Switching from a 4200CC to a Quattroporte.

[Andyk]

It looks like a great car even if it needs a clutch add 2k to what you could possibly get the car for and it still could be a great buy....Let me know how you get on

 

[mjheathcote]

The duo select is a 4200 with four doors, in simple terms.
The ZF auto changes the engine to wet sump instead of dry sump, and alters the balance of the car with the auto box behind the engine, not at the rear.
So it depends if you want the handling and direct control of the duo select, or the waft-tastic ZF auto.
For me, if an everyday car in traffic, the ZF auto.
If however its still a toy for high days and holidays, and you still want as your 4200 to be able to flick down a couple of gears and floor it...it would have to be the duo select!
Just my thoughts!

 

[dickygrace]

Elliot, I agree with just about everything mentioned on this thread. It's up to you, both great cars in their own right.

 

[Elliott653]

Elliot, I agree with just about everything mentioned on this thread. It's up to you, both great cars in their own right.

Thanks Richard and thanks too for the PM.



Did the switch to auto alter the cost of servicing the QP?

 

[dickygrace]

Late cars have 2 year service intervals or 12500 miles. Duo selects are all every 12 months. No difference in the cost of a service in my experience.

 

[mjheathcote]

What actual physical differences are between cars that have 2 year service intervals instead of annual?
Or did Maserati just decide to go with the flow of other manufacturers?

 

[bigbob]

That is an interesting thought. Bear in mind that they just extended time and not miles. Obvioulsy the ZF Auto requires no work so perhaps the annual service interval was linked to keeping an eye on the DS box? Makes no sense mind as the MC Shift in the GranTurismo is two year/12.5k miles also.

 

[TridentTested]

What actual physical differences are between cars that have 2 year service intervals instead of annual?
Or did Maserati just decide to go with the flow of other manufacturers?

It sounds like they are just going with the flow. The only differences I know of are ZF gearbox being mounted to the engine which necessitated a change to a traditional wet-sump. Everything else is unchanged.

But to a low mileage owner annual or biennial services could make a big difference in running costs.

 

[hodroyd]

So where are the paddles on this paddle shift, I still can't see any anywhere, unless they are knee operated somehow..??

 

[dickygrace]

So where are the paddles on this paddle shift, I still can't see any anywhere, unless they are knee operated somehow..??

The car for sale at Stephen James is a fully auto exec GT with no paddles, they're only standard on the Sport Gt. The other duo select pontevecchio car does have paddles as its a duo select.

 

[hodroyd]

Hi Dicky,
Thanks for the clarification, so the description of the car is wrong, thought so.
Cheers
R

 

[Elliott653]

The car for sale at Stephen James is a fully auto exec GT with no paddles, they're only standard on the Sport Gt. The other duo select pontevecchio car does have paddles as its a duo select.

Here's their reply to an email enquiring about it.

Hello Elliott,

Thank you for your inquiry this car is fully automatic but it also benefits from having the tiptronic paddle buttons on the rear of the steering wheel.

Kind regards
Stephen

So, paddle buttons, it seems. Wassat mean then?

 

[hodroyd]

Paddles are paddles, buttons are buttons......???????????

 

[Dhanj]

On the cars with DuoSelect (that feature the paddles as standard), there are buttons on the back of the steering wheel too but they perform a different function. They aren't particularly easy to fathom either.

Not sure the buttons on the back of the steering wheel would work well as gear change selectors though - I would be surprised to learn that that was the case on an Auto car. Anyway, as I said earlier Elliott, you must go and drive the car. There is only one way to find out and that's by getting behind the wheel and trying the buttons out for yourself.

I always thought the 'triptronic' buttons on the front of the Porsche steering wheels were pretty horrible. I can't imagine gear selector buttons situated on the rear of a steering wheel being any better - likely to be worse quite frankly!

We have a sporty C class Merc in the famiy with AMG styling bits and it has these poxy little plastic paddles that are there for gear changes. Whilst they work a bit better than buttons they are still pretty naff in my opinion. No, .. if you want F1 style driving, it has to be the big fixed paddles behind the steering wheel that are attached to the dash (and don't move as the steering wheel is being rotated). On the DuoSelect and the GTS MC-Shift cars, the paddles are some of the best I have seen - they really do exude quality. There are lots of cheap bits used on our Mazzie's but the paddles are one notable exception.

 

[TridentTested]

So, paddle buttons, it seems. Wassat mean then?

Stephen doesn't know his ar5e from his elbow. There are buttons on the rear of the steering wheel, they duplicate the radio/CD controls, you will be a long time trying to get them to change gears. Dicky is right, this is a ZF auto without paddles.

 

[Elliott653]

I've just asked Stephen to check this out. As for the first car that AndyK kindly posted on this thread, the Burgundy one. I'm seeing it on Saturday morning. I may for a short while be the owner of two Maseratis. I'd better get my camera out!

 

[hodroyd]

Elliott,
You need to check these cars out with care, bad descriptions are misleading and borderline suspect.
Cheers
R

 

[Andyk]

I've just asked Stephen to check this out. As for the first car that AndyK kindly posted on this thread, the Burgundy one. I'm seeing it on Saturday morning. I may for a short while be the owner of two Maseratis. I'd better get my camera out!

Thats great news.....I really do like this car......Wish I had the cash to buy myself.........

 

[Elliott653]

Elliott,
You need to check these cars out with care, bad descriptions are misleading and borderline suspect.
Cheers
R

Will do Robert. One good thing is that the car is currently being serviced at Lancaster Maserati and that I've asked the current owner whether they have flagged up any issues with the car. I shall also have an independent check done.

Who's good to check out a car that is based in east London / Essex?

 

[lozcb]

Will do Robert. One good thing is that the car is currently being serviced at Lancaster Maserati and that I've asked the current owner whether they have flagged up any issues with the car. I shall also have an independent check done.

Who's good to check out a car that is based in east London / Essex?

I may just be that way on thursday if i manage to get down to see Kurt re the carbonfibre thingy i'll pm you tonite Elliot if its a goer



regards Loz