Am I missing something???

[Gary687]

Hi folks

I've communicated with a few of you before (hi guys!) in my quest for Maserati ownership and alas I am still dreaming! It will come though but in the meantime, how about this for an odd situation over here yesterday....

I noticed a 2000 3200GT on Grays Online over here. Now the actual inspection place is 5mins from my work so popped over to check it out.

Good points -

It had only 32,000kms showing. That was about it for good points!

Bad points -

It was green! Really not my choice of colour at all (apologies to anyone with a green one but not my ideal colour choice!)There was not a scrap of paperwork to back up the low kms! No service history documentation, no invoices etc. Nothing whatsoever to show how it had been treated
There was a single key so no spare and no Red key either
The front bumper/spoiler had been hit fairly badly. I'm no bodywork guy but at best it could have been repaired (maybe!) and repainted. At worst it was a new bumper and paint needed.
Every panel had a mark of sorts on it. Some would maybe buff out but some would need a bit of minor paint
The passenger door was so damaged only a re-paint of that door would have sufficed
2 alloys were kerbed, 1 of which was really quite bad
The interior stank of a damp, musty smell
The leather was probably OK - not rips or tears - but would need a **** good clean by a pro I'd suggest
The air con vent fell out into my hand
You are not allowed to test drive the car at all. You can start it (with a battery jump starter pack!) but cannot drive it even 1 metre!
There are no ramps there to get under the car to check the underside out.

Is that picture clear enough?? Ha ha. Anyway, you all know how ridiculously expensive these beauties are over here in Oz but mid-30's will get you a half decent one and 40+ a pretty good one so when they said their reserve was $37,000 I just laughed. In my mind, with all that work and the pitiful resale value with no Red key and zero history I'd have thought $22k at most so I watched the bidding with interest....

......and watched in amazement as 61 bidders started a bidding war and eventually it sold (inc GST and Buyer's Premium) for $50,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was simply staggered!

So, back to my original question - am I missing something here????

 

[richard_masa_4200]

Was that one of Jim's Braeside?

 

[adam01]

U did the right thing - not sure about your good point -I would question the mileage on that car particulalry as no records exist
Bucket of **** by the sounds of it
There r some early 4200s around that sell price or better still look at importing one

Difficult to find anything that is going to be relatively trouble free under $40k

Good luck on your hunting down the elusive one

 

[Andyk]

Sounds like it could have been an insurance repossesson or thats its been in an accident.........Best to walk a away and never return which is what you have done.

 

[Gary687]

Sounds like it could have been an insurance repossesson or thats its been in an accident.........Best to walk a away and never return which is what you have done.

AndyK - definitely owned by 'the bank' according to the Grays guys hence it's poor condition.As most things, it looked good in the pics but in the flesh. There's another Maser just waiting for me out there I'm sure!

adam01 - I think as and when the time comes (will it ever?? I hope so!) I think importing a good one is the way to go and I guess if I was going to do that I'd aim for a 4200 as I'm led to believe that they can be a bit less troublesome than the 3200GT? Who knows!

richard_masa_4200 - nope, definitely not one of Jim's. A one-owner Oz-delivered car from 2000 until his death in 2009 (it smelt like he'd died in the car!) and then who knows what occurred to it!

I still cannot fathom out why someone bought it like that for that money - any logic seemingly went straight out of the window. After the auction I spent 60 seconds on car sales and found a fair choice of much,much better cars for $thousands less so the purchaser's reasoning simply escapes me....

 

[conaero]

Walk away it has the makings of a disaster written all over it.

Let's just hope that the poor sod that won the auction goes to see it and not buy it on spec and have it delivered....or reads this forum!

I tell you what, can you point me to the auction I think someone should message the guy.

 

[Gary687]

Not sure on the rules and regs of the auction but this is the link -

http://www.graysonline.com/sale/700...2000-maserati-3200gt-6sp-bris-pickup?spr=true

Seems to be inaccesible really and don't think you get to see who the actual bidder was? Not like ebay....

The guy on the email contact is from Grays themselves and doesn't really know much at all about Maseratis from the conversation I had with him. I just think - at the money this person paid - they are going to be hugely out of pocket!!!!!

