Maserati Grandturismo

Maserati Grandturismo

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Discussion

quantum30

Original Poster:

260 posts

193 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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Hi,

What would you advice to someone who is thinking of buying a Maser Grandturismo ?

- any common issues with 2008 models ?
- is it prone to rattles and squeaky noises ?
- how is the build quality ?
- anything else you like to add would be appreciated.

ahh and just out of interest, does it have a digital speedo ?

thank you

pixelpimp

674 posts

204 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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Maserati GranTurismo

andrew

10,091 posts

199 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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advise biggrin

Jonara

75 posts

170 months

Monday 10th January 2011
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I ran a 57 plate for 2 years and traded it a few months ago for a new one, but the S Auto this time. I use mine as the daily driver, taking the kids to school every morning before going to work. It does a mix of Central London commuting and longer trips outside of town. I even drove the original one to Rome and back. I didn't have any problems with it. Nothing fell off and nothing squeaked or rattled. I think it is a great car.

If you can, stretch for the S. The 4.7 engine is a peach and addresses (to an extent) the main fault of the 4.2, which is low on power and, more noticeably, torque. The 4.7 sounds great too.

However, the GT is just that - a GT - and not a sports car. It weighs almost 2 tonnes, and it is very big. I love mine, but if you want a sports car you should be looking at something else.

The speedo is not digital, but you can choose to have a secondary digital readout instead of the trip counter. You just choose that option from the computer thingy. Oh, and the satnav is crap. Doesn't take postcodes, but does take OS references...

melvster

6,841 posts

192 months

Monday 10th January 2011
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it might be worth putting this thread on Sports Maserati forum, you should get some good advice off there.


http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/forum.php

Mosi

2,040 posts

222 months

Monday 10th January 2011
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Had two Maser GranT's (an early 07 car, then a later 09 car), both faultless

Will get another soon I'm sure

Only niggle is that the car is heavy and doesnt have loads of power, its no sportscar, but a lovely GT


Raja

8,290 posts

242 months

Monday 10th January 2011
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Mine's been back to the dealer twice, all for minor things. Passenger door rattle, wiper messed up etc.

The car is huge imo but the S version has more than enough power. Regardless of this its not a sports car, but then it doesn't need to be. Comfortably seats 4 too.

The finishing is really impressive and everyone who's sat in it comments on the quality feel.

You should go drive one and see if it suits your driving style and daily needs.


B51NGH

1 posts

69 months

Monday 4th February 2019
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Hi All,

New here, and loving the amount of knowledge shared here. There are some really smart people here.

Amazing to be here looking forward to being a new Maserati owner.

I am too picking up my new MCs car next week after final prep and deliver inspections.

I was hoping I could pick everyone's wonderful brains on something I've heard but not sure is true.

My new car is a 2012 61plate MCS with only 23k on the clock, the clutch is being confirmed as we speak but I've been told it has less than 40% wear.
I know these things cost money to replace especially if the variant (hope I am saying that right) needs replacing.

My question is not around the clutch although any advice is welcome. (if it needs doing it will get done even at 3k cost which is what I've been told)

My question is to do with more the reassurances of a second-hand car buyer in the UK, it's being bought from a dealer who is offering 3month( I am sure that meant to be 6?) warranty, and am looking to buy cash not a fan of finance. However, another dealer friend of mine said I should consider fiance at least 40% of the value of the car, as this would give me another reassurance if anything goes wrong and the dealer will not help. He goes on to say that by law now if you have finance and the finance company owns some of the cars they are too liable for any unexpected repairs should something go wrong.

Firstly, I am not wishing the worst on my new car, it's truly lovely and drives amazing, and the shifts are fast and even in auto mode it's lovely. Yes the shift can be "depending on the heat in the engine/trans" a bit sloppy, but that's the fun.

My query is just an interesting one and I had never heard this before. Does anyone know of this law or experienced anything similar.

once again love being part of this forum.

kr
Bee

jakesmith

9,463 posts

178 months

Monday 4th February 2019
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I had one for 2 years, expensive to run! Spent about £5.5k on it. Tyres, brakes, variators and a coolant pipe burst that needed some of the engine out

Firstly before you do anything else check the engine number for the variator issue. If it is below a certain number it will suffer from it guaranteed. If the fix hasn't been done but the car doesn't rattle on cold startup (ideally when been left standing for a few days) , then take it to Shilltech where it costs under £1k to apply the retrospective update that prevents the issue. If it does rattle you're into more like £3.5k as the engine needs to be retimed & that takes about 20 hours apparently

On a 10 year old car, depending on use, the suspension bushes will be close to end of life. They are soft and give a good ride but they wear. It is about £2500 at an indi to sort. Skyhook suspension I would avoid if you can, like I did on my R8 they cost £1000 per corner if they fail!

Brakes are expensive as are tyres. Don't bother with the horrific Pirellis, they are only good for burning on a speed camera. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are ridiculously good and cost about £1k a set. Brake discs & pads all round are over £1500 using EBC Yellow stuff pads & pattern discs from Eurospares and they perform just as well as the Maserati parts that would cost twice that

They seem to me to be well built and reliable cars, in fact better than 3 of the 4 Porsches I have also owned, but they do cost a lot to run. You really need to budget £3k a year on an older one and then you might luck out and not spend it all.

