Quattroporte Vs Listed For Sale

Graeme Lambert said:
Hi all, newbie here.

Have a 456GT, but now have three kids instead of two, and suspect it would be sensible to move it on for something we can enjoy as a family (the reason for selling a two-seat sportscar for the 456GT in the first place, pre child No3.

And so QPVs have long had my attention as something practical - but not boring - to replace with. The above caught my eye, because lurking on here and various other parts of the internet it seems the Sport GT S is the one to have... but I wanted to check if this was a genuine Sport GT S (have seen a few advertised as such but clearly not) and what people's opinions are of this particular one. Seems like a decent price, even with the sagging headliner mentioned by a poster above (I'm assuming this needs a pro retrim job).

Anyway, any info or advice you have on the above car, or others, would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I own a 2008 4.2 prefacelift Quattroporte Sport GT S Automatica and the car you have linked has all the obvious visible features that I would expect to see on this model, such as :

6 pot front callipers with larger 360mm disks
Lowered suspension -10 front and -20mm rear
Red callipers front & back
Black window trim
Black exhaust tips
Body colour door handles
Dark tint rear windows
Dark chrome wheels
Alcantara and carbon trim interior

Of course you can get cars with variations of the above but this was the typical default spec for a Sport GT S Automatica.

The car should also have Bilstein fixed rate suspension instead of Skyhook shocks but you cannot tell that from the pictures.

Based on the pictures I would be pretty confident that this is a Sport GT S A as advertised - but don’t hold me to it !!!

Not sure what is going on with the headlights though, I have never seen that tint before.
 
Ewan said:
It's available privately for a substantially lower sum.
PM me if of interest.
Click to expand...
Is your old car still available? And what do we mean by substantial - I think it's advertised at circa £19,995 right? I suspect I don't have enough posts for the PM function... yet.

In your pics, the interior looks almost white with the blue, but latest advert looks more cream/tan. I'm not (yet) that familiar with these cars and their trims, so wondering if you could tell me what it is closer to in real life. Have to say, the pics from Nuvola don't show the car in the best light with greasy/dirty Alcantara wheel and gearlever and paintwork full of swirls (plus the TADTA sticky plastics inside). Realise these are only cosmetic, but was surprised to see a vehicle for sale at a reputable dealer without a little more prep in these areas.
 
Tallman said:
Just be aware that there is a pre-facelift Sport GT S with a 4.2L ZF (2007/2008) - not to be confused with the Sport GT, which is a standard car with either F1 gearbox or ZF with a couple of “sporty” options - and a facelift Sport GT S with a 4.7L ZF (somewhere in 2008 onwards). The latter is worth quite a bit more and what most people mean when they talk about a Sport GT S so don’t confuse the two (or three…or four….it’s Italian, it’s complicated…)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I won't lie, the spec walkthrough on the QPV throughout the years is a little confusing. My understanding is that the Sport GT S (regardless of 4.2 and 4.7) all got the fixed rate Bilstein dampers, correct?
 
Motorsport3 said:
I also went from a 456GT to a QPV. Both Montezemolo years, both pininfarina designs aiming to be beautiful.

They are old cars and need attention. Engines are strong, but as with Italian made cars, some peripheral parts struggle.

I would say on balance the QPV been built in higher numbers is probably better shorted and it shows as you see cars with >100k miles around.

From a driving perspective a well set up QPV is very similar to the 456, both fairly heavy but rear wheel biased.
Click to expand...
Good to know. I can't lie, the 456GT has been a proper ***** to own. Not sure my bank account will ever recover, but the lower overall capital investment in a good QPV makes me feel a little more at ease with the annual 'running costs'.
 
Harvey_Tim said:
I own a 2008 4.2 prefacelift Quattroporte Sport GT S Automatica and the car you have linked has all the obvious visible features that I would expect to see on this model, such as :

6 pot front callipers with larger 360mm disks
Lowered suspension -10 front and -20mm rear
Red callipers front & back
Black window trim
Black exhaust tips
Body colour door handles
Dark tint rear windows
Dark chrome wheels
Alcantara and carbon trim interior

Of course you can get cars with variations of the above but this was the typical default spec for a Sport GT S Automatica.

The car should also have Bilstein fixed rate suspension instead of Skyhook shocks but you cannot tell that from the pictures.

Based on the pictures I would be pretty confident that this is a Sport GT S A as advertised - but don’t hold me to it !!!

