Should I be worried?

montravia

Member
Messages
1,619
My late 2007 Granturismo 4.2 now approaching 50k miles is showing no signs of the symptoms, and is unlikely to.
It does have a very sound heritage, oil assiduously checked, used regularly. I've put 25k miles on her in my 3 years ownership.
Main dealer HR Owen history, Kensington.
The wisdom that is here is sound. If the car has been well maintained, however hard used, the variator issue is only a 'war chest' concern, ad although a prominent topic, the number of cases is small relative to the worry induced.

To put it in perspective, the cost of replacement variators is declared to be about £2.5 - 3k.
A four year main dealer service can be greater than that.

Put £3k in the war chest, anticipate a four year service, and make sure the service history is reputable
 

JJbing

Member
Messages
445
My 08 4.2 GT isn't showing any symptoms of the variator rattle, had the car for 4 years now, garaged, used weekly.
The only bill worth of note that I've had is new suspension arms, as it wasn't tracking properly and was eating tyres. Think that was around £3k, plus a new set of tyres.
My garage told me most people ignore the fact their cars aren't tracking properly as they don't do enough mileage for the tyre wear to cause concern. It's the same on ferraris to apparently.
 

gb-gta

Member
Messages
1,130
First job with all my old Alfa’s was always the cambelt . The old GTAs are now fetching good money, and I did consider going back to one but it seemed like a step backwards .

Is there any problems with a higher mileage engine as long as it’s been looked after?

Belts have been done 3 times on my GTA so far, due 4th next year!
It’s a totally different car to a QP or GT though, you could easily run both together and I would like to if it wasn’t for space/wife issues! I just decided I needed a QP in my life before it’s too late!

With regard to higher mileage on maseratis I have not heard of any issues. In my experience Italian cars prefer being used regularly.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
My 08 4.2 GT isn't showing any symptoms of the variator rattle, had the car for 4 years now, garaged, used weekly.
The only bill worth of note that I've had is new suspension arms, as it wasn't tracking properly and was eating tyres. Think that was around £3k, plus a new set of tyres.
My garage told me most people ignore the fact their cars aren't tracking properly as they don't do enough mileage for the tyre wear to cause concern. It's the same on ferraris to apparently.

Two year services at a Maserati agent include four wheel alignment in the booked hours. They also are happy to change the front bushes rather than the whole arms - had mine done at 50k miles.
 

JJbing

Member
Messages
445
Two year services at a Maserati agent include four wheel alignment in the booked hours. They also are happy to change the front bushes rather than the whole arms - had mine done at 50k miles.

Looked at doing just the bushes but there was still too much play in the arms, so to get the alignment perfect (as requested by me) I decided to go for it, that combined with lowering really changed the car for me.
Not really bothered about repair bills, if I wanted to spend less on maintenance I would of bought a newer car and lost more money in depreciation. These cars are bargains as they are.
 
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Nikko

Junior Member
Messages
78
Belts have been done 3 times on my GTA so far, due 4th next year!
It’s a totally different car to a QP or GT though, you could easily run both together and I would like to if it wasn’t for space/wife issues! I just decided I needed a QP in my life before it’s too late!

With regard to higher mileage on maseratis I have not heard of any issues. In my experience Italian cars prefer being used regularly.
I would love to have both but have the same issues. Mrs not happy I,m looking at a Maserati but as you say as it's a dream car get one before it's too late.
 

Ozmurc

Junior Member
Messages
91
Hi to all
After 20 years driving various Alfas and with the Giulia QV out of reach it's time to purchase a dream car of mine the QP or even an early model Granturismo.
Having had one Alfa engine go on me should I be worried about buying a vehicle that's not had the Variator issue sorted?
As one seller stated, if they all needed this doing nobody would be buying them!

I've had 2x156s, 1x GTV (916) and a Brera in the last 5 years, and none had viariator issues, but all where v6 engines- i believe it was only the 4cyl engines that where effected, and really it was the cambelt that was the real issue.

I've found the QP engine to be pretty bulletproof, even the variator failure doesnt stop the engine working. I think people run them to long between oilchanges, but i think thats a UK thing.. americans (and aussies like me) tend to change oil more frequently than the service interval, and i think this goes a long way to keeping engines working well, regardless of brand.
 

Nikko

Junior Member
Messages
78
It's always the cambelt/waterpump with Alfa.
I agree frequent oil changes are key. 18000 mile and above recommended oil changes are way too long IMO.
I had a waterpump go that seized the engine. It had already been changed by the previous owner and was still well within in it's mileage/time period.
Just bad luck I guess.
 

Silvercat

Member
Messages
1,166
Hi to all
After 20 years driving various Alfas and with the Giulia QV out of reach it's time to purchase a dream car of mine the QP or even an early model Granturismo.
Having had one Alfa engine go on me should I be worried about buying a vehicle that's not had the Variator issue sorted?
As one seller stated, if they all needed this doing nobody would be buying them!
As you will have clocked by now, I have an immaculate 2009 QP 4.7S on the market through Shiltech just now (on Pistonheads) which had new variators fitted circa 5k miles ago. (now 50,133 miles) So should never be a problem. Shiltech actually fitted them.
 

Ryandoc

Member
Messages
1,839
Finally after 4 years of ownership checked my engine number today and I’m above the number quoted in page 1.

Still agree with comments though these thins are risks but not like every single one suffers. Was same in my BMW years a few real issues to be aware of but reality is cars suffering still relatively small compared to all those sold.