Stick or twist

[GTVGEOFF]

I have a very nice Gransport LE which I thought was a keeper, makes me smile every time I drive.
But that's the trouble is I do not drive it enough.
I will not take it out in the salt and prefer it to be dry, but will bend on that.
All my other cars are garage queen's except the daily Volvo, which my wife has claimed.
Neither of us work anymore so milages are low, but there are times we both need a car.
I could buy a old banger for the winter, but, at my age and none ok for myself I want to enjoy the last few years behind the wheel. So:-
Do I just say sod it if the Maser rusts so be it.
Downside of this is getting parts to keep it on the road at all times.
The other three opinions I am looking at are Aston Vantage, not new probably circa four years old but low milage.
Mercedes SL probably the 400 nearly new.
Alfa Quadrifolio again nearly new
Which would you lot choose?

 

[Gazcw]

I have a very nice Gransport LE which I thought was a keeper, makes me smile every time I drive.
But that's the trouble is I do not drive it enough.
I will not take it out in the salt and prefer it to be dry, but will bend on that.
All my other cars are garage queen's except the daily Volvo, which my wife has claimed.
Neither of us work anymore so milages are low, but there are times we both need a car.
I could buy a old banger for the winter, but, at my age and none ok for myself I want to enjoy the last few years behind the wheel. So:-
Do I just say sod it if the Maser rusts so be it.
Downside of this is getting parts to keep it on the road at all times.
The other three opinions I am looking at are Aston Vantage, not new probably circa four years old but low milage.
Mercedes SL probably the 400 nearly new.
Alfa Quadrifolio again nearly new
Which would you lot choose?

GS from April to November and banger for winter

 

[philw696]

You can get some half decent bangers for a couple of grand these days looking about.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Phil makes a good point. If you like the GS then keep it, nurture it, wring it's neck from spring until autumn and buy a disposable shitbox for the filthy salty nasty winter months.

The Vantage is a delicious prospect, though, but mine tends to be squirrelled away over the winter. Fantastic a car though it is, it might not change your situation much.

 

[Oneball]

All those things are vastly more than a GS.
Buy a 15 year old SL500 or 630i vert and keep the Gs

 

[hashluck]

A few of the cars in my collection, including the GS MC-V, were definitely absolutely going to be my next interesting daily. I bought the best I could find and got them the very best that I could with lots of preventative maintenance etc, and rustproofed them ready for whatever the winter would throw at it. Trouble is I invariably got them too good and would not drive them in the winter. I now have a nearly new winter bog standard daily and use the others whenever I can when conditions suit. Next challenge is to get the collection down to a more manageable number. Watch this space. It will never be down to just one but cars of a similar nature will face a difficult choice and decision.

Of your list the Alfa looks an intriguing propostion as an excellent daily choice.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

A few of the cars in my collection, including the GS MC-V, were definitely absolutely going to be my next interesting daily. I bought the best I could find and got them the very best that I could with lots of preventative maintenance etc, and rustproofed them ready for whatever the winter would throw at it. Trouble is I invaraiably got them too good and would not drive them in the winter. I now have a nearly new winter bog standard daily and use the others whenever I can when conditions suit. Next challenge is to get the collection down to a more manageable number. Watch this space. It will never be down to just one but cars of a similar nature will face a difficult choice and decision.

Of your list the Alfa looks an intriguing propostion as an excellent daily choice.

Same as you, intended it to be a 365 day car, spent towards three grand doing everything to it including underbody protection, just put new tyres on and it is some how morphed into a garage queen.
I have the Montreal which is taking up a lot of my time (must update the thread)
Alfetta GTV which is definitely not going. 40,000 from new and I am the only owner.
Alfa 916 spider phase 1 which is mint and only 22000 miles, that could go but only if I buy a SL, don't want to be without an open car.
Agree the Alfa is a bit of a tick box thing, I have already had a vantage.
Merc is sensible choice but would it be just a bit to boring

 

[keith]

Given the weather this last week, I wouldn't worry about salt on the roads. It's been warmer than on some days last summer!!!!

 

[gb-gta]

Giulia QF would be great as a daily, have mulled it over myself.
I’m going to have to change things up this year at some point too as there will be a new driver in the household and I have too many cars, but ones a new driver won’t be able to use!
I was thinking of converting my QPV GT S, 147GTA and guilietta cloverleaf into a Giulia QF. It’s like a mix of all three! Think I’d miss the QP and the GTA though. It’s a tricky one. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Mattmaser]

I bought a F10 M5 as a daily, quick enough to be interesting & no worries ref rust etc- can’t get the good stuff out of the garage in this weather

 

[Chrisb2015]

I have had similar decisions to make and I would offer an alternative perspective and say drive the thing as much as you can. Lots of us will talk about preserving something as it is a keeper, but in reality how many keep forever. Most keep for a period of time after which their lives and priorities change and they eventually decide to sell. If you keep it as a high days and holidays car all you will have done is keep it nice for a future date and person you don’t know. You will however almost certainly have missed out on many lovely memories and miles of enjoyment.

