[TikiShal19]

Here is the car I fell in love with:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mase...40:1308&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting

Here's my scenario, I just got out of college, 24 yo, have been working full time started w/ 62k/year for 3 months now, very secure job, no college debt, no housing payments (thanks to Parents helping me w/ my own place). My expenses are misc. expenses, cellphone, gym + health stuff, food. With the car, I would be taking care of gas/insurance/maintenance, parents buying a car as graduation gift.

What do you guys think of the car? The carfax is clean, dunno about autocheck yet. The miles aren't that high, and the dealer says he has service records for every year, and he just got the car serviced when it came in. The clutch he said has 6k on it, and the car will be due for 30k service (btw's how much is that and what do they do?).


What expenses could you see yourself doing year to year for about 3 years? How soon do you think I'd be hit with maintenance expenses?
What is the next servicing after 30k miles?
Any good place to get extended warranty on this 2002 coupe?
~ How much do the rates go for per year, and are they worth it (what do they cover)?
Does this deal seem better then it is?
Would you buy it?
Lastly, Anyone from the D.C. area know a good Mechanic not in Ferarri Dealership so I can save costs?

I think he said it still had original fuel pump on it. I'd plan to change the oil and fluids myself with the help of a couple friends, and the D-I-Y posts (thank you to taking time out to making those btw's).
If I get the car, I'd trade it in for a newish QP in about 3 years ( I love Maserati's). I have driven a different coupe before and Loved it.

I want to put in a refundable 1'000 deposit soon on the car and buy it this weekend.........looking for advice, why I should or shouldn't get it.

I found a great deal for 25k for a Benz SLK350, 2005, with mid 30k miles and still under factory warranty.........but.......this coupe in particular just makes me smile every time I see the picture.

Thank you in advance for your help !

 

[BigFoot]

Looks in good shape and at a keen price. Bear in mind it's a buyers' market now, so there may be a little bit of room for improving the price.

The 6k on the clutch is defnitely a positive but it'd be better to ask for a % reading of how much of it is left, rather than the mileage which could be misleading, depending how the car was driven.

I would generally get the car serviced yearly, despite the actual mileage done with it.

Good luck and I hope you get a Maserati and enjoy the thrills it can offer you

 

[paradon]

To be safe I would budget $3K - $5K a year in maintenance costs for an out of warranty coupe.

You can do a lot of the maintenance work on the car yourself but the parts are expensive and many of the items (ie clutch, brakes, tires) wear quickly.

There is a list of pre-purchase inspection items in the forums.

 

[siouxxxzennn]

Beautiful car. I've had an '02 Spyder convertible for about a year and it still gives me chills to drive it. I budgeted about $5k/year (on the high side) for maintenance but this not my primary car. If you live in DC (I live in Baltimore) you know about traffic, parking, the winter weather, etc. so I personally would not drive my Maser every day.

On the personal/pratical side if you just got out of college and making $62k - with no college debt I think you should start to put some more of your own earnings toward paying for your own housing and not maintenance for your Maserati. Let's be honest here Mom and Dad pay for your housing and you drive Maserati. Definite turn off with the chicks and really not very mature. Just my two cents. Not trying to offend you but maybe it's time to be more independent. You're incredibly fortunate to have parents who have done so much. Maybe it's your turn.

 

[Fred]

very secure job,

Trust me, there is no such thing as a secure job.

 

[stewmims]

No offense, but I agree with siouxxxzenn. Would rather drive a Yugo (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars...727|39:1|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245) than live at my parents house and have a nice car. Ironically, I think I going to bid on it as it would be an ironic garagemate to my coupe (it's long-lost eastern-block built cousin via Fiat). I have always told myself that I would never buy a car that was more than 1/4 of my salary. That being said.

I lived in DC after college and again right after grad school and I know $65k goes pretty fast even without a housing payment (my part of the rent was only $500/month). Still blew through the rest of my takehome pretty quickly. Figuring about $4k/month takehome, depending on how much partying you're doing (and there's plenty to be had in DC), you should be fine.

I drive about 10k miles/year. My last service (18k, which was a big one) was ~$2k, "Normal" ones are about $1k. $2,500 in tires per year (2 sets of rears, 1 set of fronts). So I think I spend minimum $3,500/year for service and tires before any repairs. with the F1, estimate a clutch every other year at $4k and you're at $5500/year, which really is only $500/month. Oh, then repairs (almost forgot).

I checked into the factory extended and it sucks. It's not bumper to bumper, just selected drivetrain. Aftermarket warrantees are ~$4k/year and not worth it.

As for indy, the difference is usually only $30/hours and a good dealer usually stands behind his/her work.

