Looking for my first Maserati, Granturismo GTS

elan

Member
Messages
158
Hi Guys,

I am looking to buy a Granturismo GTS. I fancy something different following a string of German cars, mainly M cars. I have never owned an Italian car before 

It will be mainly for weekends with little mileage. I think my budget maybe a bit tight for what I am looking for (around £40k). Most of the cars I am seeing are black on black which I am not a fan of.

What is the reliability and depreciation like on these cars?

I would appreciate any advice and let me know if you see anything suitable.

Thanks in advance, Elan.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Hi Elan and a big warm welcome to the forum............The GTS is proving pretty reliable to be honest with no horror stories......A few trim issues with the early cars but the engines seem pretty much reliable. 40k as you say will just abpout get you a GTS but it will be an early model with slightly higher miles.....Over the last year prices seem to have held firm around 45k to 50k for early cars. You are right on colour also for some reason most early GTS seem to be black.....Gingo Granito is not bad and Nuvola has one with 55k on the clock at 39995. Nuvola are very respected MAserati specialist as well so you wouldn't go far wrong with them.

http://www.nuvolalondon.com/for-sale.php

Also worth calling http://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/ Dicky is on here and he will give advice or even source you a car...Again great guy to deal with and lots on here have bought off him.

I'm not an owner but pretty sure someone will be along who owns a GTS to give you more advice.
 

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,491
Andyk;392684 [url said:
http://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/[/url] Dicky is on here and he will give advice or even source you a car...Again great guy to deal with and lots on here have bought off him.

.
+1 on that however Richard is on holiday for a few days and I don't think is back until the end of the week.
Drop him a Pm though and I am sure he will be happy to have a chat once he is back in the groove.
 

elan

Member
Messages
158
Thanks for your advice guys. Shame the one on eBay is quite far from me. The one on Nuvola does look good and I hope to visit them this weekend.

Did anyone here consider or moved from an Aston Martin?

I wish I have the car in possession when we have decent weather like this. I am however keen to make sure I take time and get a good one :)
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
14,994
I don't think there are many on here that have 'come over' from Aston as most of us are too classy to have even considered owning one.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Thanks for your advice guys. Shame the one on eBay is quite far from me. The one on Nuvola does look good and I hope to visit them this weekend.

Did anyone here consider or moved from an Aston Martin?

I wish I have the car in possession when we have decent weather like this. I am however keen to make sure I take time and get a good one :)

Yes, one owner went from a 3200 AC to a V8 Vantage....Beautiful car the Vantage..Even after all these years it's still one of the best looking shapes on the road. Looks great from all angles......He really likes it as well.
 

Dyer3200

Member
Messages
569
The Nuvola does look nice and he has a good reputation, but a bit leggy at 55k miles if you like it I would bid 10% off retail to reflect this - are you London based ?
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,011
Hi Elan, welcome. Mine is a Nuvola car and I recommend Nareman highly. Don't be alarmed that his showroom is a multi-story lock-up in west London - the man is meticulous about the cars he sells and his after-sales services is terrific. He uses a main dealer for pre-sales inspections and service and his customers get very favourable pricing on servicing from that dealer. I wouldn't be overly worried about the miles as long as the price reflects it.

Happy hunting and let us know how you get on.
 

elan

Member
Messages
158
I would prefer a lower mileage car but everything else in the one in Nuvola matches what I am looking for. The gearbox I am pretty flexible with as its only for weekends. Will the running costs be lower on the auto over long term?

Moparmuff, I am London (woodford) based for my sins!

I did think about a DB9 but the granturismo is rarer on the road and have always wanted one. Also my (un-classy :) ) neighbour owns a Vantage.

Adam, you are probably not far from me. I will have to look out for your car. Did you try both gearboxes before going for MC shift?
 

Classico

Member
Messages
895
Lovely cars Astons.

IMO, they're a lot like Maserati and the GranTurismo.

Not the fastest. Not the most technologically advanced. But fast enough with tons of style both inside and out, plus a cracking engine soundtrack.

Liked the Vantage.

