2002 4200 gt
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urbanmaser
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Happpppppppppppppppppppppppy birthday stu
Budapeststu
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Thanks a lot for all the best wishes, you don't get this on other forums!
The current situation is that no one seems to want a manual. I don't know why not because I love a manual box and usually prefer them over a semi-auto, at least with the older cars I have the budget for. I have to bring mine back for a service and MOT so I'm probably going to take him to Auto Sportiva and get everything sorted and then run him for another year.
It was going to cost me £5-6K minimum to upgrade and I figure I have a totally reliable car that I've invested time and money in to get just the way I like it. I'd rather spend the same money to do some further upgrades so apart from the service and MOT I'm looking at having Larini back boxes and club sport centre sections fitted and Formula Dynamics shocks and springs or similar as well.
On that subject does anyone have any suggestions for upgrades to the shocks and springs other than FD?
Cheers,
Stu
The current situation is that no one seems to want a manual. I don't know why not because I love a manual box and usually prefer them over a semi-auto, at least with the older cars I have the budget for. I have to bring mine back for a service and MOT so I'm probably going to take him to Auto Sportiva and get everything sorted and then run him for another year.
It was going to cost me £5-6K minimum to upgrade and I figure I have a totally reliable car that I've invested time and money in to get just the way I like it. I'd rather spend the same money to do some further upgrades so apart from the service and MOT I'm looking at having Larini back boxes and club sport centre sections fitted and Formula Dynamics shocks and springs or similar as well.
On that subject does anyone have any suggestions for upgrades to the shocks and springs other than FD?
Cheers,
Stu
Parisien
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Probably a good decision, given that that unless you put quite a few more miles on it the value of the car will remind the same, though the same will apply to any car you might up-grade too! There are definitely fewer cars around compared to autumn last year, chioce is a bit limited too, ie few low miles 2004/5 cars at a reasonable price. Hope the up-grades go ok though!
P
P
Budapeststu
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Thanks, Parisien. I'm going for the "better the devil you know" option. Considering the reputed reliability issues with earlier 4200's, mine's been a very safe choice. I figure I'm better investing in a car that hasn't let me down.
I'm planning to be in Kent in the first week of July for the service, MOT and upgrades. If anyone fancies meeting up on Friday 9th July I'd be delighted. I can come into London if needed.
Stu
I'm planning to be in Kent in the first week of July for the service, MOT and upgrades. If anyone fancies meeting up on Friday 9th July I'd be delighted. I can come into London if needed.
Stu
lozcb
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Re the FD springs which i might add are very good and put any 4200 in the realms of gransport territory handling wise , are a tad on the dear side , for what they are , when compared to a couple of hundred pounds to have the ride height lowered around 15-20 mm, with English roads not being at their best at the moment and not for the foreseable future , personally i quite like the normal raod boaty handling for the bad roads definately gives for a smoother ride , more and more in the lsat 6 months am i popping back out of sport into normal to cater for all the potholes, so i would plumb for just the lowering,
In an ideal world with perfect roads would definately go for the FD springs , but reallity says with the cutbacks and the transport budget being cut in the UK majority driving will be normal mode for me
regards loz
Budapeststu
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Hi Andy,
The CC's do seem to be more popular and although I too was intending to try a CC that was only out of curiosity after all the threads I've read on the forum. I've driven both manual and semi-auto sports cars and in the end a manual always gives the best "real" driving experience in my book.
Regarding the price differential on 2005 cars, I know there was a £1,500 premium for buying the CC and I understand that the premium gets carried through at more or less face value, for the first few years of their lives. Thinking about it, if this is a true statement, can anyone think of another optional extra that effectively doesn't depreciate with the rest of the car?
The CC's do seem to be more popular and although I too was intending to try a CC that was only out of curiosity after all the threads I've read on the forum. I've driven both manual and semi-auto sports cars and in the end a manual always gives the best "real" driving experience in my book.
Regarding the price differential on 2005 cars, I know there was a £1,500 premium for buying the CC and I understand that the premium gets carried through at more or less face value, for the first few years of their lives. Thinking about it, if this is a true statement, can anyone think of another optional extra that effectively doesn't depreciate with the rest of the car?
Budapeststu
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Thanks for your thoughts, Loz. I split my time between NW England and Budapest and the best roads I use are probably those in between these two fine countries. Budapest has its issues with bad roads as well, although after the winter I started to wonder if parts of England were becoming poorer than certain central European countries.
I'll talk to Auto Sportiva about the options with regard to just having the car lowered. If the FD springs and shocks work with the Skyhook system then at least I should still be able to feel some difference between sport and normal modes, though of course that could mean "bone hard" in normal mode and "spine crushing" in sport mode. Not the best if the roads you use most are pothole-strewn. I do still wonder if there are any other after-market springs available that could be used for an upgrade. I assume that Gransport springs would fit but would be another very expensive solution...
I'll talk to Auto Sportiva about the options with regard to just having the car lowered. If the FD springs and shocks work with the Skyhook system then at least I should still be able to feel some difference between sport and normal modes, though of course that could mean "bone hard" in normal mode and "spine crushing" in sport mode. Not the best if the roads you use most are pothole-strewn. I do still wonder if there are any other after-market springs available that could be used for an upgrade. I assume that Gransport springs would fit but would be another very expensive solution...
Budapeststu
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Dunno, maybe they are and all I need is to have my car lowered?
Budapeststu
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In fairness the only 2005 manual on Autotrader for £21K is from a private seller, so I guess a trade seller would be charging £3-4K more. I do think your point is very valid though. I wish I could get a fair price for mine, it'd be great to upgrade to a facelift model for that price.
Andyk
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The one I was looking at has now sold....Grey, facelift with 40k on the clock 19995 and at dealer...There is the other one on Pistonheads thats been around a while at a dealer for 18995. Your car is a stunner and a good price and what I've read a well sorted car. Prices do seem to be all over the place at the moment...2003 cars from 15k to 24k....Big gap between prices..
Budapeststu
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Wow, those are low priced cars if they're from dealers. I see what you mean then that if a 2005 facelift manual car can be sold by a dealer for 21K or less, then there is a distinct disparity between the prices of manual cars and CCs. I guess rarity value is not doing me any favours at present.