GT wannabe (am I mad?)

[RudeDog]

Hello,

I find myself being drawn to the Maserati GranTurismo' especially now that there are several available on PH and AT for under £40k. I've be been in a Porsche Cayman S for the last three years and while it was a wonderful motor car, it's going to a new owner tomorrow and I find myself carless.

I'd very much welcome any advice that other forum members might have about the best way to get myself in to a GT and what to look out for. I drive past Maranello's twice a day on my commute to the office and even though there are Ferraris and Lambos parked out the front, I'm always looking at the Maseratis at the end of the lot and hardly notice the more expensive stuff.

I'd very much prefer to buy used from a Main Dealer but are there sub-£40k cars available from them?

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy the learning and test driving experience over the next week or two.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

Regards

RD

 

[Andyk]

A big welcome to the forum RD....there are some lovely GT's for sale under 40k but very rare to see one at a main dealer. It would be worth a call to Richard Grace off here...dickygrace.....he is a well respected Maserati specialist and has sold a number of great Maserati to forum members...Even if you just want advice it's worth a chat with him.

 

[Brendan]

Welcome. Agree I do not think you will see many sub £40k gt's @ main dealers. I think its better buying the 4.7 rather than the 4.2 too

 

[BennyD]

To answer your original question, yes, you are mad. However, you should fit in well on here because most of us are barking! Lovely car the GT but, IMO, you are probably better stretching the budget and getting a 4.7 if you can. We look forward to seeing how you get on. Good luck with the hunt.

 

[RudeDog]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

My biggest fear is that I'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel to find a car in my budget (stretching even to £35-40k is pushing my luck at the moment as I've got a new house and a wedding to pay for in the next 12-months). Would I be better off getting something else for now, save the cash and then get a 4.7S when I am in a better position to do so? I guess that as they become more affordable, the 4.2 models will drop off a cliff as nobody will want them. I don't want to get stuck with a car that loses all its value in a couple of years time.

Hmmm, lots to think about.... Itch to scratch.... more to think about.... Can't quite reach the itch!!!

 

[roger102]

no one can tell what the markets will do in a few years time, thats out of our control, so I'd say that's not really a worry. its not rare/desirable enough to be a appreciating classic like a Ferrari to collectors and prices have for the time being have bottomed out. petrol on the other hand may climb 20% so anything over 1400cc will be worth scrap to all but the well healed so then we're all snookered. Live for the now that's what I've decided last year but just be a little bit sensible as you never know what's round the corner that you have to cash in for

 

[Parisien]

Always hard to tell....GTs have proved very successful and pretty reliable........high running costs remain, theres probably never a right time to buy a supercar, but have a warchest ready, remember they've already lost 60% or so of their value if an early 2008 with 50 k miles....so not a huge distance to go


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[Andyk]

Gents, stretching to a 4.7.......RD is saying now that the GT is under 40k it's tempting him......a 4.7 is at least 10k more...Stretch....thats a bit more than a stretch.....

RD, you will get a good 4.2 GT for under 40k and will not be scrapping the barrel. Now what to look out for and you will bu yourself a lovely car which will make you smile, but the GT is not a sports car as it's far too big and because ou are used to a Cayman you may want to get out there and drive one to make sure its for you.....they are great cars.

Price wise the GT 4.2 is great value and they seem to have bottomed out at the moment....Last year you could get a 4.2 for under 35k and there was a few on PH...Now most are over 35k and show no signs of dropping below 30k.....I think they are great value at 35/37k as there is nothing out there that looks as good. If ou had a 4.2 GT on your drive most would think you had won the lottery as they still look a 80k plus car.

Here's Dicky's web site it's worth giving him a call....

http://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/

 

[npaskin]

...petrol on the other hand may climb 20% so anything over 1400cc will be worth scrap...

I disagree: yes, probably fuel prices will continue to increase in real terms – but petrol has already gone up by 50% since Jan 2007 (http://www.petrolprices.com/the-price-of-fuel.html#j-1-2), so I don't think a 20% increase will trash the market for enthusiasts' cars.

 

[Andyk]

Car fans will always find the money for their passion...

 

[Parisien]

I disagree: yes, probably fuel prices will continue to increase in real terms – but petrol has already gone up by 50% since Jan 2007 (http://www.petrolprices.com/the-price-of-fuel.html#j-1-2), so I don’t think a 20% increase will trash the market for enthusiasts’ cars.

Plus even though bigger engined etc, cars are much more economical, even the big ones! petrol would only really be a concern if doing lots and lots of miles and quite a few in town

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[bigbob]

For the OP, obviously posting your question on a Maserati forum will only result in people telling you to buy one!

I'm not local anymore but I happened to be a traffic jam on the Egham bypass recently having just gone past Maranello and it reminded me that in the South East, the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.7 is not worth getting excited about so don't worry about getting the smaller engine.

The thing to really check on a used GranTurismo is the brakes as they are expensive to replace. Also check what was done at the four year service as it's a biggy and many people miss stuff out. No clutch issues either on the 4.2 which helps a lot with the ££.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Hi RudeDog. I suppose your level of madness depends on why you want a GT. If you're coming from a Cayman and expect it to handle as well then you're probably mad. If you want one because it is perhaps one of the most beautiful cars ever, then you might not be mad. As was said earlier, it's a big car (about the same footprint as a Range Rover) but does have a fairly decent sized boot and four seats which grown-ups will fit in. And it sounds good. And isn't a Porsche, which gives it an immediate rarity and cachet (I like to think! ).

Fuel consumption need not to be too abysmal, but is very much a matter of how you drive. Not much fun doing a load of town driving in these anyway, but if you enjoy caning it them hauling such a heavy lump up to speed constantly then the difference is dramatic: I can range from 15mpg to 25mpg at the extremes of "normal" road dricing.

All of which I suppose is fairly obvious. Also, have a look at this: http://www.nuvolalondon.com/for-sale.php. Mine came from Nareman at Nuvola. Like Dicky Grace, Nareman is an obsessive enthusiast who values customer care, decency and great cars above all else. Worth a look.

 

[bigbob]

10,000 miles pa in a BMW 320d c £1500 fuel cost. Same in a GranTurismo c £3000 fuel cost. Is it me or is the difference not worth getting excited about especially when the BMW will depreciate £15k in three years whereas a five year old GranTurismo might only drop £10k?

 

[Parisien]

Excellent rational BB...............small price to say......for the Kudos, style, buzz, pleasure.....cheap as chips......


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