Standard Infotainment Features

[CatmanV2]

No one sane enough would drive a nicked RHD car in BG - it sticks out like a sore thumb... EU insurance companies are also pretty hot on dodgy cars these days, so stolen/cloned EU cars in circulation have become rare too. Sadly, when they are gone, the cars are either exported to the Levant or Russia/CIS, normally to be sold on and driven or parted out...

Driving a RHD car in BG - unless it's a new high end car - usually means one of two things - you are either a builder from London on holiday back home , or you couldn't quite afford the equivalent LHD car... My Maserati in BG would retail for about £70k vs. the £37.5k that would cost from a dealer in the UK...

Things have changed in the 12 years since I was there regularly then

C

 

[JitFD]

So after a bunch of delays caused by the goings on in the middle east, this should be arriving next week via Container. Obviously the car will not have been run since it was loaded into the container in February so its fair to assume to battery will be dead. Is there anything to watch out for when starting the car (I know how temperamental italian cars are with their electrics). It will only be started to get the car out of the container and onto the trailer, and then again to get it from the trailer onto my driveway.

 

[JitFD]

So the eagle has finally landed today. First impressions - absolutely thrilled so far. Sure theres a couple of minor cosmetic imperfections, all easily sorted. One of the rear door lower glass mouldings has come off so not sure if I will need a new one. Havent had a chance to play with the stereo just yet to work out what they've done with the buttons. It will need 4x new tyres but thats fine - atleast ill know theyre done then. But so far positives are:

- Full main dealer history with documented services every year from manufacture in 2012 to 2019. Then every 2 years since with the last being in May 2023.
- Two keys and all documentation present
- Interior whilst a bit grubby in places looks to be in really good condition and has heated seats which I wanted
- Brakes seem to have some life in them still
- Can't see any signs of corrosion underneath

I think next step will be to send it to a specialist for a post purchase inspection. Ill add some pics in next post. Theyre not the greatest as its still on the trailer but itll do for now!

 

[JitFD]

 

[CatmanV2]

Wonderful!

C

 

[karldarren]

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Smart looking vehicle

 

[nuvolablue]

Congratulations on the new purchase.
I hadn't considered looking at a Japan import in the hunt for my Maserati.
Was there much of a £££ saving on a UK spec car by the time you add shipping, tacho conversions and import taxes?
And were you able to get much info on prior maintenance records?

I've recently purchased a Grade 4 JDM Toyota Vellfire 8 seater (long story for another thread)

Regards

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[safrane]

Looks fab...and I did not expect that from a white car.

 

[JitFD]

Congratulations on the new purchase.
I hadn't considered looking at a Japan import in the hunt for my Maserati.
Was there much of a £££ saving on a UK spec car by the time you add shipping, tacho conversions and import taxes?
And were you able to get much info on prior maintenance records?

I've recently purchased a Grade 4 JDM Toyota Vellfire 8 seater (long story for another thread)

Regards

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

I’m not bothering to convert the tach and odometer. Mainly to keep it original and keep the mileage consistent. My MOT station will record the mileage correctly in KM. I’ve driven so many imported cars that I know the speed conversions anyway!
In a nut shell I would say yes this has cost me less than buying the equivalent car in the U.K. (cheapest sport GTS I’ve seen is a touch under £24k at the moment).
With regards to maintenance records yes there is a stamped service book and also records of what was carried out at each service. Interestingly it’s had far more service stamps than any U.K. car I’ve seen. All main dealer and quite comprehensive.

 

[JitFD]

And so to loop back to the title of this thread. I found the buttons. They work. Not ideal if I’m brutally honest as it’s a bit of a reach across but atleast they are there! Unfortunately this car suffers from the standard Ferrari/Maserati period correct sticky button syndrome. Pretty much every single button has it. I’ll get this sorted

 

[JitFD]

And so I’ve got an idea now of a plan of action after spending the morning looking over things. In order:

1. 4x new Tyres. Will prob go for continental sport contact 7 as I have a general dislike for Michelin PS4S
2. MOT
3. Registration
4. Post purchase inspection and service at an independent specialist
5. Assuming 4 doesn’t flag anything serious, sort out the sticky buttons
6. Enjoy!

 

[nuvolablue]

And so I’ve got an idea now of a plan of action after spending the morning looking over things. In order:

1. 4x new Tyres. Will prob go for continental sport contact 7 as I have a general dislike for Michelin PS4S
2. MOT
3. Registration
4. Post purchase inspection and service at an independent specialist
5. Assuming 4 doesn’t flag anything serious, sort out the sticky buttons
6. Enjoy!

What about removing that dodgy boot lip spoiler and the wing decals ...........surely item 1 on your list - no ??

 

[nuvolablue]

Oh, and that Italian flag on the wing mirrors. (I nearly missed that one).

 

[JitFD]

Boot spoiler will be going. I don’t mind the flags tbh lol

 

[nuvolablue]

I do like the black chrome exhaust. Oval of course........When you know.....you know !!