Switching from a 4200CC to a Quattroporte.

[Elliott653]

After two and a half years it's time to sell the 4200. I've enjoyed every moment of ownership and I have absolutely no intention of abandoning the Maserati brand any time soon. However, circumstances change and the 'reasonable' thing for me to do is trade her in for a Quattroporte.

Actually, the reasonable thing for me to do is buy an M5. But, that ain't going to happen quite yet.

So, I need to find out more about this model. Of course, I could trawl through the many informative threads on this part of the forum. Or, I could ask for advice on this one.

My budget isn't too big for this as it will be a fourth family car. The one kept for holidays in Britain and in Europe where we as a family can cover big miles in total, wafty comfort. My step son is nearly eleven now and he's just too big for the back seats of the 42. Plus, we really need a boot as my 42 with its spare tyre is only good for a couple of soft bags.

I really don't want to pay more than £25,000. £26k at a pinch.

My questions are. Is clutch mileage as important on QPs as they are on 42s? Servicing costs. are they similar? What should I pay particular attention to when I check a car out? Anything that I should avoid like the plague? Full automatic or Duo selct? (Have I even got this distinction right?)?

I'm sure that there's loads more that I should be aware of? Didn't the model get updated in 2007? Although, I don't think I could get anything later than 2006 unless it has big miles on it. Are big miles a nono?

I've already spoken briefly to Narumen @ Nuvola about this car.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...-quattroporte-v8-duo-select-4dr-saloon/897142

I bought my 42 from him and I know that he's definitely one of the good guys. It's not ready for viewing quite yet. I'm seeing it next weekend.

Your assistance, tips, jokes and anything else would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Andyk]

Elliot, great car the QP..The ones I've driven have really impressed me.....Such a great handling car for one so heavy......

£25k will get you a great car ..... You will have the choice of Standard, QP GT Exectutive and QP GT Sport.....The sport has 20 inch wheels as sytandard the others 19 inch. Driven all 3 and for me the GT Sport looks the best and the gear box is quicker and you get a sports exhaust... but best for you to drive a few and see what you think as the press were not the biggest fan of the GT Sport as they didn't like the ride compared to the standard car.

The press raved about the Auto when it came out and they are dipping into you price range.....Dicky on here also loves the Auto over the Duo select and he has had both......

I'm sure owners will be along to talk about clutch wear but as I understand it they are no different from the GS/4200 as far as wear is concerned.

Naruman's car sounds like a good low miles car but I think you pay for that as 25k for a 2005 car for me is a bit much...but as you say he's a good guy as you will get piece of mind....

This car looks good but no mention of clutch wear....But even if you pay 20k for the car and add a clutch its still seems an OK car...2006 with 31k on the clock

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...i-quattroporte-v8-duoselect--31k-miles/885632

Here's the GT Sport....May dip into you price range...

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...port-gt-4dr-auto-low-miles-best-colour/859955

Cheapest Auto on PH is just outside you price range although I 'm sure you have looked over these already..

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...v8-sport-gt-fully-automatic-zf-gearbox/795271


Have you spoke to Dicky Grace as well as I sure he would be able to find you a great car as well and if not give some great advice as someone who has had both....

 

[Andyk]

Elliot, not sure if the below will help with models and options and prices when new..

Quattroporte

Standard
Six speed Duo select Transmission
Skyhook adjustable suspension
18 inch 11 spoke alloy wheels
Stability programme - Traction and stability
Poltrona Frau leather and Rosewwod trim
Punsture repair kit
Bi-Xenon headlights with washer jets
Automatic head lights with lighting sensor
Automatic windscreen wipers and rain sensors
Six airbags
Laminated glass
Electric fully adjustable front seats
Rear seats with electric adjustment
Information centre with 6.5 inch screen, trip computer, hi fi with radio and single CD player, full map sat nav
Bose sound system
Multi function steering wheel
Duel climate control with rear air vents
Cruise control
Electric rear sun blind
Alarm with door and volumatic sensors
Nav trak vehicle tracking.

