Opinions on this car please- Granturismo

[Van Dessel]

This is pretty: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11519852

I think it would feel quite special. What does that mean? It means you can look around your car and imagine you're pulling into Portofino or Cortina or for lunch in a Chateau just south of Provence surrounded by lavender - when really you're driving in stinging rain pulling into Taunton Deane services...(full disclosure: never been to Taunton deane :-)

[spikyone]

Van Dessel said:

This is pretty: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11519852

I think it would feel quite special. What does that mean? It means you can look around your car and imagine you're pulling into Portofino or Cortina or for lunch in a Chateau just south of Provence surrounded by lavender - when really you're driving in stinging rain pulling into Taunton Deane services...(full disclosure: never been to Taunton deane :-)

It is pretty, but it's very pricey next to this one (https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11069822) with the more desirable (on early cars) MC Shift at £31k. I like the look of the one that's been listed at Meridien for a while (https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10834324) but even that feels over-priced at £37k, which is probably why it's been with them for so long. For £39k I'd definitely want the facelift version.

[ro250]

StreetDragster said:

Thanks for the advice all.

I've had a snotty email back from the seller, i'll not be buying this car.

I'll check out the forum

Thanks again

Well avoided.

Other alarm bells include his previous feedback. The most recent feedback is a page of positives for a Forex trading system for £197 a time. Plus he's selling an Aston and BMW which seem to be written as if he owns them rather than he's a dealer.

Maybe they are all his and he's liquidating his assets after no success with Forex.

[BigR]

Missed a couple of services in fact

17/10/2014 - Service - Maserati Main Dealer - 22,715 Miles
13/06/2018 - Service - Maserati Main Dealer - 28,467 Miles

It looks nice - but there's also something that doesn't smell right about it (putting aside the price), and sportmaserati folk will be able to answer the 2008 / 4.2 v 4.7 engine. I too thought the 4.7 came a bit later. But I would say a sensible dodge of it.

[vanman1936]

I had one, great cars.

Buy carefully and they are epic value and reliable.

BUT, expensive semi regular consumables ie brake discs (think £4-£5k all round), suspension refresh (£7-£10K) etc.

So get an inspection, check variator year isn’t a risk one, clutch wear readout...if all good, enjoy in (smug) good health.

[stub101]

vanman1936 said:

I had one, great cars.

Buy carefully and they are epic value and reliable.

BUT, expensive semi regular consumables ie brake discs (think £4-£5k all round), suspension refresh (£7-£10K) etc.

So get an inspection, check variator year isn’t a risk one, clutch wear readout...if all good, enjoy in (smug) good health.

I’m starting the hunt for a 2010-on GranTurismo - ideally a facelift.

Are brakes really £4-5k and suspension £7-10k from an independent?

I have experience of TVR parts/service pricing and M tax on my M3’s but really don’t fancy those level of costs.

[vanman1936]

Hmmm, seems like there are some cheaper options now

https://www.scuderiacarparts.com/en-gb/part-finder...

Give these guys a call and ask, well respected London indi for Ferrari and Maserati’s https://www.scuderia.london/

[omniflow]

stub101 said:

I’m starting the hunt for a 2010-on GranTurismo - ideally a facelift.

Are brakes really £4-5k and suspension £7-10k from an independent?

I have experience of TVR parts/service pricing and M tax on my M3’s but really don’t fancy those level of costs.

Front coil springs are £88 each
A very reputable Indy hourly labour charge is £85
Front brake disks are ~£500 each
Front brake pads are something like £500 for 2 wheels.

So - not as expensive as has been made out.

But - there are some fairly expensive parts that fail when you wouldn't expect them to. The A/C compressor has a limited lifespan - something to do with how it's mounted putting lateral forces on the bearings. A new one is ~£1,500, but you can get a reconditioned one for ~£600. The wheel speed sensor - a cheap part, but you need to buy a whole new wheel bearing - ~£600.

Also - you really want a Sport - it just looks so much better than the standard model.

Speak to Richard at Richard Grace Cars - he won't sell you a duff car.

[Mattjevans]

BlackR8 said:

What is you budget for one? I would consider stretching for a facelift if your budget allows.

The facelifts (post 2013+) benefit from an exterior and interior refresh (really nice seats, updated front, nice carbon fibre options etc), and you can get the MC Auto-Shift which I believe is the best of both worlds (no clutch wear to worry about and behaves like an MC-Shift with fast paddle changes and downshift blips).

The pre-facelifts I always think are prettier, the facelifts I think are no longer technically a Pininfarina design and lose the badge accordingly. But the facelift steering wheel is much much better, I was lucky to get offered one cheaply to go in my 4.7 MC-S (sold 2 years ago).

[EC2]

Agree on which are the prettier cars.

Front discs are expensive but only for the 4.7. The 4.2 uses the same discs front and back (4.7 uses them on the rear too) and they are less than half the price. Some people also use aftermarket pads for both disc sizes.

Maserati sells various bush kits so talk of the big bills is probably people getting whole arms replaced and doing them at £175+VAT per hour main dealer rates. Overall they are robust cars and highly recommended.

[spikyone]

Mattjevans said:

The pre-facelifts I always think are prettier, the facelifts I think are no longer technically a Pininfarina design and lose the badge accordingly. But the facelift steering wheel is much much better, I was lucky to get offered one cheaply to go in my 4.7 MC-S (sold 2 years ago).

I'm buying a facelift at the moment (deposit down and waiting to collect) and it still has the Pininfarina badges - very much a schoolboy dream ticked off for me When I started looking I thought the earlier ones were prettier but the facelift looks a bit more modern and has the added advantage that you can get it in Blu Sofisticato

There were a few other upgrades made when the facelift cars were introduced too.

[EC2]

Hope you like it, they are all great. Sport has different gearbox programming on the auto in sport manual mode only, different seats, different steering wheel, new nose and DRLs but loss of front fog lights. 20 more PS is claimed too.