Looking for a Granturismo - perhaps an MC Shift?

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Gliterati

New Member
Messages
26
Looking for a Granturismo. I have driven a 4.7, but found it a bit too sedate for me so I will probably go for an MC Shift, but I need to go and try one back to back to make sure.

Can anyone offer any experiences they have with one?

What should I look out for? clutch wear?
Can you get a MC Shift without skyhook? Haven't heard great things about it.
Make sure it is has done it's service recently if close to 2 years or near a 12,000 mile cycle Anything else?

I will buy from a dealer so would be covered by warranty so assume I don't need to get a 3rd party to check the car. However I note that some only provide a 6 month warranty. If I am buying a 2009/10 car should I look at extending the warranty? Does anyone know the cost of doing this? I assume it should be a Maserati warranty and through a dealer and you cannot extended once it has lapsed.

Prices seem to be around the £50-56k mark depending on mileage. What are people's experience in haggling with a dealer?

Any other pointers gratefully appreciated. Thanks
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,198
A big warm welcome to the forum......I'm sure someone who has a GT S will be along to answer your questions...but just my thoughts....THe MC shift is a very different experience to the AUto and as you say drive both and see....

Def look out for clutch wear as that will be a 2k plus job if needed...Not sure on a GT but on a GS it's around 30k average but depends on how you drive...

I think SKyhook was an option so yes you can get one without but the skyhook on the 4.7 seems o work better than on the 4.2's from the reviews I've seen.

Depending on miles the service intervals is yearly or every two years if owners do not do many miles...I think 12000 miles a year would mean a yearly service......
 
M

mcs

Junior Member
Messages
446
Gliterati said:
Looking for a Granturismo. I have driven a 4.7, but found it a bit too sedate for me so I will probably go for an MC Shift, but I need to go and try one back to back to make sure.

Can anyone offer any experiences they have with one?

What should I look out for? clutch wear?
Can you get a MC Shift without skyhook? Haven't heard great things about it.
Make sure it is has done it's service recently if close to 2 years or near a 12,000 mile cycle Anything else?

I will buy from a dealer so would be covered by warranty so assume I don't need to get a 3rd party to check the car. However I note that some only provide a 6 month warranty. If I am buying a 2009/10 car should I look at extending the warranty? Does anyone know the cost of doing this? I assume it should be a Maserati warranty and through a dealer and you cannot extended once it has lapsed.

Prices seem to be around the £50-56k mark depending on mileage. What are people's experience in haggling with a dealer?

Any other pointers gratefully appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

I bought an MC Shift (late 2009) 2 weeks ago and have not stopped smiling since :D It is a great car and the best I have owned so far (see signature). I never bothered driving a 4.7 Auto as I knew I wanted the MC shift purely for the sound it makes...believe you me when I say there is just no other car that sounds, crackles and pops like the MC shift in MC mode it really is something else. I have hardly used the Bose system in mine since I have had the car!

I bought my car from an independent (Nuvola) and not a main dealer and was happy with the service although there are still a few outstanding points to be sorted out by them (warranty documentation, replacement worn out buttons on dash etc). I managed to haggle a good deal for myself and also got them to slightly modify the car to my taste (alloy wheel colour etc) so their is some movement in prices.

I bought the first car I drove it has skyhook but as I never compared it to a non-slyhook car it did not bother me one bit and for me it feels and drives absolutely fine. All early 08-09 MC Shifts had skyhook as standard. Go and drive one and then you will get a real feel for it. Yes it is jerky and does not have smooth gear changes but soon you will start to find excuses to justify the car to yourself - thats how good it is :D

Good luck - go drive one ;)
 
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bigbob

Member
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8,973
Welcome. Yes, the MC comes as standard without skyhook whereas the 4.7 auto like I have comes with it as standard. Personally I feel that skyhook is great as it offers a soft ride in auto/ice modes and a spirited drive for a heavy car in sport mode. Try both and decide. Bear in mind though that a non-skyhook MC might have been upgraded to firmer Stradale dampers from the MC Sport Line modifications lists.

Servicing is 2 years/12.5k miles as you infer with the 2, 6 year etc services being small and the 4, 8 year etc being large. Check brakes as they are expensive but they seem to last a long time - my pads are just over half worn at 26k miles.

Personally I don't like the MC gearbox and recently drove a brand new car at a Ferrari/Maserati driving day which reconfirmed this. Still it''s good that Maserati offers customers' a choice until it gets a DCT box. FWIW if you have driven an old shape V10 M5 then the MC box is very similar.

I also feel that many people ultimately get sick of the sports exhaust and the fact that you have to have it switched on to get the faster gear shifts but this then reduces the MSP to a lower level which might not suit driving in the rain. The solution my car offers - sports exhaust only open over 3000 revs - works fine from my perspective but it all depends what we want and how much hair we have on our chests........
 
rd993

rd993

Junior Member
Messages
131
Great car - don't think about it - just do it!

Main dealer warranty is as follows: 1) First 3 years - manufacturers; 2) Years 4 and 5 - can extend full coverage Maserati warranty; 3) Years 6 and 7 - engine and gearbox only. From vague memory, it costs approx £3,000-3,500 for a 2 year extension at Years 4 and 5 but I personally think it is worth it as the coverage is extremely good. I personally didn't extend into years 6 and 7 as the coverage is low but others may know good third party warranty providers.

If the car is out of warranty, I would get an inspection. I would also check how much brake life is left as they are painfully expensive to replace (you will be shocked) and will not be covered by any warranty.