 

[trygve11]

Why not buy a more reasonable Italian car. I had to work 15 years at great paying jobs and career to get into a Maserati. This was after buying and owning several houses. Alfa Romeos, etc.

Also, I have the country's nicest Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio for sale...

Anyway, the advice is "earn it" and start with the basic priorities... Mercedes and Maserati may not be such great out of school starter cars...

That being said- nice car!

 

[chris7469]

Just buy it and ENJOY.... Life is short....

I started a small DJ company while I was in HS, that grew, put myself through college got my CPA license and still DJ weddings..

For my college grad gift I leased a new 96 BMW 328c series back in 96... Then I traded up to a 99 430 CLK in 99 and an 02 CLK 430 in 02... When that lease was up I planned on buying an f355... Could not drive it everyday and maintinence costs were nuts...

Ended up buy an 04 CC in 05 when I turned 31.... Best money I ever spent!! At 23,000 miles she purrs and puts a smile on my face....

I have a local independent that does all my services for about 500 bucks a year. I get all OEM parts and formula dynamics has everything you need.

Budget for a clutch and a pump and tires every 10,000 miles.... (set up a 5,000 cash reserve)

I leased my cars because I lived home and invested 80% of my salary each year.. I blew the 20% on girls, cars trips and fun..... (this was a great time to be in the stock market as well)

Things went great. I managed to say home until I was 30... Don't laugh, I am an only child in a close nit family. I got engaged, bought a home, funished a home and with the small fortune left over, bought my Maserati when I turned 31...

Best advice I could ever offer.... Stay home and single for as LONG as possible, save and invest as much as you can afford all those early years.. When you are ready to settle down you will not believe how much you have...

Life is short... ENJOY it.. If you are a car guy, you will LOVE the Maserati.. As will all the girls you meet at the clubs where it is parked....

The car looks great, 30,000 seems like a great price...

Best of luck...

 

[Niteroi]

The "problem" with used exotic cars is not the price of admission, but maintenance. Those cars do go through sets of tires very quickly, and those tires are expensive.

IMO, if you want a coupe, go for a stick, it will save you tons of $$ and headaches. I love my CC, but it does cost a lot to maintain, do a search under "clutch replacement" and "F1 pump".

If you keep checking on this forum you will end up doing some Formula Dynamics mods, springs and DBW for sure, and watch out because those guys are coming up with new stuff... and you know that feel of "I must have it!". I got hooked!


On a positive note, you may be able to sell that car in a couple of years for the same price you paid. The Mercedes will depreciate more, that Maser is at the bottom.

If you decide to pull the trigger, don't rush, make a lower offer, it's definitely a buyer's market, there are plenty of cars for sale right now.

And the most important thing, if you can, buy a Nero Carbonio color, it's the fastest!

 

[TravisJ]

If this is going to be your only car, skip the Maserati and buy a lightly used BMW 335i. It will be more reliable and infinitely better as a daily driver. There are a few people that use their Maserati as a daily driver but those people also have back-up cars. Most of us only use the Mas on sunny weekend days for fun. If your heart is set on a Maserati, never buy the cheapest of the cheap! Cars that are priced lower than the market are done so for a reason.

As previously posted, lots of exotic cars can look really “affordable” but can really bite you on the service side. Normal consumables like brakes and tires can get expensive fast. I remember an amount of sticker shock the first time I had a BMW serviced. In retrospect, that was nothing compared to the damage an exotic can do to your checkbook

If you do get a Maserati, go with Rosso Mondiale! All the other colors seem to get lost in the crowd. Red is the best color for an Italian car

 

[johnei]

I did something generally similar coming out of college. However, I had absolutely no need to drive the car for everyday transportation. Getting something fun like this and using it for daily use can be hard.

Also I made sure the car I bought would have a liquid buyers market in case I needed to sell the car. I still think I got lucky when I did sell it after 2 years. In your twenties I think you want to keep your options open, in case you get a job/ move / do whatever and not have to worry a lot about dealing with some car that few people want to buy.

You may want to look at sites like leasetrader for cars that people want to get out of their leases on. Then you just 'own' the car for a year or so and return it to the dealer.

 

[siouxxxzennn]

Another suggestion is to definitely go look at the car. I looked at a few Ebay cars that were advertised as "perfect condition" and when I saw them that was far from the truth. There's no substitute for seeing, feeling and test driving.

 

[ghfoto]

Tiki...

First of all - you are HEADS and SHOULDERS above the other people your age.

So you're doing good in life right now.

My only thing is that if you have plan for maintenance expense - gas... and don't forget the $250 oil changes...

Please don't take offense at this... but you don't want to be like the guy that owns a Corvette parked outside his doublewide.

