MC Suspension Kit cost - cast your votes!

[Palmball]

My car is in the dealers whilst I'm on my hols having one or two things done - software updates to the bluetooth as it never connected reliably to my iPhone, a whole new instrument cluster as my fuel and temp gauges randomly over read when they felt like it, a new rear light unit (this one really shocked me....i got a bulb failure indicator on the dash and thought it needed a new sidelight bulb but ohhh no....it was one of the led units and needed a new one!), a new door weather-strip seal as one of them didn't fit properly, a new key as the original discoloured and finally, new stone guard films to both sills and panels behind the doors as they started blistering and generally looked old....all done without question under warranty.

However, I wasn't expecting the call I just got...the cost of this MC suspension upgrade has just come down to £2.5k. That's fully fitted, Inc VAT, aligned and set up by a main dealer. They'll even fit and align the car with the FD spacers should I choose to get them. This is now seriously tempting!

 

[Parisien]

....getting nicer and nicer PB.......tempting as you say........................a Wildean moment coming up??!!!




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[Emtee]

Are they price-matching Andrew?

 

[RonnieMack]

Hi Palmball,
That's a seriously keen price...do it, just do it !
Just goes to show that even the "Big Boys" are feeling the pinch.
Regards
Ronnie

 

[Palmball]

Are they price-matching Andrew?

Oh yes...a well known local independent quoted me half their labour charge

I basically told them if they wanted my business they'd need to reduce their labour by 50%!

Hi Palmball,
That's a seriously keen price...do it, just do it !
Just goes to show that even the "Big Boys" are feeling the pinch.
Regards
Ronnie

Yep, they're pretty keen not to let the business go which I find quite surprising....I thought they'd have been well above giving such big discounts!

Yes, it's seriously tempting but it's also still £2.5k so I've got to be sure it's worth it....I'm trying to get a drive of their MC Stradale demo just to see how much stiffer the ride is (honest...that's all I want to drive it for lol ). I also want to make sure I'm nowhere near any big costs so I'm getting them to check brake and clutch wear (is there anything else I should be looking for that wouldn't be covered under warranty?).

Then my only other decisions for the car are whether to use spacers or not (see separate thread...still deciding in my head whether the potential downsides outweigh the undoubted improvements to the looks) and whether to remap or not (bit of a no brainer for the group buy deal!)

 

[Emtee]

Hi Andrew, Have you had your invite for the 28th? Driving day at Priest House? You'll get to drive the MC shift and Stradale. I'm certainly going to that one!

 

[Palmball]

Hi Andrew, Have you had your invite for the 28th? Driving day at Priest House? You'll get to drive the MC shift and Stradale. I'm certainly going to that one!

No Miles, not had that...I mustn't be important enough lol! In fact, I have no idea what you're referring to but on a serious note that does sound good...can you expand further and advise on how to get an invite please? Do I need to speak to Graypauls?

Cheers

 

[Emtee]

I had a letter from Graypaul a couple of days ago offering a place on a 'Maserati Driving Event'. It's on the 28th April (next Thursday) at the Priest House Hotel in Castle Donnington. They're taking the GT MC Shift and the MC Stradale, along with driving instructor. I'm just waiting for them to ring me back so I can reserve my driving slot.

 

[Nick4u1]

I personally avoid bolting on suspension kits, especially when manufacturers have spent millions developing their cars. Why would some bolt on kit improve the car unless its coilovers for track days?

 

[Parisien]

Several Franchises will price match on both labour and parts.........


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[Palmball]

I personally avoid bolting on suspension kits, especially when manufacturers have spent millions developing their cars. Why would some bolt on kit improve the car unless its coilovers for track days?

Have you read the thread?? It's not just a bolt on kit...it's the genuine MC suspension from Maserati as designed and developed for the car. You can spec it on a new car as an option and as all the parts are available seperatley, it can be retrofitted too (I'm apparently not them first to do it either). It's the full shebang...not just springs and dampers but new anti roll bars to compliment them and the right bushes for the uprated parts. This isn't just a fitting of some aftermarket lowering springs which s why I and a few others are quite surprised at the relatively low cost f this retro-fit!

On another note, some 'bolt on' kits are very very good. Yes manufacturers develop their suspension...but they also develop it to a price. I ripped out the suspension from one of my previous C63's to fit KW V3 coilovers and the quality of components wasnt comparable to the relatively basic stuff they fit at the factory...and the way the car drove afterwards was a transformation with the best body control of pretty much anything I've ever owned. So, standard parts...well developed - yes. Built to a price and compromised - yes also!

In fact I reckon I could get a much better suspension system for my car than even Maserati's own MC suspension (for similar money too) but in this case I'd like to keep it to original parts.

 

[Palmball]

I had a letter from Graypaul a couple of days ago offering a place on a 'Maserati Driving Event'. It's on the 28th April (next Thursday) at the Priest House Hotel in Castle Donnington. They're taking the GT MC Shift and the MC Stradale, along with driving instructor. I'm just waiting for them to ring me back so I can reserve my driving slot.

Miles, what time do you plan to be there? The service guy I know spoke to James and he's happy for me to go along so let me know if you want to meet up.

