Car inspections and gearboxes

[CatmanV2]

Just a reprise re the oil pump, I beleive someone has mentioned the car also being low on oil being the main culprit or certainly a significant contributory factor to oil pumps failing too


P

I'm with you, Frank. I've still not seen a case where the pump failed with known proper oil levels.

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

....eeemmmmm really Chris.........maybe with winter tyres, but any sort of incline and you were stuffed!!!!

Doris behaved impeccably this past winter, making it up a snow-covered hill with normal road tyres where vans and a volvo were sliding backward. She was relentless in ice mode, second gear with a feather-touch of throttle. It really did surprise me, but they seem to have got it right.

 

[TMSpyder]

Thanks everyone else. I'm tempted to put a lower ball offer in like you say and see what happens. It's definitely not at the top of the budget by a long way at the moment but I'm slightly concerned it may be a while before another decent colour one comes on to the market....

Appreciate the challenges I might have in the snow, I've always had RWD sports cars and once came so close to getting stuck I had to antifreeze under the tyres to get out of a ridge, but I'm sure it's much worse with a big torque-filled Maserati engine and a robot on the gears. But a range rover could get stuck behind someone trying to make it up a hill so who cares, right?! Sounds like you have a reasonable chance with the gearbox software anyway.

 

[mjheathcote]

As well as driving technique, the tyres have a big say.
These new fancy RR's, X5's etc suffer with the tyres. My friend with a Porsche Cayanne GTR could not get off his drive until he fitted a set of proper 4x4 wheels with M+S tyres.
If I was using my Maser all year round in all weather, a second set of winter tyres would be purchased.

 

[Parisien]

Well....I got stuck on a farm, just a few inches of soft snow, had to get the farmer and his son to sit in boot to give a bit of weight over rears...........sorry no pic to prove, but much merriment at the time!

P

 

[TMSpyder]

Hi all - just to update you, I didn't buy the original Spyder I was looking at in the end although it appears to have sold now.

I'm thinking of going to look at this one - is anyone familiar with it?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...gt-2dr-upgraded-larini-exhaust-system/1727885

My main concern is whether the Larini exhaust is going to make it louder/brasher than it needs to be, I think they are quite a popular mod so does anyone have a definitive view or is it just a matter of preference?

Cheers

R

 

[mjheathcote]

Larini is a bonus.
They can suffer from drone in the coupe that can be annoying if an everyday driver, but in the Spyder I understand no such problem.
Love my Larini exhaust!

 

[conaero]

Those images have been heavily played with in Photoshop, just prepare yourself before you go see it in the flesh.

 

[safrane]

Thats top $$ for a phase 1 Spyder. Post 2003 with the glass rear window are the ones to go for as they have a much stiffer body...There was a silver one on Auto Trader near Bath that was a phase 2 for the same price.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hmm

I bought my 4200 from that guy (Mac Mair, am I right?)

While the experience was OK, go in with your eyes open. Nothing I can put my finger on.....

C

 

[TMSpyder]

Yeah that's the guy Catman - not met him yet, off on Saturday I think so will see what the car is actually like then!

Thanks everyone for your tips again, hopefully I'll find a suitable one before you guys get bored of me asking about ones I've found

Cheers

 

[TMSpyder]

Well that was a complete waste of time! The car looked fine, seemed a bit loud as he pulled it out but then he wouldn't let us test drive it "without an offer on the table"! Obviously we left immediately - staggering that he thinks he is going to sell any cars that way, implies a huge distrust in his customers and a massive lack of professionalism. He spun some lie about it having been valeted and not wanting to get it dirty when it was already covered in oil prints from its recent MOT. Clearly had a lot to hide about the car so will not be touching them with a barge pole again. Embarrassment to the motor trade!

 

[CatmanV2]

Well that was a complete waste of time! The car looked fine, seemed a bit loud as he pulled it out but then he wouldn't let us test drive it "without an offer on the table"! Obviously we left immediately - staggering that he thinks he is going to sell any cars that way, implies a huge distrust in his customers and a massive lack of professionalism. He spun some lie about it having been valeted and not wanting to get it dirty when it was already covered in oil prints from its recent MOT. Clearly had a lot to hide about the car so will not be touching them with a barge pole again. Embarrassment to the motor trade!

Yes, he tried that with me. He can be persuaded, but it's a bit off putting.

OTOH I had serious trouble getting anyone to let me test a 4200.

C

 

[TMSpyder]

Seems a bit crazy that they think people will part with £15-20k for a car that they haven't tested - certainly the other place I looked at one were more than happy for me to try it out. I had this a few years ago when I bought my S2000 and found it a useful way to know who to avoid doing business with. Just a shame he had to drag us to the other side of London to find that out! Joker.

 

[CatmanV2]

We live and learn

C

 

[TMSpyder]

Indeed - never mind, another one just hit the websites so hopefully will be able to see that soon - onward and upward!

 

[mjheathcote]

When i was hunting for a Porsche 928 GTS I found one that ticked all the boxes down at a dealer in Cardiff.
I arranged to see it on a Saturday morning, and the dealer knew I was travelling down on the Friday late afternoon, and if I got down in time before they closed at 7, I would call in.
I got down for around 6:45, and the owners son showed me the car in their show room, the owner had gone home, which appeared immaculate, with the price £18K in the windscreen, per web site etc.
That night I could hardly sleep.
In the morning I arrived back at the showroom and the owner told me the bad news...the car was sold! I asked how this could be, after I spoke to him yesterday before setting off. He then explained that he had received an offer from Australia, for more than the advertised price of £18K, but £20K...but if I still wanted it, I could have it for £20K!
I nearly walked there and then, but I had travelled hundreds of miles and stayed overnight, so I inspected the service history and asked for a test drive. When he, after 2 hours, got the car out of the showroom, he gave me the keys for a drive, but it had no petrol. His reply was, there is a garage a mile down the road! no offer to pay for the fuel himself! So I put in £20, and used every bit!
I wasn't 100% happy with the drive, the full service history had gaps of 4 years, and I noticed some over spray, so I then happily walked!
On my way home I got a mate to ring to enquire about the car...it was still for sale...and the price was £18K...

 

[Parisien]

So Mike...why do you think he thought you'd be the fall guy?

Over enthusiastic, his way of shafting anyone who showed a bit of interest, or arrived in a nice car, wore a Rolex etc.....?

P

 

[Chrisbassett]

Wow, it must have worked for him before!

I once had a boss who wanted to take on another "me" - we put together a job spec and he took it to market...how he thought the agencies wouldn't call me to see if I was interested I don't understand, but it turned out he was offering 25% higher than I was on. Two hours later I had a 30% pay rise, three weeks later I took it with me (plus a bit more) to a new company. I guess I'd just become complacent.

 

[alfatwo]

A couple of years working for yourself with no holiday/sick pay and no freebee company cars useally sorts out the men from the boys!

Dave