Choosing my Quattroporte, a little help needed

Gazcw

Gazcw

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7,800
Wanderer said:
And beware of SM thread drift, won't be long before this thread turns into a discussion about beekeeping or what happens if you put a cat in a microwave....
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Can you keep your bees in a cat and if you microwave it do you get honey coated crisps or is that how they make honey nuts crunch?
 
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Ebenezer

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4,551
MarkMas said:
A pedant writes:
Everybody knows WHERE Schrodinger's cat was. The question that mattered was whether it was dead or alive.
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Ah yes, getting my Shrodinger and Heisenberg mixed up again. Now which button was I told not to press.....

Eb
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

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21,036
Against SM rules but back to the OT, the three big questions that often relate to the QP are on the 4.2 Duoselect or ZF, you have to drive both to decide which works best for you and the 4.7 variators (are they in the range and have they been done), and front subframes (known to rust sometimes terminally)

Once those questions are out of the way its the normal clutch (DS?), brakes, wishbones etc all more expensive than the equivalent Alfa so look for cars that have had as many of these done in recent history. Research is your best tool and there are lots on here who can give real world advice so keep the questions coming
 
Tallman

Tallman

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1,841
Then there are of course the cam variators….make sure you get one where this has been checked, sorted or one where it was no longer an issue. Post 2010 if I am correct?? I’ve seen various years named as “safe”
 
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Samstagmoonyham

New Member
Messages
23
zagatoes30 said:
Against SM rules but back to the OT, the three big questions that often relate to the QP are on the 4.2 Duoselect or ZF, you have to drive both to decide which works best for you and the 4.7 variators (are they in the range and have they been done), and front subframes (known to rust sometimes terminally)

Once those questions are out of the way its the normal clutch (DS?), brakes, wishbones etc all more expensive than the equivalent Alfa so look for cars that have had as many of these done in recent history. Research is your best tool and there are lots on here who can give real world advice so keep the questions coming
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Well, I'm 100% sure I don't want the duoselect, although the next to no variator issues, and real handbrake does tempt, but I know if I had a duoselect is would be a clutch hungry, problematic one, for a start the corner up to my little space is on a steep incline and requires a quite bit of clutch slip to creep up there, pretty perfect for a big engine manual or a torque converter really.

The subframe bit did worry me after seeing pictures as believe it or not, Alfas aren't anywhere near as bad as some of the Quattroportes I have seen on these threads lol, well, I suppose some may be, but mine have been pretty good on that front (fingers crossed).

With regards to the subframe can you see all the bits and bobs from an inspection pit or by jacking or is it covered with undertray potentially hiding a lot of orange dust?

If I got a good one I wouldn't bother treating the underside myself I would get the full works done somewhere like several have on here just for piece of mind for a few years.

The variators do scars me a bit, how much is it when they go? I know it's likely on the 4.2 ZF models I'm going to be looking at and that you can machine in one way valves to the cam caps too for preventative maintenance.

Is there anything else you can do to try and stop it? And if they do go do the chain jump and make the pistons and valves say hello?

I must admit this does seem like quite the community already!

Cheers
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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5,791
Don’t diss the DS, 3-4 grand for a clutch every 4-5 years is buttons in the Maso-sphere. Plus it’s a near as you’d get to F1 driving. ZF is fine but whereas you drive the DS, the ZF drives you. Try and compare…
 
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bigbob

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8,973
Autos are two year service intervals and the DS is one year so factor that in too or buy the prettier car with less doors.....lights firework.
 
Ewan

Ewan

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Messages
6,835
You could run a QP with rattling variators for years, with no real damage to the engine. So it’s not too much of a worry. It‘s more that a rattle sound on start up is unpleasant, hence many people have it sorted. Very roughly, it’s a £2.5k job.
 
Alan Surrey

Alan Surrey

Member
Messages
1,024
I drove a QP with Duoselect gearbox and was totally smitten. Strongly recommend you drive one and find out. If you are concerned about the cost of a new clutch once in a blue moon, or variators ( their costs are similar) maybe an alfa would be a really good ownership proposition.
However well done looking into Maserati. They are very nice to drive.
Wanderer can tell you all you need to know about the duoselect ownership proposition - I think he has already written most of the big stuff already....

Then again, I did fancy a 4.7 and there were a few within budget.
However I ended up buying an absolutely delightful 4.2 QPV Executive GT with ZF gearbox. It has far more performance than I will ever use frequently (remember that even this little engines delivers around 400BHP), changes down enthusiastically at the drop of a hat, thereby differentiating itself from all those (actually very nice, but to my mind not nearly so nice as a QP) German mile munchers with forced induction, handles well (just look a the glorious suspension !) and has a host of nice goodies including gear change paddles, sun roof, massage seats, 4 zone climate control, a delightful exhaust note and the best shape of any car in the whole wide world*
*Note that the two door models look pretty stunning too, but sadly they only have two doors.

Hope this helps :)
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,800
Samstagmoonyham said:
Well, I'm 100% sure I don't want the duoselect, although the next to no variator issues, and real handbrake does tempt, but I know if I had a duoselect is would be a clutch hungry, problematic one, for a start the corner up to my little space is on a steep incline and requires a quite bit of clutch slip to creep up there, pretty perfect for a big engine manual or a torque converter really.

The subframe bit did worry me after seeing pictures as believe it or not, Alfas aren't anywhere near as bad as some of the Quattroportes I have seen on these threads lol, well, I suppose some may be, but mine have been pretty good on that front (fingers crossed).

With regards to the subframe can you see all the bits and bobs from an inspection pit or by jacking or is it covered with undertray potentially hiding a lot of orange dust?

If I got a good one I wouldn't bother treating the underside myself I would get the full works done somewhere like several have on here just for piece of mind for a few years.

The variators do scars me a bit, how much is it when they go? I know it's likely on the 4.2 ZF models I'm going to be looking at and that you can machine in one way valves to the cam caps too for preventative maintenance.

Is there anything else you can do to try and stop it? And if they do go do the chain jump and make the pistons and valves say hello?

I must admit this does seem like quite the community already!

Cheers
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Zf don't need a handbrake. Never used it. Variator replacement and machining is 2.5 to 3k, preventative is 900-1k but it can be hidden simply by turning over for a few seconds to get the oil back up to the top if the dealer is a bit iffy and knows they have the issue. Subframe is going to be dependant on where and how the car has been used. Daily, winter, high salt use areas or coastal. History is key.
 
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