4200 : 52 plate 28K or 05 facelift with 50K miles, what would you choose?

[Smasher]

Hi all,

I am still on the search, and i have a choice, what would you choose and why.
52 plate 28K, from a reputable dealer,
05 plate facelift 50K, private seller.

both look very good, 52 plate looks immaculate. i am worried that the 52 plate has not been used much, only done 800 miles since nov 2010. they will give it a full inspection and a comprehensive warranty. Obviously the private one is a sold as seen sale, i can obviously get an inspection done but doesnt give you the same piece of mind as a warranty.

thoughts please Kev.

 

[Parisien]

Tough choice Smasher......but a full comprehensive indie inspection should allay most fears.........if it aint a Maserati warranty, they sometimes aint worth the paper they are written on!


P

 

[MAF260]

Decide which one you like more and why - colour, spec, condition (ALWAYS condition!) service history, budget etc and then get an inspection done. I'd be surprised if they're identical aside from age and mileage.

 

[Smasher]

I love both the cars colours, and there interiors. the warranty offered covers the F1 pump and the clutch, its not maserati specific, but i believe it to be a better one of the warrenties available, so which would you choose?

 

[Phil H]

Kev

Are they both CC's or manual?
Do they both have comprehensive documented histories with recognised Maserati specialists?
What (if any) invoices are evident for clutch changes or other expensive work?
Do they both perform equally well?
What tyres are fitted to each car?
What is the under-bonnet condition of each car?
What is your annual mileage likely to be?

You really need an independent inspection for either car regardless of trade or private sale; you'll be paying anyway, so the biggest problem is likely to be one of logistics.

As Parisien says, warranties can give false comfort, especially where Maserati costs are concerned as you can soon hit either single claim or annual limits.

PH

 

[Parisien]

After market warranties only cover instant failures, nearly everything that will fail on an older car is wear and tear related......ie lots or wriggle room for providers...hence importance of checking clutch wear, all main components, so a full indie inspection vital



P

 

[hodroyd]

Kev,
A warm welcome to the forum..!!
I have not driven an early 4200, only the facelift. The facelift is excellent..!! Find out the full spec of each car before you decide and I would definitely have an Indie inspection done, it's well worth the money. You will find a list on here: Independent maserati Specialists, just put it in the search box. I recently sold a facelift 2007 car with 61K on it and it drove like a dream, but was well maintained..!! Check the history very carefully and make sure servicing has been done at a Maserati Specialist, or main dealer..!! If the paintwork on the newer car is dull, you can always get it detailed for not a lot of money..!!
Cheers
R

 

[mjheathcote]

I was in the same situation two years ago.
A '52' plate with only 11k miles on the clock, or a much higher mileage younger car.

The '52' plate I guess you could say was a garage queen, two owner, garaged under a cover, never used in the winter, and with only 11k was immaculate with no stone chips, no peppered glass, flawless leather, and underneath the suspension still had its original zinc plating on all the bolts and fittings, as new.

The higher mileage younger cars I saw looked 'tired', chipped and scuffed paint, peppered glass, worn leather, corroded suspension fittings underneath having been used through the winter...a typical Italian car that had been used daily.

The '52' plate car was being sold through a non Maserati dealer (it was actually the Italian dealer principles own car him owning a Mitsubishi car dealership) and it was no problem when I requested a full PPI at the local Maserati main dealer. The very detailed PPI report came back clean, apart from a slight weap on one cam cover gasket, and slight wear on one track rod end, which they both replaced. Oh, one washer jet nozzle was also out of alignment...they fixed that too!
The colour combination was just right as well to my liking, Sebring blue with beige leather, so I was sold!

There is a lot said about avoiding early 02 cars, you must buy a 03 onwards car because they are better blah blah blah!. All I can say is that mine drives beautifully, the gear change is incredibly smooth (which was pointed out by the main dealer service manager when he gave me the report) and is a complete joy to own and drive.

So all I would say is go on condition/history and have a PPI report, ensuring the colour combination is too your liking, rather being hung up on the year.
You can buy a ******* of an early car, or a real dog of a later car, and visa versa of course!

 

[Andyk]

The later car for me..Even with the higher miles the drive better than the early cars....Get an inspection and see what it turns up...

 

[safrane]

I have had both, an 03 revised and a 06 Face Lift, and they were different beasts.

The first car was high miles 52k 5 1/2 years ago and I put another 18k on the clocks over 2 1/2 years without any issues. The car is for sale now with 76k for £11,750 I replaced it with a face lift which did not have the raw power delivery of the first car and was far smoother. It was more of a GT car and better to drive on a long smooth run.

I took both cars around Europe which was a joy...and will be doing the same this year.

I do not think the early car is worth the extra due to low miles, but if they are both in good nick I would get the 05 car, but if a little tired go for the early car as long as it passes an inspection.

 

[marios kriticos]

If you are buying this car to keep for a long time then buy the lower mil one if you are only buying for one or two years only buy the 05 car .
The cars that where build after 04 are better cars .

Marios

 

[Smasher]

thanks for the speedy replies guys, i believe they both have the typical history in the fact that it was done on mileage rather than every year. This has been the case on every one I have looked at. the early one has nearly all the servicing done with HR Owen, and definatley has a no exepence spared type of previous owner.

The newer one looks like the last service was done by a non maserati garage maybe the garage selling, and has not been serviced since then. But it has also had 5 owners as well, i noticed that the tyres on the newer one are Khumo, not the best but not remoulds. I have read up that there are not many of the facelifts about 30 smoething!!

I think i like the look of the newer ones with the nicer bumpers ect, but the fact the older one looks prestine draws me in, my previous car was a 56 plate with 15K on the clock and it was great.

I probably wont keep it much more than 2-3 years, and my annual mileage is no more than 3-4K a year, so both cars would still have reasonably low mileage.

I am going to look at the facelift tomorrow, and the 52 plate next saturday. I have to try not to jump in on the first one before seeing and driving both of them!!

cheers Kev.

 

[Andyk]

Good luck Kev, let us know how you get on....

 

[hodroyd]

Kev,
Wise decision, you don't have to rush, unless it's a mint low miler for £25.00, so take your time, drive them both, once you have made a decision, get the car inspected..!! I can not stress this enough, an inspection by an expert is invaluable, they know what to look for on these cars, if you don't you could face sizeable bills in the first few months and you don't want that forced on you..!!
Best of luck, if you need help just ask..!!
Cheers
R

 

[dem maser]

Take your time....never hurry when buying a Maserati

 

[Marti]

I probably being very stupid here but how does an indie inspection work? If you see a car you like say in London do you get people like McGrath Maserati to go to the vehicle and give it a once over on site? Or do you have to drive it to somebody but without purchasing it? Thanks in advance.

 

[V8Pilot]

Hi,

I've got a 52 Plate Spyder with 49K Miles and it goes like a bullet! Just gotta keep changing the oil and filters!

Mike

 

[Smasher]

you would get the owner to take the car in to the garage for the inspection, there might be some mobile ones, as said on here, but they would not have the full facilities of there workshop.

 

[Marti]

you would get the owner to take the car in to the garage for the inspection, there might be some mobile ones, as said on here, but they would not have the full facilities of there workshop.

Oh I see thanks for that, as most indies are working to a 3 week lead time this may cause a problem if you see something you like but somebody else may get in there quicker to buy the said vehicle!?

 

[Smasher]

Unless it was perfect in my eyes i would wait for the inspection, or knock something off the price and get it done by a local maserati specialist, i have spoken to Emblem they are near me in Poole, and they seem to know there stuff.