 

[conaero]

Ah ok just assumed it was EBay.

I just hate to see a poor unsuspecting person gettin done by a car trader. They will be put off Maserati for life!

 

[nigw]

Anyway, you all know how ridiculously expensive these beauties are over here in Oz but mid-30's will get you a half decent one and 40+ a pretty good one so when they said their reserve was $37,000 I just laughed.

That certainly sounds like a poor example, however are you sure that your pricing is right? - I thought they were expensive in Australia, and comparing your prices to those of other marques in Australia $30-40k seems very cheap. That's only a few $k above UK prices for a good car really, and people are exporting from the UK, paying $15k+ in shipping and compliance and still making it worthwhile.

Not an expert in what they're selling for over there, but just checked an online valuation in Australia and it values the earliest 1999 cars at $50-60k private (and up to $75k dealer!), which might explain the price the auction went to.

 

[adam01]

That certainly sounds like a poor example, however are you sure that your pricing is right? - I thought they were expensive in Australia, and comparing your prices to those of other marques in Australia $30-40k seems very cheap. That's only a few $k above UK prices for a good car really, and people are exporting from the UK, paying $15k+ in shipping and compliance and still making it worthwhile.

Not an expert in what they're selling for over there, but just checked an online valuation in Australia and it values the earliest 1999 cars at $50-60k private (and up to $75k dealer!), which might explain the price the auction went to.

Massa's considered sale proof over here but prices are still high (and on all exotics). Even for those kind of prices you quote, you would not be getting the rubbish that was auctioned

Best online service is http://www.carsales.com.au/ similar to autotrader - if u check the site there is a advertised genuine 3200 AC for around $60k presumably no problems which is about 40k GB - i dont think your ACs are that expensive in the UK

 

[nigw]

Massa's considered sale proof over here but prices are still high (and on all exotics). Even for those kind of prices you quote, you would not be getting the rubbish that was auctioned

Best online service is http://www.carsales.com.au/ similar to autotrader - if u check the site there is a advertised genuine 3200 AC for around $60k presumably no problems which is about 40k GB - i dont think your ACs are that expensive in the UK

Yeah, $60k for a decent car sounds more like what I would expect in Oz. Gary was talking $35k, which is probably about £21k here. With a good car here being up to £17k the UK, export just wouldn't stack up - which it obviously does.

 

[Gary687]

Yeah, $60k for a decent car sounds more like what I would expect in Oz. Gary was talking $35k, which is probably about £21k here. With a good car here being up to £17k the UK, export just wouldn't stack up - which it obviously does.

Hi guys

I know Jim in Victoria (imports and complies them himself) who currently has a 3200 imported and up for a 'buy now' of $37,500 or 'best offer' and there are a few under or around the $40,000 mark on carsales too hence my pricing reference point.

I spoke with the dealer today abut this one and this looks a good one from the pics and the discussion I had - it will also be receiving a full service and timing chain replacement from Maserati Brisbane pre-sale and it's up for $44,900 with warranty. I reckon you'd get this for $42,000 if you went in cashed up...

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/d...01-11711534?vertical=Car&cr=1&eapi=2&__N=1216 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965360 4294964988&distance=25&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,Max~1&sort=default

Anyway, the imports are definitely compressing the prices of the (few) locally-delivered items as there are 3 companies I know of that are actively sourcing/importing/compliancing them in an attempt to grab a share of the ridiculously-expensive car market over here. Interestingly a couple of them tried their very best to put me off the 3200 and go for a 4200 as they are (allegedly!) way more reliable etc etc. Probably just a marketing ploy as maybe they're easier to comply but one company said that they'd only import a 3200GT for me if I found it and assumed all liability as they've had so much trouble with them in the past that they will no longer source them for people! Anyway, it's all interesting stuff....

Gary

 

[Gary687]

Forgot to add that the white AC Adam was referring too has been up for sale for well over a year now. As we all know, you can price your car/house/watch at whatever price you want but if you don't sell it in a year then I'd suggest the price might need looking at so maybe his choice of $60k is wildly ambitious?? Market forces - no matter what you are selling - will always dictate the price you'll eventually get....

