I stumbled across a local seller and I need advice on car/ price.
They're selling an '05 QP with only 7,671 miles. It's blue/cuio leather. Seems pretty heavily optioned.
First off, we had a Maser Spyder back in '02 and it was a freaking LEMON. We ended up taking a 30k+ loss to just get rid of the thing. So overall a pretty negative experience with the brand.
Can people give me any advice in the reliability department? Is '05 an okay year, etc? Not looking for a repeat experience...
Secondly, they're looking to get 50k. How does that sound, price-wise?
I'm not all that familiar with the QP's...

Appreciate your help, you guys.

 

Although I've never had a QP, I looked into getting one a few times.

I'm pretty sure that the transmission in the QP, up until 2008, was HORRID.

I've heard of some pretty serious problems, and that in 07-08 they made huge improvements.

It's pretty crazy how badly you can steal a QP these days. I don't think 50K for an 06 with 7700mi is any KILLER deal if you ask me. When I last checked, there quite a few out there and people couldn't even give them away.

 

Main issue with those, as with the coupes, is the Cambio transmission. The hydraulic pumps go bad, and unless you're "driving like an Italian" the clutches tend to go in <10k miles. The Q-porte is very different than the Coupe and has more Ferrari engineering in it. As with any expensive used car, get a proper PPI. Consider a warranty. I had a Coupe GT and had zero problems with it. YMMV

 

Don't get a Duo-select (F1 trans) car. It will cause you headaches. Go for a 07-present car. They first offered the full Automatic trans and it drives like a automatic should. We just sold ours with 40k miles and replaced it with a new QP-S. Both great cars with the proper transmission for a DD.

 

^agree, I'd prefer the automatic, sad as that sounds.

The autos come with a traditional wet-sump also, while the Cambiocorsas come with a dry sump system. Oil changes are a fair bit cheaper on autos. Also removing some complexity means more reliability-the F1 pumps are a trouble spot. The drawback is some slight power loss and a touch worse weight distribution. I hate flappy paddles.

 

DuoSelect. Stay away. Clutch jobs are about $4-5k and can be frequent if you do a lot of city driving especially.

ZF 6speed auto was introduced in 2007. They built both Auto and DuoSelect cars that year - no automatic Sport GT's until 2008 which was the Sport GTS.

Deal isn't that bad. But I don't think it's worth the headache. Really the only complaint I've heard of and seen is the clutch replacement. FYI I spent 3yrs with a factory authorized Maserati store.

 

How frequent?
I don't really understand the problem, what components are different on the fuilly-auto ZF tranny?
For 4-5k, couldn't you swap to ZF? lol

 

5000-10000mi in certain cases.

Highway mile cars I've seen go 30,000mi which is great. As I said, depends on the driving being done/the driver.

The main difference is that the DuoSelect is an automated manual, meaning it has a clutch. The clutch is operated by the computer, which is not as capable of modulating a clutch in stop and go traffic as a human in a full manual car.

Automatic transmissions have torque converters which are viscous couplings.

And no, I don't think you could swap in a ZF for that. Being that the transmission is "built to Maseratis specifications to suit our needs" my guess is the transmission alone will set you back $8k. Then you have labor, probably need a new ECU and harnesses.

Also don't know that the auto can mate right up to a dry sump engine - not sure if the bell housing will match up... Probably will but just another consideration.

 

Wow

Is there no quick-fix kind of thing to make the clutch last longer, any sort of secret? Or even a full-manual conversion? Because it would be pretty upsetting to replace the clutch that often, especially the way I go through them..

I'm not in the market for a car at all- this one's just local, low-miles, and stunning. You're ruining the impulse-buy vibe, bud. hahaha

 

I would personally stick to the facelifted model.