Top Gear and the comments re : Maserati.
Discussion
Take Top Gear as seriously as Baywatch then you wont be annoyed, its merely light entertainment with a loose car element, often not in any shape or form factually correct.
I mean Boxster vs V8 SLK, im sure the SLK is a decent wagon & it defo sounds fab, but you can't get it as a manual & can't turn off the traction control! hardly built to appeal to a petrolhead then & yet those simple facts are not worthy of a mention...
I mean Boxster vs V8 SLK, im sure the SLK is a decent wagon & it defo sounds fab, but you can't get it as a manual & can't turn off the traction control! hardly built to appeal to a petrolhead then & yet those simple facts are not worthy of a mention...
IT has always been cool 
Right from when I nearly bought a Citroen SM as my first car I've loved the badge 
Interesting article in CAR mag this month discussing the whole Alfa business (further to our in depth discussion on previous threads).
Still gutted 'the management' canned the 06 coupe - really does seem that Ferrari were running scared of something so close in price performance to it's bottom end models...
Still if Maserati actually go for something along the lines of a birdcage with handling characteristics to frighten and exige (but with more power) you'll find me at the front of the queue!
Guess we'll just have to watch this space!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Wednesday 29th June 15:55
Right from when I nearly bought a Citroen SM as my first car I've loved the badge Interesting article in CAR mag this month discussing the whole Alfa business (further to our in depth discussion on previous threads).
Still gutted 'the management' canned the 06 coupe - really does seem that Ferrari were running scared of something so close in price performance to it's bottom end models...
Still if Maserati actually go for something along the lines of a birdcage with handling characteristics to frighten and exige (but with more power) you'll find me at the front of the queue!
Guess we'll just have to watch this space!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Wednesday 29th June 15:55
chris_crossley said:
My car is Cool. Maserati is on the up in a big way and does threaten Ferrari's market. Having owned a Maserati i would buy another. It's just a shame they didn't make the new birdcage instead of the MC12. It would have been an icon of a car, makes the Enzo look dull.
I never used to like the 3/4200, I used to think they were boring, a bit dull but worthy sort of things...
took a good look at one today...
my, aren't they pretty! very sleek and I love the interior - I still maintain they need a tubi though!
I now want one
While I Agree with some of the comments raised with the 3200 , I am surprised about the statement that :
The Maserati Badge is cool again .
Even with some of the Examples of the Marque during the past 20 years , I never once thought Maserati was Uncool. It was always a brand which I aspired to own one day.
The Designs were not to everyone's taste in the past twenty years for example but you have to admit the 3200 / 4200 is a stunning looking car and while it may not handle as well as others, it is always a car which receives a good response and makes people smile with approval.(having been told this by many people at petrol stations etc..)
Its one of a few cars I have owned where I can honestly say the road experiences are all good.
The Badge does have some form of Magic which creates positive responses evey time I drive the 3200.
How its uncool is beyone me !
The Gransport is no doubt a better car in handling etc but the 3200 is a car which has put Maserati back on the map for looks, performance, build quality etc...
One thing I wish was that the Boomerang Lights were kept. I personally feel it was a poor decision to change these to the Honda Prelude style lights.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Wednesday 29th June 15:24
The Maserati Badge is cool again .
Even with some of the Examples of the Marque during the past 20 years , I never once thought Maserati was Uncool. It was always a brand which I aspired to own one day.
The Designs were not to everyone's taste in the past twenty years for example but you have to admit the 3200 / 4200 is a stunning looking car and while it may not handle as well as others, it is always a car which receives a good response and makes people smile with approval.(having been told this by many people at petrol stations etc..)
Its one of a few cars I have owned where I can honestly say the road experiences are all good.
The Badge does have some form of Magic which creates positive responses evey time I drive the 3200.
How its uncool is beyone me !
The Gransport is no doubt a better car in handling etc but the 3200 is a car which has put Maserati back on the map for looks, performance, build quality etc...
One thing I wish was that the Boomerang Lights were kept. I personally feel it was a poor decision to change these to the Honda Prelude style lights.
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Wednesday 29th June 15:24
Personally I reckon the Marque is one of the coolest out there, with it's connontations of performance & luxury. Even the name sounds fantastic. Ferrari produce great products but as has been pointed out elsewhere they are demeaning the brand by the complete chav like rubbish the are applying the brand to. The nice thing about Maserati is that it is an exclusive yet comparatively affordable product compared to Aston, Ferrari & Lamborghini. One for people in the know.
propaganda said:
Personally I reckon the Marque is one of the coolest out there, with it's connontations of performance & luxury. Even the name sounds fantastic. Ferrari produce great products but as has been pointed out elsewhere they are demeaning the brand by the complete chav like rubbish the are applying the brand to. The nice thing about Maserati is that it is an exclusive yet comparatively affordable product compared to Aston, Ferrari & Lamborghini. One for people in the know.
