Maserati 4200/Gransport values - will they ever change?

[nickmarsh]

With the current trend of seeing car values rise, will there ever be a time when 4200/Gransports ever appreciate in value? The usual Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin marques etc still continue to hold their values, and are steadily increasing. Even the more mundane brands and models are seeing their prices go up beyond expectations, but these Maseratis have yet to see any movement (in some cases values going down?!?)

In the recent Silverstone auction, even a low mileage 3200 AC went for below £10k, when over 90% of the other cars went for strong money. Can Maserati ever shake off the old myths of unreliability and build quality?

I know we don’t buy these as investments, purely as enthusiasts cars, but I believe they are criminally undervalued and deserve more recognition than they currently do.


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[Oneball]

If you look at comparable models Maserati are as good if not better than anyone else when it comes to value changes.

3200/4200 - DB7
GT - DB9
QP V - e60 M5
3500 - DB2/4

Don’t wish for the stupid rises of cars that are seen as collectible, just think you can buy a 170mph GT or Saloon and 5 years later not have lost your shirt.

 

[dickygrace]

I’d suggest the current trend is that values are falling, not rising. The modern classic or young timer classics which are most discussed on this forum peaked in October 2021 and have fallen steadily since then. The vast majority are incredible value now.

 

[HTAFC4200]

IMHO the 4200 is insane value and the gransport excellent value.

 

[jgv100]

I spent +20k sorting gearbox, clutch, gear selector, sensors, some paint+ wheel+lights refurbishment, Upper arms, etc... plus what I paid for the car 4 years ago. I am not selling it because I would never recover that money, so I try to enjoy it, as is a nice and powerful car, but the repairs and parts are a nightmare

 

[cheshiremaserati]

I spent +20k sorting gearbox, clutch, gear selector, sensors, some paint+ wheel+lights refurbishment, Upper arms, etc... plus what I paid for the car 4 years ago. I am not selling it because I would never recover that money, so I try to enjoy it, as is a nice and powerful car, but the repairs and parts are a nightmare

That's one helluva cost to spend on a car you only bought 4 years ago! Gearbox and clutch and upper arms would all have been disclosed in a private PPI if you bought privately or via a non-marque specialist. 4 years ago a 4200 would have been around £15k - £18k and a Gransport around £34k - £38k. So that £20k of costs is steep against the initial outlay for the car. I can understand why you'd keep it!

 

[Mavster]

Depreciation is back baby !

 

[spkennyuk]

That's one helluva cost to spend on a car you only bought 4 years ago! Gearbox and clutch and upper arms would all have been disclosed in a private PPI if you bought privately or via a non-marque specialist. 4 years ago a 4200 would have been around £15k - £18k and a Gransport around £34k - £38k. So that £20k of costs is steep against the initial outlay for the car. I can understand why you'd keep it!

The jgv may have had a PPI done at time of purchase which could have come back fairly clean and still had the gearbox and upper arms fail a couple of years later.

The average price of a Gransport 4 years ago was somewhere around £22k to £28k for good condition base to LE spec models with average to below average mileage. Only the garage queen sub 15k mile cars were hitting £34k

As with any car some owners will be luckier than others when it comes to repair costs. The older they get the more items will fail due to old age, perishing and the like.

We all know deep down that if we own one of these cars for long enough then at some point at least one big bill will happen and possibly more than one.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

The jgv may have had a PPI done at time of purchase which could have come back fairly clean and still had the gearbox and upper arms fail a couple of years later.

The average price of a Gransport 4 years ago was somewhere around £22k to £28k for good condition base to LE spec models with average to below average mileage. Only the garage queen sub 15k mile cars were hitting £34k

As with any car some owners will be luckier than others when it comes to repair costs. The older they get the more items will fail due to old age, perishing and the like.

We all know deep down that if we own one of these cars for long enough then at some point at least one big bill will happen and possibly more than one.

One unlucky guy......

 

[jgv100]

That's one helluva cost to spend on a car you only bought 4 years ago! Gearbox and clutch and upper arms would all have been disclosed in a private PPI if you bought privately or via a non-marque specialist. 4 years ago a 4200 would have been around £15k - £18k and a Gransport around £34k - £38k. So that £20k of costs is steep against the initial outlay for the car. I can understand why you'd keep it!

