makeshiftUK
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- 1,091
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:
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 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!
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
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 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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