CAR AUCTIONS

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
That's actually rather fascinating...are tastes that discriminating, wallets tightening...?

Also, I'd love an 8C
Me too. Im currently in negotiations to potentially purchase a black 8C coupe with tan interior subject to sale of my Vanquish prototype. A broker is working on a potential swap with the owner, as we both want a change from our long term ownership show cars that we have done all we can with, and would like each others cars. It’s just a matter of whether either of us needs to put cash in, as both cars are of similar value. A long shot to pull it off IMO, but you never know…..
 

Phil H

Member
Messages
4,107
Although I've not driven a 4C, or even sat in one, I don't find them particularly appealing. I'm sure a 4C will drive ok and obviously appeal to Alfistis, but if I was looking for a sports car I would rather consider one of these and keep the change:


 

williamsmix

Member
Messages
545
Although I've not driven a 4C, or even sat in one, I don't find them particularly appealing. I'm sure a 4C will drive ok and obviously appeal to Alfistis, but if I was looking for a sports car I would rather consider one of these and keep the change:



Yes, they are very nice cars but a GT is an enormous heavyweight of a car vs the 4C; not really a fair comparison(?). A GT may cost less to buy, but that’s probably where ‘keeping the change’ ends. A GT is £630 a year to tax vs £165 - £220 for a 4C. A GT uses twice as much fuel as a 4C, and then you have the respective maintenance costs with only a biannual service for a 4C. And then there’s devaluation…
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
Although I've not driven a 4C, or even sat in one, I don't find them particularly appealing. I'm sure a 4C will drive ok and obviously appeal to Alfistis, but if I was looking for a sports car I would rather consider one of these and keep the change:


I've had one and therefore find them unappealing. I actually had the feeling that I was making a mistake while on the test drive...which likely pertains to a couple of my marriages, as well.
 

Phil H

Member
Messages
4,107
Yes, they are very nice cars but a GT is an enormous heavyweight of a car vs the 4C; not really a fair comparison(?). A GT may cost less to buy, but that’s probably where ‘keeping the change’ ends. A GT is £630 a year to tax vs £165 - £220 for a 4C. A GT uses twice as much fuel as a 4C, and then you have the respective maintenance costs with only a biannual service for a 4C. And then there’s devaluation…
Fair points, except for the fact that the 'change' could be pretty substantial unless opting for a later GT and that goes a long way to defraying costs.

There was a lot of advance hype and expectation for the 4C which, if reviews are to be believed, was overplayed. I don't think it's a bad car, just not as good as it might have been and I'd be very surprised if the hillclimb example was stock; in truth you can say that about a lot of cars (including Maserati) which is why Alfa offered a performance pack and why aftermarket performance companies exist. The 4C styling is ok but lacks the wow factor, almost as if the designer(s) got to Friday afternoon and said 'that'll do'. Even a few well chosen graphics would add to the appeal.

Car likes/dislikes are subjective and I've said elsewhere on the forum that it's a good job we have different tastes. There's a lot of choice at c£45k if low-slung 2 seaters are your thing, and I'm not sure that a 4C would be on my shopping list if Camelot smiled on me. I have been known to be wrong though...... ;)

PS, an 8C won't be on my list either with the silly prices being asked for them!
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,179
Fair points, except for the fact that the 'change' could be pretty substantial unless opting for a later GT and that goes a long way to defraying costs.

There was a lot of advance hype and expectation for the 4C which, if reviews are to be believed, was overplayed. I don't think it's a bad car, just not as good as it might have been and I'd be very surprised if the hillclimb example was stock; in truth you can say that about a lot of cars (including Maserati) which is why Alfa offered a performance pack and why aftermarket performance companies exist. The 4C styling is ok but lacks the wow factor, almost as if the designer(s) got to Friday afternoon and said 'that'll do'. Even a few well chosen graphics would add to the appeal.

Car likes/dislikes are subjective and I've said elsewhere on the forum that it's a good job we have different tastes. There's a lot of choice at c£45k if low-slung 2 seaters are your thing, and I'm not sure that a 4C would be on my shopping list if Camelot smiled on me. I have been known to be wrong though...... ;)

PS, an 8C won't be on my list either with the silly prices being asked for them!
No, I want to be gifted an 8C. Thanks for the chance to clarify!
 

williamsmix

Member
Messages
545
Fair points, except for the fact that the 'change' could be pretty substantial unless opting for a later GT and that goes a long way to defraying costs.

There was a lot of advance hype and expectation for the 4C which, if reviews are to be believed, was overplayed. I don't think it's a bad car, just not as good as it might have been and I'd be very surprised if the hillclimb example was stock; in truth you can say that about a lot of cars (including Maserati) which is why Alfa offered a performance pack and why aftermarket performance companies exist. The 4C styling is ok but lacks the wow factor, almost as if the designer(s) got to Friday afternoon and said 'that'll do'. Even a few well chosen graphics would add to the appeal.

Car likes/dislikes are subjective and I've said elsewhere on the forum that it's a good job we have different tastes. There's a lot of choice at c£45k if low-slung 2 seaters are your thing, and I'm not sure that a 4C would be on my shopping list if Camelot smiled on me. I have been known to be wrong though...... ;)

PS, an 8C won't be on my list either with the silly prices being asked for them!

It’s such a shame that Alfa never gave themselves the chance to stop, think and relaunch an improved version of the 4C, perhaps under a Quadrifoglio badge. However, as you say, their failure to do this creates business opportunities in the aftermarket, so people get the car it should’ve been.
 

minardirule

Member
Messages
185
Anyone know anything about or recognise the 4200 currently for auction on Car & Classic?


