Decision Time: 4200 vs GS vs GT

J

Jnismith

Member
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284
So I have now test driven a 4200, 3 Gransports and today a 4.2 Auto Grantourismo. The 4200 (pre-facelift) was a bit of a dog. All the GS' were nice and I love the direct steering though the ride is pretty hard. But I just can't work out the Grantourismo. It was a 400 bhp Automatic but it didn't really feel that fast. My daily driver is a BMW 440i with the MPPSK pack which gives it 360 bhp and it feels way, way faster than the GT. Its also more comfortable. So to me the only thing going for the GT is the looks which you can't see from the inside of the car anyway. In fact you can't see the end of the bonnet at all which as the one I drove didn't have front sensors is going to be fun to park!

So it looks like a Gransport which was a **** of a lot of fun to drive and I've one more to look at tomorrow but I keep looking at the ads for the two RG has in Chester but they just seem a bit too dear. It's going to be fun making a decision though. Any thoughts would be welcome.
 
azapa

azapa

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1,300
Try a 4.7 in mc shift form, they seem to cost about the same as a GS. I came from a 500hp m5 and the stradale feels substantially faster. Probably just the theatre though, and I suppose that's the point.
 
Spartacus

Spartacus

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I'v got some advice , don t buy the red GS , I want it ha ha ;P
I keep thinking about it but the clutch has done a fair few miles and having just put one in my 4200 i don t really fancy forking out another £3k for another one . GTS are very tempting aswell. They look like they cost alot more than they do . ;) Drive a 4.7 . a world of differance to a 4.2 .
 
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M

m1980k

Junior Member
Messages
467
I'm putting my GS up for sale. I'll post a thread about it soon. It's silver with a black full leather interior and has only done 36,500 miles. It needs quite a few things sorting to bring it up to scratch - I'd sell it cheap before all the jobs are done or for a few grand more with a service and MOT; new front brakes; rear body respray after a nick in the bumper and corrosion under the rear lights are sorted; and a few other things. PM me if you want a chat.
 
GeoffCapes

GeoffCapes

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14,000
Test drive a GT MC Shift and you mind will be made up.

Adam’s (Felonius Crud) is for sale and a bargain.
 
outrun

outrun

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5,017
RG's cars are always priced accordingly but that's because he seeks out the good ones, prepares them properly and warranties them. All that costs money. It's whether you want to spend the extra for piece of mind or roll the dice elsewhere. To me, you either buy top price or bottom, accepting that you may have to pay a few quid to bring a cheaper car up to scratch. I did that with my first GS and the bill was £3500 within a week of collecting it. I knew that would happen so I was ready.

It's interesting that top GS are now the same price as a 4.7 GTS but they are very different. I'd also suggest you drive one of those, preferably an MC Shift car, before making up your mind. You can get one for low 30s which is a huge amount of car for the money.
 
J

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
Yeah, maybe I didn't give it enough of a run but I was strangely unmoved by it. If I'd have really liked the GT as a car, I would have looked more at the 4.7 engine. But I think i want a different driving experience from the Beemer and the GS seems to be more of that. Its a really heart over head thing. My wife keep saying, why do I want two cars? And its to have a choice of something to drive. I want to have something I can have a blast in. I also think that I can get a GS now and then maybe move to a GT in a few years time. And thats not going to really work the other way.
 
J

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
Spartacus said:
I'v got some advice , don t buy the red GS , I want it ha ha ;P
I keep thinking about it but the clutch has done a fair few miles and having just put one in my 4200 i don t really fancy forking out another £3k for another one . GTS are very tempting aswell. They look like they cost alot more than they do . ;) Drive a 4.7 . a world of differance to a 4.2 .
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Red one, I'd love a red one. Is that the one in Cardiff?
 
redsonnylee

redsonnylee

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1,549
Bought my GS from Richard in November, he always has his cars inspected. You get what you pay for plus a good warranty.

He sells a lot of Maseratis for a good reason. Have a chat with him, I did this after taking to a few of his previous customers and found him very polite.

Although I miss my 3200, I do a lot more miles in the GS and more often. I’ve an even bigger grin these days.
 
J

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
redsonnylee said:
Bought my GS from Richard in November, he always has his cars inspected. You get what you pay for plus a good warranty.

He sells a lot of Maseratis for a good reason. Have a chat with him, I did this after taking to a few of his previous customers and found him very polite.

Although I miss my 3200, I do a lot more miles in the GS and more often. I’ve an even bigger grin these days.
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I talked with RG a couple of weeks ago. He previously sold one of the cars I am thinking of. Nice chap. Just trying to get the age/colour/spec/miles/tax/price/interior/whatever combo right.
 
Spartacus

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,185
Well thats the problem iv got with it , and the clutch is in the area that they go. Its done a good 20k on its current one. Its the biggest bill you pay out for on it . Believe me iv done it once . If you can find one with a newish clutch in then its always a wieght of your mind . My last one went after 22k miles and was 30% worn , and i dont rag my clutches .
 
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J

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
Yeah, and hopefully I've found a different one with a new clutch. I realise I am going to spend money on a Maserati, just don't want it to be the disaster it was last time. It cost me something like £15K in 4 years for rust, servicing, repairs etc for the Ghibli.
 
dickygrace

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
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7,334
Jnismith said:
I talked with RG a couple of weeks ago. He previously sold one of the cars I am thinking of. Nice chap. Just trying to get the age/colour/spec/miles/tax/price/interior/whatever combo right.
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Unless I am mistaken there are no cars currently on the open market that I’ve previously sold. There may be however, one that’s not on the open market that has been offered to you. Just to highlight what Athol said, our cars have a proper 6 month warranty and have been inspected at a reputable specialist, and given a clean bill of health. In the case of both of the Gransports, they’ve actually been checked by two. One has a new clutch, one is 9% worn, these things do all add up.
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,521
If you are serious about a GS you owe it to yourself to look at both RG cars. The top of the market yes but peace of mind and a choice as well. If nothing else it serves as a great reference against other cars you might view. Also I agree if you like the GS you need to be driving a 4.7 MC-Shift GTS for a comparable drive.
 
Swedish Paul

Swedish Paul

Member
Messages
1,809
Buy a GS. simple. And don't believe all that's said about a garage queen. I have had mine for 4 years, and apart Friday m s misfire, I have had no problems. Service once s year, enjoy. But buy the best you can. There's a lot of **** out there.
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

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GeoffCapes said:
Test drive a GT MC Shift and you mind will be made up.

Adam's (Felonius Crud) is for sale and a bargain.
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Dorothy's right on both points. It's a bloody bargain! Someone should snap it up quick before I get sucked into a bad trade-in deal. Alternatively Dicky G might be advertising it before too long if I get offered an impossible-to-resist deal on the next folly. You can find it here
 
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