Hello - Thinking of upsetting my wife again.

[Damon]

Hello SM Forum,

I am thinking of buying a used GranTurismo as a replacement for our Ferrari 456M. The only problem is my wife, who is incredibly tolerant to my car excesses with two exceptions - Maserati and TVR (the latter of which is totally understandable as I ended up in hospital after my Tuscan was rear ended by a Transit van). Her hatred of Maserati is purely based on financial reasons due to a Quattroporte Duo Select which had an over zealous appetite for clutches (the entrance to our previous home was up a very steep hill).

My wife loves her 456M (Auto) but its getting a little long in the tooth and has done galatic mileage - she preferes slush boxes to flappy paddle gearboxes which means the 612 is out hence looking at a GranTurismo.

Our budget equates to a low mileage 2008/2009 model - the car will mainly be driven by my wife (I drive a highly modified R53 Mini Cooper S with 280bhp and a very modified 1967 Morris Minor with a 160bhp Zetec engine, both of which look externally completely standard).

We will cover 30000 miles per year, the car will be used mainly on motorways and we will keep it about 3 years - I would really appreciate your thoughts/comments.

Thanks,

Damon

 

[GransportFan1]

Welcome to the forum, i am sure the Granturismo owners will help you out. Would like to see the pics of your Mini.

 

[dem maser]

Hi there, welcome to our forum.....

I like your taste in cars, and also can i say wow, what a lady you have there.....

You cant go wrong with a GT, around about 40k will get you one and if you went to 50k you could get into a GTS....
What is the miles on the 456?? Any pics??

Let us know which cars your looking at as a few on here have seen some and could maybe help you.....

 

[Damon]

Welcome to the forum, i am sure the Granturismo owners will help you out. Would like to see the pics of your Mini.

Thanks. Here are some pics of the Mini Adam.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105424001545609735327/MiniWithAlpinas?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP-5mPGW2d394gE&feat=directlink

 

[Damon]

Hi there, welcome to our forum.....

I like your taste in cars, and also can i say wow, what a lady you have there.....

You cant go wrong with a GT, around about 40k will get you one and if you went to 50k you could get into a GTS....
What is the miles on the 456?? Any pics??

Let us know which cars your looking at as a few on here have seen some and could maybe help you.....

The 456 has currently got about 160k miles on it - my wife is in Milan at the mo (she drives everywhere hence the miles) as soon as she gets back I will photo it for you (it aint pretty!).

With regard to the cars I am looking at, the current favorite is this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maserati-Granturismo-4-2-V8-Auto-/390355906540?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5ae3066fec#ht_1201wt_1398

 

[GransportFan1]

Thanks. Here are some pics of the Mini Adam.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105424001545609735327/MiniWithAlpinas?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP-5mPGW2d394gE&feat=directlink

That looks mega, great colour.

 

[Andyk]

Hi Damon and a big welcome to the forum...The GT you are looking at looks lovely..Love the red leather....

A 456 with 160k on the clock...Thats what I like to see..It being used...

Loving the Mini as well...Has it been breathed on by ALpine as they look like Alpina Alloys...

 

[2b1ask1]

I'm liking the stealth mode concept particularly of the super quick moggy!

Clearly the 456 has been enjoyed and why not.... Good luck with the search and welcome to the forum

 

[Damon]

Hi Damon and a big welcome to the forum...The GT you are looking at looks lovely..Love the red leather....

A 456 with 160k on the clock...Thats what I like to see..It being used...

Loving the Mini as well...Has it been breathed on by ALpine as they look like Alpina Alloys...

Thanks Andy, I have made a bid on the GT and am awaiting a response from the owner as its being sold on a commission sale basis, so fingers crossed.

We have been really fortunate with the 456M, we have covered nearly 140k in it with nothing other than routine maintenance. The other extreem is my Mini which has covered just 40k miles in 9 years but has cost a lot more than the Ferrari - I have stupidly spent more than the cost of the GT we are looking at on modifying it not including the original purchase price!

Its not by Alpina, I have IMO taken the best element's from all of the Mini tuners around the world to create it (I have just noticed you are in Chepstow, I get some of my work at Forza West).

