MC Victory vs Gransport

[hilts uk]

Hi

I've been a lurker for a while and its been very helpful to get up to speed. There are some very friendly and helpful people on the site. By way of history I've owned a GT and a GTS a few years ago but now have been drawn back to the marque and I'm looking for a second car which will hold its value and is relatively rare.

Having done a lot of research I've decided to buy a top condition Gransport and have been looking at the various options. Initially I wanted a Spyder but given the small numbers around I have more or less given up hope, and the only 4200 Spyder that catches my eye is the 90 edition for sale with Nuvola.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...a-90th-anniversary-v8-2dr-convertible/2794746

Does anyone have experience of this special versus the standard 4200 Spyder or the Gransport Spyder? I have been told that all Spyders suffer from body shake and don't drive as well as the Gransport. Is this correct? I've yet to test drive this car.

The other car I am looing at is the MC Victory at Richard Grace's. I went to see Richard today and test drove it today (along with a very nice standard GS) and it its in great condition with a new clutch and great history. Obviously its a big premium to a standard GS but I think the rarity value demands a decent premium.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...ort/mc-victory-serviced-and-inspected/2860798

Does anyone have experience of MC Victory's? Do they justify a premium and is there anything specific to the car which I should know about?

Any help / views would be much appreciated and thanks in advance.

 

[conaero]

Welcome.

Well, its all about resale and rarity with the GS and MCV.

The actual car is no different in construction, power or performance, its a limited production thing that the Italians love to do with extra trim, a badge and seats really.

I am still amazed at the GS, they just don't seem to fall and the longer we go on, the rarer they become which will eventually cause them to start rising.

The MCV being the rarest of the rare, will increase more that the standard GS for sure.

Spyders, well I had an early one, an 02 plate and its was wobbly but still a great drive.

We were led to believe that they addressed this in later production by making the chassis 50% stiffer.....LIE, what they did was play with the suspension to hide the issue and with some success but they all do wobble.

The GS and Anniversary Spyders are similar to the MCV, very, very rare and this in time, this will be reflected in the prices starting to rise.

Out of all of the above, my personal feeling is that the GS Spyder will be the one that goes stella, closely followed by the MCV then the GS some way behind.

 

[CatmanV2]

I thought there was a bolt on cross member as well. Benny fitted one did he not?

C

 

[conaero]

I thought there was a bolt on cross member as well. Benny fitted one did he not?

C

That there was, and it anchors across the transmission tunnel with 10mm bolts into a hole that has 3 mm of slop, so there is no way that will offer any resistance. You can fit it to the early cars too as the holes are there but I really would save your money.

 

[Fangio63]

That Spyder looks nice ... never really been a fan...but I could live with that...

 

[CatmanV2]

Oh I can understand that

C

 

[dickygrace]

Welcome.

Well, its all about resale and rarity with the GS and MCV.

The actual car is no different in construction, power or performance, its a limited production thing that the Italians love to do with extra trim, a badge and seats really.

As I state in the advert for MCV's, there are differences to the car such as lighter seats which save weight and contribute to a better power:weight ratio. The MC Victory also has a quicker steering rack which is noticeably sharper. The main differences are to the internal parts of the engine. The Cams, Conrods, Valves and most importantly the crankshaft are all different uprated parts. I am uncertain myself, but have been told by a couple of very knowledgeable experts that these parts are derived from Trofeo racing spec designs.

 

[marios kriticos]

Guys ,
Unless and you drive both cars to compare you will never be able to comment on the difference between the MC and GS .
Having had both I can say the MC is much better car than the GS , also depending on the chassis number and engine number there a number of differences internally in the engine .

Marios

 

[conaero]

Well, you learn something new every day!

I did not know about the engine internals of the MCV so I stand corrected.

 

[outrun]

I agree with the reasoning that the GS Spyder and MCV will hold value and should increase over time faster than a regular GS Coupe. Logically, they should do this on low numbers produced alone however for me, the MCV is the pinnacle and when you look at Scuderia Ferraris or GT2RS/GT3RS then the hardcore versions appear to be the ones that do well.

