Hi all, old bloke looking for a toy

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
Well, a good start from Imperials. Contacted on Friday, 2 promises of confirming that I can see the car today and nothing........Seems they are not really bothered in taking peoples money.

Not just worth a walk in? Most dealers respond best to someone stood in front of them, then a phone call and finally an e-mail contact.
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
Not just worth a walk in? Most dealers respond best to someone stood in front of them, then a phone call and finally an e-mail contact.

I would do if they had a single location, but I am not sure which one it is at. It says Chelmsford on the website, but they were not sure on Friday. Will poke them again now
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
They called and did not know which location the car is at. Said would call back to let me know to get down to see it and now nothing for a number of hours. Must admit, starting to leave me a bit cold about it.
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
I wondered why they had had it for over a year. Looks like I know why now. Something not right there. Ah well. The search continues.
 

sionie1

Member
Messages
1,310
I need to go and drive one, as when I spoke with @dickygrace he mentioned they suffer from scuttle shake quite a bit. I am not after something to rag around, but having had a few cars that suffer, I need to see if I could live with it.
There is an element of shake, but no more so than the Audi S5 or the A4 cabs I’ve had previously. The wheel size and the low profile tyres do sometimes exaggerate the lumps and bumps of the great British roads. If your test drive is a decent one with a few types of roads that will give you a good feel for the car. I did have a dealer try and palm me off with a quick 5 minute ride up and down a dual carriage way which would’nt really have shown me anything other than the acceleration.
 
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O37

Member
Messages
101
It’s not the Sport model, it’s the 12MY with Sport Pack.

My understanding is that MY12 GranCabrio Sport was made available from Sept 2011, aligned to the UK Maserati press release, the base model was classified auto.

I'm not intimately familiar with the Imperials GC, it looks like a sport with the optional MC sport line kit, see below the Sport Line accessories weren't available on the base GranCab.

MC Sport Line.jpg

mc_sportline options.jpg

The MY12 sport model updates listed in the newspress UK Maserati release , scroll down for detail:

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri06qqqqqqqqq.htm

So what are the mechanical differences, if any?

Assuming you are referring to the MY13 changes, these inc. front face-lift bumper & lower spoiler, deleted front fogs, tinted rear lights, seat insert & front seat surround, steering wheel, LED running lights, headlamp logo, engine output increase of 10hp, with additional trim and body colours available.

I believe the same mechanical spec continued to the 'run' out model MY18, apart from subtle interior changes, SatNaV & control, sound system and front and rear bumper updates!

Regards.
 
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O37

Member
Messages
101
There is an element of shake, but no more so than the Audi S5 or the A4 cabs I’ve had previously. The wheel size and the low profile tyres do sometimes exaggerate the lumps and bumps of the great British roads. If your test drive is a decent one with a few types of roads that will give you a good feel for the car. I did have a dealer try and palm me off with a quick 5 minute ride up and down a dual carriage way which would be really have shown me anything other than the acceleration.

Trust me its liveable, that's 95% in sport, unless your local roads are awful. Agree with Sionie it is no worse than the Audi's I've owned. If familiar, it's no Saab 9-3!
 
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Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Not at all. I'd say its quite subtle in that dark grey, even with the claret interior. By the way, it's slightly mistitled, as it's not a Sport MC Shift. It's a Sport MC Auto Shift (meaning it has an auto-box, which just happens to have paddles as well).

But as very nice as this car is, for this price (or very close) I imagine you could get that blue GC-MC on private sale. It's more rare, more valuable, and will hold its value better. And it's done less miles. Just a thought.
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
Not at all. I'd say its quite subtle in that dark grey, even with the claret interior. By the way, it's slightly mistitled, as it's not a Sport MC Shift. It's a Sport MC Auto Shift (meaning it has an auto-box, which just happens to have paddles as well).

But as very nice as this car is, for this price (or very close) I imagine you could get that blue GC-MC on private sale. It's more rare, more valuable, and will hold its value better. And it's done less miles. Just a thought.

Thanks Ewan. Am going to see this on Saturday as is local. I need to have another look at the GC-MC as I am not convinced by the colour (he says looking at claret interior)

With this being first dip into anything like this, the comfort of a main dealer warranty is something that I need to consider also.
 

Fangio63

Member
Messages
614
Grey / Claret a good combo ... had a 4200 like that.. easy to live with... But I think I'd have to draw the line at the dash and steering wheel in the same shade.. Thats just too much (for me anyway)
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
Grey / Claret a good combo ... had a 4200 like that.. easy to live with... But I think I'd have to draw the line at the dash and steering wheel in the same shade.. Thats just too much (for me anyway)

Yeah, would prefer Steering Wheel in Black I think, but not a massive drama. Suspect could get re-trimmed. My biggest question mark is the carpets, but need to see in the flesh.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
A set of black car mats at £200 will sort that out. And changing for a black steering wheel is easy.

All the way back in 2002 I ordered a new 4200 Spyder CC in this colourway and it looked great. (But it was a bit dull to drive, so swapped it back in for a manual 3200 GT after 3 months).
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
I think the car looks about right value wise and I’m with the consensus on here. Love the interior but the steering wheel is too much. Just one note, you won’t get a main dealer warranty (Trident Official) if the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. This is a 15 plate so unless it got an extended warranty in 2018 when the 3 year warranty elapsed, it’ll get an aftermarket one. Most main dealers use Warranty Wise.
 

linescanner

Member
Messages
299
I think the car looks about right value wise and I’m with the consensus on here. Love the interior but the steering wheel is too much. Just one note, you won’t get a main dealer warranty (Trident Official) if the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. This is a 15 plate so unless it got an extended warranty in 2018 when the 3 year warranty elapsed, it’ll get an aftermarket one. Most main dealers use Warranty Wise.

Will check today if under extended warranty or not