Pistonheads recommend buying a Gransport quickly.. at £20k

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
It is always interesting looking at MOT history.
The suspension appears well worn, with failures and advisories, then suddenly it passes! Has all the suspension advisories been fixed as well as the failures? That would cost thousands!
How come the advisory is now front tyres worn, when failure before was bald front tyre with cords showing? Has second hand worn tyres been fitted to pass the MOT?


I been to look at this car too - 400 mile round trip so I was serious. It's a mess and the way it was presented by the 3 young lads at the dealership didn't help.

When I turned up on a Saturday I found the engine and the brakes were excessively hot. I had the distinct impression they had been out joyriding in it.

The side passenger side surfboard is cracked, the front bumper doesn't align properly, the grill mess is bent out of shape, there's bugs and general debris in the headlights, holes in the seats from cigarettes, the paint is dull and then there's the MOT history;

29/04/2019 / 50,303 miles


Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
  • Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed Outer tread bald and cord showing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Repair immediately (major defects):
  • Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))
  • Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour white light showing (4.4.3 (a))
  • Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour white light showing (4.4.3 (a))
  • Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Nearside Rear Outer Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn Control arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Offside Rear Outer Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn Control arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Outer sill covers fitted obscuring testable components
  • Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))
  • Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement all bushes perishing (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement all bushes perishing (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))
And then, almost miraculously;

14/06/19 / 50,361 miles

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Front Tyres Getting Low
It was raining when I looked at the car and with the dealership being a back street yard made up in uneven gravel I found it difficult to see under the car.

However, it was entirely obvious that front tyres were worn out. Therefore, you have to wonder what has happened. Who replaces tyres that have cords showing with tyres that are worn out? On a Maserati?!

In my opinion, the obvious conclusion is that they haven't.

And if they haven't been replaced as a subjective and consumable item, what about the rest of the advisories.... Advisories? Sorry, I mean FAIL points.

I took it for a test drive. Along a predetermined route that was urban and subject to a 30mph limit.

Except for a 300m iso section of single carriageway road terminating at a roundabout.

On flooring it in 2nd gear, I found myself winding on 45deg of steering lock to keep it in a straight line, on a straight road. Whilst the rear wheels were not loosing any traction.

The same thing in the opposite, return journey.

I described it at the time as feeling "baggy"

It was obvious to my mind that the suspension work identified in the 1st MOT as a fail hasn't been undertaken and is required.

The other prominent problem is that the clutch is *******. I went through the history and it had been replaced at 05/12/2007 @25,719miles. There's nothing after that. The gear changes were abysmal and it has a significant judder when taking up drive, particularly with steering lock applied.

It was clearly a well looked after car at some point in it's life, but, and it is a big BUT, and again In my opinion, the dealership selling it either do not understand its issues with pathological determination or they are quite happy to sell what is a defective and consequently dangerous car.
 
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philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
Wow that is Shocking and could cost a fortune to put right.
Be interesting to see if they would be happy to have an inspection done on it.
 

Dyer3200

Member
Messages
569
It's cheap for a reason it's a false economy stop wasting your time and buy this -it's a great example and wants for nothing reason I know I used to own it probably get for £17k absolute bargain JFDI

 
Messages
152
Mine at 104K wants for nothing and still hasn't sold.

Obviously everybody looks at the mileage and dismiss it, that car has covered half the mileage and as stated is a total dog!
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Mine at 104K wants for nothing and still hasn't sold.

Obviously everybody looks at the mileage and dismiss it, that car has covered half the mileage and as stated is a total dog!

I was reading your ad earlier today, and it sounds like ridiculous value... must be frustrating...
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I agree. I don't mind cars with mileage and a nicely looked after car with twice the miles can often be better than one at half the miles. Probably other people's perception is often different.

I'd buy yours no problem if I was in the market but many won't because rightly or wrongly (wrongly IMHO) they think the miles are too high. After the first 3 years of the mileage your car has done less than average after this but your average Joe won't look or see.

Didn't realise that was your car. Looks very nice. Had any decent offers you are thinking about or just a little thin on interest other than time wasters? It is very flat out there.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,756
You know it’s a tough market when a Med Blu GS with full history, a recent clutch and tyres, and only 54k miles on the clock is struggling to sell at circa £17.5k. Surely a bargain for someone.