A surprised new UK GS owner...

JimBlob

JimBlob

Member
Messages
121
Hi all...

While getting my regular dose of car **** and clicking on an email from a UK online auction house I accidentally got drawn in. I'd also had a drink or maybe two. I've been in this situation before and it's very dangerous... With only 6 minutes to go I very impulsively clicked a button and this time I won it despite lowering my max bid.

Luckily, it was for a 2005 Maserati GranSport!

100970:)

themarket.bonhams.com

2005 Maserati GranSport Coupe For Sale by Auction

Purchased by the vendor from long-term storage fol...
themarket.bonhams.com themarket.bonhams.com

Having had a BMW 650i Convertible for a couple of years I have been looking for something 'different' (there is a lot going on in that simple word!) that could occasionally drive distances for the odd meeting or into Europe but also something that would give me a grin every time i drove it - and after my extensive research into the car since last Thursday it looks like I got lucky. Fingers crossed.

I'm part expecting a new clutch at anytime (I dont think the original has been replaced yet) and I would like to tidy the paintwork on the intake & rocker tops + buy the 2 engine covers that seem missing... but I am yet to take delivery so we will see what else may need attention. But I'm loving the grey wheels :)

Exciting times.... and hopefully that car I've been looking for. Seems to have a lot of character compared to reliable, easy German cars that I'm used to...and bored of

Looks like there is a wealth of information on here that I might need!
 
mowlas

mowlas

Member
Messages
1,733
Welcome Jim. Many congratulations and look forward to the updates.

It’s a beautiful colour. Hope you have many happy miles! I switched from a 645i convertible to Maserati over 12 years ago and never looked back.
 
BennyD

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
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15,006
Welcome to the insanity of owning a Maserati. You’ll find a fair few anoraks on here that will, potentially, ease the pain of ownership. I’m pretty sure that, between breakdowns, you will thoroughly enjoy the Maserati experience but a word of warning; just make sure that at any meetings you attend you don’t park next to a 3200, bad juju has been known to leach across from them and that will illuminate your ECL randomly and without warning. Once corrupted by a 3200 only an intervention, a seance or a can of petrol and a match will kill the electronic Gremlins that are running riot and letting the smoke out of your wires.
 
Tallman

Tallman

Member
Messages
1,834
Welcome to the club, interesting times lay ahead! I fully agree that Maserati is many times more exciting to drive than the 650i. I’ve had a few of those but did keep the convertible as open top motoring adds a dimension as well.
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,854
Welcome.

This very car was posted on another thread last week. A few bits to sort over the coming months. There is lots of details on here about issues/fixes and items to watch out for, as well as lots of easy repairs you can do yourself.

Hope the car brings you lots of smiles
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,154
Welcome to the forum and well done on your purchase. Look forward to hearing how you get on with your Gransport.
 
Ewan

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,812
Well played. Got to love a sight-unseen auction purchase of a second hand Maserati! Fingers crossed it works out well for you.
(I did something similar myself a few months back, and have no regrets. Yet.)
 
JimBlob

JimBlob

Member
Messages
121
Thanks all... I'll put a post in the GS forum once Ive received and partially understood what (if anything :D) needs doing.
BennyD I will watch out for the 3200's - although I would like my GS to catch a dose of boomerang rear lights! Probably the first time I noticed a 'modern' mazer and likely why Ive bought one... **** shame they didnt carry some of that design on.
Tallman - I still have my citroen 2cv for the open top sports car feel!
Ewan, Ive bought a few unseen cars dealer & private, I do like that gambling thrill and been generally lucky... just hope my cards are good this time.

My 2008 BMW 650i was in for new pads & service just before it sells...got a call yesterday & it needed discs & pads all round ugghhh £1200 bugger. I also just recently put new tyres on too - kidding myself I wouldnt buy something else this year. Bloody bimmer is perfect now but will have to sell at a higher price


If anyone knows any history of this car other than whats on the Bonhams site do please let me know
 
JimBlob

JimBlob

Member
Messages
121
Well… i think im in love!
Ohhh! I hadnt seen one in real life let alone been in one… How difficult it is too turn into ones drive… and impossible not to make that engine sing!
Woohoo!! Love it and happy with the condition - needs smartening up on break calipers n engine bay and a bit of polish/paintwork if im picky but it drives & sounds ACE
Keeper!
 
azapa

azapa

Member
Messages
1,300
Congratulations! Drive often and with the right-hand pedal pressed well inwards, they last better that way.
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

Member
Messages
1,687
Many congratulations Jim. You've reminded me of the sentiment that it's better to be born lucky, then clever.
You can become clever. But, you can't become lucky.
That said, I think we might all agree that there might be a higher than average number of people in this forum who
were blessed with both. In some measure or other.
I've loved convertibles all of my life and have generally tried to keep one in my life. Despite a nomadic existence.
Leisurely driving on a warm evening, with the top down and Motown playing under the stars, has kept me on the right side of sanity, at a few points in my life.
And then there's the privilege of owning an 'exotic' Italian automobile and everything that comes with it.
I think its no accident that some of the world's best designers are Italian. It must make a difference, to be brought up amongst so much beauty. Not least the intoxicating bella figura exhibited by Italian women that so many Italian designers have managed to capture in the items they produce. Be it clothes, cars, yachts or hundreds of other examples.
Looking at your car, bella figura is evident all over it and that's why so many of us are drawn to it. Who can resist a loosely hourglass figure, mated with an engine that was born to scream in pleasure at the top of its lungs.
I know I can't.
I live in a tiny coastal village, not far from the edge of the universe. So, it's unusual to see a bright red Ferrari burble past. Having got lost on it's way to the Gold Coast (County Down). I've no idea what model it was. But it looked quite new and very angular. I've yet to Google it, because I keep forgetting. But, that's partly my point. This car cost a telephone number, but it screamed 'look at me' and actually looked like a Transformer. Driving it would probably be like sleeping with Amber Heard. Finish that thought, how you like!
Driving an Italian sports car always reminded me of being Jack Lemmon in 'How to Murder Your Wife.'
The experience can be sublime. But also, in parts, frustrating to the point of clearly diminished responsibility.
Until you learn to surrender and glide over the occasional 'bumps in the road' by focusing on all of the positives that come with stewarding such a fabulous piece of motoring history. And letting the RAC worry about all the 'rest'.
;)
 
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