2010 QPV Sport GT S... Annual Running Report (2 years in and counting...)

makeshiftUK

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I can't believe it's been a year already, I still sometimes have to pinch myself as a reminder that I own one of these incredible cars.

So far (excluding fuel, tax, insurance of course) I've spent £2845.99... how's that for a fairly round number. With a breakdown of the larger costs within that:
  • £878 for preventative underbody/subrame corrosion treatment... arguably not a regular cost
  • £497.90 to change out and replace one of the rear seatbelts and, whilst there, supply/fit both Bose parcel shelf speakers
  • £372.85 supply/fit rear brake pads (EBC Yellowstuff), handbrake shoe check and MOT
  • £330 oil and filter service, and replacing my horn ;)
  • £275.94 to diagnose and fix my dicky fuel flap, and the backorder of a new rear seatbelt
  • £87.88 new battery
The rest of it is just parts that I bought to 'restore' her... bonnet badge, side badges, rear passenger vents (one of the 'fins' was broken), luggage compartment mat, and a few other bits and bobs... about £400 in total. If I discount the £900 subframe work and in addition the fairly random £500-£600 seatbelt drama, that equates to very reasonable servicing costs.

Slightly unfairly perhaps, she had a major service before I purchased her (just over £2k)... but by contrast, I recall spending just over £3k a year to keep my 2002 XK8 going... a money pit I admit I miss. I hope these numbers serve as a reminder that actually owning these cars needn't equate to financial ruin... with due diligence applied to the purchasing process, indeed.

What's it been like over that 12 months? Utter joy. The expression on people's faces when you drive past with the exhaust valves open... what the flip made that noise? The subtlety and magic of it's presence is something I've not seen replicated with any other marque... our local town of Reigate often enjoys the presence of Fezzas, Astons, Porkers and the occasional Lambo or McLaren - all lovely cars (Porsche excluded ;)), but nothing that comes close to the QP's understated class.

Prior to lockdown, I was using her as a semi-daily driver... and wouldn't really leave her standing for more than 2/3 days a week without a blat of some sorts. At the weekends we'd go out for a family drive and trip to the supermarket... going for a child space wherever possible to put as much distance between her and less considerate motorists. Both short journeys and long journeys are a doddle... and the bifurcated, split nature of this car is fantastic when the theatre of the engine and exhaust note isn't required when cruising on the motorway.

If I'm being honest, the car scares me on the road - with all the power and torque available I haven't actually yet put my foot flat to the floor, and neither have I taken her to the rev limiter (which I only found out about via the famous Harry's Garage review!). The handling for a luxo-barge is brilliant, and it's true what everyone says that the car 'wraps around you' at speed... and it certainly hides it's weight well. Any review that ever criticises it's ride as being 'too harsh' with fixed rate dampers is BS... perhaps that's because my other 2002 5 Series Estate is on original suspension, and the ride on that is a little harder! The boot is a little small perhaps to package in many large suitcases, but otherwise practicality is marvellous for kids and adults in the rear alike. My daughter still makes use of a Recaro YoungSport in the back which works well... caution though because I must have 'yanked' the seatbelt in such a way that prevented it from returning back.

I still haven't read the owner's manual from cover to cover, and I still have no idea what most of the buttons do on the back of the steering wheel. I know where the ignition is, the gear lever and the flappy paddles... the rest are details :D I intend to refurb the alloys and return them to the darkened chrome colour with which they left the factory, and I have some minor bubbling on the rear bumper where water has seemingly become trapped that I intend to have a bodyshop rectify. My front grill was a bit cracked, that's now been refurbished by yours truly, and will be fitted back on this weekend: https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/qpv-sport-gts-grill-refurb-blog.30953/post-781254

I know I've said this about ever car I've owned... but I couldn't ever contemplate selling her. With 58 or so left in the UK I can't see the values of the GTS's sinking much lower, but even if they do I couldn't care less! This car is the apex of 4-door saloon luxury and lunacy that could be achieved with a naturally aspirated V8... keep your forced air induction, thank you very much :)

Here's to an uneventful 2nd year!
 
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Wattie

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Your car is without doubt my favourite of all the GTS QP’s out there. That colour and interior are perfect.
Nice to hear your having a blast owning it.
 

Andyk

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Great read buddy...You already know that I think you QP is my favourite if any I've seen.....That colour, the way it looks.....and it was a bargain when you bought it. Keep enjoying or if you get board give it to me to look after. Great car.
 

makeshiftUK

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1,089
Thanks for the kind words and feedback... the first owner appeared to have interests in horse racing/bloodstock, with an arguably good automative taste of both colour and interior for my QP. I've only seen one other GTS with cream interior (that '08 one in Oceano Blue, with a rotten subframe and daft 'KNOB' numberplate for those that remember)... although I must confess I have a soft spot for Alcantara which is (in my view) befitting of the sportier QP.

