Newbie looking for Grand Tourismo advice before purchase

[Massa Mark]

Hello all I'm new here and looking for some advice!

I'm looking at buying a Grand Tourismo and I've spent some time looking through the forums and seen some great advice about different cars and pricing and running costs which is all really useful, so thanks for that retrospectively!
What I'm looking for however is some advice on what to look for in a good example, what is a good sign and what is a bad sign in available cars. Many years ago I ran a 3200 and well to be fair it wasn't exactly reliable! However I'm told the newer models are far more agreeable and reliable.

I've come from an E60 M5 to making the mistake of thinking I can live with a company 5 series diesel, wrong! So I'm looking for something fun and where as the grand Tourismo isn't even close to performance as the M5 it's a wonderful driving experience and something I'm ready to take the plunge on and find the right one for me.
I have a budget of around £45k and what I'm ideally looking for is a definitive list of what are the good points to show a reliable car and what are the bad points that one might spot to know to stay away from. I want to keep the car for 2 years and I do around 30k miles a year, so really maximum miles I want to find on one are 30k so I won't go past 90k. I won't track the car at all, it will mostly be a motorway mule so I'm not too worried about what mods it has and what is good for breaking/handling etc, I'm looking for practical advice to help me avoid a costly lemon!
Any advice on what to look for and relevant buying advice, even advice on must have optional upgrades would be GREATLY appreciated! Many thanks in advance! Mark.

 

[Parisien]

Firstly Mark, thank you for joining our forum.

A number of the guys have GT's and will no doubt give you some sterling advice about purchasing the same

To date, I don't recall any real issues to be concerned about like you experienced with the 3200, the next car the 4200, much better and the GS almost bullet proof.

The only thing you have to remember is that it is a supercar with lots of associated costs!

Hope your hunt is successful and keep us all appraised,

P

 

[Andyk]

Mark a big welcome to the forum.....as far as reliability the GT is as good as the best.....No horror stories.....There has been afew with oil leaks from the engine but this is far and few between....Maserati has been inproving its reliability every since the 3200 and now they have it pretty much right.........Have read of the buying guide on the EVO web site as there is some good ingo on there.....AT your budget there are some very nice cars for sale. If you can buy from a Maserati dealer then there is piece of mind as you get the all important warrenty or you could get our own Dicky Grace to look for a car for you as he will also place you in a great car.......The GT is a great car for the money now they are under 39k and even at 45k I think they are a lot of car for the money...

 

[kentoldster]

I went from an E61 M5 (touring) to my first GT, then moved pretty rapidly to the GTs MC shift. I really enjoyed the M5, but it didnt set the heart alight - just the adrenalin when i got the chance to play properly

I have to say that I have encountered few real problems though the difference between the M5 and the GT was enormous. The thing that got me the most at first was the braking - the GT brakes compared to the GTs and definitely to the M5 are a tad soft - my first drive out resulted in some "interesting" last minute heavy pushes! If I had my time again - i would have gone straight to the S version with the better engine and uprated brakes.

Things to look out for on the GT in my experience - Check brake discs carefully - the high iron alloy used can be prone to a little distorting if previous owner has been enthusiastic or tracked the car a lot - i had a light skim done on my GT to solve the issue. On some GT models there were some issues with part of the front suspension - a simple bushing i seem to recall, but a big unit replacement that should have been done under warranty (silent recall I think) I believe that this may only apply to '08 GT models. A silly problem on the '08 model was a weak remote petrol cap release - check carefully as it can be fixed but is a sod when fiddling at a petrol station on a cold day ! In my experience the light leather interiors look stunning but are quite prone to dye transfer, more so than the M5 seemed to be. Front parking sensors are highly desireable if you are stuck with parking in tight spaces! If the car hasnt got them - check the front carefully as it may have experienced "park by touch" and the assembly can get out of line if the "touch" is regular or too firm! Panel alignment generally is worth paying close attention to - the sheer size of the bonnet can lead to some drift in alignment and somehow Italians dont quite fit the panels with the same diligence as the M5 has lavished on it. Always best to have fixed before parting with the cash!

Overall, I have had less issues with Maserati than I had with BMW where it had several annoying electrical issues. And the final test was the long cruising drive - for example Kent to Scotland in my case - in the M5 I felt pretty tired at the end of 7 or 8 hours straight behind the wheel - in the Maserati I am up for the return journey instantly!

 

[Andyk]

Good write up there....and a suprise that the BMW had electrical issues as this is something people say Maserati have but it has clearly been put to bed....

 

[conaero]

Welcome and great advice from Ken, that pretty much sums it up. I have an S with the MC Shift and it's a stunning piece of machinery.

My advice would be to up your budget by £10k and go for the S.

My only concern is the mileage you are going to do. You will loose a lot of money in depreciation, where if you keep the mileage low and play the numbers game you should be alright.

Double and triple check the brakes, cheap they are not and they do tend to warp. I am in negotiation with a supplier and am working on a deal.

GTS front pads are £600 I can now get these for £160 plus vat and front discs are £700 each and can get them for £400 plus vat but I am working on the discs to see if there is an alternative.

 

[ENZ525]

Welcome Mark, and good luck in your search,
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[Parisien]

I feel a new alternatives thread coming on..........good work Matt.........


P

 

[conaero]

Indeed Frank, might as well get the basics under way.

The pads I am happy with, you cant complain at £160 plus VAT, its a bit high but not stupid.

The discs, well, its never going to be easy, but at least I have already saved 40% off OEM with very little effort.

What else should I work one?

Tyres, rear brakes, and I suppose some suspension and balljoints maybe?

 

[Parisien]

Maybe get some feedback from guys with the 4/5 yr old cars with 40K miles on them...see what wears out prematurely or fails a bit too soon.....no word on clutches et al?


P

 

[Andyk]

The only electrical issues I have heard about is with the windscreen wipes......There is a sensor that can pack up but its an easy cheap fix.......

 

[Massa Mark]

hey all and many thanks for the advice and words of wisdom.

My budget won't stretch to the MC shift, which is a shame! Max budget is £45k.

On the bright side, fuel is paid for by company fuel card and most servicing costs are taken care of so servicing and brake costs are nto so relevant to me. Biggest problem is depreciation, I'm used to that, everything I own is almost worthless when finished!

Thanks all, will hopefully find something this week!

 

[BennyD]

Good luck with the search Mark. You are sure to have fun when you get her. When you do, have a quick chat with DMS; they do a natty line in 4200 tune ups.

 

[Andyk]

Good luck Mark.....You will get a good one for the money you have........Keep us informed