Are we a wealthy bunch?

[gb-gta]

The only exception is the granturismo as it was still on sale until a couple of years ago and is still viewed as a current car.

So as long as you can afford it and are happy to accept it may throw up a 5k bill at any time you'll be fine but QP and 4200 , £2000 a corner for wishbones , 5k plus to replace a rotten subframe , 4k for a clutch makes Maserati an unviable brand for most people(wives) even when the asking price is under 10k.

You can see that by how long many cars take to sell , unless they're given away or top examples with no miles on that have already had thousands spent on them , like a £1000 service every year even if the only mileage it's done is mot and back they take months to sell in an ever dwindling pool of buyers

It’s a risk, an older maserati for sure. And yes, some years you will get £2k or £3k bill. On top of general servicing costs.
However, I prefer to use man maths.

Buy the right car, and you are not doing big mileage, depreciation should be low. So if you budget for approx 3k a year for servicing/repairs, then unless you are unlucky you should be covered. Some years maybe just a service, some years a service/tyres/suspension bits. It should average out over time. If you are lucky you’ll be up.
Depreciation between £0 and say £2k/year
£250/month for service repairs
£0 - £150/month depreciation
Less than £400/month overall.

This completes my man maths.

Same a leasing a bland mid range new car that no-one questions.

 

[Wack61]

Whats the best Ford forum to join so I can tell them there cars are worthless?

I don't think there are many performance fords that are worthless

Does nobody find it annoying that maserati don't support older cars , BMW, Mercedes and I'm sure many more offer cheaper fixed price servicing and reasonably priced parts as they're aware that the only way to keep them in the dealer network is to reduce the price

If maserati did the same the cars wouldn't end up as scrap at 15 years old

I've got a 2004 berlingo van that needed £200 worth of welding for the MOT yet 80k 2004 QPs are scrapped because of rotten subframes and repair bills that exceed the value of the car.

 

[Zep]

How many posters on SM currently own a Maserati , a fair number are ex owners

A realistic one though , half of the posters on this forum don't own one and are unlikely to by a chrysler in an italian party dress anytime soon

I disagree. I think that the majority of regular posters are owners. Ex-owners may well have moved on, not because of the cost, but because they wanted to try a different brand. You can’t attribute your view to all people in that group.

As for “Chrysler’s in a party dress”, it’s pretty abundant that you aren’t a fan, the owners of these cars probably feel differently.

People who love cars do so in all sorts of ways, your view is your own, but you are posting them on a Maserati enthusiast forum.

Yes, it’s annoying that Maserati support leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, some uncared for cars have issues. Yes, the parts can be pricey.

But yes, when on song, closing in on the red line, there is little to match them.

 

[Scaf]

Maserati’s are high end cars that have supercar status in most people’s eyes and are bound to cost money to own and maintain.
But in my ownership my GTS cost me less than leasing a top end exec saloon and that includes depreciation and maintenance, and I paid a dealer premium when buying and sold to a dealer on my way out.
I know people who spend more on their golf club membership !

 

[dgmx5]

Does nobody find it annoying that maserati don't support older cars , BMW, Mercedes and I'm sure many more offer cheaper fixed price servicing and reasonably priced parts as they're aware that the only way to keep them in the dealer network is to reduce the price

Hopefully this will change with the Maserati Classiche project which will be a "dedicated assistance plan will support the fortunate owners of Classic, Youngtimer and Special cars in all the various maintenance or restoration procedures".

I imagine supporting Youngtimer cars here will mean 3200 and MCV (presumably these are Special as well) first, followed by Gransport and 4200. The big killer in the UK is of course the threat of rust to subframes and wishbones but I am not sure if that is such an issue for our continental cousins and therefore may not be a priority.

It is true that Maserati lags way behind the support that Porsche and Ferrari offers its back catalogue and maybe they realise that was a mistake. I imagine it will be Maserati Club UK who Maserati Classiche will engage with to see what their members need rather than SM, but as I am too poor to afford to maintain my Maserati I am pretty sure I can't afford to be a Maserati Club UK member

 

[Oishi]

Why are Rolex watches so expensive? The material costs are minimal, the production costs on modern Swiss CNC machines easily controlled, the value added by production is phenomenal. Why then the high price? IMHO, 2 factors.

1. Rolex protects its brand fiercely. (much like Ferrari}.
2. They support the old model watches.

By maintaining the cachet of the name, the perception of quality is maintained, and old watches can be repaired and used forever.
Therefore, used Rolexes hold their value and drive the prices of new ones up.
Poor Maserati has suffered indifferent management many times, with the CEOs "leveraging" the brand, building too many cars, and forcing the over production onto the dealers to dispose of. Add in non-support of older models, and the value of a used Mas is in the loo.
I know I'm in a minority position on this, but the worst thing to happen to Mas was being pulled away from Ferrari. Being Ferrari's luxury brand was a good thing. We were the Lexus to Ferrari's Toyota. Just my tupence.

 

[Doohickey]

I'm well enough off to be able to live a nice life and enjoy being able to go places and do more or less what we want. I work hard and have done well in what I do which I really enjoy. I've been made redundant twice so have some feel for the uncertainty that some people have in their lives and am determined to make the most of what I have now.

 

[Ryandoc]

I tell you what not to derail the thread but there’s a post on pistonheads just now about a guy looking at houses. He’s posted 6 links 3 close / in London and 3 further out and ouch the prices.

