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
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.