Seriously considering a GS

[jayblue]

First time poster here, hello everyone!

I have been researching the GranSport for some time now and feel it is highly likely to fit my current needs. I have made some assumptions though and would like some advice from those who know better than myself.

Firstly budget:

I have a budget of around 22k, slightly more for the "right" car. I have seen GS with 60,000 miles selling privately for around 18k, most dealers with cars around 40,000 miles seem to be advertising around 25k. I am therefore thinking i could get a well sorted example with a reasonable mileage for circa my budget privately. By well sorted i mean a car with no big expenses on the horizon. Is that reasonable? I don't want a car that needs a lot of money spending on it in maintenance on immediately after buying, but i understand sometimes things break and that is always the chance you take with a used car.

Common issues & Servicing:

I am aware of several potential issues that come with GS ownership - clutch wear, F1 pump, driveshaft issues, sometimes flaky electrics, sticky interior buttons, failed cats. Any others i need to be aware of? Of the issues i have found most can be addressed relatively easily and having consider several other cars in budget (like the BMW M6, 911 and various TVR's) i am under the impression a well serviced GS will not cost any more (or maybe even less) to run than other cars of that nature.

I have found a specialist nearby that looked good - Migliore Cars in Bromsgrove. Has anyone had any experience with them?

The driving / ownership experience:

I currently drive a BMW 335i. I like its smooth power delivery and the interior comforts. But i don't get excited when i get to drive it. So my search for a new car eventually led me to the GS after reading reviews of many many sports / luxury cars as i tried to find something that will get "under my skin" and make a very good attempt at combining a sports car with a luxury GT. I have had the BMW for 2 years and before that an Evo 8 MR FQ340. I have enjoyed both cars a lot, any owners care to say how the GS would compare as an overall experience.

The car will be used as a second car, i have a van for work so it will be used on dry days and do around 3,000 miles a year. I am hoping a well sorted one will cause me little issues beside the usual servicing.

Thanks for the replies in advance!

 

[safrane]

Sadly you just missed one that a forum member pirchased off another one on here.

I to have just bought my own after two 4200s...it is different to the first two but don't discount them as the latter face lift cars are imo just as good and a little easier on the bottom/spine.

 

[dickygrace]

Welcome to the forum Jayblue. I'd say from what you've said here, you know exactly what you want and have done all your research. I've heard the guys at Migliore know their stuff so doubt you'd go wrong there. Regards how it compared to an Evo and a BMW, it doesn't. Regards speed and handling, close to the Evo, regards ride and refinement closer to the BMW. GS' are hard in sport mode but not too hard for a weekend car. Buy a good one, you won't go wrong. There are only a few good ones sold privately each year, but if you're flexible with colour combos and mileage and in no rush, I'm sure you'll find one.

 

[mjheathcote]

Good luck with the hunt.
Never heard of any 'driveshaft' issues!
For your money, don't disregard the 4200.
If you buy one of later 4200 the difference is really the side skirts and interior differences, plus 18 inch wheels that are less prone to buckling. The savings are huge in £, depends what's important to you!

 

[Andyk]

A big warm welcome Jayblue and good luck with your search...Dicky has posted above but well worth a call to him as he sells rather a lot of GS's...

 

[jayblue]

Sadly you just missed one that a forum member pirchased off another one on here.

I to have just bought my own after two 4200s...it is different to the first two but don't discount them as the latter face lift cars are imo just as good and a little easier on the bottom/spine.

Yeah i PM'd Paul last Friday but he had just sold the car. I had seen it on PH but it wasn't until i saw it advertised here that it caught my eye because i was able to find out more about the car and its previous owners via forum threads. On the later 4200 i may be tempted by one but it is a narrow window to buy in as i want one in the lower road tax bracket, but face lifted. Also i much prefer the GS body kit, wheels and interior styling. I am used to a hard ride, the BMW came with run flat tyres...

Good luck with the hunt.
Never heard of any 'driveshaft' issues!
For your money, don't disregard the 4200.
If you buy one of later 4200 the difference is really the side skirts and interior differences, plus 18 inch wheels that are less prone to buckling. The savings are huge in £, depends what's important to you!

I meant prop shaft issues sorry! Seems it can be refurbished like this however for around £200 - http://www.sportsmaserati.com/showthread.php/14530-Prop-shaft

A big warm welcome Jayblue and good luck with your search...Dicky has posted above but well worth a call to him as he sells rather a lot of GS's...

Yeah Dicky has some lovely cars. It's a real pity buying one of the cars he currently has would leave me with little money in the repair pot should i need it.

