Newbie, looking at Granturismos, £35-50k budget

M555RRK

New Member
Messages
2
Hi Guys

I've recently joined the forum which looks like a great place, very informative and I've learned quite a bit already just from looking around.

I've been a long-time admirer of the Granturismo ever since seeing one at the Maserati dealership a few years back from where I actually bought a C63 AMG that they'd taken in p/x.

I'm now in a position where I'm starting to look seriously at purchasing one. I have a budget of up to £50k max and from a look at what's out there, it seems like there are some really nice cars for that sort of money but also some older, low mileage examples in the £35-40k region.

I'm really looking for your thought on whether I stretch my budget as far as it will go, or do I look for a really nice example towards the lower end of the budget and assume that depreciation might be less of a factor down the line? What sort of changes happened with these cars or differences would there be in a slightly older £35-40k car to a slightly newer £50k car?

I've also seen lots about getting an independent inspection, regardless of how reputable the dealer is that's selling the car. I'd definitely do this but wondered if there are any specific companies recommended on here for pre-purchase inspections? I assume an RAC inspection for example wouldn't cut it in terms of the specialist nature of these cars?

All thoughts and any other considerations gratefully received, thanks!
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Welcome. Up your budget by 7 or 8k and get a 4 seater Strad it will devalue less over your time of ownership and always stand out in a sea of regular GT’s
 

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
My ears just popped and I can finally hear, rather than it sounding like I'm under water
...welcome to the Forum, threads tend to drift.

Matt (conaero) speaks the truth.

However, your budget is pretty broad, I would have a long think about if you want to spend closer to £30k than £60k.
 

JJbing

Member
Messages
445
If you're in no hurry wait for the used car market to calm down you may get a Stradale, which as Matt has said will depreciate less long term.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Give Richard Grace Cars a call. He won't try to sell you anything, but you will come away with the facts.

If you do then decide on age/type/miles etc, he will be able to source the car too... win win.
 
Messages
1,117
As Safrane, I also say speak to Richard Grace. I bought my Gransport LE at 26k miles from him 5 years ago (ghosh! is it already 5 years?)and it is now on 31k. If I go to change it for a Granturismo, I'd go to Richard for advice on Model, Budget etc and get him to source me a sorted car.
Your budget is wide. My guess is that £40 - £45k would get you a very nice Granturismo Sport. The jump up to a Stradale is another 50% uplift.
After a C63 AMG V8 Bi Turbo 4.0 litre beast, not sure if a Stradale is what you would want, or if a Granturismo Sport would be a better-fit for you.
The Stradale is a lovely car, but a big uplift and likely higher running costs (pure guess on my part).
Talk to Richard, let him tell you the facts about the range with pros and cons and then decide. As for inspection, if you are in the North West, Autoshield Maserati in South Manchester is the best place. Marios and his team there know these cars inside out and have all the diagnostic kit that they need.
 

scotpak

Junior Member
Messages
66
Check out this very similar thread I posted a few weeks back. I ended up going for a 2014 sport with 30k miles, 1 owner and full maser history for £42k. Didnt want to get newer and take a big depreciation hit. Dont think it made sense spending 60k just to get better infotainmemt, and running costs/harsher ride/clutch costs put me off getting a stradale. Also very few stradales were available in decent colours. Even now most on autotrader are white.

