Thursday 25th May 2017

Maserati GranTurismo S: Spotted

The larger 4.7 engine, a great spec and £40K? The GranTurismo's case becomes yet stronger

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In a feature you'll be able to read very soon, PH recently required a Maserati GranTurismo. Why? To celebrate the V8, put very simply. See the naturally aspirated V8 doesn't appear long for this world, so we wanted to bring some of the new ones together while it was still possible.

More on this to follow...

That's to follow soon; what we're here to celebrate right now is the GranTurismo generally. See it's not a car that gets a great deal of attention at the moment, what with its age and Maserati's focus on SUVs and diesels, though it really deserves recognition. Because, despite some significant flaws, it remains fairly wonderful to drive. And that engine, as will be discussed at a later date, remains so special. Perhaps more so than it ever has, in fact.

The trouble with recommending a new GranTurismo is that the car is old now, and there's no shortage of alternatives at the price point. As a used buy however, the GranTurismo prospect looks far more enticing.

Oh sure, people have to buy new cars for used bargains to be had, but then that's also the joy of the big Maserati having been around for a while: judging by the amount now available, plenty were sold in the car's heyday. Meaning you can take your pick of exactly the one you want...

Still a damn good looking car

Consensus usually is that the 4.7 S is the engine worth having, giving the GranTurismo the power it always really needed. That update also saw the option of both automatic and automated manuals introduced, the original car having been launched with an auto. This particular car has the MC Shift gearbox which, in truth, is probably a bit too racy for grand touring aspirations, though some may appreciate its fiercer nature when driving a bit faster. Moreover, where the auto was mounted with the engine, the MC Shift was in a transaxle out back, which took weight away from the nose.

The choice is ultimately personal preference, though this car also appeals for its colour combination, full Maserati service history and warranty. Fear not, however, as the GranTurismo is not known to be plagued by problems; as the PH Buying Guide shows, if you keep on top of servicing and a few minor issues (often associated with early cars) it needn't be troublesome.

What's cooler for £40K?

And it's £40K! In fact 4.7s can be had for even less than that, this car available at £33,990 thanks to its mileage now being more than 50,000. For this much style, drama and performance, that doesn't look like an awful lot of money. You can pay more for later, lower mileage cars, though what's on offer at £40,000 seems enough for most.

Well, at least as far as GranTurismos are concerned. Also part of the V8s shoot was an Aston V8 Vantage, another very pretty sports car that's been around a fair while now. It's also a car that was revised in 2008 to bring a larger 4.7 engine, making it the car for many that it always should have been. And there are cars like this manual one available at £41,999. What a decision to have to make - where would your £40K be going?

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MASERATI GRANTURISMO S
Engine: 4,691cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 460@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 383@4,750rpm
MPG: 19.6 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 337g/km
Recorded mileage: 44,000 miles
Year registered: 2009
Price new: £110,110
Price now: £39,990

See the original advert here.

(Spec details for MC Stradale, V8 and Maserati pic by Chris Teagles)

 

[Usget]

article said:

PH recently required a Maserati GranTurismo

Well at least now we know where the money that was supposed to be paying for the development team to implement https went!

[ducnick]

I test drove one towards the end of last year. Despite being a Maserati fan, I found this car too flawed. The engine interior and auto box are lovely but the seats are way too firm, the boot non existent, and road noise too loud to make it a good GT car.
I ended up with a new mustang which makes a far nicer companion for long stints with luggage, despite a lower rent interior.

[hondansx]

Love the look and sound of the Maser but they sounded like a money pit when i started seriously looking, with poor dealers.

[Fetchez la vache]

ducnick said:

I ended up with a new mustang...

For some reason I read that as "I ended up with a new moustache..." and it seemed to make sense at the time.

Never really got round how large these things were...

[great_kahn]

40k to buy, then the rest of your money to keep on the road, nah.

[Michael77]

A timely article, as I was looking at these again yesterday! The buying guide makes them sound very reliable, and costs mentioned don't seem too bad. Can't help but feel it could cost me a fortune though!

[PistonBroker]

Usget said:

article said:

PH recently required a Maserati GranTurismo

Well at least now we know where the money that was supposed to be paying for the development team to implement https went!

Required, not acquired. ;-)

[PistonBroker]

I put together a spreadsheet the other day for me to track prices of stuff I fancy. 997 C2S, Evora, R8, Vantage etc.

Completely forgot about these. Though there is a bias towards manual on my list so it doesn't quite fit. But with a sort of poor-man's Ferrari view and the fact that they have back seats - saves having to choose which of my kids is my favourite - I perhaps ought to put it in the running.

Alas, this is all just daydreaming at this stage!

[seefarr]

Yeah, but just look at it! I walk past one every day on the way to the tube and I never get tired of it.

