Weekend toy £25k

[Rich B]

so pretty. i’d love to tool around in one of them, but it would feel like a ticking time bomb!

[GG.]

Main thing I would focus on is getting a full autobox not an MC shift. Nothing went wrong with my dads other than that (flashing overheat messages in crawling traffic on the run up to the Montblanc tunnel ). The engines are pretty reliable I think.

ETA: my dad also says he still misses it even after trading it in for an FF. That's pretty high praise I'd say.

[IanF]

That one’s probably still at Goodwood!

Beautiful to look at, sounds fantastic and seats 4 (ish).. which is just aswell as it’ll probably always be stuck on your drive (if you’re lucky!). Don’t bother with the coupe, it’s a GT and sounds too good to put a metal roof between you and that V8!

[Matty]

Old work colleague had the MC Stradale and nearly cried when his first service was £8500 with Maser. Masers are a brave pill and a half.

Also, another one with £800/yr tax. For a second car, that's an equally bitter pill to swallow for a weekender

[Gavster]

Dad had a Maserati Quattroporte a couple of years ago, not only was it unreliable, parts (when available) were eye wateringly expensive, plus, being nearer the bottom of the market, expect to take a bath on resale, if you can sell it, that is.

Otherwise, absolutely beautiful cars to look at and drive.

[Explosive Newt]

If something that is gorgeous to look at but expensive to service is your thing I would again direct you to an Aston Martin Vantage.

e.g. https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20590742
e.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6113191612
e.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 5167426701

They are stunning and fun to drive, although the 4.3 gets criticism for not having the guts of the 4.7 I found the balance and the feel of the primary controls really fantastic. I knew someone who ran a V12 vantage as a daily so it's not outside the realms of possibility. Compared to the F type you will basically double the running costs, although my general impression is they do well for reliability - certainly better than the Maser although that isn't a high bar.


You know you want to

[Rich B]

Now there’s a car that needs silver wheels!

[mik]

Now there’s a car that needs silver wheels!

They look lighter in most of the other pics (they are anthracite as opposed to black - which is fine for me) but agree they'd probably look better in silver.

[Rich B]

Ironically, my van is black with anthracite and my elise is grey with black wheels. But Vantages definitely need silver!

[Sundayjumper]

If something that is gorgeous to look at but expensive to service is your thing I would again direct you to an Aston Martin Vantage.

e.g. https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20590742
e.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6113191612
e.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 5167426701

They are stunning and fun to drive, although the 4.3 gets criticism for not having the guts of the 4.7 I found the balance and the feel of the primary controls really fantastic. I knew someone who ran a V12 vantage as a daily so it's not outside the realms of possibility. Compared to the F type you will basically double the running costs, although my general impression is they do well for reliability - certainly better than the Maser although that isn't a high bar.

You know you want to

I agree (obvs), and suggested this back on page 1 ! It'll feel more special than an F type. I like the silver one.

[Mito Man]

At least we’re finally getting to some proper weekend cars.

[GG.]

Dad had a Maserati Quattroporte a couple of years ago, not only was it unreliable, parts (when available) were eye wateringly expensive, plus, being nearer the bottom of the market, expect to take a bath on resale, if you can sell it, that is.

Otherwise, absolutely beautiful cars to look at and drive.

In fairness Gav I think your dad's was a much earlier example and reliability improved a lot towards the latter days of production - did that QP also not have the Duoselect automated semi-manual gearbox or was it the ZF auto? I think really apples and oranges with the one I posted. £20-25k also isn't bottom of the market for a GT - higher mileage and/or older 4.2s are available for £15k so mid 20s is going to get you something nice and I can't see any reasonable scenario where you'd lose more than a few thousand quid on a trade in as they're very much at the bottom of their depreciation curve.

I do get that servicing and maintenance will be higher but I personally think that's a quid pro quo for the enjoyment you'd get from owning one. If you're looking to buy a car for 10k a Maserati would be a mistake as it will be out of proportion to the value of the car.

I think also if you pick carefully (get the 4.7 in a nice colour combination that's been looked after), they're going to be increasingly in demand (try finding a Quattroporte GTS for example - they're now mostly >£30k).

ETA these are all very dangerous posts as having a Maser GT or Vantage alongside the 911 is tempting my willpower! If I get the garage cleared out and put the 911 in there my wife probably won't notice...

[Jobbo]

I can't see any reasonable scenario where you'd lose more than a few thousand quid on a trade in as they're very much at the bottom of their depreciation curve.

But traditionally Maseratis have only reached the bottom of their depreciation curve when scrapped...

[Sundayjumper]

Dad had a Maserati Quattroporte a couple of years ago, not only was it unreliable, parts (when available) were eye wateringly expensive, plus, being nearer the bottom of the market, expect to take a bath on resale, if you can sell it, that is.

Otherwise, absolutely beautiful cars to look at and drive.

In fairness Gav I think your dad's was a much earlier example and reliability improved a lot towards the latter days of production - did that QP also not have the Duoselect automated semi-manual gearbox or was it the ZF auto?

It was an early ZF version. TBF I don't remember it being especially unreliable, the only thing that stuck in my mind was it needed a new rear shock and they're a) expensive and b) only available as a pair. Which made the whole job rather unpleasant. He went with some s/h ones in the end.

[GG.]

I can't see any reasonable scenario where you'd lose more than a few thousand quid on a trade in as they're very much at the bottom of their depreciation curve.

But traditionally Maseratis have only reached the bottom of their depreciation curve when scrapped...

Ha yes that is true. I think the GT achieved mass popularity in a way Masers had not done for a very long time though so I think a 4.7l one of those is as safe a bet as you can get for that particular marque.

Also - I think I should have bought a pre-facelift manual V12 Vantage when they were going for £60k... they seem to have entirely disappeared. I expect they'll be heading off into the stratosphere in the near future.

[Matty]

Did they ever get that low? Sportsfits have hoovered around 60k for a while, but never saw manuals drop below £80.

If you're feeling brave, there's a manual for £60k but it's got 80k on it. It's not in the most appealing colour, either....but you know, V12.

I think we're detailing the £25k budget at this point as well

[GG.]

Did they ever get that low? Sportsfits have hoovered around 60k for a while, but never saw manuals drop below £80.

If you're feeling brave, there's a manual for £60k but it's got 80k on it. It's not in the most appealing colour, either....but you know, V12.

I think we're detailing the £25k budget at this point as well

Yep there were definitely some in the 60s (maybe high 60s to be fair) for early pre-facelift manuals when I was looking at my 911.

[Explosive Newt]

I agree (obvs), and suggested this back on page 1 ! It'll feel more special than an F type. I like the silver one.

The silver one is only 26 miles away from me and I have been watching it for a month or so...

[Jobbo]

Did they ever get that low? Sportsfits have hoovered around 60k for a while, but never saw manuals drop below £80.

If you're feeling brave, there's a manual for £60k but it's got 80k on it. It's not in the most appealing colour, either....but you know, V12.

I think we're detailing the £25k budget at this point as well

Manual V12 Aston under £25k you say? Easy - DB9: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6103179696

I say easy but there aren't very many manuals compared to autos on Auto Trader.

[Jobbo]

Here’s an off the wall suggestion - a low mileage classic: https://www.kgfclassiccars.co.uk/vehicles/35997/