Her condition is very much a credit to the previous owners and their upkeep of the car also (@Wheelybin !) which I'll be sure to maintain.
 

Hurricane52

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1,211
The alcantara is lovely to sit on, especially on hot holidays, but wearing jeans on cream seats means plenty of leather cream required and a damp sponge for the alcantara.

Just been out for an Italian tune up. Found that I exceeded Drakula Drakeford’s 5 mile rule, so I popped into a garage and found a nice organic red from Sicily and some essential chocolate and crisps for the rest of the family.
 

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gb-gta

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Had my GTS just over a year now, it’s still awesome. I like a pale interior, mine is pearl beige.
 

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makeshiftUK

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So that’s three of us on here with some form of cream QP GTS interior. Quite an exclusive club.
Agreed! According to Maserati's held vehicle specs against my VIN, mine is Sabbia (sand).

I must say though, I have never seen cream alcantara in a QP before... very envious of your carbon fibre (or Titantex) instrument gauge pods @Hurricane52 !

@gb-gta is that a factory fit carbon fibre or Titantex steering wheel? I do like the look of it...
 

gb-gta

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Not sure what the difference is with tItantex and carbon fibre? It’s the same carbon fibre finish on the wheel as the dash and door inserts. Option from new I believe.
 

Hurricane52

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My Ghibli has bianchi leather on the spec sheet but it’s kinda beige to me,
 

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makeshiftUK

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Not sure what the difference is with tItantex and carbon fibre? It’s the same carbon fibre finish on the wheel as the dash and door inserts. Option from new I believe.
Had to dig out the brochure (yes, I am that sad) and I quote: "TitanTex is an ultra-lightweight aluminium coated titanium fibre fabric, with a modern, high-tech look, given added prestige by a special processing which produces a shiny finish with a 3-dimensional effect."

From the QPV GTS specific list of options:
  • Steering wheel in TitanTex composite fibre with gear knob and gear boot in black leather - £708 (or £912 with coloured leather)
From the MC Sport line list of options - with some available for the QP:
  • Interior carbon package - evolution 2 (carbon fibre shift paddles, carbon fibre instrument surround) - £1680
  • Steering wheel in carbon finish and black leather - £780
 

ChrisQP09

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Yes Titanex is not carbon fibre! The MC Evo packs are carbon. I clarified this when I had my QP GT S.
 

gb-gta

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Looks like there is a ‘carbon pack’ on mine, rather than TItantex, but just without the instrument binnacle being carbon. Door plates have ‘MC sport line’ on them though. Maybe you could mix and match what bits you wanted from new and weren’t fixed on either all items in the pack or nothing?
 

makeshiftUK

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Looks like there is a ‘carbon pack’ on mine, rather than TItantex, but just without the instrument binnacle being carbon. Door plates have ‘MC sport line’ on them though. Maybe you could mix and match what bits you wanted from new and weren’t fixed on either all items in the pack or nothing?
I think what you have is the Interior Carbon Package - Evolution 1 Option... with the door sills/plates as you describe, from memory it was the same price as the Evolution 2 option.
 

rs48635

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Nice write up by the OP! The spring / damper setup is my favourite configuration on the QP.
Personally the difference between Titanex and carbon fibre is immaterial when used for trim.
 

makeshiftUK

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2 years in now... I was thinking about framing this report/update in a different tone given my recent barrage of electrical issues, which in essence seem to stem from frequent usage albeit over very small mileage and short journeys, which took their toll on my 2 year old battery. With a new battery in place and following a lesson learnt the hard way on battery terminal connection, things are now stable again I'm glad to report.

That aside, the last year from the QP's standpoint has been fairly uneventful... long journeys have been few and far between of course, and if I look at my bills from the last 12 months it seems I took a bias towards 'doing my bit for the economy' and splurging on mostly cosmetic things... £939 on a wheel refurb (including 2x new rear Michelin tyres), £500 for an OEM carbon-fibre steering wheel, an annual oil/filter service from Dale @ Prestige, some misc parts (battery, undertray) and the recent investigative works by Autofficina on the electrical side of things. Nothing above I'd constitute as major, un-expected emergency expenditure - but I will be booking her in for a major service alongside an MOT later this year, and the fronts are looking fairly lean on tread... which presents itself as an opportune time to address the front bushes also (big job). Whilst I think of it, an underseal top-up would probably be a smart thing to do also.

So, expecting to pay a bit more over the next 12 months on more essential things - but all very par for the course, and certainly not in the realms of 'oh ****, my turbo needs replacing' and the subsequent bills with 3 noughts on the end. Still just as happy as when I first bought this car, and looking forward to many more years of happy ownership.

Here she is alongside an F12 when I picked her up from Autofficina this week, well-suited stablemates I think...

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