But tbh, I'd have a Maser GT every day over one of them.

Four genuine seats and even rarer on the road (in this part of the world anyway).
 
Messages
6,001
Yes, I too considered an AM but they were too dear for what you got at my end of the market anyway
Still like them but I am a bit concerned that they have not come up with a new model shape for quite a long time now
 

Fangio63

Member
Messages
614
FWIW... I tried a DB9 some years ago as a potential replacement for my 4200... was really underwhelmed by the performance (feel of it rather than the stats) ... hated the election of the dash in the screen... and the lack of useable rear seats killed it off..

felt it was rather a shame ... but I think the GT / GTS a far more practical package ... with a bit more drama and lest running costs and image problems..

cheaper too...
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,011
I would prefer a lower mileage car but everything else in the one in Nuvola matches what I am looking for. The gearbox I am pretty flexible with as its only for weekends. Will the running costs be lower on the auto over long term?

Moparmuff, I am London (woodford) based for my sins!

I did think about a DB9 but the granturismo is rarer on the road and have always wanted one. Also my (un-classy :) ) neighbour owns a Vantage.

Adam, you are probably not far from me. I will have to look out for your car. Did you try both gearboxes before going for MC shift?

Yes, I tried both and found the MC more engaging and fun. You might hear that it's a pain in the ar5se around town but that's not my experience. You might also hear that clutches are very expensive and need replacing often. That may be true - I'm *possibly* due one now, on 35k miles, which is lower than I expected but the car was London based for its first three years and these clutches don't like stop-start-crawl-reverse etc etc town driving. They work well, but wear faster. I've yet to see a quote and a reset may be all that's needed, but Nuvola will probably be able to give you the latest clutch reading on anything you're looking at.

Happy to show you round my car but it's over at Lancaster at the moment. You'd certainly hear it when it's out and about. :smile:
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Yes, I tried both and found the MC more engaging and fun. You might hear that it's a pain in the ar5se around town but that's not my experience. You might also hear that clutches are very expensive and need replacing often. That may be true - I'm *possibly* due one now, on 35k miles, which is lower than I expected but the car was London based for its first three years and these clutches don't like stop-start-crawl-reverse etc etc town driving. They work well, but wear faster. I've yet to see a quote and a reset may be all that's needed, but Nuvola will probably be able to give you the latest clutch reading on anything you're looking at.

Happy to show you round my car but it's over at Lancaster at the moment. You'd certainly hear it when it's out and about. :smile:
Agreed, i never found it a pita around town...just fun! You should only ever drive it in manual and the only downside I see is tight parking on a gradient......that would be interesting.....unless the start fix totally removes the jerkiness.

Cheers Wattie
 

hoyin

Member
Messages
1,842
I would prefer a lower mileage car but everything else in the one in Nuvola matches what I am looking for. The gearbox I am pretty flexible with as its only for weekends. Will the running costs be lower on the auto over long term?

Moparmuff, I am London (woodford) based for my sins!

I did think about a DB9 but the granturismo is rarer on the road and have always wanted one. Also my (un-classy :) ) neighbour owns a Vantage.

Adam, you are probably not far from me. I will have to look out for your car. Did you try both gearboxes before going for MC shift?

I am in and around London. So happy to show you around mine.
 

Dyer3200

Member
Messages
569
Shame the ebay car is so far away - I would take that in a heartbeat same colour as the Nuvola car with a lot less miles and only 1 owner and I prefer the cream leather but that's me - I would guess it's an ex footballers car so no expense spared ? a good deal to be done there too !!
 

hoyin

Member
Messages
1,842
You would guess probably wrongly! I found ex footballers cars uncared for and unserviced. They don't care about looking after them. They have so much money it is not important and they don't seem them as their pride and joys. They drive them to the ground and then buy another.
 

elan

Member
Messages
158
Hoyin, thanks for your kind offer. I may take you up on that.

MC shift does sound more fun. It will be used as a weekend toy and the yearly trip to the inlaws in France!

The mileage on the eBay car is better, let's hope it's well looked after.