The stereo and sat nav are diabolical and should be removed and replaced.

Larini X-pipe is a must - the car looks and sounds epic and I would love to still have mine but it had to go to make way for a manual R8. I wouldn't worry about the 4.2 being slow. I can't imagine the 4.7 is much faster, it isn't an especially quick car anyway you buy it to cruide about in making Ferarri noises from your Ferarri engine. Absolutely stunning car and I'll always have a special place in my heart for my old one.

voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Monday 4th February 2019
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A 2102 car is way outside the range for variator issues.

Don't get hung up on the clutch wear number - most clutches go bad at the pressure plate before they get anywhere neat to 100% worn. You need to look inside the TCU for "clutch beyond PIS" errors. Once you start seeing these it's only a matter of time before the clutch starts to fail and it drops into neutral during changes.

The biggest problem with these cars (IMO) is rust. The subframes have a substandard coating on and really get eaten up in our weather. A check on the underside of the car is essential before buying.

Other common issues are front upper wishbone bushes (as noted above - check for the brake caliper moving during braking), leaking rocker cover gaskets (a 9 hour job) and leaking front chest (usually above the PS pump).

jakesmith

9,463 posts

178 months

Monday 4th February 2019
quotequote all
voicey said:
A 2102 car is way outside the range for variator issues.

Don't get hung up on the clutch wear number - most clutches go bad at the pressure plate before they get anywhere neat to 100% worn. You need to look inside the TCU for "clutch beyond PIS" errors. Once you start seeing these it's only a matter of time before the clutch starts to fail and it drops into neutral during changes.

The biggest problem with these cars (IMO) is rust. The subframes have a substandard coating on and really get eaten up in our weather. A check on the underside of the car is essential before buying.

Other common issues are front upper wishbone bushes (as noted above - check for the brake caliper moving during braking), leaking rocker cover gaskets (a 9 hour job) and leaking front chest (usually above the PS pump).
Typo aside, the OP is looking at a 2008 model

Rust ... I had 2 conflicting views on this from 2 good indis.

Illius @ Autofincha put it up on the lift and showed me that a great part of the underside is protected and has stone-chip paint on.

Steve @ SMDG said they are often quite 'scabby' still in places and recommended for winter use spending 2-3 hours cleaning it up really well and coating it all in Dinotyl or somethign similar

Rocker cover gasket... saw that on the previous service bill... £1.5k


voicey

2,457 posts

194 months

Tuesday 5th February 2019
quotequote all
jakesmith said:
Typo aside, the OP is looking at a 2008 model

Rust ... I had 2 conflicting views on this from 2 good indis.

Illius @ Autofincha put it up on the lift and showed me that a great part of the underside is protected and has stone-chip paint on.

Steve @ SMDG said they are often quite 'scabby' still in places and recommended for winter use spending 2-3 hours cleaning it up really well and coating it all in Dinotyl or somethign similar

Rocker cover gasket... saw that on the previous service bill... £1.5k
The OP was eight years ago, I was replying to the post made yesterday.

Rust is a real issue on the GT and QP. Every single one I have had through my workshop has had corrosion on the subframes to a varying degree. If you don't stay on top of it you will be welding it up at some point.

jakesmith

9,463 posts

178 months

Tuesday 5th February 2019
quotequote all
voicey said:
The OP was eight years ago, I was replying to the post made yesterday.

Rust is a real issue on the GT and QP. Every single one I have had through my workshop has had corrosion on the subframes to a varying degree. If you don't stay on top of it you will be welding it up at some point.
Ha didn't see that at all! Oops
OK I'm sure you're right, I just had 2 conflicting opinions on this from the 2 indi's that I took the car to in my ownership

murphyaj

810 posts

82 months

Friday 15th February 2019
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B51NGH said:
My question is to do with more the reassurances of a second-hand car buyer in the UK, it's being bought from a dealer who is offering 3month( I am sure that meant to be 6?) warranty, and am looking to buy cash not a fan of finance. However, another dealer friend of mine said I should consider fiance at least 40% of the value of the car, as this would give me another reassurance if anything goes wrong and the dealer will not help. He goes on to say that by law now if you have finance and the finance company owns some of the cars they are too liable for any unexpected repairs should something go wrong.
To answer the actual question; no the finance company is not liable to get your car fixed. Or at least not in that way.
Anything purchased with credit is covered by the Consumer Credit Act, section 75 of which states that the lender is responsible for remedying issues for the customer if the supplier cannot or will not do so. WRT a used car this would, at best, cover any faults with the car that existed at the time of purchase which you were not made aware of. However you are already covered by the Consumer Rights Act for such issues; any issue arising within 6 months of purchase which results from a fault present when you bought the car are the liability of the dealer. Furthermore your car finance provider would almost certainly make it clear in the small print that you are liable for repairs and maintenance.

The only case where you might get some extra protection is if the dealer refused to fulfil his obligations under the Consumer Rights Act or if they went out of business, and then your car turned out to have a pre-existing fault or not as described. This is only my impression of the law, IANAL, but it's backed by reputable sources like "Which".

This makes sense, as if this was the case the used car warranty industry would go our of business overnight as consumers could just take out a car on finance and not have to worry about repairs.




Edited by murphyaj on Friday 15th February 14:10