maserati quattroporte..everyday car? anygood?

[simoncooper]

first time evr using p/heads. heard its good for advice. my last two cars have been merc cls's as i think they are great. i have had practically every make of car but had same car twice for first time ever with cls due to its uniqueness. however too small now with family as only 2+2 obviously. i like very few other saloons for the above reason which is why attracted to MQ. are they everyday cars??and are they good?? or what else would you buy?? got 55-60k to spend

[Davey S2]

Not driven one but if thats your budget for a good looking 4 seater then the Quattroporte could fit the bill.

Exactly the sort of car which has been hit hard by the credit crunch so should be some serious bargains around.

I think that even at £50K they still have some way to fall though.

[simoncooper]

what other quality family cars would you look at? forget audi rs4's etc these days though. become too ladish. out of interest what car would you buy with 50k budget?? any size

[clarkmagpie]

456?

[simoncooper]

great suggestion as i thought exactly the same b4 i bought the first cls. same prob though only 2+2. loads of car for say 35-+ k. 170k when new. me thinking you on the same wave length, wot else would u consider?

[baguaman]

i have just bought a quattroporte..i already have a 550 ferrari plus a very special mitisibushi for track days..

i am using the Qp every day... it is a fantastic every day sports car.. the car has two characters ..one is very civilised ...tranquil almost... its so quite in the cabin..you are surounded by gorgeous leather and you defibately have a sense of occasion when driving it...the torque is pretty good and it is quite happy doing 30 mile per hour in fourth or even fith gear.

the other side of the car is ferocious.. o-60 is five seconds..and for a car of this size.. the only competion comes from the m5 or s8 and mabybe the merc..
i drove all of them and the QP has a spirit that the others lack..

the problem with the qp...is you cant think of it as a racing car..its is four door saloon with the ability to go very quick and handle very very well.

but you have to drive it as if its a four door saloon and for me i think it probably means less points and leaving longer stopping distances..

[Colossus]

Have had a QP GTS for the last 4 months and it is my daily driver, a job it performs extremely well. To be honest I find it could do with a bit more torque low down but other than that it is an amazing drive for such a large car, and it is large. Very impressed with the build quality and general refinement but it also has a character and spirit that virtually every other manufacturer lacks, thoroughly recommend it.

[R.P.M]

This is craking value and probably the same price as one years worth of drepreciation on a new GTS.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/781275.htm


Rpm

[baguaman]

that is a crazy price... these top spec new versions cars are still sold for 90,00...
i think black with black interior is the best looking car..but they also have a very beautiful silver car in the series entourage which looks stunning..

my only advise is wtch out for the 2004 cars and make sure they have had all the recommended servicing as this bill can be at least 3k..

[wazza]

What is the service intervals / costs for these cars?

[baguaman]

the first three years servicing are free and part of the deal...

then you have annual and four year then 3ik then 43 k

[willd58]

baguaman said:

but they also have a very beautiful silver car in the series entourage which looks stunning..

I find the effect Maserati achieved so well with there product placement in that show fascinating, very well played by the PR who put that together.

[sm0273]

baguaman said:

car has two characters ..one is very civilised ...tranquil almost... its so quite in the cabin..you are surounded by gorgeous leather and you defibately .

so quite what?

[bertie]

simoncooper said:

what other quality family cars would you look at? forget audi rs4's etc these days though. become too ladish. out of interest what car would you buy with 50k budget?? any size

At sub £25k the Masser is fantastic value, if a bit of a gamble and if you can get along with the early duoselect gearbox.

If I waw looking at £50k I think I'd go here....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/801401.htm

[rs48635]

bertie - lot of car for the money.
Does it look a bit like the passat from the side? if you squint a bit.....

[LongLiveTazio]

The CLS isn't a 2+2!

[Pork]

LongLiveTazio said:

The CLS isn't a 2+2!

No, but its strictly a 4 seater. 2+2 in the literal sense, maybe?

[bertie]

Pork said:

LongLiveTazio said:

The CLS isn't a 2+2!

No, but its strictly a 4 seater. 2+2 in the literal sense, maybe?

The wife has a CLS and I have to say I love it.

I can't think of anything that combines practicality (2 kids in the back, 4 doors, huge boot) with such grace.

[Wanta996Gotta]

Service and running costs are scary, i looked at one of these a few months ago when they were dropping under £35k. 10-14mpg with a 90litre fuel tank and Italian build quality scared me off as a daily grinder as surely its not a weekend toy for a blast on your favourite road???. Beautiful stunning car but Ferrari running and servicing costs are maybe why you can pick up early models under £25k.

Bentley is the better buy in my opinion, build quality and finish is first class(so F*cking effortlessly quick, Top Gear tested one at 200mph) and Bentley were doing a used car warranty at £1k a year last year(not sure if still available). 2006/7 AMG CLS63's under £40k at Mercedes dealers is were my money would be. M5 also an option but maybe too conservative.

Maser used car Locator - http://www.maserati.co.uk/maserati/uk/en/index/Use...

Mercedes - http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak.com/matrix.php?...

Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Friday 5th December 11:53

[sjn2004]

Wanta996Gotta said:

Service and running costs are scary, i looked at one of these a few months ago when they were dropping under £35k. 10-14mpg with a 90litre fuel tank and Italian build quality scared me off as a daily grinder as surely its not a weekend toy for a blast on your favourite road???. Beautiful stunning car but Ferrari running and servicing costs are maybe why you can pick up early models under £25k.

Bentley is the better buy in my opinion, build quality and finish is first class(so F*cking effortlessly quick, Top Gear tested one at 200mph) and Bentley were doing a used car warranty at £1k a year last year(not sure if still available). 2006/7 AMG CLS63's under £40k at Mercedes dealers is were my money would be. M5 also an option but maybe too conservative.
Maser used car Locator - http://www.maserati.co.uk/maserati/uk/en/index/Use...

Mercedes - http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak.com/matrix.php?...

Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Friday 5th December 11:53

Remember these are true 80k cars with Ferrari bits and bobs and cost £££ to maintain. The mpg is of no real consequence, (infact I average 16.8 on the trip computer which is never reset). I wouldn't use it as a daily car, its a weekend car for somebody with a wife and a few kids who go out together.

Mercs are devaluing at an interstellar rate at the moment, together with terrible reliability/build quality you may find ownership costs a nasty surprise with a CLS/AMG. I test drove a CLS500 before getting the QP and it broke down on the test drive. In addition the aircon switched on/off on its own and the forward parking sensor was finding phantom vehicles only a few feet in front on an empty road. Bid 32.5 (34k asking)for another one of these back in July, dealer hung the phone on me in disgust , car stayed with them for three more months before they had finally dropped it down to 24850.


The Bentley is faster in a straight line but hopeless in corners. The QP is actually faster on the Evo track than the M5.