WTB : Granturismo S, sub 40k miles, blu with tan / avorio

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
Because a lot of folk want a cheap car and not a good one. Always been the way, and always will be. ‘Apparent value’.
Indeed. A lot of people want 'value' and won't be owning the car long term so have a high chance of selling it on before they have to spend much so why get a good (perceived expensive) one? I guess that is the logic and likely it works out for some and not for others.

The bit I did not get was the amount of money spent on it over the years. Mine has been £2k pa on average for servicing and maintenance (excluding tyres) over a longer period.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Because a lot of folk want a cheap car and not a good one. Always been the way, and always will be. ‘Apparent value’.
Yes, I suppose I understand the buyer (well actually I don't but I can see why the folk think it is the best route said 'value') but if I were selling a car and had to jump start it for the prospective buyer, had clearly not even ever opened the boot and couldn't be bothered to clean the moss off, all the time seemngly acting if that were completely normal if you were buying a car from me, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,178
Yes, I suppose I understand the buyer (well actually I don't but I can see why the folk think it is the best route said 'value') but if I were selling a car and had to jump start it for the prospective buyer, had clearly not even ever opened the boot and couldn't be bothered to clean the moss off, all the time seemngly acting if that were completely normal if you were buying a car from me, then I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
Ethics...integrity...shouldn't be rare commodities, but they are.
 
Messages
117
I feel your pain and absolutely hate the sinking feeling when you arrive to see a car that you have been so unbelievably excited about! Nothings ever perfect but to me the most important thing is a genuine car that's been cherished. Good luck!
 

3hcp

Member
Messages
238
I think that’s the sort of car I would buy because you can add value to, seems like all the big ticket items have been done and full service history. I’m pretty sure that £1000 at sports italia and £200 on detailing and it’s a £40k car.
I tried to buy a sport a year ago for £40k and couldn’t find one so I got a Range Rover sport and a manual Spyder instead.
It’s a bit like using independents like sports italia or main dealer, some people like a nice coffee in a posh showroom not knowing it’s an apprentice doing the servicing.
Just my two penneth.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Looking at the list of things to sort, you would be spending far more that 1k at SI. I would say you would be looking at >£5k making it perfects and worth £40k... but what would be the point.
 
Messages
1,117
Where to start....

It's a car that may have had a fortune spent on keeping it mechanically sound, but not a penny cosmetically and it categorically has never been housed in a garage from what I could see. Drove 2.5 hours to see it...arrived and found the car was extremely poorly prepped having just had a bucket of water thrown at it, covered in grub and grime when looking closely and windows not properly up due to yes....you guessed it....a totally flat battery.

Whilst the salesman went to find a boost pack I noted both front headlights very poorly fitted (passenger protruding by 1cm on leading edge), the bodywork had more dents and scuffs than most station cars, all 4 callipers with such bad surface corrosion that there is no paint left on them at all, filthy engine bay, very bad corrosion to wheel hubs and bolts, moss growing between the seals on all the windows, chrome window trims completely milky, boot release non functioning (had to show the chap how to release it manually), windscreen de-laminating, both wiper arms corroding badly, boot once open very damp, battery terminals corroded, soft close on the passenger door not working....could go on and on and on.

Showed the guy where the battery was, how to jump it and it fired up nicely - engine was smooth (via donking the door on the car next door and taking a socking great chip out of the paintwork) nothing mechanically un towards I could tell from the 0.5 mile test drive I was allowed. The Googlereviews seem to paint a very hit and miss picture of previous customer experience with the sellers and I must admit Ive never seen so many valuable cars sat soaking in what is little more than a field....not one inside. Just a few portacabins around to sell them from. One thing that was odd was when turning the engine off there was a very nasty metallic low pitch clonk from the exhausts each time - guessing exhaust valves?

Given the above and that it's due a major service (2year + 4 year items) in 5 months....there were far far too many warning signs to commit. It could be a really rough diamond for someone but I'd want £5k at least to sort out the cosmetics + a full inspection at a reputable dealer for underside corrosion....especially given how corroded the discs and calipers were, I dread to think what it looks like with its skirts hitched up.....12 years of living by the sea has done it no favours at all.

Shame but the search continues.
I would suggest you contact Richard Grace to find you a good car. You can waste a lot of time and energy seeing rough diamonds like the one you just saw.

Richard knows where the good cars are, and they are all put through a full inspection at Marios' Autoshield Maserati that know these cars inside out.
 

3hcp

Member
Messages
238
From what I now know Richard Grace would be my first port of call, depending on what your budget is, my point was that if you replaced all the parts with new you know you’ve got a few years worry free as even main dealer cars are part worn.
 

SE_123

Member
Messages
414
I had a similar issue when buying - all dealers would make out the car they had was a dream car which had been maintained with no expense spared etc etc...

I ended up finding one which looked good, carbon pack, low mileage, apparently immaculate (according to the dealer) - I paid for a PPI to be carried out which showed it needed: new front discs and pads, rear pads, clutch was 65% worn, "carbon pack" was a wrap which needed fixing, exhausts were misaligned (sticking out 3" too much), rear tyre had a glued sidewall (likely to hide cords in MOT), scuffed alloys, misaligned front bumper with "obvious" overspray, corroded suspension (new springs needed).

The dealer wouldn't move on the pricing so I lost out on the cost of a PPI, but then I got speaking to Richard Grace who got me an even better car.

Moral of the story, call Richard Grace (don't just browse his website!).
 

Kiwibrit

Member
Messages
257
I’ve got a 2011 Grancabrio in Oceano/Avorio. It’s done 36k miles and is auto as are all GC’s. It’s going to be listed when the snow clears and will be £32950. I know it’s not a GT, but it’s close ;)
That car sold before it was even listed...not happy.

Oh wait, you delivered it to me today! Better than you described, by the way
 
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Messages
1,117
That car sold before it was even listed...not happy.

Oh wait, you delivered it to me today! Better than you described, by the way

I had a similar issue when buying - all dealers would make out the car they had was a dream car which had been maintained with no expense spared etc etc...

I ended up finding one which looked good, carbon pack, low mileage, apparently immaculate (according to the dealer) - I paid for a PPI to be carried out which showed it needed: new front discs and pads, rear pads, clutch was 65% worn, "carbon pack" was a wrap which needed fixing, exhausts were misaligned (sticking out 3" too much), rear tyre had a glued sidewall (likely to hide cords in MOT), scuffed alloys, misaligned front bumper with "obvious" overspray, corroded suspension (new springs needed).

The dealer wouldn't move on the pricing so I lost out on the cost of a PPI, but then I got speaking to Richard Grace who got me an even better car.

Moral of the story, call Richard Grace (don't just browse his website!).
I just went straight to Richard Grace and on my first visit after a trip to the US to see my daughter, I bought my Gransport LE. If I want to chop it in for a Granturismo, I'd just talk to Richard to find me a good one.
 

PHAB

Junior Member
Messages
45
The story has a happy ending....10 days ago a Blu / Beige / Walnut 2012 GTS was listed .... 1.6 miles from where I work(!). Luckily got the immediate notification, jumped in the car and went down to look at it. 2 owner car, 40k miles, looked after by Emblem and clearly a very loved example. Sadly being sold due to the owner's health issues. Did the deal there and then and collecting it at 4pm today. Cannot wait......incomparable to the other car I saw!
 

ChrisQP09

Member
Messages
2,994
Congrats to you sir! Enjoy ownership!

On the topic of seat options, has anyone got a list of these?
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,178
Congrats to you sir! Enjoy ownership!

On the topic of seat options, has anyone got a list of these?
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