Car inspections and gearboxes

[dem maser]

They thought they have you....
All that way, stayed the night, desperate it looked....you did the right thing

 

[dem maser]

Good one Chris

 

[dem maser]

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

Self employed for years, loved it....one day....
It was hard as you think work on your day off or if you have a day off but it was rewarding to know its mine

 

[Chrisbassett]

Yeah, I've been working for myself for 5 years now, and really don't want to go back. Still haven't taken the big step of employing someone directly, just through contracts to other companies. I guess that's the next thing to do.

 

[Chrisbassett]

Good one Chris

even worse, you take a day off then spend it thinking of the money you would have earned if you'd worked...opportunity cost! Refuse to think like that now...quality time off is worth any cost.

 

[philw696]

Yeah love being self employed wished I could have done it sooner but got 13 years under my belt now.

 

[alfatwo]

These lots of ups and downs, like taking three weeks off smoking your old Maser around Europe then trying to decide which one of your loyal customers is going to pay for it..

Then theres the three months without any money coming in syndrome......Its all hard work but very rewarding, lots better than standing to attention every day!

Dave

 

[mjheathcote]

They thought they have you....
All that way, stayed the night, desperate it looked....you did the right thing

It worked out good in the end, in the time it took to not find a good one (928), the 4200's dropped to be within budget!

 

[philw696]

With you there Dave were in the ranks of the free. I'd be a fibber if I said I have not had scary moments like good old cash flow but it's not a bad life.

 

[alfatwo]

Thread deviation again....nice one chaps

But like Phil says,It's difficult out there and there's no grantees!

Dave

 

[zagatoes30]

Thanks Catman, very helpful - sounds sensible about the inspection. The car's up in Leighton Buzzard if anyone knows a good indy inspector up there. Very reassuring to read about the increasing range of replacement parts out there as well as the decent indie garages. The clutch life and prices don't seem unreasonable, I've just had an OEM clutch on my existing car for similar sort of money. I'm guessing the CC gearbox seemed so slick because the clutch is only 1-2k miles old but it certainly didn't seem anything like the jerky rubbish I've read about.

Here's the car: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GORGEOUS-...9569294?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cd579d58e - if anyone knows anything about it I would be very keen to hear!

Cheers

R

I went to look at this car before buying Matts.

Nice bloke selling and he had some lovely stuff in his warehouse but it had too many signs of age for my liking. Drove well and the history file with it was amazing but I had seen Matts car previously and know how nice a good one should look.

Even then I still had an inspection and it was well worth the money, £210, as not only did it confirm my views it highlighted a few areas for future improvement. Persevere you will find the right car eventually.

 

[TMSpyder]

I was a bit confused by the lack of 43,500 mile service although was assured that some interim other mileage ones stamped at the front of the book substituted for it (not the expert myself!) A few more Spyders in the..sea?

 

[CatmanV2]

A few more Spyders in the..sea?

Apparently so
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/13614742

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

Epic thread drift and epic scope creep...the joy of the forum and the pain of work.

 

[hodroyd]

Welcome TM and I hope you find exactly what you are looking for..!!
Run my own company now for almost 25 years and would not do it any different, there have been pitfalls and cash flow issues along the way, but that's all part of doing it you're way..!!

 

[EnzoMC]

hi and welcome, not sure what your budget is but have you looked to see if you can get a Gransport, I was looking at 3200's (like the idea of twin turbo's again) which was under my budget and when I drive a Gransport that was it, saved for a little longer and got one.

when you find your right car, try and get a years warrenty as part of the deal, it just a little peace of mind for the 1st year of ownership. I know these don't cover everything but it helps to know after a larger purchase you have some cover.

best of luck in finding your car, what ever Coupe you decide on, it will be awesome and you will love every driving moment.

 

[TMSpyder]

Thanks guys

Enzo - We're probably looking up to about 18/20k max for the right car, we could stretch further but partly we don't want to have too much invested in it in case the unthinkable happens to it. The GS Spyders seem pretty rare and the ones I've seen so far seem to be on for £25/30k (and have some curious interiors!) however we are keeping an eye on them as well.

Cheers

Richard

 

[hodroyd]

Richard,
£18-20K would put you in the late 4200 Spyders I would think, as you say a GS Spyder is quite a chunk more, but a late 4200 is close to same spec's anyway..!!
Cheers
R

 

[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...

What timing, the 928 I saw and walked away from 2 years ago has surfaced:
http://www.paul-stephens.com/Porsche-928-GTS/car5350
Phoned them up, it's a commission sale and the owner is trying to recoup some of the "10s of thousands" he has spent on it in the last two years.
SO GLAD I walked and joined the Maserati side!

 

[MAF260]

£36k for a 928?? I don't follow the prices of these, but thought they were pretty much unloved and had prices to match their desirability.