R.R.P - £74595

Performance
Top speed - 171 mph at 7000 rpm
0-60 - 5.2
Cylinders - 8 in 90' V configuration

Options

Exterior
Metallic paint - £529
Out of range paint - £1,598
Paint to colour sample - £3,196
Cou,oured brake calipers - £406
Glass pack (front infa red reflecting and rear privacy) - £1005
19 inch, 9 spoke, sport design alloys - £1,927
19 inch, 9 spoke, sport design alloys - Ball polished - £2703

Driving and handling
Spare wheel - £529
Run flat - 18 inch £852
Run flat - 19 inch £958
Run flat tyre if sport pack ordered - £382

Audio and electronics
GSM phone kit - £1,164
CD changer - £488
Rear climate control - £799
Electronic external and internal rear view mirrors - £371
Front and rear parking sensors - £976
Rear parking sensors - £488
Tyre pressure monitor - £576
Front TV Tuner - £1,375
Rear seat entertainment package - £5.290

Interior
Natural Leather - £4,465
Front seat comfort pack (heating, ventilation, massage, auto adaptive) - £3,713
Rear seat comfort package - £3713
Glove leather - £447
Coloured dashboard, door panels and rear shelf - £705
Heated front seats - £459
Heated rear seats - £459
Rear side window sunblinds manual - £447
Coloured steering wheel and handbrake - £218
Piping - £218
Stitching - £159
Power sunroof - £1,246
Folding rear occasional tables in matching wood or titanium finish £1,504
Rosewood interior trim - £277
Walnut trim - £429
Mahogany trim - £429
Alcantara headlining - £1,023
Titanuim trim - NCO

Packages

Executive - £5,781
Includes rear seat comfort package, rear climate controls, rear side window sunblinds and folding rear occasional tables in wood.

Sports package - £3.055
Includes 19 inch 9 spoke Sport design alloy wheels, tyre pressure monitoring system, drilled brake discs, titanium gre colour brake calipers, metal braided brake hoses and sport suspension tuning.

Quattroporte Executive GT...£83,195

Standard - As above but with
19 inch 9 spoke sport design alloy wheels - ball polished
Alcantara headlining
External grilles in chrome
Rear seats heating, ventilation and massage function
Multi function wood rimmed steering wheel and wood handbrake grip
Rear side occasional tables

Options as above but with

Five piece luggage set - £2,750
Car cover - £200

Packages

Sport package - £1,657

Quattropporte Sport GT - £80,595

Standard - As standard QP but with

Six speed Duo select 35% Quicker than QP Exec.
20 inch 7 spoke alloy wheels
Carbon fibre trim
External grills in black
Metal braided brake hoses
Cross drilled brake discs
Titanuim coloured brake calipers
Sports exhaust system

Options as above

Packages

Exec package - £5,781

This basically stayed the same until the full Auto came along ...Think it was 2007 or was it 2008....Away to begin with you had the same 3 three models for auto and duo select....Then in 2008 the GT S joined the range......

 

[Elliott653]

Thanks Andy for such informative posts. I really appreciate it. I've got to shoot out to the dentists now. When I get back, I'm going to have to reread what you've written and then get stuck in. At first glance the words " Sport GT" & "Sports exhaust" sound very attractive.

 

[adgsevenoaks]

Good Morning Elliot,

as Andyk has already kindly pointed out we have a beautiful fully automatic Quattroporte Sport GT available. If you'd like to have a closer look or just a brief chat about it please feel free to contact me at www.adgsevenoaks.co.uk either by phone or e-mail, Alistair

 

[Parisien]

Excellent Andy.....clarifies the models beautifully


P

 

[TridentTested]

Excellent Andy.....clarifies the models beautifully

Indeed - that post should be a Sticky!

Elliot, you will need to drive both the Duo Select and the ZF Auto for yourself to decide. In simple accountancy terms it's ZF every time. There is a slight premium to pay when buying - typically £3,000, all other factors being equal - but you will save that amount when the DS owner has to do his clutch. You should also recover some of it when you come to sell.

So the sensible option is the ZF.

But when was buying Maseratis about being sensible?

For me the Duo Select is more visceral; there is a pleasure to be had in, for example, pulling both paddles for neutral that you will never get from moving a gearstick to 'N'.

I'm in NW1 - PM me if you'd like to come over and kick tyres.

 

[hodroyd]

I have driven most of the QP's on a test track and I personally liked the appointment of the Executive model, the interior is a nice place to be, performance wise there was not a vast difference between them, maybe the GT's had a little more zip, but the ride was slightly firmer. The Auto box was excellent.

 

[Dhanj]

Got to concur with Michael's comments. The only thing I would add is that you should experience a noticeable difference in the handling characteristics of the car between the Auto and Duo-Select set-ups. Whilst the auto is likely to be easier to live with day to day, the Duo-Select offers a more exciting drive (due to the gearbox being situated to the rear of the car and the resultant 50-50 weight distribution). If you are driving exuberantly on country roads (or A roads that feature a lot of roundabouts), you will find the set-up on the Duo-Select a lot more rewarding. But then, don't take my word for it, go try them both for yourself. The usual advice to test drive them both applies.