Thanks, and the funny thing is that I did a pre-purchase inspection in GVE London, and it was fine, but they didn't detected that the clutch read was faked as it had been restarted to fake less wear, so I needed to put a new one this year, and they never checked the gearbox oil, same all the mechanic that checked the car every year, so ended change it too. Now I think I have a good mechanic, but there are too many don't know what they are doing or they know and don't care

 

[urquattrogus]

I’ve been thinking about this, with the current news of perhaps another two or more base rate rises looking likely, I can’t see the values of these cars going up for a while; these cars are in the “affordable” enthusiast type category at the moment, and not as robust as the top end/higher up end of the market.

Is the cost of borrowing and inflation finally going to start squeezing people more into belt tightening and near recession, I expected things to take more of a hit about a year ago, but now things are washing through?

Another thing that strikes me is that these cars seem to be largely invisible to the wider enthusiast community and particularly on Pistonheads; the number of people that are even aware and or remember that this model exists seems to be surprisingly small.

Then there is an even smaller number of people that are willing to buy one and take a small risk.

Most Porsche owners/potential buyers, and that is a lot of people, would not even look twice at a 4200/Gransport?

Then there is the fact that we have a “flappy paddle” gearbox that is quite widely derided and that people are scared will also go wrong?

If the Gransport was an open gated manual a bit like another Italian brand then surely it would carry more kudos?

But even then Manual 4200’s seem to have a fairly so so rep?

I have been pleasantly surprised by how engaging the Cambiocorsa in my Gransport is, and as it’s not driven daily I’m happy to let some of its foibles go.

The E46 M3 and M3 CSL when I looked the thought of an SMG box also put me off, not having a choice with the Gransport made me try one.

Anyway, what does this mean; we will continue to enjoy rarity and exclusivity without breaking the bank!

 

[Grays]

As a sideline, I'm about to offer "modern classic" rental here in the Highlands and have bought a 98 Alfa Spider, a 99 Porsche Boxster and a 05 Mini Cooper for this. Personally, I've always had a hankering for a 3200 and have been trying to justify buying one, but even owning a garage I am a little cautious about doing so.

I have a customer with a Spyder and he loves it. Every time he brings it in though, he has to remind us all how to use the Cambiocorsa box. He has suggested a number of times that I should add a Spyder or a 4200 to the rental fleet but I've steered away from that as I am not sure I want to have to explain how to use one to every person that comes in to hire it, never mind what I would do if things go wrong and I can't get parts...I spoke to someone else that offers rentals and his fleet is full of 60's vehicles. I mentioned possibly considering renting out a Maserati and he told me I'm either mad or very brave.

Am I being overly cautious?

 

[urquattrogus]

As a sideline, I'm about to offer "modern classic" rental here in the Highlands and have bought a 98 Alfa Spider, a 99 Porsche Boxster and a 05 Mini Cooper for this. Personally, I've always had a hankering for a 3200 and have been trying to justify buying one, but even owning a garage I am a little cautious about doing so.

I have a customer with a Spyder and he loves it. Every time he brings it in though, he has to remind us all how to use the Cambiocorsa box. He has suggested a number of times that I should add a Spyder or a 4200 to the rental fleet but I've steered away from that as I am not sure I want to have to explain how to use one to every person that comes in to hire it, never mind what I would do if things go wrong and I can't get parts...I spoke to someone else that offers rentals and his fleet is full of 60's vehicles. I mentioned possibly considering renting out a Maserati and he told me I'm either mad or very brave.

Am I being overly cautious?

Maybe 4200 manual or Spyder Manual is the solution? Having owned a 3200 I wouldn’t hire one out to be honest, even the good ones are a bit unpredictable fault wise and also when on boost they are quite hairy.

I would worry too about people getting used to Cambiocorsa, I’m worrying a little about when it comes to MOT time and also will have to explain when my wife drives it. People are so used to a ZF auto with paddles now? Easy to leave it in gear when you shouldn’t?

The BIMI and Boxster can also be fragile too?

 

[lozcb]

Not to mention a novice driver yanking on the delicate reverse leaver the mind boggles at thought of my wifes mechanical insympathy yet alone a series of novice drivers , the car would have to be covered in post it notes .....and all over that lovely leather

 

[lozcb]

Happy that my wife fully understands the Massers have always been my domain and happy for that to remain so in the future , after her cars 3rd visit to a body shop and several door ding experts to fix on the drive corrections , I gave up caring about the look of her car and a couple of years down the line it looks a state, she's happy with that because she doesnt have to worry about every ,little new door ding/ scratch that appears .....and my OCD can be directed elsewhere to a more deserving cause

 

[lozcb]

I’ve been thinking about this, with the current news of perhaps another two or more base rate rises looking likely, I can’t see the values of these cars going up for a while; these cars are in the “affordable” enthusiast type category at the moment, and not as robust as the top end/higher up end of the market.

