RE: Driven: Maserati GranCabrio

[MonteV]

I'm getting old. New cars rarely excite me, but this one does. Perhaps it's because I'm getting old - it sort of caters to my age bracket. Although I had hoped it would be a folding hard-top, it does look stunning, sounds good, and has a nice heritage. Now all it needs is Mercedes air-scarf and that air-cap technology and it would be perfect.

[chelme]

Magnificent! It looks great with the hood up or down. This 4.7 ltr engine is the best sounding V8 out there IMO, though I'm not sure whether the autobox suits it and at 2 TONS they could have made it lighter!

[sjn2004]

shalmaneser said:

Art_Vandelay said:

Peugeot switch gear? Didn't realise Maserati shared anything with Peugeot

^^^Yeah that.

Can you spot the same buttons, I can't. The majority of the switch gear in the Grancabrio is the same as the QP which was launched in 2003/2004, did Peugeot's look like that back then? The hazard warning switch is the same as that on the Fiat 500, but then the door mirrors come off a 612 Scaglietti.

Edited by sjn2004 on Friday 12th February 23:03

[Killer2005]

Prefer the Coupe

[Pesty]

Killer2005 said:

Prefer the Coupe

So do I, but had I won euro lottery tonight I would have needed a 4 seater convertible in my 20 car garage. That would have fit the bill nicely

[I WISH]

Well ........ it's very nice ..... but (you knew there was a 'but' coming didn't you) ..... there's something missing somehow.

It seems to be missing some real curves ..... compared to its immediate predecessors it has a few too many straight lines and its a bit ..... sort of ....... sharp edged.

Don't get me wrong ...... its still a handsome car ...... but it doesn't set my heart racing I'm afraid.

Or perhaps I'm becoming impotent

[Cabal722]

Looks great, sounds great and has the badge. Not sure why 0-60 times or high speed dynamics are relevent. This is a possers machine and will not be doing burn-outs or trips around the 'ring. If you want a convertable with zero scuttle shake, pure feedback and racing ability spend £2k on a Mk1 MX5 and stick a turbo in it.

[Beefmeister]

Art_Vandelay said:

Peugeot switch gear? Didn't realise Maserati shared anything with Peugeot

I've done a fair few miles in the GT coupe.

The radio/satnav controlling head unit is certainly the same as was found in the Fiat Ulysee and Citroen C4/C4Picasso. I'm not sure I've seen it in a Pug but it's definitely a PSA part.







Edit: if it was in the Useyless, it will have been in the C8, and the Pug 806, so there you go. Was it also used in the 307?

Edited by Beefmeister on Saturday 13th February 09:39

Edited by Beefmeister on Saturday 13th February 09:42

Edited by Beefmeister on Saturday 13th February 09:43

[phib]

It has been a long time since I really "wanted" a car (last was 355 spider) but this is just so so special

I had the hardtop last year a seriously wished I hadnt got rid of it ( bl**dy house renovation)

Phib

[Beirut Taxi]

Oh I like that, a lot.

It's what the game is all about with cabriolets; Style.


I applaud them for sticking with a fabric roof. I can't see any real benefit of having a metal folding roof.

Edited by Beirut Taxi on Saturday 13th February 10:58

[Art_Vandelay]

Beefmeister said:

Art_Vandelay said:

Peugeot switch gear? Didn't realise Maserati shared anything with Peugeot

I've done a fair few miles in the GT coupe.

The radio/satnav controlling head unit is certainly the same as was found in the Fiat Ulysee and Citroen C4/C4Picasso. I'm not sure I've seen it in a Pug but it's definitely a PSA part.

[pictures proving point]


Edit: if it was in the Useyless, it will have been in the C8, and the Pug 806, so there you go. Was it also used in the 307?

Ah cheers for that. Didn't realise there was any sharing of parts (even something such as the radio unit) between PSA and the Fiat group. I suppose quite a few of the people buying it won't realise anyway, probably haven't been in a modern Peugeot/Citroen.

[nayf]

Beirut Taxi said:

Oh I like that, a lot.

It's what the game is all about with cabriolets; Style.


I applaud them for sticking with a fabric roof. I can't see any real benefit of having a metal folding roof.

Edited by Beirut Taxi on Saturday 13th February 10:58

Oiks sticking blades through the fabric?
Wouldn't put me off, though

[sjn2004]

Art_Vandelay said:

Beefmeister said:

Art_Vandelay said:

Peugeot switch gear? Didn't realise Maserati shared anything with Peugeot

I've done a fair few miles in the GT coupe.

The radio/satnav controlling head unit is certainly the same as was found in the Fiat Ulysee and Citroen C4/C4Picasso. I'm not sure I've seen it in a Pug but it's definitely a PSA part.

[pictures proving point]


Edit: if it was in the Useyless, it will have been in the C8, and the Pug 806, so there you go. Was it also used in the 307?

Ah cheers for that. Didn't realise there was any sharing of parts (even something such as the radio unit) between PSA and the Fiat group. I suppose quite a few of the people buying it won't realise anyway, probably haven't been in a modern Peugeot/Citroen.

I know that in the prefacelift Quattroportes the unit was a Blaupunkt Travelpilot DX, I was lead to believe that if it broke the "official" Maserati part was in the £1,000's.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Ding fking Dong!

[Diderot]

Bigchiefmuffin said:

The thing is, besides looking great ( and I think it really does ! ), there is really nothing this cars does that a BMW 335i convertible doesn't do better. You would really have to be a heart over head type to go for this.

BTW, the sound on these videos is horrible - can you use a higher bit-rate next time please?

[Troesma]

Head units are produced by the usual suspects as OEM. The 4200 had a Magneti Marelli Infotainment head unit + Blaupunkt Silverstone 6-Cd changer, the GrandSport (my current kit) has a Becker + 6 CD changer, think the GT and derivatives have Blaupunkt unit. No suprise they make units for several car manufacturers, which then are rebranded as OEM (some make minor software tweaks, but in essence it's the same kit). It's not SHARING parts, they source from the same folks.

As for the Cabrio, it is a nice piece of kit, but if scuttle shake is pronounced it takes lots of the driving pleasure off, believe me. Still a stunning machine and great engine (although I do prefer the former, dry-sump V8 used up to the GS series rather than this wet-sump unit, but there you go...)

Would it fit into my garage. Possibly, but not a certainty. Have not driven it yet.

[MarvinManUK]

Beautiful car.

Surprised about the assosciation with Peugeot parts. Very suprised actually.

Still though, you almost cetainly wouldn't say no?

[illocon]

I seem to be in a very small minority in that I think this is quite a plain car with the roof off.

With the roof down, it accentuates the length of the car (no surprise since its based on the QP) but to the detriment of its overall appearance.

The coupe roof has a much better relationship with the tail and if i were to go for a GT then i would stick with the hard top.

[elliotthb]

love the looks but think id rather buy a m6 convertible and pocket 30k little bit to pricey imho for what you get

[LukeBird]

Achingly pretty... The fact it may not be that great as a drivers car doesn't matter when it looks like that.
Fabulous!