Good luck with the search.

 

[Elliott653]

Thanks for the comments so far. at this very early stage, I am leaning towards an automatic as the car will be used mostly for long, cross country/continent journeys. Having said that, I took the 4200 up the A1 to my dentists this morning. As always, it was ridiculously enjoyable to drive. I will never tire of allowing a car infront to blend out of the outside lane, flicking down from 6th into 4th with the paddle and then just flooring it. (Up to the legal speed limit, of course ).

However, I'm thinking auto as my OH wants to drive it too and although she's driven plenty of big cars in the past, she's not too happy with the paddle change. Alistair, thanks for your post. I will be in touch. The car you link to won't be for me as I don't like dark interiors.

This car ticks all of the boxes clolour wise, for me, other than price.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...aserati-quattroporte-v8-executive-spec/749625

It's an interesting colour and has a light interior. The more that I think about it, the less that I want another black Maserati.

 

[Parisien]

Like the colour......just a bit different...and shows off the glitzy bits well


P

 

[hodroyd]

Elliott,
That's a very nice looking car mate, I like that colour combination, classy. What do they mean by Tiptronic Paddle Shift, it looks like an auto and I don't see paddles..?? I'm sure you will be able to work on the price and come to a sensible agreement, like free servicing for life and other stuff like that..!!! Obviously coupled with a buy price of say £25K..!!
Cheers
R

 

[Elliott653]

Like the colour......just a bit different...and shows off the glitzy bits well


P

That's what I'm thinking, P. Don't get me wrong, for me any Masser in black is the bees knees. I love the look of my black 42. It's just that I think something unusual sits well with the QP.

 

[TridentTested]

it looks like an auto and I don't see paddles..??

It's definitely an auto (you can tell by the gearstick - Duo Selects have the funny little t-bar reversing switch) but I can't see any paddles in their pics either. The paddles were an (expensive) optional extra on the ZF car so not all buyers spec'ed them.

 

[Elliott653]

I'll email them to confirm what's what.

 

[Andyk]

Thanks for the comments so far. at this very early stage, I am leaning towards an automatic as the car will be used mostly for long, cross country/continent journeys. Having said that, I took the 4200 up the A1 to my dentists this morning. As always, it was ridiculously enjoyable to drive. I will never tire of allowing a car infront to blend out of the outside lane, flicking down from 6th into 4th with the paddle and then just flooring it. (Up to the legal speed limit, of course ).

However, I'm thinking auto as my OH wants to drive it too and although she's driven plenty of big cars in the past, she's not too happy with the paddle change. Alistair, thanks for your post. I will be in touch. The car you link to won't be for me as I don't like dark interiors.

This car ticks all of the boxes clolour wise, for me, other than price.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...aserati-quattroporte-v8-executive-spec/749625

It's an interesting colour and has a light interior. The more that I think about it, the less that I want another black Maserati.

Love the colour......Tou hardly see any for sale in that colour now there are 3 that I know of.......First one in my first reply is the same colour...

 

[Andyk]

Elliott,
That's a very nice looking car mate, I like that colour combination, classy. What do they mean by Tiptronic Paddle Shift, it looks like an auto and I don't see paddles..?? I'm sure you will be able to work on the price and come to a sensible agreement, like free servicing for life and other stuff like that..!!! Obviously coupled with a buy price of say £25K..!!
Cheers
R

hink they just mean paddle shift........Used to selling Porsche by the sounds of things......Its Auto with paddle shift...

 

[Elliott653]

hink they just mean paddle shift........Used to selling Porsche by the sounds of things......Its Auto with paddle shift...

So, an auto box that negates the clutch replacement issue with paddle shift? I wonder how quick the shifts are?

 

[Andyk]

I believe you could have paddles as an option on the Auto..Standard on the GTS version....In fact I don't think I've seen one without paddles but could be wrong.

 

[Elliott653]

Love the colour......Tou hardly see any for sale in that colour now there are 3 that I know of.......First one in my first reply is the same colour...

So it is, Andy. It looks even better when the car's outdoors. I've jst emailed the owner about whether the car's still on its first clutch.

ETA: The car's still on its first clutch. So, that makes a big difference. I've just replaced the clutch on my 4200. I would need to factor this in on any bid.