Refurbed subframe UK?

[JMS]

Yes - I am very suspicious of the trader so have treated it as I would a private sale.

even if I got the car for £25k - I just don’t have the bandwidth to get the car up to my standard. A real shame about the poor respray. Metallic flake didn’t match, and it had been flatted back too much meaning a poor colour match where they stopped the paint at the roof channels above drivers door. New paint was on rear bumper and 3/4panel.

Wheels had also been refurbed on the cheap (they didn’t do the barrels)

The inspector I used said it was mayhem there. Car squeezed in between loads of old BMWs for sale, & the tyre shop staff kept on buzzing around the seller and calling him away.

I just wish all the potential cars were closer to me so I could go and see them myself before paying for a PPI

 

[Alan Surrey]

If your next candidate car is in Surrey, just shout. I'll take a look for you, give you a first take on the car and an overall situation report. Then you can decide whether you think it worth a PPI. I commissioned 3 PPIs before buying mine. Sublimely happy with it.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Now I’ve got my heart set on one I’m considering even more budget stretch to £35k for a sorted car. Even considering the ZF auto transmission as these seem to be more common.

Thanks all for the advice- I’m hoping that more will come to market soon with the cost of living increases meaning fewer people want to run one.

James

Have a word with Dicky Grace from the eponymous Richard Grace Cars and Nareman Virk at Nuvola London. Both excellent.

 

[JMS]

Have a word with Dicky Grace from the eponymous Richard Grace Cars and Nareman Virk at Nuvola London. Both excellent.

I had a long chat with Dicky a couple of weeks ago. He gave me some great pointers & is a thoroughly nice chap.

 

[Gazcw]

The car is HF60ESY for info- located in Crowthorne (on Autotrader) - but I have declined to buy it. If it were just the subframe that was the problem I would have gone for it (assuming I could have got the car for significantly under £30k). I would have had a proper job done, with it removed from the car.
There has also been a poor partial respray to tidy up the paint, which would have bugged my OCD and I couldn’t afford to be without a car while it was sorted. (Plus fresh paint may have made resale more difficult)
Good points on the car are:
Engine number after the actuator issue was resolved. Brand new clutch, all new brakes at the front, new pads at the rear. No fluid leaks in engine bay or rads. Good tyres & Just serviced. Test drive showed everything tight and as it should be. There is a mark on the centre console in the rear (which isn’t unexpected given the cars age)

Now I’ve got my heart set on one I’m considering even more budget stretch to £35k for a sorted car. Even considering the ZF auto transmission as these seem to be more common.

Thanks all for the advice- I’m hoping that more will come to market soon with the cost of living increases meaning fewer people want to run one.

James

Don't discount the zf especially if it is the mc autoshift not sure what year they were. Try a zf and decide if you want raw mc shift or an all rounder with fast enough gear changes and no clutch worries.

 

[JMS]

Don't discount the zf especially if it is the mc autoshift not sure what year they were. Try a zf and decide if you want raw mc shift or an all rounder with fast enough gear changes and no clutch worries.

I’ve only actually driven one car, with neither the suspension or gearbox I was after, it was MC autoshift & skyhook. (It was to check that I fit in it and assess the space in the back). Didn’t get chance to test the damping as I only had 15minutes.
I need to find a local dealer with MC shift that I can try - that’s the challenging bit. The closest one is an hour away from me.
I like the thought of lower gearing, it means more time in high revs, whilst remaining within the law.

 

[Alan Surrey]

Drive as many as you can. Find out what they feel like. I was set on a sporty MC shift version until I discovered how good a ZF with paddles was. Bought one and very happy with it. Wouldn't have happened if I had not driven a few.
Of course, it is the case that all these cars are stormingly good, so in a sense, you can't chose the wrong model. I just think that it helps to be more, rather than less well informed before making a major commitment: your new Maserati will quickly become not just a car, but more a way of life.

 

[Gazcw]

I’ve only actually driven one car, with neither the suspension or gearbox I was after, it was MC autoshift & skyhook. (It was to check that I fit in it and assess the space in the back). Didn’t get chance to test the damping as I only had 15minutes.
I need to find a local dealer with MC shift that I can try - that’s the challenging bit. The closest one is an hour away from me.
I like the thought of lower gearing, it means more time in high revs, whilst remaining within the law.

The mc shift will likely be skyhook unless you find one with the mc handling pack, which are few and far between. Oh screw it. Blow the budget and get a strad. We all have man maths calculators and plenty of reasons why for the missus you can borrow.