I just drove a Maserati Quattroporte..............

Thanks for the feedback. I ditched my MB tuna boat before I left for China. I was thinking S55 when I get back, but this has caught my eye. Wonder how fast this will depreciate.

Erik
I like buying depreciated cars...

 

This is the consummate sedan. I want one badly.

1. What is the MSRP?

2. Where are the pics man?!?!

 

My contacts at Shelton say the same things. It's nice when the consumer also agrees with the salesman views.

 

what a gorgeous car, really good to hear positive comments about it. its been said that in auto mode the shifts are horrible?did they remap for the us??

 

Is this car available with a conventional manual tranny, instead of the paddle-shifter?

 

I would love a gated 6 spd for it. ///M5 Eat your heart out.

Has F/M decided to do an auto box (yet?)

 

The MB S55 will outperform the Maser Quatrro. With 493HP and 512lbs/ft of torque its no contest. The MB S55 AMG has "speed shift" buttons behind the steering wheel if you want to shift manually and they are silky smooth unlike the jerk jerk of the paddles prevalent in almost all of cars that have it. Also,
MB reliabilty and quality of the MB, especially with the "S" class is hard to beat. Dynamic seat bolsters that tighten up in turns, adjustable ride height and ABC (automatic body control) makes the S55 a formidable opponent.

 

But at the end of the day you still know in your heart, that you own something that resembles a molested beaver with crooked teeth.
When it comes right down to it, I don't think most of the people buying a Quattroporte are going to be worrying about 100 extra hp in such a fine sedan. The estimated price Maserati has been telling the media is in the 90-100 range, whereas the S55 is at 110k.
As for handling, I would have to shy toward the Quattroporte as well, being one of the many things the Italian group is known for. Plus, if you read the thread-starters first post before you put your words down, you would clearly see why the he even bothered writing what he did, he got a chance to compare them all on his test drive.
I don't foresee MB's "S Class" taking any buyers away from the QP's waiting list, something that looks that good just doesn't come around everyday.

However, they had no plans, as I understand it, for a gated 6 speed because they had a few problems with their rear transaxle they used. Although I am sure if they had really wanted to fit the shifting mechanism's of a normal manual in their, they could have with a little added R&D and expense. After all Porsche had done the rear transaxle on the 944 years ago didn't they? If sales go as expected I do assume they will continue to refine their new beauty as technology progresses, let's remember this is the first year of this drastic change of the QP. An automatic however, would be out of the question for this car, since it has such a large distance between the engine, and the transmission.

Kizdan, I assume they upgraded the software on the QP? When the test drives in Europe started, their was lots of remarks of how the automatic mode was jumpy when it shifted. Perhaps they borrowed the software from Ferrari's CS, as it was quite a refinement?

As for depreciation, I suppose we will just have to see, won't we?
There's my box of apples,
CS

 

Are you "Dan" from Cauley?

 

oh shoot, the Mb will accelerate faster to 60 by .2 secs in straight line. sorry but if nething, the Mb cannot compare to the Maserati. The maser is ultra exlcusive, feels great, handles amazingly, gorgeous, fast, dosnt have a cut out at 155mph and its Italian. these are just a few reasons that they have all 2000 4porte have been booked for 2004.

to boost sales for 2005 maserati will keep refining their duoselect and there are rumors of putting a V12, maybe from the Enzo, now that would be incredible

 

Mercedes S-Class is no comparison to the Quadroporte in looks and performance. The S55 and S600 will smoke it anywhere besides interior colors options unless you go designo. The 600 Bi-Turbo V12 makes 500hp and 600ft+ of torque. When Modifyed with a simple ECU and intercooler adjustment from one of the Bigger tuners like RENNtech it can easly hit 3.3 0-60 and middle 11's 1/4.

The quadroporte is a fine car but I just dont like its styling looks to heavy the rear is perfect but the front grille isnt to shabby.

 

3.3 0-60? What's your source on that one?

 

well see wat the outcome is when they put a nice V12 under that bonnet

 

KIZDAN,

Do you have any experience with the 612 yet? I'm curious as to how it compares to the Quattroporte. Do you think Maser makes a 4 seat Ferrari somewhat redundant now?

 

Ben Treynor. He has a few 600 - 1000+ hp Vipers and

S600 w.
RENNtech ECU upgrade - all it does it bring the engine back to "de-limited" levels, same as in the Maybach.
RENNTech Ten Spoke Wheels and AMG's
Some wicked drag radials

I wish I had the link but I'm about to go see the Rockets kill the Lakers again

 

Who cares if the MB is faster, wow! The Maser Porte is a very nice car and another nice option to choose from the many available out now. I look forward to hearing more reviews as they get to our shores. The Im faster bs is getting kinda old, oh my car is faster so yours is a pos. Come on dont knock the car just cause an amg mb is faster, that doesnt make the maser garbage.

 

the 612's 5.7 V12 would be perfect in the QP...designed for plenty of torque at all RPMs, but also providing the typical Italian High end pull...mmmm...want one already! and I actually think in this case, the duo-select is the way to go, or for the soccer moms, an auto, a conventional manual just wouldnt feel right to me.

 

That I'm faster is very dumb, we even see post here from Ferrari owners complaining about being beaten by the Subaru WRX STI. Do those Ferrari owners want to own a Subaru? I am betting no. I did not buy my new Maserati spyder GT cause I thought I would have the fastest car, There are cars faster I could have gotten for at least half what this car cost me. If you are buying a car strictly for 0-60 or 1/4 mile then a Maserati is not for you

 

+1

The AMG isn't anywhere near the level of the Maser. They are two cars targeted at two different audiences.