Maserati 4200 Spyder
Discussion
Well I've just got back in from picking my 2004 Spyder. I bought the car from Stratstone Ferrari & Maserati in Little Aston. I must have looked at just about every Spyder for sale within 200 miles. The only place I didn't get to was one for sale in Bristol.
I ended up buying the only manual car for sale in the UK at the moment. I did think long and hard about the Cambiocorsa but wasn't quite ready for the 'flappy paddle' experience and there are too many scare stories about clutch expectancy and F1 pump failure. Both of which are expensive to resolve. Although I understand that owners love it once they get used to it.
Buying from a main dealer also ensured I got a years Trident warranty for peace of mind.
Most of the cars I looked at were garage queens and rarely driven. Having experienced buying a 911 which was low mileage and before my ownership never owner I was adamnant on buying on condition rather than mileage. One thing that was common on all the cars I looked at was that the interior does show wear and ages badly, especially the seat bolsters.
This car is a one owner 30k miles car that has been used every day just like
I intend to do.
I asked for all the paperwork before my ownership which Stratstone arranged and copies of the 120 point check and service details.
So in the last week giving the car it's 30k mile service and some repair work I can see the bill, ouch......
Total cost was £4719.90 + VAT
Which breaks down as follows:
Labour (Service 7 hours, 5 hours to replace rear lower arms 5 hours) - £1200
Service parts - £526.80
Rear lower arms parts - £592.70
4 new tyres - £655.91
Ashtray assembly - £47.47 (The Maserati badge on top had broken)
Warranty £1617
It still needs some work to repair some of the leather but again Stratstone are paying for this. So hopefully I won't be picking up any big bills anytime soon...
I drove home on A roads and stayed away from the motorway. It took me 3 or so hours to get back.
The car has much more torque than the 911 and the ability to pick up speed regardless of the gear you are in. The gearbox is odd, a bit rubbish compared to the S2000 one that's for sure. Feels really sloppy with about half a mile between gears. It is also pretty difficult to change from 3rd to 4th I'll get used to it though. Visibility out of the front is bad primarily as you cannot see anything apart from the bonnet and the massive bulge in it. The roof takes an age to go up and down but is a work of art to watch, it's also completely automatic. Boot space is good much better than the 911, mind you mine was a C4S so had none whatsoever.
Acceleration is rapid, really rapid and you hit fast in no time.....
Handling is well a little different. Mine does has the Skyhook adaptive suspension and handling is much better in sport mode when the suspension is stiffened. It will take some getting used to compared the completely composed 911. Put it this way when you hit unflat surfaces the whole steering column shakes, scuttle shake matters
There is no doubt on the track the 911 would be quicker BUT the Spyder already feels like much more fun.
I'll keep you posted on the fuel consumption but I am expecting 12MPG on average. It's used 1/4 a tank (88l) to do 60 miles already so this looks about right.
I keep grining like a fool and looking at it. It certainly gets far more attention than the 911 ever did. I've already had some guy talk to me about it when I stopped for lunch.
and the noise it makes is amazing. I want a loud(er) exhaust already, Larini make one that is supposed to be fantastic.
Pics:
Spyder & beater:
I ended up buying the only manual car for sale in the UK at the moment. I did think long and hard about the Cambiocorsa but wasn't quite ready for the 'flappy paddle' experience and there are too many scare stories about clutch expectancy and F1 pump failure. Both of which are expensive to resolve. Although I understand that owners love it once they get used to it.
Buying from a main dealer also ensured I got a years Trident warranty for peace of mind.
Most of the cars I looked at were garage queens and rarely driven. Having experienced buying a 911 which was low mileage and before my ownership never owner I was adamnant on buying on condition rather than mileage. One thing that was common on all the cars I looked at was that the interior does show wear and ages badly, especially the seat bolsters.
This car is a one owner 30k miles car that has been used every day just like
I intend to do.
I asked for all the paperwork before my ownership which Stratstone arranged and copies of the 120 point check and service details.
So in the last week giving the car it's 30k mile service and some repair work I can see the bill, ouch......
Total cost was £4719.90 + VAT
Which breaks down as follows:
Labour (Service 7 hours, 5 hours to replace rear lower arms 5 hours) - £1200
Service parts - £526.80
Rear lower arms parts - £592.70
4 new tyres - £655.91
Ashtray assembly - £47.47 (The Maserati badge on top had broken)
Warranty £1617
It still needs some work to repair some of the leather but again Stratstone are paying for this. So hopefully I won't be picking up any big bills anytime soon...
I drove home on A roads and stayed away from the motorway. It took me 3 or so hours to get back.
The car has much more torque than the 911 and the ability to pick up speed regardless of the gear you are in. The gearbox is odd, a bit rubbish compared to the S2000 one that's for sure. Feels really sloppy with about half a mile between gears. It is also pretty difficult to change from 3rd to 4th I'll get used to it though. Visibility out of the front is bad primarily as you cannot see anything apart from the bonnet and the massive bulge in it. The roof takes an age to go up and down but is a work of art to watch, it's also completely automatic. Boot space is good much better than the 911, mind you mine was a C4S so had none whatsoever.
Acceleration is rapid, really rapid and you hit fast in no time.....
Handling is well a little different. Mine does has the Skyhook adaptive suspension and handling is much better in sport mode when the suspension is stiffened. It will take some getting used to compared the completely composed 911. Put it this way when you hit unflat surfaces the whole steering column shakes, scuttle shake matters
There is no doubt on the track the 911 would be quicker BUT the Spyder already feels like much more fun.
I'll keep you posted on the fuel consumption but I am expecting 12MPG on average. It's used 1/4 a tank (88l) to do 60 miles already so this looks about right.
I keep grining like a fool and looking at it. It certainly gets far more attention than the 911 ever did. I've already had some guy talk to me about it when I stopped for lunch.
and the noise it makes is amazing. I want a loud(er) exhaust already, Larini make one that is supposed to be fantastic.
Pics:
Spyder & beater:
Oh yes you need a CD Changer.....
I don't have one but did know full well how crap the concept of using the CD player for sat-nav was.
Will be on the hunt for a Dension to use the iPod instead of the CDC.
Oh and I didn't get the small to large SIM converter. Any idea where I can get one from or best just to go back to the dealer ?
I don't have one but did know full well how crap the concept of using the CD player for sat-nav was.
Will be on the hunt for a Dension to use the iPod instead of the CDC.
Oh and I didn't get the small to large SIM converter. Any idea where I can get one from or best just to go back to the dealer ?
Edited by fieldl on Sunday 5th August 11:42
congrats. Mind if I ask how much you paid (pm me if you like)What a beauty looks good in black.
On my Spyder the Maserati badge on the ash tray also broke
debating whether to get a new ash tray for the sake of the badge? what do you guys think?
Did they say how much labour to fit the ashtray or is it a simple pull out and pop new one in?
I paid £1700 for my trident warranty....
worth every penny as have had to make loads of claims for electrical faults
As I drive it every day the car gets used properly which it obviously never had been before with only 15k on it when I bought it!!
On my Spyder the Maserati badge on the ash tray also broke
debating whether to get a new ash tray for the sake of the badge? what do you guys think?
Did they say how much labour to fit the ashtray or is it a simple pull out and pop new one in?
I paid £1700 for my trident warranty....
worth every penny as have had to make loads of claims for electrical faults
As I drive it every day the car gets used properly which it obviously never had been before with only 15k on it when I bought it!!
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