I agree with your comments.
The car is still rare on the roads compared with many other HP cars.
i absolutely loved that new maserati on top gear at the weekend, thought it looked amazing for the price, but was devasted when i heard that it only comes in flappy paddle mode.
Now i know that im only a teenager and dont have any experience of these cars whatsoever, so dont know what they are like, but if i was ever going to spend £66k on one i would want it to be manual. I find all these paddles a bit playstation-esque. I know they can change gears quicker than a human but i dont care, i would rather do all that myself.
Absolutely stunning car though, maybe they will bring out a manual?
Now i know that im only a teenager and dont have any experience of these cars whatsoever, so dont know what they are like, but if i was ever going to spend £66k on one i would want it to be manual. I find all these paddles a bit playstation-esque. I know they can change gears quicker than a human but i dont care, i would rather do all that myself.
Absolutely stunning car though, maybe they will bring out a manual?
polarbert said:
i absolutely loved that new maserati on top gear at the weekend, thought it looked amazing for the price, but was devasted when i heard that it only comes in flappy paddle mode.
Now i know that im only a teenager and dont have any experience of these cars whatsoever, so dont know what they are like, but if i was ever going to spend £66k on one i would want it to be manual. I find all these paddles a bit playstation-esque. I know they can change gears quicker than a human but i dont care, i would rather do all that myself.
Absolutely stunning car though, maybe they will bring out a manual?
They won't.
Paddle shift is the future. It has many benifits over auto and manual boxes.
>> Edited by sjp63 on Thursday 30th June 10:07
polar - I was similarly against the idea of buttons to change gear. Largely put off by my mates tiptronic porker which was frankly a bit sluggish (993cab TT)...
The boxes on the Gransport are leagues ahead, and for committed driving you have to admit that keeping both hands on the wheel all the time is a good thing!
Of course I'd mourn the oen gate dissappearing - it's abeautiful bit of design on and HP car - especially the chromed style ferrari ones - but then progress is progress and all that! Besides as gearboxes march onwards (7+reverse etc...) then surely a paddle box has to be better ...
The boxes on the Gransport are leagues ahead, and for committed driving you have to admit that keeping both hands on the wheel all the time is a good thing!
Of course I'd mourn the oen gate dissappearing - it's abeautiful bit of design on and HP car - especially the chromed style ferrari ones - but then progress is progress and all that! Besides as gearboxes march onwards (7+reverse etc...) then surely a paddle box has to be better ...
mr_tony said:
polar - I was similarly against the idea of buttons to change gear. Largely put off by my mates tiptronic porker which was frankly a bit sluggish (993cab TT)...
The boxes on the Gransport are leagues ahead, and for committed driving you have to admit that keeping both hands on the wheel all the time is a good thing!
Of course I'd mourn the oen gate dissappearing - it's abeautiful bit of design on and HP car - especially the chromed style ferrari ones - but then progress is progress and all that! Besides as gearboxes march onwards (7+reverse etc...) then surely a paddle box has to be better ...
i know what your saying but for me, nomatter how good they get, it will always have to be a manual for me. I havent driven many different cars, but i have to say that i love changing gear normally! i wouldnt ever want to do it any other way. an image just popped into my head of a F355 GTS Targa is it? lovely car, with manual gearbox
i suppose their will always be people like me, and people the opposite of me (who like playstation paddles ((no offence intended)))
is a playstation? Is it something my little lad would play with?polarbert said:
i suppose their will always be people like me, and people the opposite of me (who like playstation paddles ((no offence intended)))
yeah yeah yeah - comment all you like. I thought I was buying a 996 until I drove the 3200! Experience is everything - speculation pointless
You are right of course there will always be some 'snobbery' about gearsticks etc - in the same way that some people will stil swear by a pair of webbers instead of fuel injection...
They tend to be old stuck in the past types - as someone relatively young polar I'd implore you to keep an open mind...
Only one thing though - a gearstick and an open ally gate does look cooler than two plastic paddles - but then it depends whether you just want a bling looking motor - or the highest performance I suppose!!!
In the end it's personal preference and to be fair I love the manual change on my masser - just saying don't knock it til you've tried it basically...
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 30th June 15:40
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 30th June 16:57
polarbert said:
An image just popped into my head of a F355 GTS Targa is it? lovely car, with manual gearbox
At risk of straying too far OT, my thoughts exactly and see my profile pic. I do sometimes wonder whether I would enjoy the F1 change more/ the same/ less than the manual. Maybe next time...
James
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