Maserati Quattroporte Buying Decision

[BluePurpleRed]

Firstly... wow, this Sub Forum is dead!

Secondly, I have just sold my TVR Tuscan and have a 4 week old baby. I am not that sad to see it go after 4 years to be honest and I did ok out of it financially.

I now have up to 20k to spend on something interesting and 4 door. Now you see why I am here!

My thinking is that Coupes are out for a couple of reasons, one being that I'd want a GS out of the 3200/4200/GS "series" and they are 30k+ and out of the budget. Also I am advised that will in pre toddler stage there is a lot more kit so I plan to have something QP / M5 / XJ sized for 2 years and then explore 4 seat Coupes as we need to start cart less stuff about.

So... 12-19k QP. Awesomeness, or madness? The obvious competitor is an E39 M5 and change or a good E60 and no change. I am open to other options!

[BluePurpleRed]

Well, I bought one despite the sanity checks on here. :P

I will let everyone know how it goes! Its a weekend car so not too worried about the gearbox as it is a DuoSelect but we shall see.

Funny point: Its going to cost LOADS initially as I need to extend the garage! LOLZ

[BluePurpleRed]

mattman said:

Also looking at my first Maserati purchase - would love a Gran Turismo having driven one through the Alps a few years back but not sure I can stretch the budget that far so am currently looking at the QP and 4200. Sounds like duo select really is as bad as the reviews so I guess I need to hold out for the ZF auto

Any other major gremlins to look for that you would recommend?

Thanks

Duo Select isn't that bad. I've lived with it for 5+ months now. This is also with rubbish traffic from the AS into deep SW London too.

What I would say is that a reviewer was looking at a NEW 85k car up against rivals so yes, it got a bit of a pasting. However its not a 20k car and the rivals are an S Class or a BMW 7er ( yawn ) so for how annoying it is compared to cost to get bum on seat? Its not that bad.

Little tricks are there. you can "suggest" with an up or down paddle shift while still in auto which helps the car make up its mind. Pull both for N in traffic for clutch life etc etc.

I cant say I LOVE it for impartiality but I don't curse it that often either. I tend to have some binary driving situations were its traffic or 50mph A3 stuff and then out into the sticks around Berks and then its lovely.

I have an E46 330i too as my wifes car and it always feels so dull after a drive. The auto "creep" in traffic gets me a few times when getting back in after too.

So far the QP V is a success. I HAVE had to build an entirely new garage for it as its 36" longer than my Tuscan that preceded it. oops. That is for another thread.