Geo
Member
- Messages
- 616
Having had various interesting cars and motorcycles over the years, on a whim I decided to see what the going rate was for Maserati 4200's and what was on offer. At the time I didn't even think about checking things out on any forums. If I had, there is a good chance I wouldn't have purchased the car.
On the 29th November last year an internet search brought up an advert on Gumtree of all places. It was for a 2003 4200 GT with a years MOT, new tyres and battery and 24930 miles on the clock for £11,750.
This is the car. https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/4200s-that-have-been-stood.22771/#post-542822
Intrigued, I phoned and made enquiries asking all the usual questions and especially why such a low mileage. The fellow I spoke to was selling it on behalf of his father who had been a car dealer (first set of alarm bells sounded); the car was part of his fathers private collection and the car had purchased it as a Cat D. More alarm bells were sounding at this point! My initial thoughts were that the car had recently been purchased to to repair and make a quick buck, but this was not the case. His father purchased it some twelve years earlier, repaired it and kept it as a toy but didn't use. I was still thinking of walking at this point, but somehow I was still lured by the Maserati.
I asked about the original damage, and if he had any photos of it before it was repaired. Immediately came back a picture showing a dent in the rear bumper and slightly displaced boot lid. It looked like it had been reversed into a lamp post. Because the damage looked so minor, I asked why it had been written off when it was only a couple of years old at that time. It turned out that the first owner did not want it repaired and insisted it be declared "constructive total loss" to allow him to buy a new unmolested car.
I then asked for some detailed HD photos of the repair as well as all things mechanical underneath the vehicle. Back came 64HD photos and three videos covering everything I had asked and more.
After HPI and MOT checks (a big thanks to Phil at PK Supercars Edinburgh) and knocking the price down to £10,200, I decided to purchase it unseen or driven. I then had the car transported five hundred miles to my house by https://www.enclosedvehicletransportuk.co.uk/about-us I highly recommend this company!
On arrival, I was well pleased with the car for the price. Yes, it was not mint and required a few things to be done, but refurbishing is part of the hobby for me. It was a good purchase for me as I do the servicing and repairs myself, but it wouldn't have been such a good deal for someone if they had to rely on main dealer or independent servicing companies.
The only real pain in the ar$e job was the solid brake fluidic the clutch hydraulic system that I posted about earlier on the forum, and the problem didn't manifest until 250 miles. Apart from that it has been brilliant! It has just passed an MOT with fling colours and no advisories. I have covered 1800 miles in the car and will SORN it for the winter at the end of the month.
Total annual cost for major service, brake shoes and clutch master cylinder came to £765.18 all in. I'm well chuffed.
Roll on next year!
