Recent content by evoke

Having looked at hundreds of used Maseratis for sale online, I'm really liking Blu Mediterraneo. Is this a special order colour or a standard colour?

Its full name is ValetPro Bilberry wheel cleaner. It is an alkaline wheel cleaner and should be diluted with several parts of water to 1 part of Bilberry. I use a mix ratio of 3:1 (water:Bilberry). I also use a spray bottle with a foaming spray head to dispense the cleaner onto the wheels but...

Bilberry wheel cleaner is very good. Spray on, agitate with a small sponge, wait 5 minutes and rinse off using a pressure washer. Sealing your wheels is also a good idea to stop them attracting dirt and it also makes them much easier to clean.

I presume that Maseratis require super-unleaded petrol. I have always used Shell V-Power in all my previous and current cars. What fuel do you guys use and have you noticed any difference in performance, engine smoothness, etc., when experimenting with different fuels from different suppliers?

Thanks very much for the info, urbanmaser. If I understand correctly, does the F1 gearshift will disengage the clutch for you when changing gears?

Following on from my clutches thread, would someone be kind enough to explain the different types of transmissions available on Maseratis these days? And pros and cons of each type would be useful too! I've heard about the 'F1 shift' transmission and understand this to be a manual...

Of course, logically, I would buy a manual for a sports car but I could really do with an auto or semi-auto gearbox this time around. I've had two manual Porsches and they were fabulous. However, due to the number of miles I do every year which are mostly for business rather than pleasure, a...

^ That's good to hear. I drive my cars a lot too so things like rate of clutch wear and cost of replacement are fairly important to me.

^ I agree with that. When i've had 'normal' cars then their flaws were acceptable and I was happy that the car got me from A to B. When i've had more 'premium' cars then even the most negligible niggle caused me stress and had to be fixed and counted negatively towards the perceived reliability...

I have read that it is possible to get an estimate of the life of the clutch that is remaining when buying a used Maserati. How does this work and is this only available from main dealers?

Excellent thread. I've just ordered the last one (1999-2007).

From what i've read, Maseratis tend to wear out clutches fairly quickly. What sort of mileage have members done before requiring a new clutch and what is the typical cost of having a clutch replaced (from indie or main dealer)?

I like reading JC's articles in The Times. I like his style of writing. However, when in the market for something like a Maserati, he would be the last person i'd take any advice from!

Having read about horror stories about the reliability and longevity of Italian cars over years, what is the reality of the situation? What are members' experiences of breakdowns and faults and how many issues fall under warranty repairs or have to be paid for out of your own pockets? I would...

Hopefully this won't open a can of worms! But which, in your humble opinions, is the best-sounding Maserati of recent years (assuming no induction/exhaust modifications to the factory specification)?