The potential depreciation from that kind of usage will also be far less than you will suffer with a Guilia QF or a similar newer car. There is approx a £10k max spread on GS prices based on condition and mileage (assuming similar age) so that is your financial risk to the value. In reality it is probably much less due to the preventative maintenance you have done, low miles and the care you will show it.

With the new legislation on petrol powered cars coming into force, our ability to enjoy these machines without punitive taxes and restrictions may well be closer than we think.

Live for the day.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

I have had similar decisions to make and I would offer an alternative perspective and say drive the thing as much as you can. Lots of us will talk about preserving something as it is a keeper, but in reality how many keep forever. Most keep for a period of time after which their lives and priorities change and they eventually decide to sell. If you keep it as a high days and holidays car all you will have done is keep it nice for a future date and person you don’t know. You will however almost certainly have missed out on many lovely memories and miles of enjoyment.

The potential depreciation from that kind of usage will also be far less than you will suffer with a Guilia QF or a similar newer car. There is approx a £10k max spread on GS prices based on condition and mileage (assuming similar age) so that is your financial risk to the value. In reality it is probably much less due to the preventative maintenance you have done, low miles and the care you will show it.

With the new legislation on petrol powered cars coming into force, our ability to enjoy these machines without punitive taxes and restrictions may well be closer than we think.

Live for the day.

That is a very good perspective, and so much common sense there.
I was talking this situation over with a friend and he remarked to me,

"If you married a gorgeous young model would you say to yourself I won't make love to her I will save her for the next guy."

The general census of opinion so far is to keep the Maser, and I have to say I am coming to that opinion myself. I am getting tight on garage space so if I go ahead the Volvo will have to live outside, which to be fair is not a big deal, other than a disapproving wife (again).
If I get time later I will post links to the three cars I have earmarked.

 

[dickygrace]

Have you finished the Montreal yet Geoff? Keep the GS and do 4-5k a year in it.

 

[Andyk]

I have a very nice Gransport LE which I thought was a keeper, makes me smile every time I drive.
But that's the trouble is I do not drive it enough.
I will not take it out in the salt and prefer it to be dry, but will bend on that.
All my other cars are garage queen's except the daily Volvo, which my wife has claimed.
Neither of us work anymore so milages are low, but there are times we both need a car.
I could buy a old banger for the winter, but, at my age and none ok for myself I want to enjoy the last few years behind the wheel. So:-
Do I just say sod it if the Maser rusts so be it.
Downside of this is getting parts to keep it on the road at all times.
The other three opinions I am looking at are Aston Vantage, not new probably circa four years old but low milage.
Mercedes SL probably the 400 nearly new.
Alfa Quadrifolio again nearly new
Which would you lot choose?

I suppose it depends what you need the car for and if running costs come into as a daily drive. Vantage is still the best looking car on the road for me but also I see you have the SL400 on the list. This is a great daily drive car to have. Fast enough (0-60 as a measure if 4.8) in the real world, lovely interior and well put together, reliable and gets good MPG for a V6…Plus you get a coupe and convertible in one car. Add the fact a specialist will service it for half the cost of the others and it starts to make sense to use daily. I also think Mercedes did a good job on the face lifted one and cuts quite a dash on the road.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

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[Cyclone1]

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Yes there is a bit of a theme here!
hope the links work

Lovely position to be in, but I’d throw in the kitchen sink and go newer generation Vantage. Spectacular looking machine and in 4.0 TT guise a very driver friendly car.

 

[Gazcw]

That sl is very nice.

 

[Wack61]

Without question , the Alfa , if I won the lottery tomorrow my first stop would be an Alfa dealer with one in stock who could put me in it that day.

 

[Oneball]

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Yes there is a bit of a theme here!
hope the links work

They’re all going to loose a shed load in depreciation compared with your GS. In fact you could probably throw your GS in the bin and lose less than that SL will.

 

[mjheathcote]

How low is your annual mileage, and roughly how old are you?
You have to be realistic as to how long you will be in a position to drive, or drive where you care.
Not using a car through winter when you are in your earlier years and the car can deteriorate, is different if you have realistically 10 years left!
It's like pensions, our adviser only a few months ago made a valid point, why have a peak fund value at say 80 when you are then at the age when you don't want to travel anymore. Retire earlier so you have a fund value at 80 when you don't need the same amount of income.
I'd therefore get the GS waxoiled and use it!!
It's not like a classic Ferrari that you can pass the value to your kids/whatever.