hardingdalouis
Junior Member
- Messages
- 39
I have recently bought a 4200. I do disagree about the future values of the cars. There are a few special editions which may attract collectors and maintain very high prices today?
At present the 4200's are the supercar bargain and I think prices will bounce back over a few years. The entire classic car market has been in freefall since 2016. One or two cars buck the trend. Porsche made loads more cars than Maserati. The prices for some Porsche cars are unsustainable and honestly unrealistic. When you get bad cars tarted up and sold for inflated sums the market will correct itself. Last year was a terrible year in the classic trade. This year has been better, if realistic prices were asked. My mates in the trade say that. A customer comes in having paid X for a car and spent Y and now wants XY. The car is only worth what the market will pay. Hence a lot of cars in particular Ferrari and Porsche are advertised for silly money which will never be realised. Others desperate to believe their cars are worth 2017 prices hang on in there and advertise cars at these silly prices or ask dealers to do SOR at these silly prices.
Some cars get ignored by the market. When cars become too cheap they are bought by people who cant afford them who then depress the values further when they try to offload cars or offload cars which lots of problems due to neglect or abuse. Normally they disappear. What stays up and what will always be good is the well looked after good cars.
The old rule of thumb for Italian supercars was 20% came to the UK. Now that we have richer RHD export markets like Malaysia Japan and Australia RHD cars sales are no longer confined to these shores. About 100 approx. Countachs have apparently gone abroad of the approx. 200 imported. Of the 13200 odd 4200's made that means about 2600 may have come to the UK???. the Government web site suggests half that number? Of the 214 manual RHD cars about 192 left here?
A Maserati was always a connoisseurs car. Fiat group missed the marketing chance to protect and promote the history. In the trade it was thought the marketing of the Ghibili was a disaster. Too expensive; too expensive servicing and lack of finance deals. This is from people in the high level trade. The pursuit of volume to take on BMW and Mercedes undermined brand value and was optimistic without putting other measures in place to compete. I think the depressed prices stem from that.
I think in future buyers will be kinder to these older cars. I wouldn't panic. indeed I have gone against the trend and bought one! I hope I am right.
Even if I am wrong, then I am going to enjoy the car and ownership of it and use it as I do with my other cars. Italian cars are there to drive, not to sit and be polished. I have 6 other old Italian cars. I enjoy them, like driving them and admire their beauty. I don't admire the beauty of my Audi A8!
So to recast an old British expression:
Keep calm and have a bloody good carry on!
Paul
PS I had a profile paul328 which I cant access in case anyone recognises the poor grammar!
Well you’ve made me feel better if nothing else Paul
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