why going for an M3 is sound (but there's too many around), whereas a Boxster S means starting afresh with our friends at Porker world.

Any advice greatly appreciated

PS I'm sifting thru pages of "buyers guide" stuff and have the Evo 55 issue on order

Cheers

SP

[bad loser]

One bit of good advice - the dealers read this site!!

I think you really need to check all the available Maserati dealers, as I did, not restrict yourself to one. Put your requirements into the search engine on Mas's official site.

I had no problems with my dealer although, reading between the lines, I think Singh had major problmes with the same people.

[SimonP03]

Understood.

I have no desire to encourage anyone to openly slate a dealer - I'm just hoping there'll be positive feedback on those in the S/E.

Haven't yet asked if a dealer will buy in a prefererd car from another dealer on the premise that I will "definitely buy it if it fits the criteria."

Cheers

[bad loser]

It isn't so much that people on here would knock any dealers, more along the lines of "Oh, he's been told to ask for 5k off on PH, and we know he really wants one, so we'll hold out for the ticket price".

Beautiful car, by the way and you'll get loads and loads of people watching you go by.

And they sound good.

And they go like the proverbial off a shovel.

[v12v8]

Simon,

Don't be too quick to dismiss private sales. Yes, you can end up with a bad one, but that can happen at a dealer. Yes you will get a warranty from a dealer, but you can negotiate a warranty out of a private sale.

Yes, I do have a 3200 for sale and yes it will come with a warranty. But I am not pitching to sell my car to you, but simply advising you to be more circumspect.

Nearly all of the franchised dealers are good. IMHO, Maranello are a bit too expensive on the sales side, but no doubt this partly finaces their fantastic showrooms and good sales staff. The service department is one of the best around.

Good luck and happy hunting.

[chris_n]

If you're in the South-East Meridian Modena (main dealer) down in the new forest are well worth a visit as well. They normally have a pretty good selection of 3200s. I had a good experience buying there, plus it's a nice place for a day out!

Chris

[mr_tony]

I'll second that on the maranellos service - it's a fantastic workshop. The guys are extreemly helpful - went in for coolant last week (just to have a backup in the hot weather in case- never used it in the end!) - they happily spent 5 minutes to syphon a litre out of a the one billion gallon tank they have as they'd run out of small cans.

You can also call them on the phone and ask them pretty much anything and they'll be as helpful as they can. Ok they aint cheap but in the end you do sometimes get what you pay for!