First drive in 4200 CC and a couple of questions

[Petbri]

Hi guys - I had my first blast in a 4200 today - a medium milage 04. After flooring it a few times exiting roundabouts I now know exactly why forums like this exist! Serious smile factor, not to mention a couple of expletives. I really want one of these although probably not the one I tried. I now have a couple of questions - the first of many I expect.

The gearbox - a real newbie question this one:
This was an unusual experience for me and maybe I was doing something wrong. In a manual car you can balance on the clutch at uphill junctions and in an auto it normally just holds itself. With this CC 'box I was always worried that it was going to roll backwards so I found myself fumbling for the handbrake which seems a really clunking way of holding the car and not fun at all in slow moving uphill traffic. Maybe this is what the reviews mean by the CC box "taking some getting used to"??

PPI. Any ideas regarding who to get to do an inspection in the South East/London area? I gave Giallo a call and they say they usually need a weeks notice, which is ok, but if I really like a car, I would prefer to get it inspected and do a deal asap in case I lose it. Any other options or threads you can point me to?

Other than that, I am finding it hard to think of much else other than Maseratis. Neglecting wife, kids, work...

Any advice on using the gearbox and PPI would be welcome.

Peter

 

[SimonCC]

Hi Peter

I just hold mine on the foot brake at lights/in traffic. If I'm going to be held up for a while (not very often as it's not my daily drive so I usually avoid busy areas) then I slip it into neutral.

Where in the south east are you? If you can get to Tunbridge Wells area I'm happy to meet up and take you for a spin.

I use Giallo for servicing they've been first rate for me, totally reliable, honest and always good to their word. I got Mathew to do the pre purchase inspection on my car before I bought it - strongly recommend you do this before buying.

I've had mine coming up to a year now and I can't wait to go out in it, really puts a smile on my face, not to mention the general public too!!!

Hope you see it through and get yourself in The Maserati Club!

Simon

 

[CatmanV2]

It just takes some practice. Handbrake and in first, simply press the gas and lose the brake. I don't recall it rolling back at all.

C

 

[Klive]

If you get one with the hill start feature you won't have to worry about the handbrake as the brakes won't release immediately when you take your foot off the brake.

 

[CatmanV2]

Wasn't it the older ones that had the hill start? I can't recall. I don't think mine does

C

 

[Klive]

Something changed on the earlier ones when some software updates occurred. Mine still has it.

 

[rossyl]

Mine is a late 2004 and has the hill start feature, it's very helpful.

 

[rossyl]

Autofficina are reasonable and helpful for a PPI.

 

[Petbri]

Thanks, I'll check out Autofficina too.

 

[zoros]

Petbri: You have to pass your driving test FIRST before you buy a Maserati.