Thanks all for the warm welcome, i will post it up if i find a car.

 

[Rwc13]

If you buy a car from Dicky, that should not be a significant risk considering the process all his cars go through. Definitely worth talking to him

 

[Andyk]

PLus, even if Dicky doesn't have the car you want you could Possibly find you one.....

ADG have a blue car that is close to the money you want to pay as well......They are on here as well......

 

[mjheathcote]

I meant prop shaft issues sorry! Seems it can be refurbished like this however for around £200 - http://www.sportsmaserati.com/showthread.php/14530-Prop-shaft
.

Not clear in the post you have linked so easy to get confused the propshaft issue refers to the 3200, the 4200/GS doesn't have one with the combined gearbox/diff at the rear. The 3200 having a traditional gearbox behind the engine and a diff at the back!

 

[outrun]

Yup, 3200 have the potential of a prop shaft issue not 4200/GS.

It was me that bought Phil's car so now I have 2 !! I may sell one but will not make any decisions for a few weeks at least. If you're still looking in a couple of months, PM me.

Ta

 

[conaero]

Well, you will find that your budget will come down to spec.

There are 2 specs, standard GS and and LE spec.

The LE spec are the more sort after ones and thus command higher prices.

This spec includes, full leather (some non LE's do have full leather), Leather headliner, Xenon lights, various bits of trim and Auditorium HiFi

I would say that a dealer with an 40k miler LE will in good condition and colour spec will be asking £28/29k and £24/25k for basic.

Mileage also is key which is silly really as these cars hate not to be driven and respond really well to it.

 

[outrun]

You should post more Matt, I love seeing that avatar....

 

[conaero]

You should post more Matt, I love seeing that avatar....

I do have some more hires of that girl, but I can't find them at the moment, here are some of my other favourites Alfa girls, apologies to our lady members in advance:

 

[Contigo]

 

[Woody]

Welcome to the forum OP, you have fine taste

Mileage also is key which is silly really as these cars hate not to be driven and respond really well to it.

Couldnt agree more. Whenever I've had any niggles with mine, its when it hasn't been used regularly for a while. Mine has 50-odd thousand on it now and it running as well as ever. I hope to take it to 100k!

 

[jayblue]

Not clear in the post you have linked so easy to get confused the propshaft issue refers to the 3200, the 4200/GS doesn't have one with the combined gearbox/diff at the rear. The 3200 having a traditional gearbox behind the engine and a diff at the back!

Yup, 3200 have the potential of a prop shaft issue not 4200/GS.

Ah my mistake! Well thats one less thing to worry about i guess. Sometimes you can end up finding too much information online and confuse yourself.

 

[outrun]

My friends have given each of them a score out of ten, Matt. First one wins it for me.

 

[jayblue]

Well, you will find that your budget will come down to spec.

There are 2 specs, standard GS and and LE spec.

The LE spec are the more sort after ones and thus command higher prices.

This spec includes, full leather (some non LE's do have full leather), Leather headliner, Xenon lights, various bits of trim and Auditorium HiFi

I would say that a dealer with an 40k miler LE will in good condition and colour spec will be asking £28/29k and £24/25k for basic.

Mileage also is key which is silly really as these cars hate not to be driven and respond really well to it.

I ideally want one with full leather, i think it looks more classy and is also easier to clean. The other LE extra's are nice but not deal breakers for me.

With regard to mileage i won't be adding an awful lot to it once i buy it so i am considering very well cared for cars with up to 60,000 miles on the clocks. Better to get a well sorted higher miles car than a lower mileage car that needs lots of work doing. Thanks for the advice.

 

[conaero]

Jay, I would say the best value car to go for which will hold up well on depreciation is an 2005, non LE but full leather with circa 40k miles on the clock.

Being 2005 the road tax is half.

Being full leather, you and always add the other items over time

Being 40k miles, it keeps it away from the 50k mile cliff that these cars seem to have.

 

[jayblue]

Jay, I would say the best value car to go for which will hold up well on depreciation is an 2005, non LE but full leather with circa 40k miles on the clock.

Being 2005 the road tax is half.

Being full leather, you and always add the other items over time

Being 40k miles, it keeps it away from the 50k mile cliff that these cars seem to have.

Sounds like my ideal car, no just to find one!

Funny you should mention depreciation, it is one of the reasons i want to sell the BMW. It's a great car but perceived as just a 3 series to most people so will continue to drop in value. From what i have read in some older threads about the GS the prices for a good one have been relatively stable for a number of years now.