Is the cost of borrowing and inflation finally going to start squeezing people more into belt tightening and near recession, I expected things to take more of a hit about a year ago, but now things are washing through?

Another thing that strikes me is that these cars seem to be largely invisible to the wider enthusiast community and particularly on Pistonheads; the number of people that are even aware and or remember that this model exists seems to be surprisingly small.

Then there is an even smaller number of people that are willing to buy one and take a small risk.

Most Porsche owners/potential buyers, and that is a lot of people, would not even look twice at a 4200/Gransport?

Then there is the fact that we have a “flappy paddle” gearbox that is quite widely derided and that people are scared will also go wrong?

If the Gransport was an open gated manual a bit like another Italian brand then surely it would carry more kudos?

But even then Manual 4200’s seem to have a fairly so so rep?

I have been pleasantly surprised by how engaging the Cambiocorsa in my Gransport is, and as it’s not driven daily I’m happy to let some of its foibles go.

The E46 M3 and M3 CSL when I looked the thought of an SMG box also put me off, not having a choice with the Gransport made me try one.

Anyway, what does this mean; we will continue to enjoy rarity and exclusivity without breaking the bank!

Just hang on to it , look after it and enjoy it and then hand it down to the kids when you pop your clogs , it might be worth a few bob then

 

[Grays]

Maybe 4200 manual or Spyder Manual is the solution? Having owned a 3200 I wouldn’t hire one out to be honest, even the good ones are a bit unpredictable fault wise and also when on boost they are quite hairy.

I would worry too about people getting used to Cambiocorsa, I’m worrying a little about when it comes to MOT time and also will have to explain when my wife drives it. People are so used to a ZF auto with paddles now? Easy to leave it in gear when you shouldn’t?

The BIMI and Boxster can also be fragile too?

They can be but they are more of a "known quantity" and parts are pretty easy to get hold of. I've been warned off manual Maserati's due to clutch wear and the fact they are heavy. Maybe the answer is to buy a 3200 for myself and not rent it out

 

[Grays]

Not to mention a novice driver yanking on the delicate reverse leaver the mind boggles at thought of my wifes mechanical insympathy yet alone a series of novice drivers , the car would have to be covered in post it notes .....and all over that lovely leather

To be fair, the minimum age to rent a Maserati would be 30 but I take your point...

 

[urquattrogus]

They can be but they are more of a "known quantity" and parts are pretty easy to get hold of. I've been warned off manual Maserati's due to clutch wear and the fact they are heavy. Maybe the answer is to buy a 3200 for myself and not rent it out

sounds like the solution! Bet you could get a nice 3200 for a song if you look for long enough.

Always fancied driving a supercharged mini, bet it’s a hoot in the highlands.

All of this talk of the fragile reverse T bar, I worry it will be me that rips mine out! When I’m doing a three point turn somewhere abroad in a mild panic for example!!!

My wife drives every car that we have but I think that this one will take more explaining than normal.

First time I drive a Gransport I didn’t even know how to start it; got confused by having to key on and then use the starter button!

Mine also has a Clifford alarm that needs to be sequenced in the right way, so it’s a three stage start process

 

[Grays]

sounds like the solution! Bet you could get a nice 3200 for a song if you look for long enough.

Always fancied driving a supercharged mini, bet it’s a hoot in the highlands.

All of this talk of the fragile reverse T bar, I worry it will be me that rips mine out! When I’m doing a three point turn somewhere abroad in a mild panic for example!!!

My wife drives every car that we have but I think that this one will take more explaining than normal.

First time I drive a Gransport I didn’t even know how to start it; got confused by having to key on and then use the starter button!

Mine also has a Clifford alarm that needs to be sequenced in the right way, so it’s a three stage start process

Like someone else said above, "Depreciation is back baby". I very nearly bought a '00 3200 in 2006 but got scared off by the (very honest) vendor warning me that if a part goes wrong it may take months to come from Italy. As it was my only car back then, I bought a CLK55AMG instead. I had a few years of fantastic trouble free motoring and then sold it as I was doing mega miles. The 3200 has always been that itch to scratch though.

The roads up here are brilliant no matter what you're driving, but even better with the sounds of a V8 echoing all around

Yeah I think the guy here also has the same alarm. I know it's always a ten minute briefing before we do any work on it, but then we don't see it that often so can't be all bad.