Maserati GranTurismo S Auto: PH Carpool

Glamorous and much overlooked GranTurismo S has won the heart of its PHer owner

Name: Mark Davies
Car: Maserati GranTurismo S Auto
Owned since: July 2014
Previously owned: Vauxhall VX220, Clio Renaultsport 182 Trophy, VW GTI MkV (still own - wife's car)

Man maths + 'less sensible' = Maserati

Why I bought it:
"After a trend of increasingly sensible cars and a man maths 'need' for a second car I started looking for something a little less sensible. I also think the days of larger (and decent sounding) cars are numbered and so aimed to try to break my four-cylinder habit.

"With a three year-old son I wanted something that could be used for a weekend away if required. The shortlist included a DB9, XKR, 997 as well as the GranTurismo. After dismissing the first two owing to rear seats being more of a parcel shelf I then proceeded to be scared by bore-scoring tales on the 911 forums. As a result my 'only' option was the GranTurismo. I decided I wanted a 4.7 (the S) and had to choose one with slightly higher miles to get it to fit within the budget. Living in London I couldn't justify the awkwardness of the automated manual MC Shift 'box so went for an Auto. Just hearing the car on start-up at the test drive was enough for me to decide I wanted it."

GranTurismo - it's the sensible family choice

What I wish I'd known:
"Actually I am struggling to think of something here. If I had known I was going to get this car I would have spent the last couple of years trying to find a garage nearby to keep it in (we only have on-street parking) - watching the car get increasingly dirty and flinching when people park next to it is one of the less enjoyable things.

"Also, the noise of the car means you spend a lot of time with the window open. Had I known that I would have worried less about air conditioning and paid more attention to whether the cars I were looking at had heated seats!"

Things I love:
"Pretty much everything. I just love the way the car makes you feel and the excitement every time I know that I will be driving it, even if it is only a couple of miles down the road. The excitement starts as you approach the car and are met with the stunning looks. This is just enhanced the moment it starts which still, after six months of ownership, still puts a massive smile on my face. As does pressing the sport button (which opens the exhaust valves at 3,000rpm), driving in manual mode a gear too low with the window open listening to the pops and crackles on lift-off.

"Everyone always asks me how fast I have gone and for me it is just not the point of this car - I love the fact that you can enjoy this car just because of how it makes you feel going at normal, sensible, speeds.

Engine looks as good as it sounds

"Showing my middle age here, but I also love that I can share the car with my family. My son calls it my 'posh car' and is always wanting to go in it wherever we go. We can comfortably fit everything we need (including pushchair and travel cot) for the three of us for a weekend in the boot. On top of that it is significantly more comfortable, and quieter, on a motorway cruise than our Golf."

Things I hate:
"Hate is a strong word and actually there is nothing I hate. Saying that I do dislike the personalised number plate that came with the car which I am about to get rid of. Beyond that, there are a few things that make me nervous though.

"The first is parking it on the street - our street can get pretty congested at times and there is some pretty precise parallel parking going on. Getting home from work and seeing a white van parked three inches behind my car just makes me wince. On top of that being a big car (I think it has the same footprint as a Range Rover) I spend a lot of time parking it, making sure it is as close to the kerb as possible whilst protecting the wheels.

"The second is the constant fear of owning a Maserati which is whether/when it is going to break. I am led to believe that the GT is a step change in reliability for them but the fear never escapes me. Finally, having a high mileage car I am trying to limit my annual mileage which is already proving extremely difficult and extremely frustrating such is my love for this car."

S-spec engine plus smoother auto - nice mix

Costs:
"Service intervals are 12,000 miles apart in the GT so although servicing is expensive relative to the Golf, it is less frequent.

"Fuel is clearly going to be a large component of costs but I have been pleasantly surprised with the economy I have achieved - I have got to the giddy heights of 27mpg on an M4 run to South Wales (actually going 70mph seems to be better for economy than going slower) whilst the worst I have done is about 11mpg on a blast around the mountains of South Wales. Thankfully it has an 85-litre fuel tank so the time between £100+ fill ups reduces the pain!

"Consumables and any breakdown costs are something I have put to the back of my mind while I live the dream that the honeymoon period will go on forever."

Where I have been:
"Mostly motorway journeys to South Wales (in-laws) and back but come spring I will hopefully have some miles left in my annual allowance to delve deeper into Wales on a more in-depth tour. A friend has also just bought an E-Type so I'm looking forward to some convoy trips. The car would clearly love a grand European tour but that may take some time to persuade the wife."

What next:
"I cannot picture moving on at the moment. At the moment this car is (after the family home) the best thing I have ever bought. If I had to change I wouldn't mind trying an MC Shift model with its slightly more aggressive looks and a sport button that works at all engine speeds."

Start-up vid