wanted: 2005-2007 4200/gransport GT

[Venkman]

Afternoon all, newbie saying hello. First off, I've been reading through various posts on here to find out about 4200s and I have to say what a friendly and helpful forum this is.

So I'm also looking for a 4200, budget can stretch to a little over £20,000. Does anyone know this car/garage at all: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ge/2/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new?logcode=p

Planning on looking at the car at the weekend. They seemed nice enough on the phone, though didn't have the best knowledge of the car.

Dicky, the Blue 4200 you have for sale looks great, but I'm all the way down in London so a round trip to you would take all day and cost about £100! If nothing crops up down here, though, think I'll get myself on a train up to you.

If anyone knows of a 4200 up for sale/coming on the market, I'd be very interested.

Cheers all


Will

 

[hodroyd]

Hi Will,
A warm welcome to the forum..!!
Regarding the car at Platinum, have heard of them before, but do not know how good, or bad they are..!! On the car, the drivers seat bolster looks to have quite a bit of wear and may need repair, the engine bay is not that clean either..!! I would have a serious look at the service history, if there are any stamps that are not main dealer, or Maserati Specialist, tread carefully..!! I would definitely spend the few hundred on having the car inspected by a Maserati Independent Specialist, there is a list on here if you put it in to search..!! 56K miles is not that bad for a 2004, but it has to have been correctly serviced..!! For your budget I would think you might find a 2005 onwards facelift car, which have improvements over the earlier model..!!
Best of Luck in your search..!! You can not go far wrong by considering what Dicky has to offer, all his cars are fully checked out and brought up to standard by Autoshield who do all my servicing and they are spot on..!! This would also save you on having to get an inspection done, which can cost £200-300 to get a good job done..!! These cars are special and correct service is vitally important for life and reliability..!!
Cheers
R

 

[Venkman]

Thanks Robert, that's a good point about the inspection costs. Suddenly that £100 train ticket is looking less expensive...

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi Peter (did you see what I did there, in honour of the late, great Mr Ramis?)

For a car that was professionally cleaned it's a bit dirty. Driver's seat controls are very dusty, and the paintwork could do with a wash, which makes me wonder a bit.
Also, I'd want to see the service history and when was the clutch changed?

C

 

[safrane]

Few obs on that car.
its a first generation 4200 with the bee sting aerial
whats with the head rests...thats not standard
Chrome grill looks painted
wheels are up graded to 2004 model year

 

[hodroyd]

The owner has done a few paint bits to match the wheels I assume, on the boot and around the front grille, it's not original so should command lower money and the overall condition is a bit worn..!!

 

[Parisien]

Yup...indie inspection......check when clutch was changed and by whom, must have full history, looks £1.5 - 2K over priced, or more in no recent clutch and or service IMHO


P

 

[Venkman]

Thanks all, very useful advice and comments. Catman, you're spot on. Wanted to do something to honour the great man and Egon seemed too obvious.

This one's not sounding too great is it? Whilst I'm gathering opinions (and if you don't mind) what do people think of the one on at ADG: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...1500/quicksearch/true/make/maserati?logcode=p

£25,000 is more than I want to spend, but the service history looks good and it's had a relatively recent clutch change.

 

[CatmanV2]

Nice car, although the Vintage pack is something of an acquired taste. ADG are a forum sponsor. It's due at least an annual service, not sure how big a one it is, but the clutch should be good

C

 

[Venkman]

Is it just me or is it riding a bit high as well?

 

[hodroyd]

That looks a lot better car to me and the mileage is very reasonable..!! Has GS wheels so not standard but they look nice and they are Maserati..!! The price is high and should be negotiable, but it is a 2007 Facelift..!! If the history is solid and condition excellent, I would put the car at about £21,500 and that's only my opinion..!! At that price you are getting very close to GS money and it's not a GS..!! Go and have a look..!!
The bigger wheels without the suspension drop will make it ride high..!!

 

[safrane]

The rolling circumference of GS and 4200 wheels is the same. The extra size of the wheel is negated by lower profile tyres...hence why the GS wheels are more fragile on our potted roads.

 

[Venkman]

Thanks again all, I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[hodroyd]

Never thought of that Peter..!!

 

[bigbob]

The rolling circumference of GS and 4200 wheels is the same. The extra size of the wheel is negated by lower profile tyres...hence why the GS wheels are more fragile on our potted roads.

That's right. You can see that if you look at the GranTurismo (or indeed any car) too - 19" wheels are a 40 profile and the 20" wheels are a 35.

 

[dickygrace]

Just had chance to catch up on this, welcome to the forum Sweeney (with whom I've already spoken) and Will. There's loads of help on here and I'm more than willing to help you out even if you're looking at a car elsewhere.

I've another 2003 4200 that's currently being inspected and couple of minor faults rectified. It'll be on my site tomorrow.

 

[bigbob]

Glad to see you here Dicky.

I still miss my 2005MY 4200 (three pedal manual). In fact wish I had all three of my Maseratis' in my history in the garage!

 

[Venkman]

Thanks Dicky, I'll look out for it.

Forgive my ignorance (new to the model) but did the '03 cars benefit from the upgrades to the gearbox, etc, or was that '04 onwards?

 

[safrane]

It was the 04 model year cars which were upgraded although changes to software for items such as the gearbox continued from day one.

these cars an be seen by the deletion of the rear wing mounted bee sting aerial. My first 4200 was a very early revised car registered in May 2003...so It can be difficult to know if it is or is not.

 

[Venkman]

Ah, I see. Thanks Safrane.