RE: Maserati Quattroporte Evo: You Know You Want To

[Leins]

Sorry, nothing really to add other than a picture of an aforementioned Shamal. This in my highly unqualified opinion, alongside the 348 and an SZ, represents the Italian car design highpoint. I expect most won't agree though

[mat205125]

Amirhussain said:

BarbaricAvatar said:

I do want to! Gorgeous car.

Gorgeous? Really?

Unique, Different to the norm, clean and fresh, "just looks right"

I think they look great.

Love the angle of rear wheel arch ..... very LP400 Countach.

[F40LM]

I was selling these new.........yes the power delivery was unpredictable and the build quality was better after the Ferrari takeover (they clearly didn't bother going through the electrics with a fine tooth comb though) but it had a certain air about it and in my eyes was distinctively a 80/90's Maser. Hardwork to sell but great commission!!!!!

[Twoshoe]

Leins said:

Sorry, nothing really to add other than a picture of an aforementioned Shamal. This in my highly unqualified opinion, alongside the 348 and an SZ, represents the Italian car design highpoint. I expect most won't agree though

Well I for one do agree. I can't even explain why I like it - I just do. The rear wheel arch shape - a Gandini trademark no?

[Leins]

Twoshoe said:

Well I for one do agree. I can't even explain why I like it - I just do. The rear wheel arch shape - a Gandini trademark no?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi8xIQuiwq0

[sideways sid]

Having good eyesight and an aspiration towards fiscal solvency, I wouldn't touch that QP with yours or anyone else's!

[alfamonk]

Something about these..far cooler than the coupe 3200. I like the rounded-off square look

[Twoshoe]

Leins said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi8xIQuiwq0

Ah, thanks for that - I remember the ad. Had a couple of BX 16Vs myself, back in the day - very underrated imho. Not sure I've seen one for about 10 years!

[ducnick]

That brings back good memories. I had a fabulous test drive in the 6 speed manual Evo QP 4. Bucket loads of torque and far quicker in their real world than the chim 450 I had at the time. As a self confessed maser fan I would pull the plug if it were manual. To my eyes it's more interesting than a leggy post Ferrari QP5 with flappy paddles. The QP4 is small enough to use every day with no less to go wrong. 6k for a timing chain is madness, loads of people will do it much cheaper although the books says it's an engine out job. If memory serves some say it can be done with the engine in although personally I would take the lump out to make it easier to get to. Ps chain at back of engine drives exhaust cam shafts, belt at front (2 hr max job) drives intakes. It's a real Maserati not a Ferrari so you have to love it

[crostonian]

If you want the 90s Italian saloon look with a lot less aggro then I'd much rather have a one of these;

[Dunk130TC]

Lovely choice, the big brother to my Ghibli II that I also bought from Richard Grace. Top guy and very knowledgable.

[williamp]

The great curly haired one tested one here
https://youtu.be/YBuG7orq-XA

Oh, check out the hair on the woman interviewed

[galaxie5000]

Me again. Re: Alfa 166, had 2 of those as well- one a Super with 6 speed manual. Great cars, well built by any standards too- you probably do get 75% of the QP4 experience with 25% of the hassle.

I'm obviously a sucker for this type of car- my current steer is an Alfa 159 3.2 v6 Q4. Highly recommended.

[pSyCoSiS]

I love the look of these. That colour combo is fantastic.

These will only go up in value - like a lot of cars that were unloved at the time of launch.

[Bladedancer]

My dad had one of these (V8 Evo manual) some years back. Kept it for 2 years, or should I say 2 summers.
Slipping clutch, creaking leather, non working aircon and scary handling (heavy V8 front, RWD)
On the other hand, beautiful interior with leather and wood everywhere, savage acceleration (to almost 300kph) and contrary to what Clarkson said, it did sound good. It just didn't sing like a Ferrari V8.

All in all I'd never buy one. This is a car for sunny day and you have to be good/brave to take it out in the wet and suicidal to take it out in winter.

[900T-R]

I like this a lot better than the subsequent QPs - compact, sharp-suited, understated (at least from the outside). Makes its successors look a bit vulgar and overbearing.

[DJ635]

https://youtu.be/JlFqXlyuKuM

[maseratimark]

Biturbo's get a considerable amount of stick, but the truth is that their V6 twin turbo is a peach of an engine and virtually bomb proof. Thats were Maserati spent their money, not on a modern exterior design but on a fantastic V-shaped piece of engineering. These cars are deserving of credit and will, as numbers decrease and the value of other Maserati's increases, eventually escape their current becalmed values. As for the QPIV it has always been a chic and understated car with the ability to hitch up its skirts and give the unsuspecting Sunday driver good cause to write a letter of compliant. My advise is buy these cars now before the ever escalating price of 'classic' cars puts machines of this calibre out of reach of us mere mortals.