 
Messages
1,687
You've already had advice which I wouldn't think of disagreeing with.
However, I'll just add the following and apologies for any repetition.
Yes, your comments on the RAC would be correct. With components costing as much as some
of the cars they'll inspect. A highly recommended independent is who you want to be buying
from (possibly) and using for the PPI. Buying from because you don't want to be paying for
the snazzy premises, coffee machines and the blonde receptionist, as well as the car.
Using for the PPI, because nobody knows these cars like the best independents.
I wouldn't recommend that you stretch your budget, unless you also have a healthy rainy day fund
for general purposes. Chances are that you won't need it. Because you'll have bought wisely. But. You might.
You can talk to whomever you like, but you won't know what you want until you've driven a few.
Or perhaps more accurately. What car is the best 'fit' for you.
Then you can start to think about budgets and where to source from. I'd keep a very open mind.
Everywhere that you can source euro boxes, you can generally source Maseratis, so don't rule anything
out. Even ex company cars beings disposed of through auctions. Some of these cars will be amongst the
best looked after, as generally what they needed, they got.
When you've driven a few. Perhaps narrowed things down to a particular model. Then you can start looking.
Beware the 'summer bump' in prices. If there is such a thing with your model. It may be better waiting
until September before you approach a seller and start negotiating.
Narrow down your potential cars to view on their service history and online MoT history.
The MoT history tells a very useful story ITO how the car's been cared for.
In the service history, you essentially want to see that it's been treated like the owner's first born.
I think that I'm rapidly veering into the 'telling you how to suck eggs' territory. So, I'll pause.
Keep asking questions. Keep doing searches because the chances are, everything that you want to know
has already been asked and answered several times.
You might want to say whereabouts you're located, because if you're local to one or more forum members,
they may be able to meet and demonstrate the special handshakes and apparel etc.
Don't hesitate to ask about a particular car that you're interested in. The collective knowledge of individual cars here is akin to the Vatican intelligence service. Almost all knowing :)
Good luck with your search. Your life is just about to get a lot more pleasurable ;)
 

M555RRK

New Member
Messages
2
You've already had advice which I wouldn't think of disagreeing with.
However, I'll just add the following and apologies for any repetition.
Yes, your comments on the RAC would be correct. With components costing as much as some
of the cars they'll inspect. A highly recommended independent is who you want to be buying
from (possibly) and using for the PPI. Buying from because you don't want to be paying for
the snazzy premises, coffee machines and the blonde receptionist, as well as the car.
Using for the PPI, because nobody knows these cars like the best independents.
I wouldn't recommend that you stretch your budget, unless you also have a healthy rainy day fund
for general purposes. Chances are that you won't need it. Because you'll have bought wisely. But. You might.
You can talk to whomever you like, but you won't know what you want until you've driven a few.
Or perhaps more accurately. What car is the best 'fit' for you.
Then you can start to think about budgets and where to source from. I'd keep a very open mind.
Everywhere that you can source euro boxes, you can generally source Maseratis, so don't rule anything
out. Even ex company cars beings disposed of through auctions. Some of these cars will be amongst the
best looked after, as generally what they needed, they got.
When you've driven a few. Perhaps narrowed things down to a particular model. Then you can start looking.
Beware the 'summer bump' in prices. If there is such a thing with your model. It may be better waiting
until September before you approach a seller and start negotiating.
Narrow down your potential cars to view on their service history and online MoT history.
The MoT history tells a very useful story ITO how the car's been cared for.
In the service history, you essentially want to see that it's been treated like the owner's first born.
I think that I'm rapidly veering into the 'telling you how to suck eggs' territory. So, I'll pause.
Keep asking questions. Keep doing searches because the chances are, everything that you want to know
has already been asked and answered several times.
You might want to say whereabouts you're located, because if you're local to one or more forum members,
they may be able to meet and demonstrate the special handshakes and apparel etc.
Don't hesitate to ask about a particular car that you're interested in. The collective knowledge of individual cars here is akin to the Vatican intelligence service. Almost all knowing :)
Good luck with your search. Your life is just about to get a lot more pleasurable ;)

That's great thank you. And good point regarding location - I'm in Central Scotland, East Kilbride to be precise - just outside Glasgow.

If there are any owners nearby, feel free to say hi :)
 
Messages
1,687
Make sure you get a clutch reading and factor it in to any bargaining... as they are what 3-3.5k a pop now?
Thankfully I've never had to consider clutch wear. Is there a typical replacement point or is it all down to how individual clutches perform? I'm guessing that you don't actually bargain, assuming 100% wear is possible. Even theoretically?
 
Messages
493
From what I understood On the 4200 it is exactly that... how individual clutches perform depended on driving styles and how they were calibrated. Some only lasted 20k miles others 50k plus.... somone will be along and confirm if its the same for the gt but I think it is.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Also Maserati UK would not permit a used 4200/GS to be sold via the dealer network with a clutch reading above a very small amount (30% I believe).