Maserati Gransport or Porsche 996?
Discussion
Hi all
Until recently I was very sure that the next car I was going to buy would be either a Porsche 996 C4S or 996 turbo. Both these cars can be had for around £30k grand now (high mileage turbo) and both are recognised as excellent drivers cars. Then I came across the Maserati Gransport. They seem to be coming in at around the same sort of money (low 30's) and I am now warming towards them more and more.
Evo and Top gear both rate the car as a genuine alternative to a 911 but I think the maserati looks better and the fact it has a ferrari V8 makes me want one even more. So, the question I have is what are these cars like to own and live with day to day? What is the cost or an average service and what is the interval between servicing. What's not so good about them and drives owners mad? Also is there a buyers guide that anyone knows of and anything that I need to be careful when buying one?
Mostly I'd like your opinion on them over a 911. Would it be more sensible/cheaper to buy and own a 911 and ultimately is the maserati a better car?
Thanks
Trev
Until recently I was very sure that the next car I was going to buy would be either a Porsche 996 C4S or 996 turbo. Both these cars can be had for around £30k grand now (high mileage turbo) and both are recognised as excellent drivers cars. Then I came across the Maserati Gransport. They seem to be coming in at around the same sort of money (low 30's) and I am now warming towards them more and more.
Evo and Top gear both rate the car as a genuine alternative to a 911 but I think the maserati looks better and the fact it has a ferrari V8 makes me want one even more. So, the question I have is what are these cars like to own and live with day to day? What is the cost or an average service and what is the interval between servicing. What's not so good about them and drives owners mad? Also is there a buyers guide that anyone knows of and anything that I need to be careful when buying one?
Mostly I'd like your opinion on them over a 911. Would it be more sensible/cheaper to buy and own a 911 and ultimately is the maserati a better car?
Thanks
Trev
I'd say the 996 is the better car.
After all Porsche supply in excess of (is it?) 100,000 units per annum and have had more chance of fixing bugs, ironing out problems etc (or so one would expect).
Maserati only churn out less than (is it?) 10,000 units per annum and are Italian, not German so are bound to be worse.....
But there again you read all sorts of problems about the 996 and build quality, particularly in the earlier versions. Perhaps the TT isn't so susceptible to this though.
Ok, enough of my faceatiousness
I think what the knowledgeable will tell you is try both....I own a 4200 Spyder and haven't had anything go wrong at all. (okay, apart from the odd electrical hiccup with warning lights) in over a year of ownership. It has been a joy and I've yet to see another one on the road in Scotland. I bought the Maser because every time the garage door lifts up I get this big smile on my face.
Your decision could be influenced by whether or not you intend to use it as a daily driver? although i think I'd still go with the Gransport.
Good luck with your decision and get yourself over to the Maserati Forum UK where you will be more likely to get answers from GS owners.
After all Porsche supply in excess of (is it?) 100,000 units per annum and have had more chance of fixing bugs, ironing out problems etc (or so one would expect).
Maserati only churn out less than (is it?) 10,000 units per annum and are Italian, not German so are bound to be worse.....
But there again you read all sorts of problems about the 996 and build quality, particularly in the earlier versions. Perhaps the TT isn't so susceptible to this though.
Ok, enough of my faceatiousness
I think what the knowledgeable will tell you is try both....I own a 4200 Spyder and haven't had anything go wrong at all. (okay, apart from the odd electrical hiccup with warning lights) in over a year of ownership. It has been a joy and I've yet to see another one on the road in Scotland. I bought the Maser because every time the garage door lifts up I get this big smile on my face.Your decision could be influenced by whether or not you intend to use it as a daily driver? although i think I'd still go with the Gransport.
Good luck with your decision and get yourself over to the Maserati Forum UK where you will be more likely to get answers from GS owners.
I'm debating a Gransport also. I had a 3200 which was a very nice car and as the gentleman above said it always put a smile on my face & every journey felt "special".
I did the maserati driving experience in the Gransport & I was utterly blown away by it, its in an entirely different league to the 3200 & 4200. The grip and chassis incredible. At these prices very tempted & much rarer than a 911 although i am seeing C4S's at sub 30 also which is very tempting. Its probably arguably the better car but i'm not sure its soul stirring like the maser.
I did the maserati driving experience in the Gransport & I was utterly blown away by it, its in an entirely different league to the 3200 & 4200. The grip and chassis incredible. At these prices very tempted & much rarer than a 911 although i am seeing C4S's at sub 30 also which is very tempting. Its probably arguably the better car but i'm not sure its soul stirring like the maser.
Or maybe one of these, a different type of V8. Unlikely to see another...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/472308.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/472308.htm
if that's a good thing by you?!
