Why do people SORN their Maserati?

JonW

Member
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3,259
All

This is a genuine question born out of a lack of understanding.

I went for a 90 mins drive today around the Surrey hills in my GS after not having used it for 7-8 days over the Christmas break, and it was a fantastic drive... great fun, really enjoyable, and reminded me how much I enjoy it... it also made me feel the decision to get the underbody waxoyled and protected was worth the effort...

So, my question is, why don’t more Maser owners keep their cars ticking over throughout the winter? I’m presuming that it’s not a money issue as the saving is so small, so am curious as to why people choose to take them off the road for 6 months of the year?
 

JonW

Member
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3,259
So if the issue is concern over what salt and rain does to the underbody of the car, does keeping the car suitably protected not work?
 

Scaf

Member
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6,511
Never sorn any of my toys - don’t drove off the roads are obviously salted but this weekend - after a week or so of rain and no frost, the Mustang got a good runout, the Maserati is being very “Italian” at the moment so is waiting for Dale to sort it, otherwise it would have been out for sure.
 

safrane

Member
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16,746
I have SORNd all my Masers as I do so few miles in the year it makes no sence to pay six months tax whilst it is stored.

The salt is a big issue, despite it being professionally undersealed... it grabs the damp from the air and mixes with the salt and corrodes the car no matter how well protected.
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
For me both salt, general dirt and also money. I'm not going to pay 50 quid a month for a car I'm not going to drive. If I didn't SORN my cars my car tax would be over £3k per annum which is silly when we can only drive two cars at any given time.

It is a pain in the butt if I'm honest as every end of month I have to decide what to SORN and what to tax. I have a bank account dedicated just for car tax. I know....1st world problem but a stupid archaic system IMHO.
 

Gazcw

Member
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7,696
Salt is one reason on everything and not just the sub frames. My main reason is the roads around me become a quagmire of mud, rotting leaves and disintegrating tarmac with monster potholes.
 

philw696

Member
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25,113
No worries with salt in my part of France no potholes and Great driving National roads.
Took the Boxster S to Rennes yesterday just Wonderful.
Downside 3 speeding tickets this month all in the Jaguar and one from Belgium :(
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I get Jon's point, but I've Sorn'd mine at the end of October. Today was a beautiful day and was perfect for a blast around the Surrey Hills, and maybe tomrrow too. But for £100 just to enjoy two days of driving is a bit much. It'll be on the road in March.

Anyway, I annoyed the neighbours by doing laps of the close, whilst I updated the SatNav. It gets up to temperature and I do both clockwise and anticlockwise laps, so mine gets a thorough workout rather than an idle on the drive.
 

john4fun

Junior Member
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68
I was shocked to see the surface rust when AV did repairs for me last march, they sorted this out for me and it will be back with them this year to check everything is ok
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,539
Never SORNED either of mine, AFAIK no corrosion issues (the GT just went through an MOT with no advisories apart from the tyres which were getting 'low' when I sold it!)

C
 

john4fun

Junior Member
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68
your a lucky man, mine had surface rust every where but all ok now caught in time i hope
 

jasst

Member
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2,313
So if the issue is concern over what salt and rain does to the underbody of the car, does keeping the car suitably protected not work?
IMHO not 100%, sure it will help but salt spray will find every nook and cranny, and will seep in to every invisible void, as I intend to keep mine for as long as possible, I will do all I can to preserve it. You may think this is futile on a 14 year old car, as heaven knows what previous owners have done, In my case there is also the winter maintenance program, she is currently in the garage devoid of front suspension and brakes, and will shortly have the front bumper removed as there is a shiny new rad in the other garage waiting to go on, so not much point having a car taxed that you can't drive as its in bits!
 

JonW

Member
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3,259
Thanks for the replys and the explanations...

I get that there’s no right or wrong, and that everyone has a different way of doing things... I also understand that for some it’s a time to get various jobs done on their cars...

All I will say is I thoroughly enjoyed my drive today, and the noise of those downshifts from 3rd to 2nd, as I approached a corner, especially between 4000 - 6000 rpm, was epic! I came home with a massive smile on my face, and then spent 2 hrs cleaning the car before it went back in the garage

63863
 
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mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Never SORNED either of mine, AFAIK no corrosion issues (the GT just went through an MOT with no advisories apart from the tyres which were getting 'low' when I sold it!)

C

I'd have to disagree with regard to your old 4200.
Saw it a year or so after Darren had it fully resprayed after he bought it, and it was suffering badly with body corrosion even after the respray before he sold it.
They simply do not like the English damp salty winters!
MOT will only pick up structural corrosion, the whole underside could be rusty but if not structural won't be mentioned necessarily.