High mile Granturismo

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mr gill

New Member
Messages
17
Hi All, Been watching auto trader for some while now.... some pretty high milers coming up! there was one last month with 117k on the clock! currently there is one on for £20.5k with 92k on the clock. Although will be looking for one with sub 60k its good to see they can really do the miles!
Still struggling to part with my c4s, but i am lured by the sublime curves of a granurismo!, later this year or early next year i will put mine up for sale.... then jump into the cruising comfort of the best looking car ever made!
With the 911 i have the doom and of the IMS, mine still purrs like new after 92k miles (touch wood!) Am i right in saying the variators are the big issue with the early 4.2's? Is it all blown out of proportion or would you guys only buy a car that had evidence they were updated?
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
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48,736
I'd buy one with evidence that they'd been fixed. Mine's done about 84k or something now.....

C
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,626
Yes, as Catman says, evidence.

I am helping someone deal with a GTS that was told the variations had been done...hes currently spending £4k to have it done...for the first time.

Only Maserati can machine the caps so you need to get confirmation of who did it and the chassis/engine number is logged with Maserati that is is done.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,736
Conaero said:
Yes, as Catman says, evidence.

I am helping someone deal with a GTS that was told the variations had been done...hes currently spending £4k to have it done...for the first time.

Only Maserati can machine the caps so you need to get confirmation of who did it and the chassis/engine number is logged with Maserati that is is done.
Click to expand...

Ouch. From my experience it's not actually Maserati that do the work, but it's them that need to order it. No idea if they track it. I was assuming that an invoice would be enough!

C
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,626
CatmanV2 said:
Ouch. From my experience it's not actually Maserati that do the work, but it's them that need to order it. No idea if they track it. I was assuming that an invoice would be enough!

C
Click to expand...

Main dealer on the South Coast did the job, nobody else could.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,626
Further more, I have a direct contact and can find out, PM me your engine/chassis number and reg for assistance.

Please do not PM me as a general enquiry this is purely to assist new purchases vs shark traders.
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
Just get the engine number for us and we can tell you if that model is affected. Most pre 2008 cars will be though so that's most if not all of the 4.2's
 
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cheshiremaserati

Member
Messages
1,121
If you are the same gentleman on 911uk, I think your budget may struggle to get a good example with variators sorted. As I posted about your enquiry on 911uk, most of the 4.2's in that budget would have been ones that came under such issues.

If you go for the later models which don't have this issues the budget goes up dramatically. Additionally, though you believe the 4.2 auto suits your purpose, it will be frustratingly slow after a C4S. But of course no IMS or bore score issues. The GT is a big heavy car.

If budget is the limit (c£30k all-in if I recall) you can find a 4.2 auto but it is likely to be higher mileage than you want. Your local specialists (Migliore from memory?) could advise you on this issue and check if variators have been done.

There are cars in your budget, but my recommendation would always be to spend at the top of the budget if you want a very good example as a first entry to Maserati. Like Porsche pre-and post-DFI, (but especially pre-DFI) these cars can eat a bank account for breakfast if required to bring into top shape. I'd also say that a Cat C or D car may be fine as a keeper, but could be difficult to off-load when you come to move it on.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,626
CatmanV2 said:
Giallo did mine. I'm pretty sure he did it properly :)

C
Click to expand...

Giallo may have done the job but they didn't do the machining modification.

That goes out to the main dealer.

Giallo is the person that did the car in question too.
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
cheshiremaserati said:
If you are the same gentleman on 911uk, I think your budget may struggle to get a good example with variators sorted. As I posted about your enquiry on 911uk, most of the 4.2's in that budget would have been ones that came under such issues.

If you go for the later models which don't have this issues the budget goes up dramatically. Additionally, though you believe the 4.2 auto suits your purpose, it will be frustratingly slow after a C4S. But of course no IMS or bore score issues. The GT is a big heavy car.

If budget is the limit (c£30k all-in if I recall) you can find a 4.2 auto but it is likely to be higher mileage than you want. Your local specialists (Migliore from memory?) could advise you on this issue and check if variators have been done.

There are cars in your budget, but my recommendation would always be to spend at the top of the budget if you want a very good example as a first entry to Maserati. Like Porsche pre-and post-DFI, (but especially pre-DFI) these cars can eat a bank account for breakfast if required to bring into top shape. I'd also say that a Cat C or D car may be fine as a keeper, but could be difficult to off-load when you come to move it on.
Click to expand...

It aint only old classic 3200GT's Masers that have problems then!

Dave
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,391
Conaero said:
Giallo may have done the job but they didn't do the machining modification.

That goes out to the main dealer.

Giallo is the person that did the car in question too.
Click to expand...

All the ones I were involved with the caps didn't go back to the factory.
They were done by an engineering shop in Australia.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,736
Conaero said:
Giallo may have done the job but they didn't do the machining modification.

That goes out to the main dealer.

Giallo is the person that did the car in question too.
Click to expand...

Yes, you're correct they didn't do the machining, but pretty sure they didn't send it to a dealer, rather a Maserati designated engineering shop. Far too confusing :)

C
 
M

mr gill

New Member
Messages
17
cheshiremaserati, yes i am the same guy.... not fussed about a cars speed really, i want a nice GT cruising car that is comfortable compared to my 996. Saying that until i drive one i cant say! My previous car to the 996 was an E46 M3, the porsche feels slow compared to that but it didnt really bother me as i was buying the image of a sports car. Seriously considered the Panamera, just stunning inside i think, just cant live with that '******** dog' stance.

what is the variator issue? Dont understand why the machining is main dealer related? (It interests me because i am a Manufacturing Engineer)
 
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cheshiremaserati

Member
Messages
1,121
I may not be accurate giving you an explanation, so best is perhaps speak to your local Indy Migliore who will be explain it better and more accurately than I can.
Personally I'd take the Maser over a Panamera any day.

I understand your remark about speed and what you want.

I hope you find the right car for you. Italian V8's are lovely and they grow on you.
And so many owners have been through one or more Porsche cars and M3's etc. that they can give an experienced view about them rather than the tendency for pub-room gossip about a mates dad who had one and it was shed load expensive and ate his savings that can be a typical response on non-Maserati fora.

I look forward to your next post announcing you are now in the Italian V8 Club.
 
Jkulin

Jkulin

Junior Member
Messages
983
When my Maser had the Variators done by an independent, it was sent to a company in Manchester, then sent on to a second company, who farmed it out to a third company, the third company needed a rocket up their backside for taking so long to repair them.

The company in Manchester were at one time the main parts supplier to Maserati UK.

Although my QPV is a 2010, the engine numbers matched up a 2008 model.
 
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