Not sure what is going on with the headlights though, I have never seen that tint before.
Click to expand...
Thanks, really comprehensive reply. I suspect this one has been mentioned on here already, though I can't spot it. But is this car, a pre-facelift 4.2 Sport GT S? I note the yellow calipers, which is throwing me off a bit, but the rest of the exterior trim seems about right. Quite like the juxtaposition of the carbon and the tan leather too TBH, even if it is a bit unusual. Also spotted the bumpers looking a different shade to the main body, but appreciate that could be the material difference between the components, but great to hear others views on it.



 
Graeme Lambert said:
Is your old car still available? And what do we mean by substantial - I think it's advertised at circa £19,995 right? I suspect I don't have enough posts for the PM function... yet.

In your pics, the interior looks almost white with the blue, but latest advert looks more cream/tan. I'm not (yet) that familiar with these cars and their trims, so wondering if you could tell me what it is closer to in real life. Have to say, the pics from Nuvola don't show the car in the best light with greasy/dirty Alcantara wheel and gearlever and paintwork full of swirls (plus the TADTA sticky plastics inside). Realise these are only cosmetic, but was surprised to see a vehicle for sale at a reputable dealer without a little more prep in these areas.
Click to expand...
I believe it’s still available, but haven’t spoken to the owner in a couple of weeks. But if it’s still advertised at Nuvola, assume it is. But obviously, a far better price can be negotiated directly with the owner.

Ive not seen the car in a while, but know it’s largely sat in storage the last couple of years. It‘ll need some tidying I suspect. The leather is light - more so than those Nuvola pictures.
 
Graeme Lambert said:
Thanks, really comprehensive reply. I suspect this one has been mentioned on here already, though I can't spot it. But is this car, a pre-facelift 4.2 Sport GT S? I note the yellow calipers, which is throwing me off a bit, but the rest of the exterior trim seems about right. Quite like the juxtaposition of the carbon and the tan leather too TBH, even if it is a bit unusual. Also spotted the bumpers looking a different shade to the main body, but appreciate that could be the material difference between the components, but great to hear others views on it.



Click to expand...
I had a long conversation with Tom Dunlop about this car, he sent me photos of all the history file which is quite impressive, certainly worth a look.
 
Ewan said:
I believe it’s still available, but haven’t spoken to the owner in a couple of weeks. But if it’s still advertised at Nuvola, assume it is. But obviously, a far better price can be negotiated directly with the owner.

Ive not seen the car in a while, but know it’s largely sat in storage the last couple of years. It‘ll need some tidying I suspect. The leather is light - more so than those Nuvola pictures.
Click to expand...
Good to know, thanks!
 
Graeme Lambert said:
Is Tom known in Maserati circles? I'm not familiar with him.

We agree that car is a genuine 4.2 Sport GTS?

Any thoughts on bumper colour/shade?
Click to expand...
I would say that yes this is a 4.2 Sport GT S it has the tell tale black window trims and black exhaust tips which were I believe unique to this model, I guess it has just been originally spec‘d with the yellow callipers and tan leather instead of the default options.

Although I just noticed that the front grille is also not the norm for a Sport GT S which has a mesh grille, but that could well have been changed as IMO the mesh grille is not that good looking!

As far as the bumpers, I would say you need to see it in person to determine if there is truly a noticeable difference - I have found that sometimes photos show shades differently between fibreglass / plastic parts (I.e. the bumpers) and the body panels particularly for lighter metallics but in real life you may not be able to see it.
 
Last edited:
Harvey_Tim said:
I would say that yes this is a 4.2 Sport GT S it has the tell tale black window trims and black exhaust tips which were I believe unique to this model, I guess it has just been originally spec‘d with the yellow callipers and tan leather instead of the default options.

Although I just noticed that the front grille is also not the norm for a Sport GT S which has a mesh grille, but that could well have been changed as IMO the mesh grille is not that good looking!

As far as the bumpers, I would say you need to see it in person to determine if there is truly a noticeable difference - I have found that sometimes photos show shades differently between fibreglass / plastic parts (I.e. the bumpers) and the body panels particularly for lighter metallics but in real life you may not be able to see it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Good to know it is likely a genuine Sport GTS.

As for the bumpers, agree - suspect it is a trick of the light/camera and plastic/metal part shade difference but wanted to see if this was a known thing on these cars. 100% agree that I need to see it in the flesh to decide.

Dropping Tom an email now for more information. Near 100,000 miles make anyone familiar with these cars worried? (I'm a Saab guy, and the older models are perfectly comfortable with 100, if not 200, thousand miles on them...)
 
