After putting my name on the list for the group buy of the brake discs, I should probably briefly introduce myself on this forum - although it would have been even better if I'd done things the other way around.
After over 20 years of happily driving all kinds of Alfa Romeos, I was forced to swap brands. I used to buy a new Alfa, drive it for about 100,000 miles (3-4 years) and then trade up to a larger or more powerful model. However, in 2010 my Alfa 166 turned four years old and the only possible replacements were the Mito and the Giulietta. That (and Alfa's botched Centennial, where none of their management bothered to show up to meet thousands of Alfisti) made me decide to buy either an Audi A5 (from the man who gave us the Alfa 156) or a 5-series BMW. Then my wife stepped in and threatened to change the locks if I'd dare bring home a German car.
I then soon discovered that the only Italian replacement for a top of the line Alfa could be a used Maserati. After some searching on the internet I came across a 4200 CC that was five years old but had done only 7,000 miles. It had been stationary for 2,5 years after the previous owner had passed away, and was offered through a Maserati dealership in Germany. So I ended up buying a German car, but one which was made in Italy, which allowed me to bring it home.
I've now owned the 4200 for nearly four years and used it as my daily driver, clocking up roughly 60,000 miles. Apart from some niggles in the first year, when she had to be run in again, the car's performance has been flawless. The only problem is that I'm using her as a company car, which means that under Dutch tax rules I'm not allowed more than 300 miles a year in private use, unless I'd be prepared to add 25% of the list price to my taxable income -which I'm not. Therefore, I've been looking at a replacement company car for some time, so that I can take over the 4200 for private use.
About 2 months ago someone at the Dutch Maserati forum mentioned an online auction in Belgium where a Granturismo S was offered for sale. Although I'd set myself a clear limit (especially as I'd been unable to attend the viewing days), I got caught up in the last minute bidding frenzy and ended up buying a Maserati that I'd only seen in 5 small photos on a website. The car was imported and put on Dutch plates some 6 weeks ago, and has now been at the dealer for almost 4 weeks for refurbishment. Unfortunately, the photos had failed to show the state of the bodywork, the cracked windscreen, the dented wheels, slick tyres and worn brakes (to name but the most important items on the 'to do' list).
Anyway, the Granturismo will hopefully be delivered soon, so that I can start to enjoy the 4200 on more rewarding drives than just the daily commute. And if I do, these brake discs from the group buy will come in handy at some point.
After over 20 years of happily driving all kinds of Alfa Romeos, I was forced to swap brands. I used to buy a new Alfa, drive it for about 100,000 miles (3-4 years) and then trade up to a larger or more powerful model. However, in 2010 my Alfa 166 turned four years old and the only possible replacements were the Mito and the Giulietta. That (and Alfa's botched Centennial, where none of their management bothered to show up to meet thousands of Alfisti) made me decide to buy either an Audi A5 (from the man who gave us the Alfa 156) or a 5-series BMW. Then my wife stepped in and threatened to change the locks if I'd dare bring home a German car.
I then soon discovered that the only Italian replacement for a top of the line Alfa could be a used Maserati. After some searching on the internet I came across a 4200 CC that was five years old but had done only 7,000 miles. It had been stationary for 2,5 years after the previous owner had passed away, and was offered through a Maserati dealership in Germany. So I ended up buying a German car, but one which was made in Italy, which allowed me to bring it home.
I've now owned the 4200 for nearly four years and used it as my daily driver, clocking up roughly 60,000 miles. Apart from some niggles in the first year, when she had to be run in again, the car's performance has been flawless. The only problem is that I'm using her as a company car, which means that under Dutch tax rules I'm not allowed more than 300 miles a year in private use, unless I'd be prepared to add 25% of the list price to my taxable income -which I'm not. Therefore, I've been looking at a replacement company car for some time, so that I can take over the 4200 for private use.
About 2 months ago someone at the Dutch Maserati forum mentioned an online auction in Belgium where a Granturismo S was offered for sale. Although I'd set myself a clear limit (especially as I'd been unable to attend the viewing days), I got caught up in the last minute bidding frenzy and ended up buying a Maserati that I'd only seen in 5 small photos on a website. The car was imported and put on Dutch plates some 6 weeks ago, and has now been at the dealer for almost 4 weeks for refurbishment. Unfortunately, the photos had failed to show the state of the bodywork, the cracked windscreen, the dented wheels, slick tyres and worn brakes (to name but the most important items on the 'to do' list).
Anyway, the Granturismo will hopefully be delivered soon, so that I can start to enjoy the 4200 on more rewarding drives than just the daily commute. And if I do, these brake discs from the group buy will come in handy at some point.
