Recommended to ask here from FB group

Pete01

Pete01

New Member
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24
Gazcw said:
You might want to message Zep or Conaero and see if they can share the trip maps we did last September. Spain, France, Italy and home via Switzerland and across France.
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For sure…. How do I do that????? Haha, better at driving than working technology! Honest
 
Alan Surrey

Alan Surrey

Member
Messages
1,025
Gazcw said:
QP is great for long runs agreed but for potentially tight and twisties depending on the route of course, I would not want to do it in one.
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Ah, well there's the difference now. We all differ don't we? (but there is a reason why we all love the cars...) If I had the opportunity to do Pete's wonderful journey in my QP I'd be straight there, doing it without a second thought. Gaz is right that the twisties would be even better in a GT, but I am absolutely clear that in a QP they are fabulous.
 
Alan Surrey

Alan Surrey

Member
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1,025
Hello Pete. Congratulations on your inspired idea for the holiday of a lifetime. Every encouragement to actually do it. Please post photos.

However I think there is an important idea that this thread has not covered, so here goes.
1) The general wisdom I have always followed buying used cars is to buy the best I can afford, choose a good one, then, having bought it, assume its not half as well sorted as it seemed (Note I have never bought from Dicky who is a rare exception to this guidance) and drive it locally for the first 2,000 miles while I get to know it, find and fix its shortcomings.
2) For buying a used Maserati, as above plus: Get a pre purchase inspection by a recognised specialist in used Maseratis and have a £5k trouble fund in the bank at all times.

Now on the face of it, this doesn't fit well with your holiday of a lifetime. No one on this forum will want you to have the nightmare of a lifetime with a broken down car half way round the world from where you live. But I think we are all clear that the best possible way to do this journey is in a well sorted Maserati (you've already got the idea that it could be a soft top, hard top, GT or Quattroporte). The driving experience, the look of the car and the interior are all second to none and the car will naturally fit in its natural habitat.

So, all you guys I come to for advice (there are plenty of knowledgeable and sensible owners on this forum, Pete) what do you say?
 
Alan Surrey

Alan Surrey

Member
Messages
1,025
Oh and another thought Pete.
Once you have enjoyed driving this car across Europe nothing else will ever do. So if they are serious about not letting you take it back to Australia, you will find yourself moving home and life to Europe so that you can keep driving the car. There are some very nice spots in England and some fine Maserati owners for you to meet.
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,370
Alan Surrey said:
Ah, well there's the difference now. We all differ don't we? (but there is a reason why we all love the cars...) If I had the opportunity to do Pete's wonderful journey in my QP I'd be straight there, doing it without a second thought. Gaz is right that the twisties would be even better in a GT, but I am absolutely clear that in a QP they are fabulous.
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I agree as I think I would prefer to do it in a QP even with those twisty bits. Always found the QP to be like Jekyll and Hyde. Great for relaxing on long journey and then turns into a hooligan in the bends. That is what made them so unlike other cars. Plus I always found a QP easier to place in the bends over the GT with that long bonnet. Drove a 4.2 QP Sport GT around Llandow a number of years ago and a GT S on the same day and I enjoyed the QP more in that track.
 
Pete01

Pete01

New Member
Messages
24
Alan Surrey said:
Hello Pete. Congratulations on your inspired idea for the holiday of a lifetime. Every encouragement to actually do it. Please post photos.

However I think there is an important idea that this thread has not covered, so here goes.
1) The general wisdom I have always followed buying used cars is to buy the best I can afford, choose a good one, then, having bought it, assume its not half as well sorted as it seemed (Note I have never bought from Dicky who is a rare exception to this guidance) and drive it locally for the first 2,000 miles while I get to know it, find and fix its shortcomings.
2) For buying a used Maserati, as above plus: Get a pre purchase inspection by a recognised specialist in used Maseratis and have a £5k trouble fund in the bank at all times.

Now on the face of it, this doesn't fit well with your holiday of a lifetime. No one on this forum will want you to have the nightmare of a lifetime with a broken down car half way round the world from where you live. But I think we are all clear that the best possible way to do this journey is in a well sorted Maserati (you've already got the idea that it could be a soft top, hard top, GT or Quattroporte). The driving experience, the look of the car and the interior are all second to none and the car will naturally fit in its natural habitat.