I say, take the gift graciously from your parents. Something hip by reliable - like a Lexus or BMW. You'll still be bad a$$ driving around with that.

And then take the $5,000 - $10,000 a year in potential maintenance and sock it away.

In three years you buy a bad a$$ condo. And THEN get your dream car.

Most of the Mas drivers here don't drive it as our day to day car.

Most of us keep in our garage and drive it for maybe 100 miles a week.

Plus you have to worry about all those jealous folk who will key your car if you don't have it in a garage.

But that being said - you are doing well in life.

Gene

 

[jamesaronson]

I agree with Travis - buy the BMW 335i. The car should give you enough thrills for the moment, allow you to aggressively drive without worrying about your beautiful vehicle, and give you a chance to pay all of your expenses. There will be plenty of time to buy a Maserati, Ferrari or some other exotic. By the time your ready you might even be more interested in a electric car that goes 0 - 60 in 4 seconds. The first time someone throws up in your car or hits it in the parking garage you will feel violated and want to replace the vehicle. Your friends have already seen you in the car and your image will be "old". Since you told me what you are earning it seems as though money does not grow on trees. So, enjoy your life and don't worry about the car right now. I would get it when the 529 plans are funded, you have purchased your house with a sizeable down payment, you have a decent wine cellar and are able to take vacations without financial trouble.

2004 Coupe
2006 BMW 325i
2004 BMW 530i
2004 BMW 325 daughter's car
2003 BMW 330i son's car
1982 Volvo 740 wagon
1974 Series III Jaguar convertible V12

 

[Peepster]

Probably not the right time to ask my advice, given that the car seems a bit above your means (maybe not your parents, but yours), and given that I am not too excited about having to cover more than my fair share of the $700billion bailout for those people not smart enough to make good financial decisions and live within their means. ... Sounds almost like a rant, doesn't it

Good life is all about balance, so if you go a little wild on the car, but have the rest of your life in check - no credit card debt, eat healthy, exercise regularly, max your 401(k), etc., then I don't see it as unreasonable. However, if you are not well balanced on those other things, then forget it - learn to live sensibly independent first, build up assets (without relying on your parent's assets), and then go a little wild on the more expensive toys.

 

[TikiShal19]

Thanks so much for your advice everyone. I will be in Ny this weekend, and I am test driving this car as well as two others the dealer has that I am interested in. I love this car a lot already.......but you guys do make a good point on everything else. It's things I should know already, but seeing what you guys did, how much you spent, etc. helps open my eyes to other options.

I haven't decided for sure on the car yet.....I can say I'm leaning more away from buying it right now...but I don't know what'll happen when I sit in that drivers seat. I'll make sure I test-drive it last, so I don't skip the rest of the cars hahaa. I never cared much for two-seaters or benz's but I've really taken a liking to the Slk-350 (nuthing compared to how much I like Mas though). So that's a good second option for me, still has factory warranty too.

Guys, what exactly entails a 30k service? How much are they? I really am trying to lessen costs (If I get) by doing all fluids/oil myself.

Thanks to everyone who contributed advice, and to anyone else who may still post. I'll post back soon if I have more questions or w/ updates if I get the Mas ;o)

To Fred up top, my job is pretty secure, many jobs at my company aren't, but for reasons I won't disclose, the position I am in along with the other new hires out of college can't be laid off. Now if I screw around and get fired that's a different story.
Stewmims, I don't live w/ my parents, but I wouldn't mind if I did. Have had a g/f for six years, and we planning on getting married sometime near the end of her grad school in a couple years. She would rather I save money and do that (which reminds me, I'd probably get an earful if I let her know the maintenance costs haha).

 

[stewmims]

Sorry, didn't mean any offense by it.

Good luck with the car, more imprtantly good luck with the gf. Hopefully she's as understanding as my wife is about guys' fixations with cars.

 

[TikiShal19]

None taken buddy, you were giving your opinion, exactly what I asked for.

Work might keep me in D.C. this weekend....Really hoping I can get to Ny this weekend for the car, whichever one I get, but now it's up in the air.

 

[ERS113]

One more thing to think about. Although the car looks beautiful, my local Maserati service dept suggested buying at least an 04 as they seemed to have worked out a few kinks. I bought my 04 Coupe with 11,000 miles on it for a little over $40k. It was and still is close to perfect. You might shop around a little more.

 

[Vincenzo]

my money's on Tiki driving a Maser home this weekend. There is NO way a 24 yr old is going to not drive away with it if it's within his means and the car is in good shape. My 2 cents. I'm a beemer guy as a daily driver (fantastic cars btw) but, I live for the weekends to get out in the maser.

See you on the back roads when you get back to DC.