Maserati factory collection
Discussion
Everyone should do this once in their lives!
We (my wife, my daughter and I) arrived in Modena on Thursday evening, escorted by Mark Tregenna from Carrs in Exeter, from whom I ordered the car and who arranged the trip. He kindly took us to an excellent restaurant for dinner called La Ripeta Seccha, where the tables are interspersed with Ferarri and Maserati engines and the odd vintage Moto-Guzzi bike!
Friday morning and we were ready for the main event! We arrived at the factory to be greeted by a smiling Maurizio Bruno who made us feel very welcome, and could not have been more charming. His enthusiasm was incredible: he really made us feel that he was enjoying it as much as we were. He is an old hand at Maserati, having worked for them for many years in two stints, having briefly jumped ship to Ferrari, but then returning to his first love.
Maurizio then handed us over to Julia, who gave us our tour, starting with a history of Maserati, standing around a wonderful display of 1/43 models of Maseratis from 1914 to the present day (including a GTS, in our colour!). She then took us on a tour of the factory, going all along the production lines, through the various finishing stations and the inspection and testing areas, around an hour and a half in all. She was incredibly knowledgeable and very charming - made us feel like real VIPs.
Among all the things I learned, two things struck me as particularly interesting: all parts of the assembly process are undertaken by hand except one - they have a robot which glues in the windscreen; and the post assembly inspection and testing routine is surprisingly thorough.
And all the time we were followed around by a professional photographer: they are going to send us an album of our visit and a CD with hundreds of photos!
Then it was back to the showroom for the grand unveiling. My wife and daughter each took one front corner of the cover and gradually pulled it back to reveal our car - lots of drama! - and then foaming glasses of prosecco all round as we were at last able to see what we had bought. More photos.
Then Maurizio drove the car out of the showroom and parked it in the Modenese sun, on the forecourt in front of the factory, where the dark blue coachwork positively glowed. More photos.
Then Mark took us off to lunch in the centre of Modena at Caffe Concerto - highly recommended, both for its table and position, looking across the piazza to the 1100 year old Duomo.
Then back to the factory and at last we got to drive our car on its maiden journey - all of about half a mile to the Museo Enzo Ferrari, another amazing experience. All in all, a wonderful day which we shall remember for the rest of our lives.
We (my wife, my daughter and I) arrived in Modena on Thursday evening, escorted by Mark Tregenna from Carrs in Exeter, from whom I ordered the car and who arranged the trip. He kindly took us to an excellent restaurant for dinner called La Ripeta Seccha, where the tables are interspersed with Ferarri and Maserati engines and the odd vintage Moto-Guzzi bike!
Friday morning and we were ready for the main event! We arrived at the factory to be greeted by a smiling Maurizio Bruno who made us feel very welcome, and could not have been more charming. His enthusiasm was incredible: he really made us feel that he was enjoying it as much as we were. He is an old hand at Maserati, having worked for them for many years in two stints, having briefly jumped ship to Ferrari, but then returning to his first love.
Maurizio then handed us over to Julia, who gave us our tour, starting with a history of Maserati, standing around a wonderful display of 1/43 models of Maseratis from 1914 to the present day (including a GTS, in our colour!). She then took us on a tour of the factory, going all along the production lines, through the various finishing stations and the inspection and testing areas, around an hour and a half in all. She was incredibly knowledgeable and very charming - made us feel like real VIPs.
Among all the things I learned, two things struck me as particularly interesting: all parts of the assembly process are undertaken by hand except one - they have a robot which glues in the windscreen; and the post assembly inspection and testing routine is surprisingly thorough.
And all the time we were followed around by a professional photographer: they are going to send us an album of our visit and a CD with hundreds of photos!
Then it was back to the showroom for the grand unveiling. My wife and daughter each took one front corner of the cover and gradually pulled it back to reveal our car - lots of drama! - and then foaming glasses of prosecco all round as we were at last able to see what we had bought. More photos.
Then Maurizio drove the car out of the showroom and parked it in the Modenese sun, on the forecourt in front of the factory, where the dark blue coachwork positively glowed. More photos.
Then Mark took us off to lunch in the centre of Modena at Caffe Concerto - highly recommended, both for its table and position, looking across the piazza to the 1100 year old Duomo.
Then back to the factory and at last we got to drive our car on its maiden journey - all of about half a mile to the Museo Enzo Ferrari, another amazing experience. All in all, a wonderful day which we shall remember for the rest of our lives.
Odhran said:
Very exciting no doubt and a great experience. What lies in store now? Is the car transported to the UK or do you get to drive it home?
I didn't come all the way out here to put my car on a transporter! We have already done 350 miles, visiting friends near Modena, then on to Florence, now in Pietrasanta, back to Florence this evening for a concert and leaving Italy at the end of the week to drive back through France then by ferry (not via Calais!) back to the UK.NarrinRad said:
Great read, thanks. For taking the time to put it up.
Iam thinking of doing this for the Alfieri when it is in production.
I've had 2 GT's within the past year and love them both, current is the Strad Centennial
Safe Journey
It might not be as special if the Alfieri is built in Turin but I understand the general sentiment. Then you need the Alfieri to actually appear, like the Levante it appears to be taking it's time after being confirmed.Iam thinking of doing this for the Alfieri when it is in production.
I've had 2 GT's within the past year and love them both, current is the Strad Centennial
Safe Journey
My car came the normal way, ie delivered to the dealer by transporter. In the pre-Ghibli days what surprised me was how few cars came on each transporter. Reminds us what low volume cars the GranTurismo/GranCabrio are.
Have a good trip home OP.
Jonny TVR said:
That's incredible .. incredible the dealer came along. I'm considering one too .. may be I will buy a new one as well now.
Just noticed you are near me .. I live in Whimple.
I cannot recommend the experience highly enough and Carrs' service is brilliant: Mark organised everything and looked after us all the way. So if you are serious about buying a new one (and I think you should!), I suggest you pop in to see him ASAP.Just noticed you are near me .. I live in Whimple.
The car is brilliant, too, BTW!! And it sounds fabulous as well, but don't expect to make any discreet getaways: when you start it up it gets very angry at being disturbed and makes its presence known in no uncertain terms!
Here in Italy everyone loves it: passers by smile, point and take pictures on their phones!
EC2 said:
Did they say anything about how long the GT/GC will stay in production? It sounds like the Alfieri is delayed so I wonder if there is quite a bit more life in 'our' cars still?
Nothing, sorry. I did not think that the Alfieri would be a replacement for the GT: isn't it a 2-seater or 2+2, rather than a 4-seater?Yep it is. There was some debate for a while as to whether the GT would get replaced but there were news articles from Frankfurt saying that it will so in about three years time Maserati will make two saloons, an SUV, a four seater coupe and a two seater coupe and convertible. Good choice.
I am absolutely stunned that they do this!
I wouldn't be surprised if the car was half a mil. But this is a relatively lower cost car!
Did they pay for your flights etc? I assume not?
I guess I really should demand more! I am missing out! I don't even get a courtesy car when mine goes in for a service.
I wouldn't be surprised if the car was half a mil. But this is a relatively lower cost car!
Did they pay for your flights etc? I assume not?
I guess I really should demand more! I am missing out! I don't even get a courtesy car when mine goes in for a service.
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