I can only pass comment on the 996tt, having used mine daily for over 3 yrs now. (previously changed cars every 6 months - so gives you an idea of how I've got on with the car).
As previously said: depends on what you are going to use the car for?
I would go for the Turbo over the C4 if you can, even one with higher miles.
Different block, and bullet proof, looks better than C4S (IMO) etc
And it's faster .... assuming both are in standard form. Also the rush when the turbo's kick in is something you should experience.
HOWEVER .... I used to drive TVR's (also daily) and I do miss the 'event' of driving. The Porsche is fantastic, but in some ways too good.
My circumstances have changed, and I have bougt myself a daily drive, so I am now seriously considering a 348/355 or something that little bit different/more exotic. My only hesitation is reliability ... having had no major problems with the Porker.
Like I said before .... daily drive or weekend thrill?
You could do worse than buy mine !!! Is advertised on here somewhere in the 996 section. Why they don't have a separate section for Turbo's I don't know!!
As previously said: depends on what you are going to use the car for?
I would go for the Turbo over the C4 if you can, even one with higher miles.
Different block, and bullet proof, looks better than C4S (IMO) etc
And it's faster .... assuming both are in standard form. Also the rush when the turbo's kick in is something you should experience.
HOWEVER .... I used to drive TVR's (also daily) and I do miss the 'event' of driving. The Porsche is fantastic, but in some ways too good.
My circumstances have changed, and I have bougt myself a daily drive, so I am now seriously considering a 348/355 or something that little bit different/more exotic. My only hesitation is reliability ... having had no major problems with the Porker.
Like I said before .... daily drive or weekend thrill?
You could do worse than buy mine !!! Is advertised on here somewhere in the 996 section. Why they don't have a separate section for Turbo's I don't know!!
It wouldn't be a daily driver but more of a weekend car. I do like the 996 turbo a lot and I have heard nothing but good things about them in terms of reliability. Originally I was looking at a 996 C2 but reading about how much better the turbo's and C4S' are made me think that it was worth saving a bit more for one.
However I want a car that will excite above anything else and I don't want to just get from A to B as quickly as possible without feeling apart of the drving experience. I think this is where the turbo particular struggles. There is no question that its easily the quickest car mentioned and probably the easiest to drive (4 wheel drive etc) but I get the feeling that although the Maser would be slower I'd have more fun getting to my destination and would feel more connected with the car. I guess only a test drive in each will tell me for sure which one is for me.
Also with any of these cars I am not expecting a blissful ownership and I know things will go wrong. The question is when they do is a Maser going to cripple me more than a porsche? Again from what I hae read about 911's ownership doesn't have to cost the earth and there are some excellent specialists around who charge a lot less than porsche for servicing and repairs.
However I want a car that will excite above anything else and I don't want to just get from A to B as quickly as possible without feeling apart of the drving experience. I think this is where the turbo particular struggles. There is no question that its easily the quickest car mentioned and probably the easiest to drive (4 wheel drive etc) but I get the feeling that although the Maser would be slower I'd have more fun getting to my destination and would feel more connected with the car. I guess only a test drive in each will tell me for sure which one is for me.
Also with any of these cars I am not expecting a blissful ownership and I know things will go wrong. The question is when they do is a Maser going to cripple me more than a porsche? Again from what I hae read about 911's ownership doesn't have to cost the earth and there are some excellent specialists around who charge a lot less than porsche for servicing and repairs.
Codeiskid .. where abouts are you from?
You could also try to get a ride with an experienced owner of each.
Driving experience wise; IMO you'll struggle to beat a 911 Turbo from an overall experience perspective, you'll soon be taking sweeping corners at unthinkable speeds. (I've used mine daily for 3+ yrs and still love driving the thing).
As per my previous post ... if it's the EVENT of driving and a weekend drive, the noise etc, go for a V8 something. At the very worst, have 1 for 6 months, then have the other for 6 months, then change again ha ha
You could also try to get a ride with an experienced owner of each.
Driving experience wise; IMO you'll struggle to beat a 911 Turbo from an overall experience perspective, you'll soon be taking sweeping corners at unthinkable speeds. (I've used mine daily for 3+ yrs and still love driving the thing).
As per my previous post ... if it's the EVENT of driving and a weekend drive, the noise etc, go for a V8 something. At the very worst, have 1 for 6 months, then have the other for 6 months, then change again ha ha
I am from the warwickshire. I had the same idea about trying to hitch a ride with an owner from each car. I joined the porsche owners club a little while ago and am going to the silverstone classic to meet a few C4S and turbo owners. Hopefully that might help with deciding which car is for me. As for the Maserati, I tried looking on the owners club for a forum but couldn't find one so thats why I wondered onto here.
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