Granturismo advice for a newbie

[Oliver6796]

Good afternoon to you all, I've arranged a viewing of the MC Stradale at Saxons tomorrow and would really appreciate any thoughts on the car/ things to look out for etc.
The high mileage does really concern me and it looks a little tired for a 15plate car but hoping with some TLC it would make a good weekend toy.
Its stretching my budget for the time being although I could possibly hold a few months and consider the Black MC Strad in Yorkshire (although I think this is priced a little too high at the moment)
Hopefully ill be saying high and celebrating being a Maserati owner in the near future, ill take this opportunity to say thanks for any advise or opinions and look forward to being more active on here.

 

[tokyomb]

I don't know this car and I'm a relative newbie, but having recently purchased one my things to watch out for were:

• Service history (should have been every 12,500 miles - so four services by 50,000 miles - have they all been done / what was done)
• Clutch wear (at this mileage it might well have had a replacement, if so, how long ago / if not, likely needed soon)
• Suspension bushes (may already have been done - if not, likely to be needed soon)
• Carbon ceramics (apart from not having physical defects, the rotors have a minimum required weight - if they reach that weight they require costly replacement - shouldn't be an issue at this mileage unless the car has been on a track extensively, but may be worth having checked)

Other thoughts:

• It is high miles for its age - if that's been with an owner who has looked after it and serviced it appropriately then may be OK - though whether the price fully reflects the mileage, I'm not sure.
• You should be aware that the blue on blue interior is a bit 'marmite' and may make it harder to sell on; though I think it works reasonably well on this car with the Bianco exterior.
• The wear on the F1 gear buttons ("1" and "R") is not that surprising given the mileage - the coating is known to not be that hard-wearing. My car with 20,000 less miles already shows some wear in that area.
• There are at least three levels of RAC Warranty - check which one they are offering and note that the labour rate the warranty will pay is not very generous (unlikely to fully cover costs) and even less generous outside the M25.

I'm sure others will be able to give you more advice / may know this car.

 

[Contigo]

Good afternoon to you all, I've arranged a viewing of the MC Stradale at Saxons tomorrow and would really appreciate any thoughts on the car/ things to look out for etc.
The high mileage does really concern me and it looks a little tired for a 15plate car but hoping with some TLC it would make a good weekend toy.
Its stretching my budget for the time being although I could possibly hold a few months and consider the Black MC Strad in Yorkshire (although I think this is priced a little too high at the moment)
Hopefully ill be saying high and celebrating being a Maserati owner in the near future, ill take this opportunity to say thanks for any advise or opinions and look forward to being more active on here.

The White car is nice for the miles, I have a video if you would like it sent on? For me the car is just overpriced in this market despite having been dropped down a few times from the £63k mark. I've spoken to Saxton a few times and they won't take any more offers and won't allow an inspection without paying for the car upfront. This in itself makes me want to run a mile....

The Black Strad in Yorkshire is sold. It's been sold for sometime but James has not gotten round to stopping the automatic listing.

 

[Oliver6796]

Thanks guys.
The clutch hasn't been changed although it does have some sort of service history (Will look more into that tomorrow). I did notice the 1 and R button and was alarmed, the blue on blue isn't my first choice although I'm hoping ill warm up to it. I did briefly see the car from the outside months back as I live local and dropped in on a flying visit.
I'm thinking at this cost (ish) I could bank on changing the clutch over the next few months and live with the interior, hoping the car will be a keeper wich softens the thought of resale value (all excuses im making to convince myself its the one for me lol)

Note the comment on them not taking offers but ill just be going in and offering them a cash sale and let them know im 15mins down the road if they are interested and highlighting the fact that I am buying a £xx value car and then going to have to put a new clutch in it almost straight away.

Contigo, hello again and hope your enjoying yours. thanks for the offer of the vid although ill see it again soon.

I read that the other Strad at James had sold shortly after I posted the add.... Darn, in an ideal world I would have chosen that one.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Another perspective might be to simply walk away - questionable history, clutch needs doing, not the best colour combination for interior.
Save your money and search for a really good tidy well-cared-for example. Buying with a view to spend cash to put it right is never going to be the satisfaction you desire - there are other things that emerge as you start to spend. So consider buying a well sorted car from the outset.
That's my suggestion. But its down to you and what is best for you.

 

[Contigo]

To correct, they will allow an inspection but only on their site not at a specialist of ones choosing.

 

[Oliver6796]

Very valid point, heart and head are having a real battle !!! It’s down the road anyways and the wife has agreed to come to view it so atleast it’s a positive starting point (at the expense of dinner lol)
Oh and sorry correction. tokyomb, hello again, how you finding the new car (sorry I’ve been reading the threads day in day out for months and get mixed up with the names)
Again appreciate the responses guys

 

[tokyomb]

Oliver - The car is good (though I do have a few warning lights to resolve this weekend - hopefully just battery related - but if not, possibly an ABS sensor). Definitely happy with my purchase. A few trips round the country mean that the other car has taken on the majority of our driving - largely because my other half didn't want to take on driving this car up to Edinburgh on her own (on her third time behind the wheel).

Despite that I've already added 400+ miles to the clock, and am really enjoying it; though Shropshire's B-roads are definitely not the car's preferred habitat - it's much happier once I've done the 20 miles to find an A road. Not wholly surprising, however.

 

[Oliver6796]

Glad to hear your enjoying it, hope the little teething issues get resolved swiftly for you.

 

[Oliver6796]

Interesting viewing of the Strad..... to me it’s a kipper. Looked at the car before I met up with the rep as it’s now in the showroom.
1-Tyres look borderline legal
2- Inside has a fair bit of wear
3- one internal door handle is polished chrome (tarnished badly,drivers side) the other side is brushed finish (why different !!)
4- A closer look on the outside shows a multitude of overspray (very obvious with white all over the inside wheel arch) rear bumper doesn’t quite seam align.
Met the rep and said no sorry I’ve looked and it’s not for me “it looks very tired inside and I’m not keen on the overspray everywhere “ .... “well sorry it’s not been in for final prep yet,if that’s your opinion then ok” I didn’t even feel it was worth saying I’d seen the car briefly in March when it was out the back,so why nearly 6mnths later has it not been prepd and put in the show room.
I’m actually feeling guilty that someone might get sucked into buying it.
Just my views and no offence to anyone who does buy it, just be aware of what your buying.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

To correct, they will allow an inspection but only on their site not at a specialist of ones choosing.

These are specialist cars and in my view, they require a specialist inspection by someone who knows the marque and model and can hoist the car on a ramp and can also interrogate with Sd2/3 diagnostics and systematically check all switches work etc. Unlikely to happen on the seller's premises.

But its the buyers choice at the end of the day.