So, all you guys I come to for advice (there are plenty of knowledgeable and sensible owners on this forum, Pete) what do you say?
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Thanks Alan. Very well made points surly taken on board. Yes it’s a bit of a gamble, but that sits ok with me. The trip is booked and paid for!! Itinerary is firming up nicely and some amazing culinary experiences booked to accompany our desires! I understand about having a slush fund for ‘unexpecteds’ and that’s ok. Really want the 2 door type experience for this trip. Daily drive is a huge diesel Land Cruiser (I do a fair few km’s down here and you just can’t go past a cruiser for the conditions, my third) and then have an X5M to scare the life out of me at weekends!! That takes from my slush fund at regular intervals!!

I’m loving the informed input from this forum, top people!
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,586
Have you considered hiring one for the duration . there would be a certain peace of mind included that way , Daily rates quoted here , monthly rates would be much ,ore competitive I should image , definitely food for thought ....and they have a Grancabrio for hire

Maserati Supercar Hire | Classic Parade

www.classicparade.co.uk www.classicparade.co.uk
 
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Pete01

Pete01

New Member
Messages
24
Alan Surrey said:
Oh and another thought Pete.
Once you have enjoyed driving this car across Europe nothing else will ever do. So if they are serious about not letting you take it back to Australia, you will find yourself moving home and life to Europe so that you can keep driving the car. There are some very nice spots in England and some fine Maserati owners for you to meet.
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Haha, yeah! I moved from the UK 21 years ago. Love coming back for visits but have kids (older now), business and property here, couldn’t see me going back permanently. But looking forward to some longer trips as the years progress. Should be back Dec 2024 for a trip to Italy for a friend’s birthday.
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,586
You may even find a dealer willing to sell you one , with an agreed buy back clause .........obviously providing the cars returned as was .....if you get my drift
 
DLax69

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,361
Just my two cents: no reason to drive something in Europe/UK that you can drive in AUS handily...and agreed, once you have driven a Maser, you will be an addict. There's simply nothing else like these cars...

Also, certainly envy you this adventure!
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,807
Alan Surrey said:
Ah, well there's the difference now. We all differ don't we? (but there is a reason why we all love the cars...) If I had the opportunity to do Pete's wonderful journey in my QP I'd be straight there, doing it without a second thought. Gaz is right that the twisties would be even better in a GT, but I am absolutely clear that in a QP they are fabulous.
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More the eyes closed moments when a truck comes the other way. Clenching to make the car narrower. :D
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
9,023
Pete01 said:
I am after some honest advice / Informed opinion. I am embarking on a trip of a lifetime that takes us through Spain, Italy, Switzerland and France over 6 weeks in the Autumn. (So no immediate rush to purchase but would if the right vehicle available now)

I am planning on buying a car, in the UK, to use only for this trip and then sell it again at the end (Australia won’t let me bring it home) or may keep it wit family as have an alpine trip planned for late ‘24

I have set a budget of £17k for the vehicle. Will a 08/09 GT be reliable enough for such a trip? I’m not too concerned around fuel consumption and consumables, just need to start and go when needed!

The other vehicle options I am considering are a 06/07 Bentley GT or a 13 Merc 350SL (the sensible choice I guess)

ThankYou
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Boot space might be an issue on a long trip - especially in a Gran Cabrio or almost any convertible.

Also maybe you should be thinking LHD if you will mostly be on the continent.

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I think one key thing to think about is not buying the car, but selling it afterwards, assuming you will be under some time pressure and getting back to Oz (unless you get hooked and keep it). Only the very best condition cars, when correctly priced will sell quickly. Unless you just go with We Buy Any Car or someone like that, which has worked for some of us.

Maybe you can find someone who is thinking of selling, who would 'rent' their car to you meanwhile. A few people come up on here saying, "I'm not really using it, but prices are too low to sell, and I don't want to get rid, but it's using up garage space...etc." So maybe "How about I take your car on holiday for 6 weeks and give you £N?" is an attractive deal for someone. (Anyone want to lend me a RR P38A????)
 
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