Gransport more rare than F430

I had one for a year or two, and quite frankly I didn't think the rear seat was small. An adult say of average height was ok. It certainly was far better than big Benz/BMW coupes of similar vintage. I agree with most, it's a diamond in the rough, it's a gran tourer, but has a little bit of rawness to it at the same time. I regret I passed on that MC Victory edition, but was super pleased with my Gransport.

 

Overall they're pretty reliable but I just meant that the cost to fix them is high compared to the purchase price. Likewise, the parts are close to Ferrari parts but most buyers know they won't hold value or appreciate like Ferraris.

Mine was reliable but every fix it needed was at least $500 and usually more like $800. Even if I did my own repairs, which I did most of the time, the parts were expensive. Having said that, it did have 80k miles on it so maybe that's why things were starting to go.

 

I had mine something like 12 year but only 18K miles. It never had a major mechanical issue. The dealer changed out the F1 pump twice in the first 3 months (a common problem for the early ones)


BUT... I saw a lot of them in dealers for all sorts of reasons, including oil pump failures (ka- BLOOM!)

It was hit and miss on reliability. And, they are not cheap to fix if they do break.

Still it was one of the most comfortable interiors I've experienced in a car. The seats were wonderful.

Lets put it this way -- with all it's problems it was still light years ahead of the Bi-Turbo.

 

Not much of a bar, huh?

 

To hopefully put one item to bed - the GS spider is NOT a 2+2. It is a 2-seater. I do not believe it is bigger than the 4200. It is markedly better than the 4200. I am pretty sure the GS spider was only a 2006 model year in the USA.

 

Thanks. After doing some research, you're right, but it appears some cars were sold in 2005.

 

Jack - you did a very nice job on the video - well done

 

Send him to Buffalo to do one on us - but wait until February and it's -15 and 4 feet of snow

 

Have had this 2006 Grandsport LE for several years. No issues at all. Fun car! Color is "moonstone"
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I drove my ex GranSport, for 3 years, and logged nearly 20k miles, including a few track events at Thunderhill. The car was reliable if not without a few minor electric glitches, AC quit, valet broke driver side window, cracked a wheel hitting pothole etc, otherwise near troublefree.

On the positive side, I received lots complements everywhere, minus a few haters.

It makes some of the most sonorous noises that made a few to jump out and see. While the trunk space is limited, the 2+2 config is quite spacious and we made number of roadtrips in it all together with folding chairs and picnic sets I even had at one time 3 6-footer adults in it and they were amazed they could fit in it fairly comfortably.

Yes the chassis was dated to the 3200 ( late 1990s i suppose ) days but received sufficient update in GS form that I never understood complains about handling on these cars. I have never driven the standard coupe nor spyder, however, so I cannot compare them, it didn't feel as connected as the F430 or even Alfa Milano, but it's not "bad". It just has different character. The GS is on the nose heavy side, so understeer when pushed. Keep the throttle neutral until ready to unwind steering and even a gentle lift of gas mid corner on those higher speed corners helped tighten the lines safely. The grand tourer focused suspension kept those massive rear tires well planted too. The only time I could get the car go sideway to about 30 degrees is cold tire and tight corner and way too much throttle input quickly.

I forgot my laptimes but I recall wheeling in on an E39 M5. I was running Toyo Proxies T1R at the time.

Switch off sport mode and ride home was supple even wife enjoyed the roadtrip in comfort.

Car was stock everything except the DBWEM, mainly to make clutch engagement more positive and reduces wear and not so much on performance.

I wouldn't compare it much to a F430 for they are very different cars, drives completely differently, serves different purposes etc.

And I do miss the GS every so often

 

I was about 24 years old when I bought an 05 coupe... The attention I received from the 30-50 year old women was incredible. It was... how do I put this... an eye opener..

 

My 2004 Coupe got so much attention from the fair sex, it was unbelievable. Just something about Maserati that does it for them. It wasn't even a bright color, it was gray.

I think they don't see it as a flashy car, more of an elegant and beautiful car. Ferraris and Lambos are seen as flashy.

 

To this day, my old maser was the only sport car my wife liked. The Ferraris embarrassed her.


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They love the interior, particularly the clock


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I think it's the exterior too. My dad was driving mine last year when he was visiting me and he told me this woman came up to the passenger side window while he was at a stoplight and got all excited and said it's a beautiful car. He said she scared him for a split second as he didn't see her coming and the windows were down.