 

[BennyD]

Welcome to our happy band Damon. BTW, have you goy any pics of the Moggy? My first car was a Moggy traveller.

 

[Damon]

Welcome to our happy band Damon. BTW, have you goy any pics of the Moggy? My first car was a Moggy traveller.

I have a few but these were before the JLH conversion http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/content/zetec.php She is now in the Carcoon for Winter but if we get a nice day will get her out to photo. The only real physical difference is she wears MGA wire wheels in powder coated cream (with skinny 135 tyres) and has a side exiting exhaust.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105424001545609735327/MorrisMinor?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPXok8GLmsOw_wE&feat=directlink

 

[BennyD]

It looks very standard and very clean in those photos. What power option did you go for? I would have thought 135 section tyres would struggle to cope with anything over 100 bhp as would the stock suspension and brakes. I take it you have changed the lever arms and drums. If you haven't, please, do so!!

 

[Damon]

It looks very standard and very clean in those photos. What power option did you go for? I would have thought 135 section tyres would struggle to cope with anything over 100 bhp as would the stock suspension and brakes. I take it you have changed the lever arms and drums. If you haven't, please, do so!!

It should do - it was my Mothers car for 40 years. When she stopped driving I decided to keep it but it was unable to keep up with modern traffic and never got used so I ordered the 150BHP Zetec conversion with AP racing vented front discs mounted to MG Midget splined hubs (to take wire wheels) a MG Midget rear axel with a LSD, standard midget rear brakes. I then also decided to fully restore the car (as it had GRP wings from a restoration in the 80's so it was four new wings, new boot skin and door skins with bullet mirrors, turreted rear suspension and a chassis strengthening kit. I would have liked the rear control arms but ran well over budget. The car was then retrimmed in cream leather utilising the trimmed front seats from my Mini Cooper (recycling LOL).

The engine is a standard 150bhp which has been mapped to 163bhp - running on 16 x 4J wheels with 135 tyres, designed purposely to break away so I could play on DRY roundabouts which will teach the kids car control and the finer points of RWD handling at sensible speeds.

Oh, and it only weighs 763kgs!

 

[BennyD]

That sounds like fun and should catch a few hot hatches by surprise. Pretty suicidal in the wet I would imagine. I just love Q-cars!

 

[Damon]

It make the Saxo type boys take a double glace when I am charging past them on the lanes, the best bit however are the Morris Minor purists who think its sacrilege - but IMO that's just nonsense, its just been modernised and brought up to date so it can be used just like we do with houses, you wouldn't live in a 17th century farm without central heating or double glazing would you?

I haven't driven it in the wet but I bet it would be a nightmare trying to keep it in a straight line!

 

[Andyk]

Thanks Andy, I have made a bid on the GT and am awaiting a response from the owner as its being sold on a commission sale basis, so fingers crossed.

We have been really fortunate with the 456M, we have covered nearly 140k in it with nothing other than routine maintenance. The other extreem is my Mini which has covered just 40k miles in 9 years but has cost a lot more than the Ferrari - I have stupidly spent more than the cost of the GT we are looking at on modifying it not including the original purchase price!

Its not by Alpina, I have IMO taken the best element's from all of the Mini tuners around the world to create it (I have just noticed you are in Chepstow, I get some of my work at Forza West).

Its great to see you have used your 456...Do you have any pics of her as well..?...

 

[conaero]

Welcome Damon, the GT is a really nice car but not that fast. The 4.2 works really well in the lighter 4200 and GS, but the GT with its extra weight and auto box zaps all the power (so I am led to beleive) the one to go for is the savage 4.7 GTS with paddle shift and one of the best sounding exhausts you will come across.

If all you are after is a stylish cruiser then the 4.2 GT will suit you down to the ground, lovely car, well put together and finished off.

As with any heavy car, look at the breaks and make sure they are in good order as they are so, so expensive to replace, £3k all round I think and no, you cant buy the parts anywhere else but you local Maserati dealer.

So, your Fezzer with 160k interests me, well done for using it and not being afraid of putting mileage on here, so whats she worth?

 

[dem maser]

Theres a car matt......

 

[Andyk]

Was thinking the same thing Matt...What is it worth....Love the 456...

 

[dem maser]

The car for you matt......