RE: You Know You Want To: Maserati Quattroporte

[Cheburator mk2]

Two of my neighbours had one each. First neighbour - brand new delivered back in 2006. Lasted 6 weeks and went back to Maserati under the Sales of Goods Act to be replaced by a CLS 55 AMG. Little wonder though - it spent 3 weeks in the workshop with electrical issues. Second neighbour - bought a high miler similar to the one advertised - to replace a 456GT, which itself was getting on a bit. Lasted all of 6 months, with no real big problems apart from terrible mpg and the feeling that huge borkage was awaiting him around the corner. Replaced with a 612 manual...

The QP was very high on my short list, but could not resist the lure of the E61 M5 at the end. Still love Maseratis to bits for the great design and the fact they are still exotic, but I think the QP will drop further...

[CDP]

Cheburator mk2 said:

The QP was very high on my short list, but could not resist the lure of the E61 M5 at the end. Still love Maseratis to bits for the great design and the fact they are still exotic, but I think the QP will drop further...

Yes but with age and condition like all cars. At some point there will be five grand cars with ten grand bills lurking. There has to be a sweet spot, probably when the new model is available.

[jshell]

KungFuPanda said:

I had the same budget 12 months ago and seriously considered one of these. However, I chickened out and got an Audi S6. Similar mileage but a 2007 car with full Audi service history. Had 12 months trouble free motoring out of it.

I've put on a Milltek non resonated exhaust and I bet my V10 sounds better than the maser...

You're sooo funeeeeeee!

[ZesPak]

jshell said:

KungFuPanda said:

I had the same budget 12 months ago and seriously considered one of these. However, I chickened out and got an Audi S6. Similar mileage but a 2007 car with full Audi service history. Had 12 months trouble free motoring out of it.

I've put on a Milltek non resonated exhaust and I bet my V10 sounds better than the maser...

You're sooo funeeeeeee!

Problem is, even with a "Milltek" exhaust on the S6. It's still an A6. It wouldn't get a second glance, nowhere. If I would park it somewhere, I wouldn't look back, ever. I just know I'd loose 15 min/day on the Masser, just by looking at it.

Of course, the A6 is discrete and the Masser isn't. It's what you want but imho very incomparable.

[jshell]

ZesPak said:

jshell said:

KungFuPanda said:

I had the same budget 12 months ago and seriously considered one of these. However, I chickened out and got an Audi S6. Similar mileage but a 2007 car with full Audi service history. Had 12 months trouble free motoring out of it.

I've put on a Milltek non resonated exhaust and I bet my V10 sounds better than the maser...

You're sooo funeeeeeee!

Problem is, even with a "Milltek" exhaust on the S6. It's still an A6. It wouldn't get a second glance, nowhere. If I would park it somewhere, I wouldn't look back, ever. I just know I'd loose 15 min/day on the Masser, just by looking at it.

Of course, the A6 is discrete and the Masser isn't. It's what you want but imho very incomparable.

That's where I am too, all those chuntering on about Audis and Beemers on this thread have missed the whole point of it.

When you turn up in a Maser, you 'Arrive'. When you turn up in a Krautbox, well, you just turn up.

[limpsfield]

The Noise said:

Had one of these a few years back and there is simply nothing else quite like it (positive and negative). BUT, you are buying with your heart not your head. The auto is so much better than the DuoSelect but still not quite up to where the market standard is.

There is still nothing that looks as good with a 4 door body in my opinion, and the reaction you will get from driving this is extraordinary.

I'm not going to be negative about it as I still have a huge quattroporte shaped hole in my life, so to sum up my experience:

Lusted after one of these for ages
Fought the sense-demons and bought one
'Lived' with it (money/time pit)
Sold it (money black hole)
Miss it incredibly...

Actually, I'm off to the classifieds to fight those damn sense-demons...

I had a Maserati 4200 for two years and I think you have nailed it, the good and the bad points.

I think there is something about their range of cars that to a certain person means you chuck all sense out of the window and just do it. But much, much better reliability in recent years.

If you can, then you should.

(And its heresy to have pictures of BMW saloon in this thread)

[Alfanatic]

Krikkit said:

Absolutely gorgeous, although the ruinously stupid gearbox would spoil my temptation to buy an early one. A nearby neighbour has one of these in black with tan hide and it's a real beauty.

Same here. That gearbox is the second biggest reason I wouldn't buy one of those. What good is a barge with an irritating, clunky gearbox?

The biggest reason is that I come nowhere near being able to afford it anyway so the second reason doesn't matter

[Bladedancer]

Call me mad but I prefer the old, twin turbo one.

[dapprman]

Not wholy unexpected confession from me. Always fancied one of these, especially after the full auto gear box version came out (to me it was alway sa grand tourer). Been waiting for the auto models to get down to the 10-13k mark at which point it'll be time to start looking around the 15-20K point. Should hopefully be in around 3 years time when I'm looking to replace my present waft mobile, a C6.

[CB7]

I have a mate who has owned one for two years. 07 Auto GTS. Been great but the running costs are not what your new Germans would be. If you were going to run a 3yr old AMG or M car I would say there wouldn't be too much in it. I've had Merc's with £1500 service bills and know many people who have been quoted £2,500 for work on the BMW's.

The thing is with the QP (and any exotica) there is always a £4-£6k bill out there. Discs are £1k for two. Pads £600. But looked after they will last. And boy are they very special.

But if you go in with your eyes open they are epic. And that sound....Buy second hand and your savings on depreciation over a new £50k Merc/BM/Audi will pay for the running costs.

Apparently the GranTurismo is cheaper to run. I'm about to find out as I pick mine up next week. It has 20 months Maser warrantly on it and I'm going to put £200 per month in an account to service it. I hope that is enough..

[mikEsprit]

JohnGoodridge said:

You're right. I know I want to.

I know I do, too.

[DonkeyApple]

Has anyone noticed the wierd trend for these cars in the classifieds?

Most of the vendors seem to be franchises of Arthur Daley, baillifs or gypsy sites. Seems a little odd. Not sure I've seen such a group of vendors clustered around a prestige marque before.

[Blib]

Picking up my QP tomorrow afternoon. Should be fun.

[Tim16V]

Blib said:

Picking up my QP tomorrow afternoon. Should be fun.

Is that the pampered London based one that was in the PH classifieds recently?

Do let us know how you get on!

[Blib]

Tim16V said:

Blib said:

Picking up my QP tomorrow afternoon. Should be fun.

Is that the pampered London based one that was in the PH classifieds recently?

Do let us know how you get on!

Yes, that's the one. I'm mildly excited.

[DonkeyApple]

Blib said:

Yes, that's the one. I'm mildly excited.

Fantastic. Keep us posted. I've always been tempted by these but it would replace the family utility wagon so I've always tended towards German.

Just hope yours wasn't maintained 'to aircraft standard' like the last London based Italian car bought by a PHer.

[Blib]

Just got home. First impression. A completely different drive compared to the 4200CC. Even though the underpinnings are basically the same. The cabin is a wonderful place to be.

This is going to be fun!

[CDP]

DonkeyApple said:

Has anyone noticed the wierd trend for these cars in the classifieds?

Most of the vendors seem to be franchises of Arthur Daley, baillifs or gypsy sites. Seems a little odd. Not sure I've seen such a group of vendors clustered around a prestige marque before.

It's possible reputable dealers will want at least 5K profit to cover any bits and pieces that need fixing before or immediately after selling it. Not something Arthur Daley is that worried about.

[Blib]

My vendor was a private individual who lived in a beautiful town house not a stone's throw from the Cutty Sark.

I didn't see a sheepskin coat.

[Blib]

Just to tie this up. Here's my new QP. She'll be at her first Sunday Service @ Goodwood next month.