MC shift is more hardcore than 4.7 auto and is a great car so will probably fit your needs. Bigbob and I will get tired of saying this before long but the 4.7 auto has the same noise as the MC shift above 3000rpm in sport mode (as the only difference is the valves on the auto open at 3000rpm and the valves on the MC shift are open all the time).

You can get MC shifts without skyhook - I have been driven in one and I liked it. I have skyhook and it is useful for me as I have a baby but when they eventually fail (and children are older), I will consider getting fixed dampers as they are pretty good.
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,973
rd993 said:
Great car - don't think about it - just do it!

Main dealer warranty is as follows: 1) First 3 years - manufacturers; 2) Years 4 and 5 - can extend full coverage Maserati warranty; 3) Years 6 and 7 - engine and gearbox only. From vague memory, it costs approx £3,000-3,500 for a 2 year extension at Years 4 and 5 but I personally think it is worth it as the coverage is extremely good. I personally didn't extend into years 6 and 7 as the coverage is low but others may know good third party warranty providers.

If the car is out of warranty, I would get an inspection. I would also check how much brake life is left as they are painfully expensive to replace (you will be shocked) and will not be covered by any warranty.

MC shift is more hardcore than 4.7 auto and is a great car so will probably fit your needs. Bigbob and I will get tired of saying this before long but the 4.7 auto has the same noise as the MC shift above 3000rpm in sport mode (as the only difference is the valves on the auto open at 3000rpm and the valves on the MC shift are open all the time).

You can get MC shifts without skyhook - I have been driven in one and I liked it. I have skyhook and it is useful for me as I have a baby but when they eventually fail (and children are older), I will consider getting fixed dampers as they are pretty good.
Click to expand...

Completely agree re year 6 & 7 warranty. As for the year 4 & 5 warranty, the strength of sterling has helped - I bought mine in the summer for under £2500. Not used it yet but I feel there is knocking sound at the back so I am sure that I will!
 
M

mcs

Junior Member
Messages
446
I have always used Warranty Direct for warranties. Much more comprehensive than manufacturer warranties as they cover the main thing that all warranty companies wriggle out of - WEAR AND TEAR! I have had their cover on all my cars where needed and the claim success rate was 100%. They had even paid for a clutch on my DB9 !!!!!!! The cover you want is Luxury care or Extra care. Any one of these two and it's pretty much like a new car warranty.

Well worth a try IMHO.
 
rd993

rd993

Junior Member
Messages
131
bigbob said:
Completely agree re year 6 & 7 warranty. As for the year 4 & 5 warranty, the strength of sterling has helped - I bought mine in the summer for under £2500. Not used it yet but I feel there is knocking sound at the back so I am sure that I will!
Click to expand...

Actually with hindsight that may be around what I paid.
 
rd993

rd993

Junior Member
Messages
131
mcs said:
I have always used Warranty Direct for warranties. Much more comprehensive than manufacturer warranties as they cover the main thing that all warranty companies wriggle out of - WEAR AND TEAR! I have had their cover on all my cars where needed and the claim success rate was 100%. They had even paid for a clutch on my DB9 !!!!!!! The cover you want is Luxury care or Extra care. Any one of these two and it's pretty much like a new car warranty.

Well worth a try IMHO.
Click to expand...

I just plugged in my details - Granturismo S Auto 20-30,000 miles - £1,632 for a year, wear and tear included... I am tempted but have always been a bit sceptical of third party warranties
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,973
rd993 said:
I just plugged in my details - Granturismo S Auto 20-30,000 miles - £1,632 for a year, wear and tear included... I am tempted but have always been a bit sceptical of third party warranties
Click to expand...

So that could be an option to buy when our cars hit five years old?

Do they offer a two year price?
 
M

mcs

Junior Member
Messages
446
rd993 said:
I just plugged in my details - Granturismo S Auto 20-30,000 miles - £1,632 for a year, wear and tear included... I am tempted but have always been a bit sceptical of third party warranties
Click to expand...

The magic begins now...if you entered your correct contact details they will call and offer you a better deal most likely in the region of around £1400 for 13 months cover. Take my word for it - best warranty out there and I have had some nice cars covered. My Q7 air suspension went wrong and in the same month the engine management light came on and the bloody aircon compressor gave way too! No fuss - all sorted - new air suspension compressor, fitting, engine manifolds and aircon regass with a new compressor and also new bushes total bill £7650 cheque received within 5 days.

I would not go with any other warranty TBH.
 
M

mcs

Junior Member
Messages
446
bigbob said:
So that could be an option to buy when our cars hit five years old?

Do they offer a two year price?
Click to expand...

Yes they do and can also offer 3 year cover too :) Bargain hard! Make sure you get the highest cover possible for the age of your car.
 
G

Gliterati

New Member
Messages
26
Thanks everyone.

So it is confirmed I am on the look out for a black MC Shift.

My preferences are: black interior with red stitching and front parking sensors!

Anything else is a bonus I.e. Carbon pack!

Looking for one with mileage under 30k.

If you see one for sale or know of anyone selling one please let me know.
 
M

mcs

Junior Member
Messages
446
Gliterati said:
Thanks everyone.

So it is confirmed I am on the look out for a black MC Shift.

My preferences are: black interior with red stitching and front parking sensors!

Anything else is a bonus I.e. Carbon pack!

Looking for one with mileage under 30k.

If you see one for sale or know of anyone selling one please let me know.
Click to expand...


Yikes that is exactly my spec but too early to sell mine I've only had it 7 days :D
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,198
Black, should be easy to fine as it is the most popular colour.......Good luck.
 
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