As an aside, the dealer selling this is a Maserati specialist and uses the same garage that I used to park in. He seems like a really decent bloke, even coming over and offering to help one time with a jump start.

[moffat]

They look great and sound great but the slightly sensible in me would opt for a used M6 or SL63. Way more power in both for the same money.

[j90gta]

Friend has recently bought a Grancabrio Sport. Looks and sounds fabulous but totally impractical. You either carry passengers or luggage not both. The boot is all of 173 litres!

[GranCab]

One of the best looking and best sounding GT cars ever made. The ones with the ZF auto box are the only sensible choice.

A genuine 4 seater and the boot is ok sized on the coupe - not so on the cabriolet.

Here's mine

[GranCab]

That new price shown in the article is fairly irrelevant ... they have stopped building them.

Until the Alfieri appears which - knowing the Italians - will be on the 12th of Never, there will a big gap in Maserati's product range. Although there is a rumour of a relaunched GranTurismo with an updated interior a la Levante/Ghibli.

[BlackPorker]

seefarr said:

Yeah, but just look at it! I walk past one every day on the way to the tube and I never get tired of it.

As an aside, the dealer selling this is a Maserati specialist and uses the same garage that I used to park in. He seems like a really decent bloke, even coming over and offering to help one time with a jump start.

He is great bloke and sold mine for me a few months ago. If you're looking for a Granturismo I highly recommend you speak to him.

IMHO, the MC shift is the one to get unless you are doing city centre driving only - it can be a bit jerky in traffic but makes up for it on the open road. Nuvola make sure all the cars are sorted before sale and the prices include a comprehensive one year warranty.

Edited by BlackPorker on Thursday 25th May 12:09

[clivemercer]

A couple of years back I had a 2-seat MC Stradale, a car that on paper really made no sense.... It had the roll cage and harnesses, but was too heavy to be a 'lightweight track special", no rear seats, there were plenty cheaper alternatives with more power, and I worried about the running costs.

To this day I still yearn for another! Unfortunately work situation and house move forced me to sell and not quite in a position to afford another, but it is something I would buy again hands down, even with more to choose from these days since I last owned one.

The gearbox in auto mode was laughable and extremely annoying, the harnesses were a bit of a faff if taking it to the shops or shorter runs, and you couldn't reach into the glovebox while driving as there was no give in the harnesses.

All that said, the ownership experience was fantastic! I had no issues with the car in the 18 months I had it. The dealership was very good (i bought from Lancaster Colshester Maserati dealer and serviced at Graypaul Edinburgh) and I actually found boot space adequate.

The noise! Oh, the noise! To my ear, there is nothing out there as standard to match it for the noise! Ferraris and Lambos included! You have to hear one in the real world to understand....

It was plenty fast enough and the roboticised manual gave an instant thumping upshift when on full throttle and loved it over a seamless DSG.

And what I really loved about it was that it was still a car that you could park and leave without fear of it being keyed or spat on, unlike the Ferrari 360 I used to have which I was always worrying about when it was parked out of sight. Maserati, much like Aston still has an air of uber-cool and has not (yet) been tarnished by being associated with footballers or rappers or TOWIE cast members.

This is a car that is bought with your heart, not your head, and never once looked at another car and wished I was in it over the Maserati....

Oh, and for what it's worth, it still does the track stuff pretty well too.....

https://youtu.be/DsBhIGYgc9Y

[wack]

moffat said:

They look great and sound great but the slightly sensible in me would opt for a used M6 or SL63. Way more power in both for the same money.

You don't understand the attraction of a Maserati at all , It's not about power, it's about style , buy a 500 bhp euro box and yes it'll out drag a GT but once you're burbling around town the admiring glances and people wanting to talk to you about the car makes you realise they're a much loved brand.

Drive any German performance car and in the public's eyes you're a knob, gentlemen drive Maserati's

Plus the days of owning a car that's all about power are coming to an end, all 500+ HP with a 6 speed box on the road is going to get you is

1st
2nd
Banned
Cat C
Cat B
Cat A

[JohnGoodridge]

wack said:

1st
2nd
Banned
Cat C
Cat B
Cat A

That is very funny.

[vanman1936]

These are epic cars. Went from a 996TT to one and I don't miss the Porsche at all.

You need to see them in the light they were designed then they make a lot of sense. Plus can easily carry 4.

Reliable, although consumables aren't cheap and it like a sip.

Big cars but look smaller (until you get close) due to elegant proportions.

Can see me sticking with mine for a bit.

[PurpleAki]

Quattroporte GTS for same money is so much cooler.

[GranCab]

PurpleAki said:

Quattroporte GTS for same money is so much cooler.

I'd love a QP GTS from 2010 or 2011 as a keeper along with my GranTurismo - there are a couple for sale now in PH classifieds but not in the spec. I want.