Newcomer in Surrey - looking for a Granturismo S

JonW

JonW

Member
Messages
3,262
Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, and am not yet a Maserati owner.

Today was my first drive in a Granturismo S (from Maranello Egham), and I'm looking to make a purchase this side of Christmas. At the moment I think I want an MC Shift, but am keen to drive a couple as I plan to be using the car as a daily driver as well as for weekend fun. Budget is in the region of £45k

Am looking forward to learning more about them from you all, and can't wait to own one so I can hear that fantastic exhaust sound whenever I feel like it...

Jon
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Welcome Jon, you are in the right place,
There is more advice than you can shake a sh!tty stick at and a great bunch of guys to boot.

Have fun in your search....

Dave
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,321
Welcome along Jon.

This forum is a source of so much information and I learnt so much about the the two different models I have owned before I bought them - knowledge is power!

The Granturismo S is a great car, you will love it as I have done and as have many others on here. £45k will get you an excellent, well sorted car but do your homework as there is a lot to look for when buying and there were lots of different options available too.

Good luck & don't be shy with any questions, were a friendly bunch. Oh, and if you want an excellent car plus £10k left over, get in touch with me!
 
RSM Masser

RSM Masser

Member
Messages
2,437
Another Surrey Maserati owner
Quite a few on here - welcome along, great choice of car, I would love one myself.
 
JonW

JonW

Member
Messages
3,262
Thanks Stuart

I've seen your post and once I've done my test drives and know for sure whether it's an MC Shift I definitely want, I may be in touch. Your car looks lovely and sounds like it's had a lot of stuff sorted out. South Lincs is a long way from me though!

One question I do have is how often you'd expect to have to replace the clutch in an MC Shift. I know this depends on how hard the car is driven, but what would be average for a car that is mainly driven gently, with the occasional blast...
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Well, Stuarts was changed at 44k miles, I believe the thinking is anywhere between 30-50k miles, therefore Stuarts having done 10k miles since change has at the minimum for the tinking, 20k miles but its not guaranteed, for me at average of 4-6k miles a year, mostly normal use with the odd moment of hooliganism I wouldn't expect to change it for 5 years.

That said - there is no science behind clutch calculation wear - I know this only too well - but don't let it put you off !!!
 
JonW

JonW

Member
Messages
3,262
D Walker said:
Well, Stuarts was changed at 44k miles, I believe the thinking is anywhere between 30-50k miles, therefore Stuarts having done 10k miles since change has at the minimum for the tinking, 20k miles but its not guaranteed, for me at average of 4-6k miles a year, mostly normal use with the odd moment of hooliganism I wouldn't expect to change it for 5 years.

That said - there is no science behind clutch calculation wear - I know this only too well - but don't let it put you off !!!
Click to expand...

That's helpful, thanks, and better than I expected

I'm expecting my car to do between 6-8k miles a year, which will be made up of a large slug of short commutes, the occasional weekend blast, a few long motorway journeys, and maybe an annual trip down to LeMans (at speed).

The only concern I have with the MC Shift is around how it will drive for the day to day short journeys, or when my wife is driving it in auto mode with the kids in the car...
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
There will be plenty who own one along to tell you there experience with both. I spent a week in an MC shift at Le Mans last year(not too late to join us either for next year by the way) and I can only describe it as a sheep in wolf's clothing, it will happily pootle along in Auto then when you push sport its like unleashing the dogs or war (metaphorically) I am certainly looking this way for my next masser unless someone offers up a really good GS.
Drive em back to back if you can. Good times ahead..
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,321
Yes, as Dave has pointed out based on that mileage the clutch will last for quite a number of years. And when driven in auto mode, the MC-SHIFT is fine and not as industrial as some say it is. However even at slow speeds and in traffic, I have found the manual shift perfectly fine and something you soon get used to
 
JonW

JonW

Member
Messages
3,262
D Walker said:
There will be plenty who own one along to tell you there experience with both. I spent a week in an MC shift at Le Mans last year(not too late to join us either for next year by the way) and I can only describe it as a sheep in wolf's clothing, it will happily pootle along in Auto then when you push sport its like unleashing the dogs or war (metaphorically) I am certainly looking this way for my next masser unless someone offers up a really good GS.
Drive em back to back if you can. Good times ahead..
Click to expand...

Am actually going to a local dealer (Nuvola) tomorrow afternoon to drive two back to back!
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,321
JonW said:
Am actually going to a local dealer (Nuvola) tomorrow afternoon to drive two back to back!
Click to expand...

That's the best thing to do, but have fun and say hi to Nareman from me - he supplied me with my car last year
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
JonW if you can make Ace next week then feel free to have a look around mine. Clutches tend to last around 45k miles and don't put much faith in the clutch wear readings, the proof is in the drive, gear changes should be crisp, smooth and fast in Manual Mode. Any hint of a judder then clutch is on the way out. Make sure you get the box warm and MC Shift mode is lit on the DIS and go for some redline changes, if it can't select a gear then again run away or negotiate a new clutch.
 
JonW

JonW

Member
Messages
3,262
Contigo said:
JonW if you can make Ace next week then feel free to have a look around mine. Clutches tend to last around 45k miles and don't put much faith in the clutch wear readings, the proof is in the drive, gear changes should be crisp, smooth and fast in Manual Mode. Any hint of a judder then clutch is on the way out. Make sure you get the box warm and MC Shift mode is lit on the DIS and go for some redline changes, if it can't select a gear then again run away or negotiate a new clutch.
Click to expand...

Not sure I know what Ace is?

On LeMans, last year was my first year there, and I loved it. However, the idea of going down in a Maserati Granturismo would be fantastic - and there are a couple of tunnels I remember where I would love to hear the roar of that V8 engine drowning out the noise of the ubiquitous Porsches....
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
JonW said:
Not sure I know what Ace is?

On LeMans, last year was my first year there, and I loved it. However, the idea of going down in a Maserati Granturismo would be fantastic - and there are a couple of tunnels I remember where I would love to hear the roar of that V8 engine drowning out the noise of the ubiquitous Porsches....
Click to expand...

Last year was my first - but the highlight was being in a group of umpteen Maserati's, never failed to turn heads, the loading of the boat at dover was interesting !!!!
There are places left, 2/3 cars I believe, get your car and sign up, honestly you wont regret it.

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/21181-2017-The-Road-to-Le-Mans
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
JonW said:
Not sure I know what Ace is?

On LeMans, last year was my first year there, and I loved it. However, the idea of going down in a Maserati Granturismo would be fantastic - and there are a couple of tunnels I remember where I would love to hear the roar of that V8 engine drowning out the noise of the ubiquitous Porsches....
Click to expand...

Been there done that this year :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.