Take a Walk on the Wild Side

[jerkmoans]

Helloooooooo

Non-Maserati owner (yet). I've admired 3200 and 4200s for YEARS - to the extent of getting my first Trofeo for my son's skalextric track - but never had the beans to go for the real McCoy.

Until now. I think they are the most beautiful cars on the planet: Aston Martin without the brashness, Ferrari without the vulgarity. Flame me if you disagree.

The planets having aligned - not least my beloved wife encouraging me (?!?), I'm on the lookout for a late (2005/6) model, black or dark grey - is that Nuvolari> - with reasonably low mileage.

Anyway. Hi.

 

[alfatwo]

Welcome to the Maserati madness, you won't escape alive

 

[jerkmoans]

Heh. Was v interested in a black on black model that a porsche dealer (Mr 911) had up for grabs - he sold it the day I emailed asking for details...


Anyone else got a cool black number with 35k on the clock?

 

[Andyk]

A very warm welcome to the forum jerkmoans......You are right going for the 2005/2006 face lift 4200 as they are a great car..... Try Dicky Grace from on here. He is very well respected and a few members have bought a Maserati from him. He can source a car or even if ou just want a chat and advice he is our man.

http://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/

 

[CatmanV2]

Welcome jerkmoans. We have cookies.
C

 

[Felonious Crud]

Hi Jerkmoans. Welcome. What a brilliant wife!

Good luck car hunting.

 

[dickygrace]

Welcome Jerkmoans and thanks AndyK for the reference. I've got a black 3200 and a black Gransport in at the moment but no 4200's in black at present. I do have one 2003 model in Grigio Nuvolari, it is the gun metal type colour with a brown, copper type tint to the paint, Grigio Alfieri is the standard gun metal colour. The black car at Mr 911 had been for sale a while, 8 owners was probably the reason it stuck around.

 

[Parisien]

Hi Jerkmoans.....did the missus choose your handle too........

Not a big list of demands, but as you see, choice is a tad limited at times, good luck with your search

As ever an indie inspection is a must before agreeing to buy a Maser, can save thousands!

P

 

[jerkmoans]

Well thanks for all the kind words and advice... Spent a few happy moments on Mr Grace's tempting website - the Gransport sounds a fine thing indeed but a bit out of my modest budget... The search continues!

Yeah the missus is a good gal, AdamN: she has some weird theory about living ones dream while one can. Either that or she's sick to death of me mooning on about Italian cars, and figures I'll spend less time down the pub if I have one to polish...

As for the handle, it is but a simple anagram, deployed to conceal my online antics from business associates. And the police

 

[jerkmoans]

8 owners!?!? Presumably half of them were HP companies and the like?!? Or was it a real dog of a car??

 

[Felonious Crud]

These cars can get through owners quite quickly in their early years. Quite a few owners seem to keep them for six months and then just buy another one. Different world of buying power, I suppose... But eight still seems high.

 

[Parisien]

Yeah....prefer fewer myself.......but at this stage....conditon/looks/how it drives more important

P

 

[jerkmoans]

Blimey. I like to think that once I settle on the right one, it'll be cherished for a lifetime ... or at least until it disintegrates around me!

 

[Parisien]

Well...they are now 6/7/8/9 years old....they have a life expectancy .......

P

 

[jerkmoans]

they have a life expectancy .......

My illusions are shattered!

On a serious note, while I fully expect a whole new world of running costs and fuel economy, just how practical a proposition are these for day to day use? I do about 8k miles a year at the moment which is not a massive amount, but I like to be reasonably secure in the knowledge that I can just jump in my car and go when I need to get somewhere...

 

[dickygrace]

Late 4200's and Gransports are very reliable indeed. Any Maserati that's been looked after and is in good condition is just as reliable as any other manufacturer.

 

[jerkmoans]

That's very reassuring, thanks Dicky. There's this sort of stigma attached to these high-performance cars, that makes folks kinda suck their teeth and shake their heads when you mention them, as if you were suggesting adopting a venomous snake or something.

Interesting stuff on your website, too: sadly none that tick my boxes precisely. Do you tend to turn over stock with any degree of regularity, as your wares seem to come very highly recommended!

 

[dickygrace]

I tend to get a new car in every week but if I know you're after something in particular I can find you one.

 

[jerkmoans]

That sounds like a man who means business!

Something like this one ticks my boxes: http://www.autofficina.co.uk/used_car_maserati_coupe_coupe_10001.htm

I was toying with going for a burgundy interior but I fear the louche novelty might wear off...

 

[dickygrace]

That's a good example by the looks of it. Bordeaux (Burgundy) interiors are common on Gransports but very rare on facelift 4200's. Most buyers tend to want a contrasting interior of some sort.