Thinking of buying this 4200

[Hong Kong 3200GTA]

I have a GranTurismo and a 3200 but haven't looked at the 4200 until now....Can you chaps advise me what I should be looking for with this car.

It's in Hong Kong and NO SERVICE HISTORY, I know this real bad but service history doesn't really exist here. I have a contact at Maserati in HK and will do some digging but would appreciate some feedback on what to look out for.

It's a 2005, 48,000 KMH, 3 owners.

Many thanks.

 

[2b1ask1]

In that environment I would be looking seriously at rusting internally of the sub frames, indicative maybe bubbling around the bottom seam of the boot and around the tail lights.

As far as servicing goes, if you are using a scope type camera to look at the sub frames it is probably worth sticking it in the air box and seeing if the air filter is fresh, it is an easy change and indicative of poor servicing if it hasn’t been done in recent times.

If you can get a full readout done on the car you can verify the mileage from the gearbox. This cannot be ‘fudged’.

 

[Hong Kong 3200GTA]

Excellent, thank you. One thing you don't see here is rust thankfully. I bought my 3200 here and shipped it to the UK, my garage said it was one of the nicest undersides they had seen from a car of that age.

 

[Geo]

Having bought similar, I would ask for as detailed photographs of all aspects of the underside.

I would also question what work has been done to the engine, as the engine bay is full of oily smudges from some mechanic that obviously doesn't take any pride in the way he works.

 

[Vampyrebat]

Maybe a bit OCD of me, but if I were selling a car I would make sure the cover for the headlight washer was there!.............I don't like what they have done with the grill, it's all a bit black but that's just personal opinion!!

 

[TimR]

Maybe a bit OCD.... it's all a bit black .....

"Murdered out"..!

 

[FIFTY]

Having bought similar, I would ask for as detailed photographs of all aspects of the underside.

I would also question what work has been done to the engine, as the engine bay is full of oily smudges from some mechanic that obviously doesn't take any pride in the way he works.

From what @Hong Kong 3200GTA said in his original post I would say it's fair to assume that it has been mostly looked after by back street garages in HK. Quality of labour may not be bad but I'm guessing they dont wear gloves

Look out for heater matrix and clutch.

Oil leaks from: gearbox, power steering system in particular unions and radiator. Cooling system (ok not oil but fluid) and finally the engine oil feed lines, cam covers and timing chain cover

 

[conaero]

The car interior wear of the buttons suggests the mileage is correct. Clutch and rust are the questions that need to be asked plus, the paint looks flat black to me, not Nero (brown flake metallic) so it would suggest that the car has been repainted...why?

I spotted the headlight cover too...its trivial TBH.

Obviously there has been some blacking out of badges and grills that is easily put right, ask for a pic of the drivers bolster, this is where you will get a true indication of if it is a 35k mile car.

Overall though, nothing shouts Buyer Beware (with the exception of the history) and looks on the face of it, a descent example.

Ask for a video of a stone cold start up of the engine.

 

[Hong Kong 3200GTA]

Thanks for the input guys. If I have time I will go and have a look tomorrow, hangover pending due the Hong Kong 7s today.

 

[foibles]

Check in and around all interior and trims.

I have only seen / heard of 3 4200's (actually in this case I refer to Gransports - but 'same same') from Honkers or Singers...and guess how many have had the interior replaced? Each and every one of them.

The low mileage silver coupe at Wingers in Auckland NZ, a blue GS Spyder via Honkers in Perth and a silver Spyder via Singers in Brisbane. All three needed new interiors. With a 100% 'success' rate, I would look closely at that.

I doubt new interiors are cheap - so I imagine these replacements were not 'discretionary spend'

 

[TimR]

I like it except for the calipers...they need some black paint !

 

[Vampyrebat]

I like it except for the calipers...they need some black paint !

Just to complete the Darth Vader look!

 

[Navcorr]

Just to complete the Darth Vader look!

.... and for the cherry on top: