Potential buying advice for a 2008 Quattroporte (ZF)

Kyle4200 said:

I'm after for some buying advice and common faults or things to look out for on the 2007/2008 Automatica's.

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Perhaps obvio, but when you find one you like, it is worth taking an hour or so to try every button, check every warning, and examine every bit of trim. I failed to do this, and have spent some time fixing little niggles that I could have got the selling dealer to do in advance if I had paid proper attention.

Also get a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist. Some will do this for free, others charge £100-300. It might throw up a worrying list of stuff, but then you know where you stand. I can tell you that the POST-purchase inspection is a very stressful experience!

Don't get swept up by the QP lust, splash the cash, throw away your return ticket and drive home. I got away with it, but still feel a bit foolish!

MarkMas said:

Yes, although there is serious rust and cosmetic rust. I have some surface rust on coils and plates, which Dick Lovett in Swindon suggested needed fixing, but Ftech in Exeter reassured me were really just cosmetic. It depends how perfectionist you want to be. Fernando would have replaced the entire underside of the car, but my QP is a daily driver that just has to be functional.
http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...-worried-about?p=547595&viewfull=1#post547595

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Yes agree, if these cars are used throughout the year most will be the same underneath but mostly cosmetic unless left untreated.

Your QP didn't look much different from my GS, but didn't want any signs of rust, hence my decision to remove the rear sub-frame for powder coating last year, then to replace the front sub-frame end of this year, along with replacing and powder coat anything else with signs of wear / corrosion.

If you do it yourself the costs are not too bad but still a good few ££££ in parts alone.

Confession - i bought mine over the phone without even looking at it or driving it. I had driven a 4.7 and figured the 4.2 i ended up with would be fine. Dealer warranty is there and it was from a good dealer (Syntner) so happy with the gamble.

I would agree that a specialist inspection is essential & good value for money. I had Migliore inspect the QP even though they had just done the variators & seen the car a couple of months prior to my purchase.

The 4200 I never had inspected as was pointless & not needed. I bought it from the 1st owner who had it from new, always garaged, never driven in the rain, never driven in the winter weather. Then always serviced every year by Meridian, then Emblem. I spoke to Emblem before I bought it & they said it was spotless, immaculate & no problems with it at all. It was just a case of how much it was going to cost me. I have kept it in a garage under an indoor OEM cover serviced it every year as well & the same never driven in the rain, never in winter weather & been kept spotless. At only 13k miles since new in 2007. It is the car I would buy again & again also it is one of those few that wouldn't need an inspection

I agree with Mark that to spend some time alone trying all the little bits & electronics to make sure they all work. They are laden with these & little bits/bobs can mount up especially if you are not handy on the tools & have to pay labour on top.

However in theory go for it....they are cracking cars. Just take your time to find the right one. I spent a year looking/waiting for my 4200.

Noted.

Also, with the 2009 'Facelifted' version - what other changes were there? These are a little/a lot more expensive at the moment, the price difference between a late 2008 MY & early 2009 MY is about £10k! I did see the 'review' on TopGear (4-Door Supercars) and everyone was happy with the QPV! Looks, sounds immense. I still aiming off with a 2008 version of the QPV at the present time once I've managed to tweak the last few niggles on my 4200.