Tempted by the evil Italian dark side again...

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Dunkx

New Member
Messages
22
Evening all,

Thought I'd say a quick hello after a period of lurking.

I currently pootle around in a Z4M Roadster, which is a great car. However, coming from the Alfa GTA I had previously, it does lack a little, well, passion.

I also have a desire to own a V8 before they are taxed out of viabilty. Hence me starting to hanker after a Maser, and specifically a Gransport, now that they are in the 'vaguely affordable although having my wedding to pay for' bracket. I'm not doing many miles a week now as my work travel is mainly trains (the car would need to be a 'daily' driver), so I'm thinking it is not compeletely unreasonable...

Part of me is questioning the sense in going from a reliable, modern car to one that would be an older model (can't believe they actually have analogue odometers!) and potentially less reliable, however the heart is telling the head to shut up..

As with the previous two cars I've owned, I have set my heart on a car in the complete absence of actually having driven or even sat in one before! Clearly need to do some first hand research before I go much further!

Look forward to participating in the forum.

Cheers
Duncan
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,275
Welcome Duncan, you have come to the best place to find out about the best secret in supercars... But if you have been lurking you already know that!

There are a good few members around the Manchester area I'm sure they will be along and you can possibly arrange a hook-up to experience these beasts, don't be afraid to visit dealerships for a test drive too.

Mines not a GranSport but I have not had any serious shocks or expense it has been near perfectly reliable and other than replacing a dead (underused) battery from the previous owner, the handbrake shoes for the MOT and one coolant hose. the only other money I've spent on her is fun bits like iridium spark plugs and a tanker of go juice....
 
Emtee

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
Welcome to the mad house Duncan.

You shouldn't go too far wrong with a GS, as they've proven themselves very reliable, but like the 4200 and 3200 before them, they are needy, so if you haven't already, it would be work checking running costs - servicing, clutch, brakes, etc. Get one at the right price with the right history and with a recent clutch, then you shouldn't go too far wrong.

Do let us know how you get on with your search?
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

Member
Messages
1,965
Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy warranty and thy specialist, they comfort me.
 
BennyD

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,006
Dunx, welcome to the madness! If you got yourself a decent, well looked after 4200 you could be 10-15k ahead of the game before you started. That would make it a lot less of a gamble and you would get 95% of the driving experience of the Gransport. Having said that, there is a Gransport spyder on Pistonheads for £25k which could be a very good buy. Anyway all the best for your upcoming adventures and hope to see you in a Maser at an event sometime soon.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
Duncan. They are the best kept secret of all super cars. You mates will laugh at you when you pick her up but will secretly jealous.

The GS is a fantastic car and ultra reliable.

I had mine for a very pleasing 2.5 years and only had to fit a clutch and a couple of tyres. She performed faultlessly and proved very dependable, and don't think I was just one of the lucky ones. We hear it time and time again, especially from the spirited drivers on here.

In the 5 years on the Maserati circuit, I have only heard of one failure, which came down to a failing oil pump on a higher milage example, which was fully fixed, and still runs on it's original engine today.

Forget the pretences, go drive one and enjoy!
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
Oh and I bought it and drove it for 2.5 years and got back all my money bar a £1k, that speaks volumes!

My advice is go for a LE spec (full leather) GS, inspected with sub 50k on the clock.
 
OzzieAl

OzzieAl

Moderator
Messages
412
Duncan,

Go for it!!! Everything the guys say above is true and based on first hand experience. I own a GS in Australia where the roads are hard and the temperatures climb above 40c every summer... My GS has been nothing but joy.... Its the best kept secret, if anyone wants a cheap entry into the ferrari fold of excitement, soul and pure entertainment then I don't know of another car which can do it better... anywhere on the planet...

Ozzie
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,164
A big welcome to the forum Duncan....As above really the GS is a pretty reliable car....Buy wisely, get an independant inspection and you should have years of great motoring....But as I'm sure you are aware running cost or not going to as cheap as your Z4M or Alfa.......Hope you find what you are looking for.....This is the place to come for advice...
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,569
All absolutey true true true , i can double all the above 2 massers, and in nearly 5 years major costs have only been an F1 pump on the 4200 and only just after 2.5 years a new clutch in the Gransport , Shsssss dont tell too many people we need it to be kept secret.......................warm welcome to the fold of maseratisti

If your ever in the MK area feel free to pm me , i'll happily take you around my very own local test track, best after 8pm or before 7am if you get my drift, as Urby will recently testify to , still have his finger nail marks on the leather dash to prove it




regards loz,
 
Parisien

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
...pretend you are Oscar for a day.........and just give in to the temptation......................all the rest of us did!!!!


Welcome to the forum.....stay...and enjoy!


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D

Dunkx

New Member
Messages
22
Thanks all for your kind words of welcome, thoughts on reliability and helpful suggestions.

Emtee, AndyK - I am expecting the worst on running costs, although servicing, tyres etc on 'M' BMW's aren't the cheapest either so I'm part of the way there! I only live a couple of miles away from Autoshield so I was thinking that they would be handy for an inspection when the time comes.

BennyD - Thanks for the suggestion on the 4200 front, I'm pretty sold on the looks of the Gransport over the 4200 so I think I will pursue that option for now.

OzzieAl - funnily enough one of the only places I have seen a Gransport in the flesh was in a showroom in Melbourne - they're a wee bit pricy in your neck of the woods though!

If there is anyone in the Manchester type area with a Gransport that wouldn't mind me having a gander at their car in the flesh, that would be appreciated. There aren't too many for sale in this area to have a look at, and I'd prefer to have a look at a car in a non sales type situation first so I am familiar with what I am looking at.

Cheers
Duncan
 
lozcb

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,569
Dunkx said:
Thanks all for your kind words of welcome, thoughts on reliability and helpful suggestions.

Emtee, AndyK - I am expecting the worst on running costs, although servicing, tyres etc on 'M' BMW's aren't the cheapest either so I'm part of the way there! I only live a couple of miles away from Autoshield so I was thinking that they would be handy for an inspection when the time comes.

BennyD - Thanks for the suggestion on the 4200 front, I'm pretty sold on the looks of the Gransport over the 4200 so I think I will pursue that option for now.

OzzieAl - funnily enough one of the only places I have seen a Gransport in the flesh was in a showroom in Melbourne - they're a wee bit pricy in your neck of the woods though!

If there is anyone in the Manchester type area with a Gransport that wouldn't mind me having a gander at their car in the flesh, that would be appreciated. There aren't too many for sale in this area to have a look at, and I'd prefer to have a look at a car in a non sales type situation first so I am familiar with what I am looking at.

Cheers
Duncan
Click to expand...

Go see Marios , with doubt one of the foremost knowledgeable people on all things Maserati, mega helpful , he will not make you feel daunted/ obliged , in fact exactly the opposite , he will understand , people dont rusgh into buying these cars , they are not just cars believe me , owning a Maserati is a life style get used to it , people look , people stare, hoodies give you the thumbs up, even old grannies will let you out of junctions, scooby drivers keep their distance , its a cool car and a very dark secret , your life is going to change now you have taken that first step , sort of like joining the freemasons , we will become your family

Take a deep breath and enjoy the whole buying owning experience


regards loz
 
Parisien

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Marios owns a mint GS.........am sure I have a pic of it somewheres......do go along and have a chat, he will talk you through the cars and options, plus hes got lots of contacts and can ensure you get a gud'un!

Do say, the guys off here said to get in contact with him


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