Has a few bits to do but if the bidding continues at the current rate might be tempting as it's a manual.
 

minardirule

Member
Messages
185
Anyone know anything about or recognise the 4200 currently for auction on Car & Classic?


Has a few bits to do but if the bidding continues at the current rate might be tempting as it's a manual.

Anyone with any thoughts on this before I go and do something extremely stupid. Again.

Still on 1 bid with less than 12 hours to go.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Anyone with any thoughts on this before I go and do something extremely stupid. Again.

Still on 1 bid with less than 12 hours to go.
Do you have the stomach for what could be an instant doubling of the cost of the car to buy?

That’s what stops me buying outwardly ‘cheap’ Maseratis… it also looks like an early ish one that isn’t quite as nice to drive as the later ones (I hear pitchforks being readied…) but it could be worth a punt if you can do the work yourself…
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Me too. Im currently in negotiations to potentially purchase a black 8C coupe with tan interior subject to sale of my Vanquish prototype. A broker is working on a potential swap with the owner, as we both want a change from our long term ownership show cars that we have done all we can with, and would like each others cars. It’s just a matter of whether either of us needs to put cash in, as both cars are of similar value. A long shot to pull it off IMO, but you never know…..
The 8C is great car. It might be a little choppy on Norfolk roads and LHD will be 'fun' on the North Norfolk coast road (it's a big car) but I can put you in touch with the owner of the blue 8C I drove for Auto Italia last year. A different set of tyres works wonders and while Bedfordshire roads are better than Norfolk ones, not by much, and I didn't think it was overly harsh or choppy.
It's not without its flaws – it's not a sportscar, but there's not quite a big enough carrying space for a long-distance sojourn unless you've got a base and thus clothes/stuff waiting for you at the other end.

However, the big thing is how different it feels to the Maseratis it's based on. I remember when Harry did his video on PH member WTFWT's old car with the bespoke dampers, and there was much negative comment that it was just an expensive, impractical GranTurismo.
This isn't my impression at all (well, apart from the impractical bit) – I've driven all the GS and GTs now and the steering feel is much heavier, much more direct than all the GranTurismos – yes, even the MC Straddle. The only one that gets close is the GranSport MC Victory; I stand by the notion the MC Stradale has a softer feel than the GS MCV. The 8C is more direct still. Not to the levels of Ferrari – because that wouldn't be allowed – but a marked difference to the Masers.

Now, I am a bit of an obsessive about steering feel - I personally find it more important than the catch-all term of 'handling' – but the 8C felt rather more towards the TVR end of the spectrum rather than the polished handling nous of, say, an F430 Scuderia and the smooth big-hearted grand tourer in Nikes (GT MC Stradale). I enjoyed it more for that, it felt more exotic than either of the others. You'd hope so for £250,000, obviously.
It is still a heart over head decision - when you can get a Vantage 4.7 V8 with similar power, more space, an equally ahem 'of its time' interior, almost as pretty looks for, er, 15 per cent of the price. ****, an MC Stradale and MC Victory are 95 per cent of the exoticism but with room for four (excluding the two-seat MCs) but for 25-35 per cent of the price.


However... as much as even my fevered Maserati brain would try to funnel me to a GS MCV as the rational irrational choice, given the money, I'd still be lining up to buy the Alfa...

Best of luck with it, and if it does happen let me know so I can come along and dribble over it.


If you've not driven one, it is a very, very, very different experience to an SDP Vanquish (which I've also driven).
 

minardirule

Member
Messages
185
Do you have the stomach for what could be an instant doubling of the cost of the car to buy?

That’s what stops me buying outwardly ‘cheap’ Maseratis… it also looks like an early ish one that isn’t quite as nice to drive as the later ones (I hear pitchforks being readied…) but it could be worth a punt if you can do the work yourself…
Thanks @Nayf, don't do any of the work but that hasn't been a problem with my Spyder but it's now picked up a bit of momentum with the bidding and still some way short of the reserve apparently, so looking less tempting.........
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
This isn't my impression at all (well, apart from the impractical bit) – I've driven all the GS and GTs now and the steering feel is much heavier, much more direct than all the GranTurismos – yes, even the MC Straddle. The only one that gets close is the GranSport MC Victory; I stand by the notion the MC Stradale has a softer feel than the GS MCV. The 8C is more direct still. Not to the levels of Ferrari – because that wouldn't be allowed – but a marked difference to the Masers.
You are writing some great almost magazine articles here for us to enjoy Nayf (and you talk sense) - thank you!
Being lucky enough to own both, I completely agree with you on GS MCV vs MC Stradale. Surprisingly different, one a sports car and one a GT. Bizarrely, in a way only Maserati are capable of, the sports car is way more practical than the (2-Seat) GT. You can seat 4 adults in comfort in the GS MCV.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
You are writing some great almost magazine articles here for us to enjoy Nayf (and you talk sense) - thank you!
Being lucky enough to own both, I completely agree with you on GS MCV vs MC Stradale. Surprisingly different, one a sports car and one a GT. Bizarrely, in a way only Maserati are capable of, the sports car is way more practical than the (2-Seat) GT. You can seat 4 adults in comfort in the GS MCV.
Well to be honest the 'car driving' part of my journalism career has, er, careered to a halt other than the occasional piece for Auto Italia, so I may as well spool it out of my brain somewhere.
I've started doing some stuff for Cavallino Magazine (I think I'm in the current/next issue talking with Schedoni and/or Zagato about the Ferrari Nibbio), but hopefully I'll get my **** into more things this year. But the outlets are diminishing, sadly.
Funnily enough I was invited on the recent Maserati GranTurismo Folgore/Trofeo launch in Rome but annoyingly I was/am in Brazil. Wait all your life for the dream ticket and... ****.