They plan to be quite busy that day so they've even said I can go back on the Saturday for a proper drive in an MC Stradale....what a result! Then again, they are trying to sell me this suspension which probably has even more profit margin (%, not pound notes!) than a car sale!

 

[Emtee]

Miles, what time do you plan to be there? The service guy I know spoke to James and he's happy for me to go along so let me know if you want to meet up.

They plan to be quite busy that day so they've even said I can go back on the Saturday for a proper drive in an MC Stradale....what a result! Then again, they are trying to sell me this suspension which probably has even more profit margin (%, not pound notes!) than a car sale!

Hi Andrew, I've booked myself in for 10am. Have you booked a time? Cheers, Miles.

 

[Palmball]

No, not booked it so will just turn up and see what's going on. If they've got any spare time when I'm there they'll give me a go but otherwise I'll be driving it on Saturday. I genuinely just want to get a feel for how much stiffer the suspension is before I bite the bullet and have it fitted as I don't want to spend that amount of money without being sure I can live with it day to day and it giving a perceptible improvement in handling.

 

[Emtee]

Hi Andrew,

From what I can tell the event kicks off at 9am. The bookings are one hour slots. Half an hour in the Stradale and half an hour in the GT-S MC Shift, both with instructor. I've booked for 10am, but have said I can work around their other bookings as I'm not working that day anyway. It's being run out of the Priest House Hotel with refreshments, etc laid on, so I'll probably get there sometime shortly after nine assuming my booking doesn't change. As of speaking to Sophie at GP today, there are certainly other slots still available if you do want to drive them on Thursday, but if you have Saturday lined up also, then no pressure either way I guess.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[Palmball]

Today I had the pleasure of attending Graypaul's MC Stradale demonstration event which gave me the opportunity of having a back to back drive of a GT-S and the new MC Stradale to compare the two. Although I've no intention in buying a Stradale at present, Graypaul were happy for me to attend and just have a go to see if the suspension set-up is something I do want to fit on mine.

And the result is a definitive YES! In my opinion, the way the MC turned in and went round a bend was pretty much spot on and it also appears that the stiffer set-up has improved the steering no end - this has also been mentioned in the press where they've commented on much improved steering feel and sharper turn-in yet as there definitely haven't been any technical changes made to the steering, it's just a nice by-product of the new suspension.

The other thing that stands out is the ride - I reckon that whilst it's firmer than the standard set-up it actually feels a more comfortable car on the road. This is probably due to the better controlled damping which, whilst giving you more feel of the road, does result in less body movement.

All in all, it was the suspension set-up that differentiated the car mostly from my GT-S as it didn't feel one jot quicker but the other surprise was that it's exhaust was quieter than mine unless it was in race mode. In that mode it was maybe slightly louder but on the whole, the refinement of the Stradale is mightily impressive. The lovely suede dash, instrument binnacle and centre console really set the interior off nicely too.

What I didn't like was the seats in the particular one I drove - yes, they were much more supportive than the standard ones but they were just set too high. They are adjustable but only by taking them out and repositioning the base in one of three different settings. The demonstrator I drove had the seat bolted to the middle setting and it definitely needed to be on the lowest one!

So, is it worth a £20k or so premium over a standard GT-S? Money no object, then yes definitely but alas this is not the position I'm in. However, I'll be more than happy to take the most impressive part of the car (the suspension) and fit it to mine...this means I keep the rear seats, save a heap of cash and yet benefit from most of the great 'feel' of this lovely car!

 

[Palmball]

By the way Miles...thank you very much for mentioning this event to me a couple of weeks ago - if it wasn't for you then I'd not have even known about it (oh, and for keeping my other half entertained whilst I was having fun...I can't believe this forum gets smaller as she tells me that you live in the house that her great aunt used to live in!). Whenever we drive past your house we always comment on the fact 'that' house always has a Maserati parked outside it (even before I owned one I always loved them!)...and it's indeed yours!

Good to meet you and hope your car is back on the road soon

 

[Emtee]

Yep, It's a small world indeed! Sadly Rubble Cottage (as we lovingly call it) hasn't had a Trident out front for a little while, but instead just me painting my windows (frames Benny )

Great to meet you both also and hope the suspension ticks all the right boxes. I suspect it will.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[Palmball]

....what have I done?

I've only gone and booked the big old girl into Graypaul's for next week to have this suspension fitted.

I'm just having them double and then triple check that the parts quoted are definitely the ones of the MC Stradale and not just some random uprated GT bits....I've instructed them to make sure they're supplying the part numbers as fitted to the MC Stradale that I drive a couple of weeks ago.

With the anti-roll bars, bushes, springs and dampers this should ensure that other than the effects of an extra 100kg of weight, my car should drive in a very similar manner to the way the MC did which will make me extremely happy

I'll certainly have the chance to try it out...two weeks later I'm off on my first pilgrimage of the year to the Nurburgring I'm not really expecting the car to be particularly brilliant round there (that was one place that my M3 was much better than my C63...it was an incredibly competent car round that track) but the trip out there, the unlimited autobahns and the experience is always great fun.

 

[Parisien]

Good man PB...take it to the line.........all the way....don't hold back........live your dream!


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