There is no mention of budget so if this is not a concern, the MCV is a great buy. It's arguable how much better it is than a good GS, especially one with a few decent modifications, however it stands to reason that it fits the bill as an investment purchase far better. The GS Spyder falls into the same category, if you can find one of course.

Dicky has a great reputation and the MCV he has is one that it known, I believe, so confidence from that point should be high.

 

[dem maser]

any differences to an AC engine compared to a 3200?

 

[StuartW]

Not as far as I'm aware Dem

 

[dickygrace]

any differences to an AC engine compared to a 3200?

I believe there are some in comparison to an early 1999 car but I don't think they're much different, if at all, from a late 3200.

 

[dickygrace]

Dicky has a great reputation and the MCV he has is one that it known, I believe, so confidence from that point should be high.

Thanks for that Outrun, it means everything to me to develop a good reputation so thanks for saying so.

 

[Andyk]

Well, you learn something new every day!

I did not know about the engine internals of the MCV so I stand corrected.

I have an MC Victory brochure that was sent to me on launch and it doesn't mention anything about the engine.....The only changes mentioned are cosmetic....Surely if there were engine etc changes they would shout about them as it would be a selling point.

Also the price of an MC before options was £72595 against £66645 for the standard GS.......If the engine enternals had been changed I would have thought it would have cost more the seats and carbon bits take up most of the extra cost....PLus performance for both MC and GS quoted are exactly the same and thats through the gears as well......

This what they say about the MC...

Built to celebrate the winning of the 2005 FIA GT Cup the MAserati GS MC Victory is a number limited edition (180 examples)

Inspired by the championship winning MC12 race car the GS MCV offers a variety of features designed to enhance the driving experience. Powered by the awe-inspiring 4.2 litre, 400bhp V8 engine, the GS MCV further benefits from an enlarged front splinter (blue carbon fibre) and extended side skirts which help generate greater downforce at high speed. Together with more direct and precise steering, these modifications improve the cars high speed stability and dynamic responsiveness. The interior of the GS MCV is trimmed in ;eather and alcantara and continues the race car theme with carbon fibre components and lightweight racing seats.

Tha'ts all that is different according to Maserati....and reading the reviews in EVO no mention of any internals or engine changes............I wouldn't have thought Maserati would have put extra money into the Victory than cosmetic as it was at the end of its life and it was a limited edition to shift some remaining GS bodies I would have thought.

Saying all that the GS MCV will always carry the premium and be the most desirable of the bunch.....and it you sit in those stunning seats you understand why...

 

[mjheathcote]

I too do find it difficult to imagine any significant engine changes.
When you start talking cams, rods, valves and crankshaft, thats major not minor mods, especially cams that would give a significant change in power/torque.
If so, they must be listed in the parts diagrams for the MCV? (anyone have access to them?)
All this, together with different clutches, steering rack etc needs some definitive proof!

 

[Steve GS]

There is a GS spider on auto trader if your willing to part with 35 k.
I didn't know there was a better model in the GS range always thought the GS was the complete car in the 3200/4200 range one reason I got one. Hmm, maybe have to save some more pennies for a mcv. Or not. I love my car.

 

[Emtee]

Hi Marios,

I hope you're well?

I'm intrigued by your comments on engine mods by assembly and engine numbers? I assume these are engineering/weight/tolerance improvements rather than re-designs and re-profiles? And only applied to the MCV rather than other GS's in the same assembly sequence?

Any details you have would be appreciated... For obvious reasons!

Regards, Em.

 

[adam01]

Agree with above re engine upgrades
I have researched the MCV fairly extensively and have not come across any references to such internal engine changes

Perhaps some further information/source could be posted

 

[Ewan]

As an investment, the MCV is the one. But with it's annoying front splitter and hard seats, it's not as useable as a standard GS. MCV for the garage, GS for the road.