Stradale delay - advice?

[Yeti]

Those that know me will know I ordered a new Stradale at the beginning of August with delivery to be in time for my birthday in early December, plenty of time most would think.

With the car having been "stuck" on Status 20 for almost 2 months, I decided to write to Maserati UK and ask about the transparency of the factory - customer relationship and to let them know how unhappy I was with the lack of info coming from the factory. To cut a long story short, I have had a reply from Maserati UK which was decidedly non-committal, in fact, I feel they were totally disinterested and waffled on a bit about there being two plants in Italy etc etc. - all bull and bluster. However, the kicker was in the depths of the email stating the car is not now due for completion until 11 December! So not only will I not have the car for my milestone 60th birthday, it may not even be here for Xmas.

So, what to do now? As you can all imagine, my wife says just cancel the bloody thing and buy a.n.other car, and whilst I half agree with the sentiment, the truth is a really, really want a Strad, and not just any Strad, but the one that I specified. The main dealer is Graypaul and they have been great, but they too are at the mercy of the factory and can do little to ease the pain. Coincidentally, I am off to the factory next week on a visit, so it's highly likely that I'll see the car, or parts thereof.

Any advice? I'm listening.

 

[Chrisbassett]

"Occupy Modena!"

 

[Trev Latter]

Maybe we should go over en mass and make some noise...oh hang, they've done that.

On a serious note, frustrating though it is, cancelling the order would mean longer delays as you'd be starting the whole process again. Plus, the Strad is the one you want. Horrible as it sounds, be patient. I'm sure it'll be worth it. I know how you feel. I had a delay of similar length when I bought our Alfa and that was only a 159. Being a Maser just makes it more frustrating.

 

[bigbob]

Personally I would not get hung up about having 'your' car for your birthday given it's the middle of the winter and just before two plate changes. Why not wait and get it registered on 1st March and ask that they give you a demo Strad for your birthday week by way of apology?

 

[Parptoot]

I'd delay/move my Birthday, I've done that before for one reason or another. As daft as it sounds it worked for me

 

[2b1ask1]

Any or all of the above are sage advise IMHO

 

[Yeti]

Truth of the matter is I'll never sell this one so the plate/date matters little. My peeve is with bloody Maserati moving the goalposts. I'll just need to give Giuseppe a good kicking when I'm over there next week

 

[FF1078]

Personally I would not get hung up about having 'your' car for your birthday given it's the middle of the winter and just before two plate changes. Why not wait and get it registered on 1st March and ask that they give you a demo Strad for your birthday week by way of apology?

Bloody good idea that!

 

[Andyk]

No surprise here..After all they are Italian......Look at Alf and the 4C...That is also a shambles delivery wise...

 

[Mr.Cambio]

no surprise as well. Maserati has proved that they're not customer-focused. Latest proof: Centenary celebrations.

Be patient..it will come late, but you'll keep her forever.

 

[conaero]

Fly out on your birthday and stay in the same hotel we did in Modena, then collect it on the 12th and drive it back....heaven!!!

 

[Chrisbassett]

I'd question whether they know they actually have customers, I think they believe a magic faerie comes in the night, takes the cars that are ready, leaves a pot of money and a new list of cars to build...parts are just expected to turn up for them to put together, and everyone's surprised when they don't.

 

[outrun]

Mate, be consoled that it's not as long as I'll be waiting for my Strad.

 

[Felonious Crud]

All of the above.

Gorgeous car. Worth a week or four longer, I reckon. Get it on a 2015 registration year as a Christmas present.

 

[Andyk]

Fly out on your birthday and stay in the same hotel we did in Modena, then collect it on the 12th and drive it back....heaven!!!

Surely that's an option as if's it's built it is just getting it to the UK that's their issue...Isn't it ?

 

[Yeti]

Driving it back is not an option. I want a full frontal Paintshield wrap before it goers anywhere near the roads, and that is also a problem. Given car is currently slated for Dec 11 completion, it's unlikely to get on the transporter until the following week 15th or so and will likely arrive at GP on 18th. Paintshield close down on the 19th for two weeks...........

 

[AndyW]

As all have said very little you can really do physically other than see if you can get some compensation for the delay in some way. I was lucky to find a stock car in the spec I would have chosen as waiting for a factory order would have driven me crazy! See if GP will lend you something nice for you bday weekend?

 

[rossyl]

.... ask that they give you a demo Strad for your birthday week by way of apology?

Great idea.

 

[Yeti]

Graypaul are loaning me a 458 for my birthday, so that's a nice gesture. I also dropped a snot-o-gram to maser UK this morning just to get it off my chest. Tempted to ask them to pay for the Paintshield wrap.

 

[rossyl]

That's a very generous gestue. Well done Graypaul.