Harvey_Tim said:
I would say that yes this is a 4.2 Sport GT S it has the tell tale black window trims and black exhaust tips which were I believe unique to this model, I guess it has just been originally spec‘d with the yellow callipers and tan leather instead of the default options.

Although I just noticed that the front grille is also not the norm for a Sport GT S which has a mesh grille, but that could well have been changed as IMO the mesh grille is not that good looking!

As far as the bumpers, I would say you need to see it in person to determine if there is truly a noticeable difference - I have found that sometimes photos show shades differently between fibreglass / plastic parts (I.e. the bumpers) and the body panels particularly for lighter metallics but in real life you may not be able to see it.
Click to expand...
Hi Tim, yes it is a GTS, I've seen a post from the previous owner somewhere, can't remember if it was on here or maybe FB, he stated the grill was changed after a low speed bump but he still has the original. I'll see if I can find the post.
 
Graeme Lambert said:
Thanks. Good to know it is likely a genuine Sport GTS.

As for the bumpers, agree - suspect it is a trick of the light/camera and plastic/metal part shade difference but wanted to see if this was a known thing on these cars. 100% agree that I need to see it in the flesh to decide.

Dropping Tom an email now for more information. Near 100,000 miles make anyone familiar with these cars worried? (I'm a Saab guy, and the older models are perfectly comfortable with 100, if not 200, thousand miles on them...)
Click to expand...
Both the 4200 Coupes that I had went easily over the 100,000 miles.
The second one I put a failed oil water pump unit in but no damage done to the engine.
Good Servicing and a paper trail history and you'll be fine.
Over here on mainland Europe there's many with high mileage.
 
Graeme Lambert said:
Near 100,000 miles make anyone familiar with these cars worried?
Click to expand...
Mine (2007 4.2 ZF) is on 87k

You'll need to try and check the maintenance history to see how it has been serviced what's been fixed over the years. I've owned mine for 11 years and 47K miles now and spent over 35K on maintenance

The engine and ZF gear box itself are pretty strong but the alternator goes, the cooling hoses at the back of the engine go, the cam covers weep and there's the variator issue. At 100K though it's either very noticeable, or not an issue. Suspension and bushes could need replacing. Brakes, pads, wheel bearings, lambda and parking sensors are consumable and are not cheap. Not sure what NIT you have, but if not the first generation Bose, then you could get hard drive issues and unless it has been sorted, your buttons etc will be sticky. Check for damp in the foot wells and water in the boot well where the electric parkimng brake mechanism is,

The cost of buying may appear to be a bargain, but you should go into it with eyes open and expect to budget 2-3K a year on maintenance, and if it has been well looked after I wouldn't be so concerned about the mileage!

Eb
 
Ebenezer said:
Mine (2007 4.2 ZF) is on 87k

You'll need to try and check the maintenance history to see how it has been serviced what's been fixed over the years. I've owned mine for 11 years and 47K miles now and spent over 35K on maintenance

The engine and ZF gear box itself are pretty strong but the alternator goes, the cooling hoses at the back of the engine go, the cam covers weep and there's the variator issue. At 100K though it's either very noticeable, or not an issue. Suspension and bushes could need replacing. Brakes, pads, wheel bearings, lambda and parking sensors are consumable and are not cheap. Not sure what NIT you have, but if not the first generation Bose, then you could get hard drive issues and unless it has been sorted, your buttons etc will be sticky. Check for damp in the foot wells and water in the boot well where the electric parkimng brake mechanism is,

The cost of buying may appear to be a bargain, but you should go into it with eyes open and expect to budget 2-3K a year on maintenance, and if it has been well looked after I wouldn't be so concerned about the mileage!

Eb
Click to expand...
If I told you I had to buy a new Heater Matrix for my 456 direct from Maranello, and the quoted labour to change one out on those cars is 50 hours (and don't forget the part is a healthy four figure sum alone), you'll understand why my wallet would welcome 11 years of maintenance costs being circa £35k!

Thanks for the heads up on issues though. Good thing is we know this car had a replacement engine from the factory, at circa 35k miles so only 60k miles on it and it's a later unit with the variator fix.

I'm assuming there's a decent buyers guide somewhere on here given the wealth of knowledge you all have. Must go find it...
 
@Graeme Lambert
I owned a 456 GTA back in 2012 had for a year whilst running my Maserati 4200.
I did the Guinness World Record at Silverstone that September.
I knew I couldn't keep it longer after reading the service history and mine had only done 25,000 miles back then.
I ticked the V12 Ferrari itch though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top