Im not going to reveal my exact location but it’s most definitely up north. Don’t worry it’s not as grim as you think up here.

But I am fortunate enough to be comfortable and the wife has a good income and I’d hate to think how tight things would be if I had to buy a house daan saath. I know they won’t all be too dollar but still.

Pure luck I bought my first house about 19 years ago and within 2 years it had doubled in price which helped. I’d hate to be starting out now.

As for my ‘wealth’ I’m happy with my northern pad and 11 year old GT lol.

 

[Wack61]

I'm really not trying to wind anyone up , I'm just being realistic , when I tried to PX my then running fine 4200 against a 25k QP GTS they offered me 6k for it.
I doubt they'd want a 2002 4200 at all today

 

[2b1ask1]

Ok so if they have sold out except for M there are way to many people with too much expendable...

Posh tosh

 

[rockits]

I can't agree really. I'm a current Maserati owner having 3 at one time at I think 6 in total. Not as many as some have had here for sure.

My current car has been very cost efficient and certainly more so than p1ssing up the wall down a pub or shoving it up my nose. It gives me pleasure just to know I own it, more pleasure to look at it, more pleasure to listen to it and even more pleasure to be blessed enough to drive it.

Is it any more expensive compared to any other car of this ilk? No, I'd argue not. Does it have a lower starting price than many of this ilk? Yes. Is it reliable? I'd argue yes. I have replaced almost nothing on my car in circa 5 years short of a couple of proactive small items.

Did any other previous Maserati's I had lose a fortune in depreciation or cost a fortune to run or were difficult to sell? No.

I think each individual situation and car can be very very different. That could be the same said for any marque or model. I have had good and bad for all makes and models.

To trade in a niche car in a shrinking marketplace the older it gets is of course going to make it harder to sell and potentially costly to change. No dealer will do you any favours and why would they. It is their livelihood and they rightly want and need to make money. Get it wrong with tight margins on a car like this and you will lose your shirt. No doubt. So why take the risk?

I think we all knew this when buying into our first Maserati and this is the same if not more true today. Does it put me off? H3ll no. Would I buy another? H3ll yes!

Many buy new cars that cost less to run often but pay for.it in depreciation and boredom. Each to their own. I'd rather rather something a bit different and enjoy my car more. Especially when we will all be driving them less over time.

You need to enjoy every mile as much as you can and if it were your last. I can't think of many cars I'd rather own and drive that match my wallet ability more than a Maserati.

I work hard and sacrifice a lot to achieve this. That is how I make it work. Everybody is different and has different circumstances and I don't hold any of this against anyone. Surely we must all agree to a level as.we are all here.

I think if you come onto a Maserati forum and are a little negative towards the cars and the brand you are of course going to get some backlash. The passion is still there for many this is clear. If it is reducing for you there is no issue but a Maserati will never make sense. So best we try not to make it make sense. It doesn't....so what. Just enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Felonious Crud]

But yes, when on song, closing in on the red line, there is little to match them.

Crofty's 4C does a bloody good job. Le Mans two years ago: "Sorry, MAF, I couldn't help it. My turbo wouldn't stop spinning."

By the way: former Maser owner, still a Maser fan, still here.

 

[Zep]

Crofty's 4C does a bloody good job. Le Mans two years ago: "Sorry, MAF, I couldn't help it. My turbo wouldn't stop spinning."

Having driven said 4C in Italy, it is indeed an unhinged lunatic.

 

[rockits]

Having driven said 4C in Italy, it is indeed an unhinged lunatic.

The 4C or Crofty?

 

[Zep]

The 4C or Crofty?

Both!

 

[Doctor Houx]

Perhaps the cash millionaires could contribute to the food bank for the down-at-heel rest of the forum.

Do better than that......both my wife and I volunteer at the local Trussel Trust Foodbank in Kings Lynn.

 

[Ewan]

Maseratis aren’t for everyone, and certainly, they are not for people that begrudge the maintenance costs. Otherwise it’s like building a swimming pool and then moaning about the heating bill. People should join the Maserati game with their eyes wide open, and if they don’t like the look of it, stop playing. I don't think any apologies are needed by Maserati for that, and there are plenty of cheaper automotive options for those that would prefer to spend a little less.

I’m on Maserati number 20, and overall I’d class the spend as perfectly reasonable for the pleasure they have given. So I for one am happy to continue playing the Maserati game.

 

[P5Nij]

Drawdown, no question. Flexibility and manage your tax exposure accordingly as it’s 55% if u take the lot and/or Crystalise over your LTA

''Say again in English, over...''

 

[ChrisQP09]

I feel like I'm worth a few quid when I drive mine. Why you might ask? well coupled with their relative rarity and Ferrari underpinnings, It's an absolute symphony of joy and exclusivity. Maserati drivers are the 1%ers of the road. You know you're in a special car when 90% of people ask 'what's that car?' The amount of times Ive heard that with my windows open I could write a cheque for a million.

In all honesty though, I once said to a Ferrari owner that I own a poor man's Ferrari and his reply was 'no....you own a smart man's Ferrari'

 

[Felonious Crud]

I’m on Maserati number 20, and overall I’d class the spend as perfectly reasonable for the pleasure they have given. So I for one am happy to continue playing the Maserati game.

Number 20?? Do you lose them, bend them or love them? You're either bloody unlucky, Ewan, or a serious recidivist.