Prospective new Maserati owner

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Hello all,
I'm a prospective 4200 Cambiocorsa (or similar) owner in South Northamptonshire that is hoping you are all going to put me off:baffle:

I'm a serial car changer, changing every 6 to 12 months but this is slowing down and I'm getting older and wiser (really?) and need to settle.
I've been a long standing Audi driver, amongst other marques, but I feel I've done all that is in range that took my fancy. I currently have a B5 RS4, that's the original version, not the mass produced B7 that was so highly praised. This is my 3rd RS4 and I'm struggling to find anything in range that can tick all the boxes this can

4 seats - Yes
Quick - Yes
unusual, Quirky - Yes
Anyone likely to own one at work - Nope

The Maserati (Quattroprte or 4200) seems to tick these boxes nicely.

Now, onto the big questions that I keep getting told about.
Reliability and costs
I share my driving with 2 cars and drive 20 miles a day and an occasional trip a the weekends here and there, nothing special and pretty low strain. The MG copes with this with no bother, the RS4 too is completely capable of coping with this low mileage.
There are months where I might not drive one, then I swap over and do the same with the other. Then there are weeks where I swap from one day to the other. Is this something that the so called 'delicate' Maserati might struggle with?
I've been hearing they thrive on being used and it's the sitting about that causes some of the problems.

The other thing I've been reading is the cost of parts and servicing.
Is it really that bad?
I've had my RS4 in recently for new camshafts, followers, tensioners etc. While there it made sense to do the cambelt, clutch, flywheel etc. That bill came to about £3,800 ish.
Brakes for the same car (if standard) would be about £1000-£1,500 so not cheap but then they suffer with the RS tax that Audi apply to all in the RS range.

I've waffled.
I'll continue to research the subject as much as possible but there's nothing like real owners with real stories to cement the idea or dismiss it as folly.
Thank you in advance,
Mike.
 

greybloke

New Member
Messages
13
Mike
I feel im in a similar situation. Would love to get into Maserati ownership, but i'm hesitant, and just need to know more about the pitfalls/ costs / downsides. I asked a few questions on another thread so will be interested to hear responses here.

Ive contribute to a few other car and bike related forums, where there is a "sticky" combining the perceived wisdom about the car / marque. This is immensely helpful to prospective owners, should we do one here?
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
Guys I'm a 4200 cc custodian and have had 4 fantastic years with epic road trips and my biggest expense at 90 k was the DMS ECU remap getting her up to 455.8 bhp.
She is now approaching a 110 k as I share the love with other motors too.
Knowing I'm the only bloke in town with a 4200 makes me feel special and I can get the family in too.
The only other motor I can do the same with is my trusty Range Rover.
You will not regret it pound for pound.
Phil.
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Guys I'm a 4200 cc custodian and have had 4 fantastic years with epic road trips and my biggest expense at 90 k was the DMS ECU remap getting her up to 455.8 bhp.
She is now approaching a 110 k as I share the love with other motors too.
Knowing I'm the only bloke in town with a 4200 makes me feel special and I can get the family in too.
The only other motor I can do the same with is my trusty Range Rover.
You will not regret it pound for pound.
Phil.

Thanks for the reply. 4 years and no major issues other than the ECU. I'm presuming that was a chosen upgrade rather than a fault though?
Can I ask how many miles you've covered in it within those 4 years?
Thanks,
Mike.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
Hi Mike running it alongside my other cars I have done 20,000 in her running her every other day. Most miles in a week was 2,100 down to the Italian lakes and back. ECU remap was for fun just to see what she had on the rolling road which with the only mods done by me were sports rear silencers and a BMC performance air filter.
The ECU seems robust compared to my 360 which gave up this year.
In my opinion you won't go far wrong with a 4200.
Phil.
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Ok, so a good decent amount of miles, proving that they're not so delicate after all. A trip to the lakes too! I'm not sure I'd dare to go that far in the RS! The MG, yes, wrong way round really, but true.

Love the lakes, going again this year for two weeks.

Back to the car....
I'm continuing with my research and I also need to contact Siltech and McGrath Maserati to discuss costs and possible inspection of any prospective purchase.
 

