Posts: 397
Since: 16/10/2008
Region: UAE/MiddleEast
Status: offline
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Hello Guys,
I am a long standing Maserati enthusiast and owner, 4200 CC at present and 3200 beforehand. A Merak is next up hopefully.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Gavin immensely for his sterling efforts in creating and nurturing the forum. Like many of you, I hold his skill, enthusiasm and integrity in the highest regard. Those who know Gavin know that he is unique (non-identical twin brother aside) and I wish him and Claire all the very best for their proposed future in mainland Europe. Gavin will be taking a short sabbatical from Maserati ownership but I sure he will be back in his own inimitable style. (Gav, ditch the white tank and get yourself a proper car with 2 turbos strapped to the engine and a trident on the grill please!). Secondly, I would like to thank the body of members who have been here shoulder to shoulder with Gavin from the very beginning. Collectively you chaps have made the forum what it is today – a genuine, welcoming, knowledgeable place for Maserati owners and enthusiasts to discuss the finer points of the Maserati lifestyle. The lack of a need for constant Moderator interjection throughout the forum posts is an incredible testament to the calm, patient, and polite manner demonstrated by a lot of the founder members. I believe this has been the key in attracting new members to the fold too.
With constant work abroad I regularly found myself being drawn to this forum, and the opportunity to carry on Gavin’s work was an opportunity too interesting to refuse. And the future? Well, I am passionate about the Maserati marque and strongly believe that there are three major issues that detract potential owners from Masererati ownership. And they are all linked. One being a lack of strategically placed dealers & independent workshops, and the second is a lack of information, and a large raft of misinformation, about these great cars. Thirdly, and everyone’s bugbear, is depreciation. If we can continue to grow and attract genuine enthusiasts/potential owners to the forum they may be encouraged into sampling the marque via a used Maserati vehicle purchase, and eventually a new Maserati. And if Maserati can sell more cars in the UK that will enable thriving dealer workshops, with mechanics who may eventually set up their own workshops for the older models. This ultimately, gives potential owners more choice as to where to take their car for servicing and repair. If you compare the Ferrari scene in the UK there are dozens of ‘experienced/ex-dealer trained’ independents dotted around the country. We need that in Maserati circles too. Couple that with our forum listing clearly, which we already do, where and how to find cost effective, tried and tested, solutions to expensive Maserati failings such as 3200 throttle body/potentiometers etc, then we are getting there. This in turn hopefully makes the prospect of buying a 3200 or 4200 a more attractive one for the right reasons, which in turn may hinder or halt the savage depreciation slide to 5k/extinction status. The decline of the, albeit small, Ghibli GT market in this country still brings a tear to my eye, for they are cracking little cars. We can’t let the 3200 scene go that way. And the 3200 ultimately props up the 4200 market and so forth. No doubt part of the Maserati appeal is the awesome sports car for less money, but we have to think about the success of the brand longterm. A 10 year+ plan all this no doubt, but one that we can be part of in our own way. And that is special.
My username is ‘Birdcage’ and I look forward to any feedback, via pm or otherwise, that you may wish to give. I am here to continue your’s and Gavin’s fine work, not undo it.
Regards,
Brian
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