612 & Quattroporte @ FOA

612 & Quattroporte @ FOA. I saw these two cars today for the first time. Also, saw the new Gran Sport Maserati (the way the coupe should have looked in the first place). Trust me folks, the 612 will not be suffering 456 like depreciation - ever. This car must be seen to believe how beautiful it is (especially in black). And for those who have not seen the quattroporte yet, it is a must see too. None of us will ever want for a A8/S8, 760Li, S500. Now, I guess if you could afford a S600/S55, then you could get a Quatrroporte and a swimming pool or something.

 

Hummm. I was actually wondering why FOA did not decide to sell Lambo (& maybe Lotus too) before North Point Motors (aka: Bimmer store) did. I would have tried to corner that market like Steve Barney @ Sport Auto. What a fun store.

On one side, my opinion is that the Ferrari association gives credability and an otherwise good name to Maserati, which certainly discredited themselves over the previous 20 years. On the other side (flip flop), I agree with Frank that BMW, Audi and MB buyers do expect fast service with loaner cars. FOA/MOA better do the same if they wish to compete.

But, that leads to a question...With the F1 transmission, is the QP competing against other sedans, or just marketing to Italian car nuts like me? I'd say we could tighten the competition down closer to Audi S8, M5, S600/S55/S65 buyers. I don't think they will get the daily drivin' (and in need of fast convienient service) guys away from their 745Li, S500, A8 or Lexus for all the reasons that make these cars nice.

However, to pull another John Kerry here and say that with the given inconvienence of owning a daily driver Maserati, I saw a show the other night where a guy bought his wife a Maserati Spyder and then I saw a woman driving one yesterday. Not that there aren't women who like fast cars, but most women I know would not put up with slow, inconvienent service from their salon, much less car dealer (or in England, that could also be their "salon" dealer - Ha). How many QPs does FNA/MNA plan to sell anyway?

Frank - Did you see the black 612, or one at a car show? This thing was completely bad a$$. It was the frekin' batmobile. The FOA guys were all commenting how much better this one looked than the ones they saw otherwise. It looks quite wide. In fact, the front looks as wide as the rear of a TR. This car would make your garage look ominous in lieu of the "so he needed the 4-seater 456 and couldn't have a 550" look. This car make no excuses to anyone, and never will.