So Maserati - what's the catch?
Discussion
Just had a mate of mine and fellow PHer on the phone. He's wondering why he just forked out 25K on a Golf now he has seen how cheap Maseratis go for.
Just had a sniff round the classifieds, and he's right you can pick up a 5 year old Quattroporte for new Golg Focus Money. A Coupe for less.
So then what's the catch?
Are they stupicly expensive to run and repair? Are they as unreliable as - well - an Itallian car?
Must admit, to thinking there must be some massive catch to owning one.
I am more in the market for a big is 4 x4 at the mo. but at 14k for a coupe, I could be tempted into buyiing one.
Any owners got opinions? Or anyone else for that matter.
I also wondered this. After a bit of reserch, on here, I found out how much it is to get the clutch changed on a maunal box. Comes in at something around £5000. Yep 5k! 
Also I think a basic service is about 4 figures. And again not really sure where you could take it for this. Ferrari dealer/indipendent? My nearest one is at least 100 miles away I think. Could you take it to a good independent Alfa garage?
Although it would be WONDERFULL to own such a car, I don't think that I could cope with the cost if something went wrong...
HTH a little bit
Also I think a basic service is about 4 figures. And again not really sure where you could take it for this. Ferrari dealer/indipendent? My nearest one is at least 100 miles away I think. Could you take it to a good independent Alfa garage?
Although it would be WONDERFULL to own such a car, I don't think that I could cope with the cost if something went wrong...
HTH a little bit
It's one thing to afford the car, it's another to afford to run it. I looked at 3200GT's as the price of them is very cheap indeed then did a bit of research on servicing, brakes, brakes, MPG etc and decided that it wasn't economically viable for me at all. This puts a lot of people off, hence the relatively cheap asking prices of them.
I have been thinking the same thing about L322 Range Rovers. A fairly decent one, sub 100k, is a bit cheaper than a similarly aged Defender. The RR diesel drinks about the same rate, is comfier and probably better offroad than the Defender in its stock form. Then why is there a demand for Defenders that are slower, noisier and less crashworthy? OK the Defender looks butcher.
In the year or so I've had my GranSport I've found the only issue is that the boot's a bit small for my bass amp. And a double bass won't fit at all. Other than that, it's great! A bit juicy, but what the heck. Clutch at an Indy isn't too bad, and if you learn how to use the CC box it can last ages.
If you are thinking of buying one of these cars, then you must take into account that servicing and maintaining them can be expensive. After all, they were relatively expensive cars when new and servicing costs reflect that fact.
An basic annual service for my 4200cc at a well known Maserati independent ran to the highish hundreds. I've had to have a seal replaced between the oil intercooler and gearbox over the New Year at a Maserati main dealer. Leaving aside the small matter of me being without the car for two weeks because of Maserati's rather "Italian" part delivery sevice, the bill, including the low loader pick up I elected to use as a precaution, will come to about £1500.
If you fancy buying one of these cars, I strongly suggest taking out a good warranty. Mine had just covered that bill and another for £300+ for minor electrical glitches.
However, if you go into ownership with open eyes, buy from a good dealer and are prepared for an occasional mechanical hiccup, you will be rewarded with a wonderfully involving drive in a distinctive vehicle.
I'm really happy to be a 4200 owner.
Go for it !
An basic annual service for my 4200cc at a well known Maserati independent ran to the highish hundreds. I've had to have a seal replaced between the oil intercooler and gearbox over the New Year at a Maserati main dealer. Leaving aside the small matter of me being without the car for two weeks because of Maserati's rather "Italian" part delivery sevice, the bill, including the low loader pick up I elected to use as a precaution, will come to about £1500.
If you fancy buying one of these cars, I strongly suggest taking out a good warranty. Mine had just covered that bill and another for £300+ for minor electrical glitches.
However, if you go into ownership with open eyes, buy from a good dealer and are prepared for an occasional mechanical hiccup, you will be rewarded with a wonderfully involving drive in a distinctive vehicle.
I'm really happy to be a 4200 owner.
Go for it !
Ozzie Osmond said:
Old rule of thumb. Annual maintenance budget you should allow for any car is 5% of the cost of the car when it was new.
A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
Nonsense. A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
I've never come close to that number.
whoami said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Old rule of thumb. Annual maintenance budget you should allow for any car is 5% of the cost of the car when it was new.
A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
Nonsense. I've never come close to that number. A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
Some people make the mistake of thinking a car bought for £20k will have £20k car (Ford Focus) running costs. Big mistake...
I have to say, looking at the ads on here a 10 year old 3200 looks much more car at that age than a Jag XK. So few around it doesnt look like you bought a cheap 10k motor.
i guess they aren't parts bin specials then. Back lights shared with a Fiat or transmission related to BMW? You know the way a Lotus might use bits from mainstream manufacturers.
What about indy servicing? Are the cars really a mystery to anyone other than experts?
i guess they aren't parts bin specials then. Back lights shared with a Fiat or transmission related to BMW? You know the way a Lotus might use bits from mainstream manufacturers.
What about indy servicing? Are the cars really a mystery to anyone other than experts?
Ug_lee said:
What sort of money are spare parts? Any examples for service wearable items? Are the electronics (not electrics) relatively reliable?
If a Coupe can be picked up that cheap I'd be happy to tackle it with my own spanners. Must be bolted together much the same as any other car.
That's what I'm thinking. Electronics aside, and allowing for a few italian engineering touches (bolts that you have to disassemble half the car to get to etc.), there can't be much that isn't spanner-able. If a Coupe can be picked up that cheap I'd be happy to tackle it with my own spanners. Must be bolted together much the same as any other car.
Ozzie Osmond said:
whoami said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Old rule of thumb. Annual maintenance budget you should allow for any car is 5% of the cost of the car when it was new.
A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
Nonsense. I've never come close to that number. A new Maserati cost about £70,000 so that's a maintenance budget of £3,500 a year. Less if you're lucky.
Some people make the mistake of thinking a car bought for £20k will have £20k car (Ford Focus) running costs. Big mistake...
feef said:
Ssshhhh don't tell everyone. I'm looking at taking the plunge with a 4200 coupe at some point this year
For feck's sake don't do that.A bloke who has never owned one will tell you that it will cost about £6M to keep it on the road.
A year.
Every year you own it.
For ever.
Madness.
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