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Welcome guys......inspection obligatory.......can shave thousands off buying costs....as they age things wear out....buy the best you can afford

P
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Welcome guys......inspection obligatory.......can shave thousands off buying costs....as they age things wear out....buy the best you can afford

P

These inspections. Has anyone used one of the forum sponsors or another specialist? What is the cost? I suppose distance might be a factor in that though.
 

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
There is an indie list on forum.......where are you? They cost £200-300 depending, can save £500 or £5000!

P
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,749
Had two 4200s myself and now on my GS

They are terrific value and when you consider some are half the price of the same age GS you certainly dont get half the car.

Did 20k in my first one with just roitine services

Just three k in the second...again no issues.

GS hardly used so far.
 

alfi boy

Junior Member
Messages
114
Bought my 2005 4200 last August with 17000 miles on the clock, expected some issues with low usage car, on 20000 now only problem I've got is I can't stop smiling. I'm not a rich man but Believe this car is worth the expense when required!
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
D4mn and blast you all and these good news posts :thumb1:, I was expecting some horror stories, or at least some big bills. Well, at least my wife will be happy, she hates this green RS4 I have. The mention of a Maserati went down very well.
 

Grinzzz

New Member
Messages
925
They're fantastic cars, especially for the money. In two years i did 22k (Gransport) and apart from a clutch, which in my mind is the only "weak" point (and thats a relative weak), it was probably the most fault free car I've ever owned. Only other thing wrong with the one I had was an oil seep (much to minor to be labelled a leak - never needed to top up oil between services); the only reason i had it done was it was under warranty. Make sure all the dash electronics work on any 4200 you consider - from what I understand it's one of the more expensive bits on the 4200 when compared to the GS.

£ per smile they're probably one of the best unless you're really after a sports car. They accelerate and brake better than anything else for the money; cornering is fantastic for a big 4 seater but they do have a tendency to understeer when really pushed.
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Ok, Thank you. I had read about the clutch issues, That's all bearable.
Is there anyone near Silverstone (South Northamptonshire) who'd be willing to take me for a short ride in one? I need to see one in the flesh and I don't want to waste a traders time by pretending to be interested at this point.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,549
Over 18 months and nothing more than planned work and some upgrade (braided break lines and stuff like that)

It's an immense thing and cannot be recommended highly enough.

C
 

Chrisbassett

Member
Messages
3,909
For a little bit of balance, I think mine wasn't cared for by her previous owner and I've had a few bills fixing things like blown F1 oil pumps and leaking timing chain covers, confused gearbox ECU and rattling manifolds.

My feeling is the car stood for a while, maybe years, and it didn't do it any good. And I've not been gentle since, city driving, six track events and almost 20,000 miles in 19 mths.

But it's all been worth it so far : )
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
Where do all these scare stories keep coming from then? Are these know it alls talking from experience or is it simply hearsay? I've been on Pistonheads having a look to so I can hear from ex owners and more stories and I'm reading of more issues there, gearbox, clutch, electrics.

Nothing bad enough to put me off but I thought I'd hear of some issues here. This is good because it just leads me further into my research into getting one. I'm not entirely sure if it'll be a 4200 CC or a Quattroporte. The 4200 is winning at the moment.
 

Parptoot

New Member
Messages
418
For a little bit of balance, I think mine wasn't cared for by her previous owner and I've had a few bills fixing things like blown F1 oil pumps and leaking timing chain covers, confused gearbox ECU and rattling manifolds.

My feeling is the car stood for a while, maybe years, and it didn't do it any good. And I've not been gentle since, city driving, six track events and almost 20,000 miles in 19 mths.

But it's all been worth it so far : )

Thank you, some issues. Were these issues you had to sort out or was there a warranty covering the work? Do you know the costs involved? PM if preferable.
 

Chrisbassett

Member
Messages
3,909
Thank you, some issues. Were these issues you had to sort out or was there a warranty covering the work? Do you know the costs involved? PM if preferable.

The issues were mostly related to the gearbox and the related hydraulics and electronics. It seems these are rare and I've been unlucky with this car. The repairs have been in the thousands, but not high thousands. I'm not writing the old girl off yet.

But the general advice of buy the best treated car you can still stands. Look for good services at regular intervals (max 1 annual missed for instance) and you should be fine. Age and mileage are less a matter for reliability when the car has been used regularly and well serviced...they are more an issue for resale value.