Looking to buy my first Maserati.

B

Belfry

Member
Messages
193
I've been looking through the classifieds for a 2006/7 Quattroporte to buy. It must be a fully automatic gearbox as I have another automated manual car with paddles and I'd like to add an automatic.

Ideally I'm looking for blue or dark grey paintwork with tan leather. The variators need to have been done.

Does anyone know of an available car for me to buy?

Thanks in advance

Belfry
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,175
Hi, would try Richard Grace Cars. He is well respected on here and will give you great advice and could find you the perfect car. Always worth talking to Richard first.
 
B

Belfry

Member
Messages
193
I've seen his name mentioned on this forum, so I spoke to him yesterday. He was super helpful and nice but he doesn't source cars at the price point that I'm looking at (£17-18k). His cars seem to start higher up the price range.
 
rockits

rockits

Member
Messages
9,176
Welcome and great taste. Pretty much the car I bought last year. I paid less than your budget so it should be achievable buy maybe 1-2k more needed for a well respected independent such as Richard Grace or Nuvola.

Quick couple of picks of mine as a taster.

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B

Belfry

Member
Messages
193
Thanks for the link. I have been to see that car but it hasn't has the variators changed yet. I am looking for an example that's had it variators replaced already.
 
rockits

rockits

Member
Messages
9,176
I agree about the variators as mine had been done just before me buying it. However don't discount one that hasn't been done as long as it is cheap enough and accounts for this in the price. Circa 2-2.5k to get it done both sides I understand.
 
Ewan

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,819
Why the obsession with the variators? An easy, standard thing to fix, as/when/if necessary. Far more important to buy a good example in the colour and spec you want. Things like colour, spec, owners, history, mileage and price are way more important when buying. A set of tyres and a clutch cost the same as the variators, as would a big service plus brakes all round. And on higher mileage cars you may be looking at repainting the sides to rid the road rash, and maybe some leathers repairs. So while getting the perfect car is the ideal, missing out on the right one just because it's never needed it's variators seen to would be perverse.
 
B

Belfry

Member
Messages
193
I can become quite fearful about some second hand car dealers selling cars with potential serious financial bills. It seems sensible to attempt to buy a car with its variators done, rather than buying a car that hasn't had its variatiors done. I prefer to buy from an enthusiastic owner (like myself) than from a car dealer. In the past a stamped service book seems to represent full service history, whereas I would always keep a detailed file with all invoices and MOT is et cetera.

For example, I have looked at two very similar cars. The first has had its variators done and the second hasn't. The first is £2000 more than the second. Which represents a better value, assuming identical spec and condition?
 
M

mattjevans

Junior Member
Messages
386
Belfry said:
I can become quite fearful about some second hand car dealers selling cars with potential serious financial bills. It seems sensible to attempt to buy a car with its variators done, rather than buying a car that hasn't had its variatiors done. I prefer to buy from an enthusiastic owner (like myself) than from a car dealer. In the past a stamped service book seems to represent full service history, whereas I would always keep a detailed file with all invoices and MOT is et cetera.

For example, I have looked at two very similar cars. The first has had its variators done and the second hasn't. The first is £2000 more than the second. Which represents a better value, assuming identical spec and condition?
Click to expand...

Depends on the mileage and how many miles you plan to do per year but I'd be inclined to say the second. You could easily have 2-3 years + before the variators need doing and if you hunt around I'd be surprised if you can't get them done for £2k based on feedback I was getting
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,799
plus they might never need doing , it seems to be more of a scary noise thing rather than my engines going to explode

It also seems to me worry about the variator issue has spread from people finding scare stories on this forum when looking to buy a maserati which in turn brings the price and sale-ability down

Mine hasn't had them done, it makes a bit of a noise when cold but it's gone in a few seconds, I don't have any intention of getting them done

I had an iveco daily that started rattling when cold at 80k and was still running the same when I sold it at 230k

If it ever did go bang from what I can see every breaker has a pile of engines as they rarely have a problem so the price would be very negotiable
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
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8,799
but as dicky says, they may have been done, but who did them and what parts did they replace
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,843
Wack61 said:
plus they might never need doing , it seems to be more of a scary noise thing rather than my engines going to explode


Mine hasn't had them done, it makes a bit of a noise when cold but it's gone in a few seconds, I don't have any intention of getting them done
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The issue is different on the wet sump and dry sump engines. According to Matthew on the wet sump they will start causing fuelling issues and possible cat break up as well as less than idea power delivery, CEL etc etc

C
 
E

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,521
We're all doomed... ! Well it was inevitable really wasn't it?! Just hope I go out in a blaze of glory.
Eb
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,799
Ebenezer said:
We're all doomed... ! Well it was inevitable really wasn't it?! Just hope I go out in a blaze of glory.
Eb
Click to expand...


Cresting the brow of a hill into the sunset when there's a bang and a clatter, flames engulf the cabin and it's all over

I can think of worse ways to go
 
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