Monday 1st August 2011

Spotted: Maserati GranTurismo

Time to grab a bargain Maser?

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Now that it's been around for a few years now, the Maserati GranTurismo seems to be deemed to be 'good news'. There are even those who reckon it's the best car Maserati has made for some time.

Fair enough, they wouldn't be many people's weapon of choice for a track day or a B-road hoonathon, but as a rapid and comfortable mile-munching tool, early 4.2-litre versions are beginning to represent good value.

The base price for these new was £77,755, but once options like Bose sound, dual-colour interior, and the clever Skyhook suspension had been added, that figure will have been way in excess of £80,000 and possibly closer to £90,000 (the current cost of the dual-colour interior option alone is £4141).

A quick look into the used market revealed that we're not far off seeing fit and healthy 2008 examples reach the £40,000 mark. This 2008 GranTurismo is at a dealer in Lancashire for £42,999 and reportedly comes with its original £87,000 sales invoice. Mileage is a little on the high side at 42,000, but it is a one-owner car with a full Maserati history and a bunch of options (Bose, Skyhook, Comfort Pack).

If the mileage puts you off then there's this alternative GranTurismo at a Volvo dealer in Chiswick, West London. At just under 20,000 it's a more palatable figure and, like the silver car, it features the extra Bose, Skyhook, and Comfort Pack kit.

The first owner was a lady who sold the car after 18 months to the dealer principal at the Volvo dealer, who has owned it since then. Servicing is bang up to date - the last one being in June at Maranello Maserati in Egham, although curiously it wasn't gazed-at by a technician between 4000 and 18500 miles.

Both cars still appear to be in very good order and in demand. The vendors of the blue car even went so far as to claim that at £45,995 theirs will be sold no later than...today (no, seriously!) So in terms of pricing and performance these things stack up fairly well with an Aston Martin V8 Vantage...but with the benefit of extra seating. Tempted?

 

 

 

 

[don logan]

The man who drew the front cannot have been the same man as the one that drew the rear!

[silversixx]

don logan said:

The man who drew the front cannot have been the same man as the one that drew the rear!

Fair point. I'm not sure if it's just the shape of the rear lights, but does the back end bear a faint resemblance to the current Mondeo?

[iphonedyou]

silversixx said:

Fair point. I'm not sure if it's just the shape of the rear lights, but does the back end bear a faint resemblance to the current Mondeo?

I wish you hadn't said that

[Fun Bus]

No maintenance recorded between 4.5k and 18k miles? I'm oot.

[crostonian]

If the miles were accrued over 12 months then this is the correct service schedule I believe - people moan that Maserati's need too much servicing, now they moan when they lengthen the intervals.

[silversixx]

iphonedyou said:

silversixx said:

Fair point. I'm not sure if it's just the shape of the rear lights, but does the back end bear a faint resemblance to the current Mondeo?

I wish you hadn't said that

I think on reflection it was just the rear light clusters which reminded me of a Mondeo. The rest of the car looks pretty good though!

[Esseesse]

silversixx said:

I think on reflection it was just the rear light clusters which reminded me of a Mondeo. The rest of the car looks pretty good though!

Here's the rear lights...



Wouldn't bother me, nice car.

[silversixx]

Fun Bus said:

No maintenance recorded between 4.5k and 18k miles? I'm oot.

It does seem weird to see a Maser go that far without a service, but surprisingly, according to Stratstone the correct service intervals for a Graturismo are 12,500 miles or two years, so 13,500 probably isn't anything to worry about.

[Ewan S]

silversixx said:

It does seem weird to see a Maser go that far without a service, but surprisingly, according to Stratstone the correct service intervals for a Graturismo are 12,500 miles or two years, so 13,500 probably isn't anything to worry about.

I would expect at that low mileage that a really good thorough service by a well respected maserati specialist would correct any flaws in the car.

[p4cks]

Possibly one of the nicest cars on the road at the moment. Lovely looking things.

[em177]

[Insight]

Not sure who writes these articles aside from salesmen selling the cars because it's pretty obvious that a 2 year old car is almost half the price of a new one.

[silversixx]

Insight said:

Not sure who writes these articles aside from salesmen selling the cars because it's pretty obvious that a 2 year old car is almost half the price of a new one.

Two year old Granturismos are going for low 60s and upwards. Did you mean four year old cars?

[kotafey]

I think these look great. The front is very menacing and I can live with the rear. The sound is pretty special too.

Outside my budget unfortunately, but if they dipped below £30k I would seriously consider one

[davido140]

silversixx said:

Fair point. I'm not sure if it's just the shape of the rear lights, but does the back end bear a faint resemblance to the current Mondeo?

You're not wrong!!!

[notax]

I prefer my Vantage which is still worth what I paid for it 7 months ago whereas the MGT appears to have depreciated markedly over the same period. (My Vantage is a low mileage 55 plate)

How do you think the depreciation of the two cars will compare going forward?

[Hellbound]

Another 24months and they'll be hitting £20k....

Actually, I'll make my move when they're £1k...down the local scrappy. I'll be about 50 years old then but it'll be worth it just for the satisfaction of getting a 'bargain'.

Now sit back, and play the waiting game...

[Steff]

Shed of the week?

[JohnGoodridge]

40k buys a lot of metal as your recent article on 200mph cars illustrates. Personally, I really loved the original 3200gt, and the Gransport, but the GranTurismo just leaves me cold - there's a few around here. BTW it is huge in real life!

[g7jhp]

I love the look of these but the massive depreciation does make you wonder where it will bottom out.

If I was buying at £40-45k I'd be looking at a 997 Turbo, R8 or
AMVA8V.