QP V running costs

[Ewan]

I've just been looking through all the paperwork relating to my 2005 QP V which I've known from new and have all records. Here goes:

It was first registered in June 2005 and has now done 44,000. In that time it has depreciated about £60,000.

Total servicing costs to date, about £18,000. (This is for everything, normal servicing, additional repairs, tyres, clutch, brakes etc.)

9 years of road tax, insurance and MOT's, about £7,000.

Petrol (I've had to estimate the mpg and fuel price), about £12,000.

Therefore the total ownership cost per mile, to date, comes to about £2.20. That's the bad news.

Now for the good news. If you are buying such a car now, there will be next to no depreciation, and clearly that's the big cost.

If we exclude the depreciation and assume the other costs (and car use) continue at similar rates, over the next two years and 10,000 miles, the ownership cost per mile will fall to about 62 pence. Which is a whole lot more encouraging.

 

[drewf]

It's much the same for any large expensive luxury car Ewan. The early depreciation is the killer...

The Mercedes CL600 I had was £117k new. Depreciation before I bought it (for the reg plate only, as it happens) ~ 90%. In my ownership? Zero.
The QP is similar - over £65k depreciation on the list to my purchase price, and I've been offered more than I paid for it 2.5 years ago. Again, depreciation in my ownership has been zero.

Ongoing use is just the fuel, insurance, tax and servicing. Not too spendy for such a fabulous car.

Interesting figures though - thanks for sharing those.

 

[daverichardson]

All
I too have been doing a running costs spreadsheet for my QP(V)
I want to wait until Feb before I put it up (that would be the anniversary)
But I can tell you now that the running costs are NOT prohibitive for ownership and I will be able to do a direct comparison with my workhorse Renault Kangoo (don't ask) which may prove illuminating
d

 

[Ewan]

Exactly. The zero depreciation on these now makes them cracking value. I thought the figures might be useful for someone who is thinking about taking the plunge on a QP of a value in the 'teens. I'd say budget on £2k per year over 3 years for servicing, as within that time you are bound to need tyres (and possibly twice!) and maybe a clutch or new discs/pads. But if you can afford that, and 20mpg, what's not to like?!

I've just been chatting to a company that are offering a business lease deal of £620 per month (+ Vat) for 24 months for the new QP V6 diesel. This equates to use/depreciation of only £14880 (+ Vat) over 2 years, which seems amazing value for such a big luxury car. Are they really only going to depreciate that little? The one snag for some is the 5000 miles per year limit.

 

[drewf]

No, they aren't going to retain value like that - not a chance...

That's a loss-leader to get some on the roads, in my opinion.

 

[QP4Me]

I just give a bucket full of receipts to my accountant....spreadsheets are a device of the Devil.

 

[dem maser]

I loved being self employed....had cars under the business

 

[Contigo]

And exactly the reason why I would never buy a new performance luxury car like this unless money really was no object.

I think it's best to buy them at 3 years old just coming out of warranty and you get some steals.

 

[Andyk]

Interesting reading as I am aiming to get one next year...When all said and done the cost must be truly worth it...The feeling the QP gives when you are driving it makes up for all that..

 

[rs48635]

So glad I am reading this now.
after buying a 2006 QP Sport GT

 

[Elliott653]

I wouldn't own a pre fully auto Maserati without a watertight aftermarket warranty.

 

[npaskin]

Mine is running at £2,500 per year average, which includes road tax, servicing, insurance, tyres, and the only extras I have had (alloy wheel repairs due to kerbing ) but excludes fuel and depreciation. Serviced at a specialist independent, would have been more at a dealer. Insurance part of that is £800 pa average (was initially 1000 now 600) so plug in your own quote to get a comparable figure. Road tax averages £475 to date. Tyres lasting c.10K miles apart from one puncture at 5K. About to get a small bill for a failed parking sensor, but other than that it has been faultless. It's also of course the full auto box so no clutch costs. I think that's all pretty acceptable.

 

[Ewan]

I can't think of any costs on my car that would have been a warranty claim. Just normal wear and tear, such as tyres, brakes, general servicing, etc. The first clutch did 43,000 miles, so that has just been changed. Had this done at a main dealer in Italy for half the price it costs here in the UK, so only £1k and no big deal.

An auto version over similar miles and time would (does) cost similar to run. So I personally I wouldn't chose one over the other on a cost basis. I'd chose it purely on which gearbox you prefer and how you drive. But it's good to have the choice, and strange that Maserati took so long to offer an auto. (Similarly strange it took them so long to offer a "manual" when they bought out the Gran Tourismo). Why can't they just launch cars with both gearbox options from day 1?

 

[bigbob]

Agree about the sentiment of the last point but with the GranTurismo it was launched one year before the 4.7 engine was ready so they took the choice not to offer the MC with the 4.2. Sensible decision really.

Don't understand why an auto costs the same to run as the DS/MC given there is no maintenance on the box/clutch to change?