Maserati GranTurismo: PH Carpool
You know you've got it bad when a Maserati GranTurismo is your sensible daily driver
Car: 2009 Maserati GranTurismo 4.2
Owned since: 2009
Previously owned: Various MGs and Austin Healeys over the years, an E-Type Jaguar, Scimitar GTE and a Monaro are some of the more interesting ones; a Ferrari 348 (aprevious Carpool), MG Midget, MINI Cooper S, a Range Rover Sport and now a BMW M135i are still in the garage.
Weekend toy, daily driver, very happy PHer
"I had moved out to Dubai a few years ago and had been using a then-new Monaro as my daily drive (good car by the way, a bit lazy but great fun) but I fancied something a bit more exotic when it came time to change.
"I had already let my heart rule my head and had picked up an old Ferrari 348 which I was (and still am) using as a weekend toy, but I needed something a bit less demanding and a bit more comfortable than that as a daily drive - a new Ferrari would have been nice of course but that was out reach financially and I wasn't sure such a car would be OK to use every day in traffic anyway, not having an autobox.
"I always thought that the Maser looked the business though and it did have a Ferrari engine - then when I saw a black one with the birdcage wheels in the showroom, my heart took over (again) down went the deposit, and I have owned and loved it ever since... 2-0 to the Italians I'm afraid."
Maserati mindset, as supplied by Mike
"Well, it's turned out to be more than 'a poor man's Ferrari' I think - this car's refinement has really impressed me in its own right over the last few years and it has its own unique position in the marketplace.
"I genuinely love how it looks and after nearly five years of ownership I still find myself glancing back to look at it, so it still does it for me. Mine is without the side skirt extensions, so the sills tuck in and under at the front and rear arches - just how Pininfarina originally designed it, and that front end snout and the curves over the front wheel arches, how it squats at the rear - just lovely to my eyes.
"The engine has been totally faultless and sounds fantastic; the 4.2 unit has to be revved up to get the performance out of it but that suits my driving style anyway and adds to the experience for me. I had to go for the ZF six-speed auto gearbox (city traffic on a daily basis dictated that I'm afraid) but the engine is matched perfectly to this 'box and I can't speak highly enough about the drivetrain - it has suited my needs very well and even the paddle shifters work surprisingly quickly when you feel the need to use them. The ZF 'box will hold a gear out to 7,200 rpm before upshifting if you are pushing it with plenty of engine braking on the downshifts.
Wheel refurb chance to go 'Grigio Mecuri'
"The four seats have also proved to be an unexpected bonus, it's not that easy to get into the back but once you are the seats are large and comfortable with proper legroom for two adults - this is a hidden extra that the Maser has over its rivals I reckon - I certainly didn't expect it to be so useful anyway.
"I have also been truly surprised at how agile it is for what is quite a large car. It uses aluminium wishbones and hubs all round and mine has the optional BBS 20-inch wheels; it can be thrown into corners, with high levels of grip from the fat P Zeros."
Interior looks good but has suffered in Dubai heat
"I got the 4.2 because at the time the 4.7 S was only available with the automated manual gearbox, the ZF gearbox wasn't an option - until about two months after I took delivery of mine!
"I'm not sure the power increase would make too much difference unless at full chat, but the extra torque would lower down, which would have been useful - the 4.2 has been criticised for this and on balance I would probably have gone for the larger engine had I have known.
"Please don't go thinking the 4.2 is a slow car though, it's not; 5.2 seconds to 62mph isn't too shabby and left in sports mode it's always been more than adequate for spirited driving around the city."
Things I hate:
"It's not a sports car - fact - and if you try to use it like one it will ultimately disappoint; the problem is that it's almost there and sometimes you feel like you can press on a bit more, but eventually the lack of steering feel, its weight and not quite enough power will let it down and you then have to remind yourself that it is, as the name actually suggests, a Grand Touring car.
"I have also had problems with the interior plastics; while being of a high quality they are finished with that 'soft feel' rubberised coating that some manufacturers use and after three years of summer heat it started to break down chemically and feel 'sticky' to the touch (a common problem in hot countries apparently). Whilst inconvenient I have to say that both the local dealer and Maserati themselves were brilliant and they replaced everything without any argument at all.
"Oh, and the sat nav is utterly useless and like a lot of people (and before anyone mentions it) I'm not all that keen on the rear lights either!"
Larini exhaust saved weight, makes more noise
"Ah, yes - next please - it has suffered from depreciation of course but what car in this bracket doesn't and there does seem to be a demand for good used ones, which should stop it from falling through the floor. Nonetheless, just like others of this ilk, it's the maintenance costs that will get you regardless of the purchase price paid. Maseratis are not cheap to run or maintain and fall into a similar camp as Lambo and Ferrari in this regard unfortunately.
"Having said that, beyond replacing the battery and tyres (due to age not wear) I have had no expenditure beyond regular calendar servicing, which speaks volumes compared to Masers of the past where horror stories abound. If anyone was considering getting a used one, particularly a family man who needs space in the back for the kids, then I certainly wouldn't deter them based on reliability, but you would still need to find a good independent if it's out of warranty.
"None essential costs; well I did fit a Larini Systems (cat back) exhaust just after I got it which hasn't impacted on the warranty at all and in addition to a considerable weight saving (the one on the right is the Larini!) it has significantly improved an already nice sound with plenty of pops and crackles when backing off at higher rpm. It also had a mid-life wheel refurbishment last year where I had the colour changed to the darker 'Grigio Mercuri' which is a factory option anyway, and I had wheel spacers fitted at the same time to improve its stance a bit (a big improvement if you look at the photos with the darker wheels) otherwise it's in standard trim and hasn't had much spent on it by way of extras."
4.2 needs revs, not that Mike minds indulging
"Only out and about in Dubai going to work and back with the occasional longer run to Abu Dhabi; so with only 16,000 kms on the clock this one has led a fairly sheltered life really."
What next?
"I have thought about selling it as it will be out of warranty soon but I'm not sure what to replace it with yet - it's still driven every day, it's in lovely condition and it's doing its intended job well; and this one has a full main dealer history, low kms and only one careful owner! So I suppose I'm not really in any rush.
"Eventually though it may just have to be another Maserati..."
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