 

[dickygrace]

Gary, I have a 3200 for sale as you know. Even I would recommend a 4200, far more reliable. I'm sure that there's very little point in importing a 3200 given all the costs involved. The guys you've spoken to are being pretty honest by the sounds of it. Most people tend to buy a 3200 for the lights alone, which, in my opinion are the only thing that make the 3200 desirable. For me, the 4200 is better in every department, but us blokes appreciate a cute ****.

 

[Gary687]

Cheers Dicky - have replied via PM!

G

 

[Geofflyn]

Hi guys

I know Jim in Victoria (imports and complies them himself) who currently has a 3200 imported and up for a 'buy now' of $37,500 or 'best offer' and there are a few under or around the $40,000 mark on carsales too hence my pricing reference point.

I spoke with the dealer today abut this one and this looks a good one from the pics and the discussion I had - it will also be receiving a full service and timing chain replacement from Maserati Brisbane pre-sale and it's up for $44,900 with warranty. I reckon you'd get this for $42,000 if you went in cashed up...

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/d...01-11711534?vertical=Car&cr=1&eapi=2&__N=1216 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965360 4294964988&distance=25&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,Max~1&sort=default

Anyway, the imports are definitely compressing the prices of the (few) locally-delivered items as there are 3 companies I know of that are actively sourcing/importing/compliancing them in an attempt to grab a share of the ridiculously-expensive car market over here. Interestingly a couple of them tried their very best to put me off the 3200 and go for a 4200 as they are (allegedly!) way more reliable etc etc. Probably just a marketing ploy as maybe they're easier to comply but one company said that they'd only import a 3200GT for me if I found it and assumed all liability as they've had so much trouble with them in the past that they will no longer source them for people! Anyway, it's all interesting stuff....

Gary

Hi Gary , I know of at least 6 importers but IMO these people are mostly buying bottom tier stuff. If you want a good car this forum is a great place to shop as you know the cars have been loved to death. Reality is with few exceptions cars are depreciating assets and you don't make money on them so pay the premium and buy a good one. 10% per annum depreciation of 70,000 is not much more painful than 10% of 50,000 but there's a world of difference between a 50,000 car and a 70,000 IMO. Cheers Geoff

 

[Gary687]

Wise words indeed Geoff. I love this forum - any grey areas or indecision due to lack of knowledge or understanding are soon sorted out. it's awesome....

The love continues....as does the search but I've just bought a Giulietta for the Mrs so the bank balance has taken a bit of a hit!

In time it will come of that I'm sure. In the meantime...

Cheers folks!

Gary

 

[nigw]

Hi guys

I know Jim in Victoria (imports and complies them himself) who currently has a 3200 imported and up for a 'buy now' of $37,500 or 'best offer' and there are a few under or around the $40,000 mark on carsales too hence my pricing reference point.

I spoke with the dealer today abut this one and this looks a good one from the pics and the discussion I had - it will also be receiving a full service and timing chain replacement from Maserati Brisbane pre-sale and it's up for $44,900 with warranty. I reckon you'd get this for $42,000 if you went in cashed up...

Sounds like the prices have dropped and the bottom has fallen out of the import market then, as at those figures importing just doesn't stack up. Was a short blip of opportunity for some perhaps. Classic supply and demand.

 

[nigw]

Gary, I have a 3200 for sale as you know. Even I would recommend a 4200, far more reliable. I'm sure that there's very little point in importing a 3200 given all the costs involved. The guys you've spoken to are being pretty honest by the sounds of it. Most people tend to buy a 3200 for the lights alone, which, in my opinion are the only thing that make the 3200 desirable. For me, the 4200 is better in every department, but us blokes appreciate a cute ****.

Funny, I've had both (at the same time) and genuinely found the 4200 dull in comparison to the 3200....less engaging power delivery, less exclusive, and poorer quality interior materials e.g. fake leather (so much so, that I now don't know where to go after the AC...had always assumed GS but not 100% sure. AM Vantage V8 perhaps?!).

Horses for courses though - would be boring if we all liked the same thing! I'm sure my opinion would be tainted if I'd had reliability problems with the 3200, but on my third one now and still waiting!

 

[nigw]

I've just bought a Giulietta for the Mrs

Giulietta - nice!