Maserati Coupe

I believe the bumpers are updated on the 2005. Since you are looking for a manual, I don't think there are any changes made on them. If you go to the dealership, make sure you test drive the GS, you will not regret it.

 

I have the 6 speed in N. Cali. It is a fantastic car, but harder to find than the CC. If you do not fancy $18K pump replacements, the manual is the way to go. Not to mention that you can actually go up hills (I had a scary and smelly experience navigating traffic in San Francisco in a CC delaer loaner). Factory actually tell you that you are not supposed to back up up a hill !!!

 

Where are you located? I think my dealer just got a used coupe gear shift car in.

 

If you are considering only the GT (6-speed), test-drive one. I did, and was very unimpressed with the mechanical operation of the transmission. Felt like I was driving a pickup truck. I got the impression that Maserati really intended the car for the Cambiocorsa, and offered a 6-speed alternative without much engineering.

The 2002 Cambio was very jerky. Later on a computer update was offered, but this just made it more slushy, as well as unmanageable on steep hills. Solution: keep the original programming and add a Tubi exhaust. For whatever mysterious reason, backpressure or whatever, this smoothes the 2002 Cambio considerably. Expensive fix, however: around $3K.

The 2002 Maseratis were also infamous for boots that were very difficult to close and lock. Slamming or normal closing would not work. You had to hold the thing about an inch up, then let it fall gently, and if lucky it would latch. Could not be adjusted to work perfectly. This was fixed 2003+.

These cars have long lists of options, no two the same. You definitely want the Skyhook suspension and (I would think) the Xenon headlights. Everything else to your taste. Go to the Maserati site to see all the options.

Resale on these is slow and depreciation alarming. Consider a closed-end lease on a new one; these are currently on pretty good terms. Then you won't have to worry no matter what the market twitches from now on.

The factory brochure announces top speed in reverse of 55mph. So you can probably go backwards down the freeway if you wish.

The Nav is a chortle. There are icons for "danger of explosion" and "protest marches" (both of these presumably to avoid. The verbal instructions are spoken by a German dominatrix.

Really testdrive a Gransport. I think it is a quantum improvement on the regular car (but available only with the Cambio), and not that much more $s.

 

My trunk closes fine, and it is an 02. I own a 6speed and like the shift action. It is no Miata, but certainly not truck-like. I got a loaner 2003 CC for 5 days and I never got used to the transmission. If you live in a place with hills, prepare for lots of smoke and drama. Factory also tells you "not to back up a hill". That sounds more under-engineered to me...Not to mention half the clutch life (~18K) compared to what the techs were seeing on California and Texas manuals.
Drive both !
I do agree on the nav, it is close to useless on all versions.

I did the straight exhaust mod on mine for $600. Tubi was $3200, and it was harder to justify on a Maser, compared to a 200K Modena Spider.

thx
luke

 

Another GranSport owner here chiming in. If you can afford it, pay the extra for the GranSport. I just drove a Aston DB9 and Ferrari 612 the past month, and while the Gransport is not V12 power, it holds it own with these two cars for much less money. The dash has a more custom feel than either, the back seat is bigger than either of these cars and as far as it being more hardcore than the regular coupe it is and isn't. At cruising speed or around town driving its as docile as a jag, but when you mash the throttle it becomes a different car. I very much like the regular coupe, but after you drive the GranSport the decision becomes very easy.

Phil

 

Drove a Spyder GT for a year and found the shifting to be good, Yes it was not like my S2000 but found it a great way to interact with your driving experience. Biggest fault I had was pedals way to close together and could not drive without special driving sneakers, But probably more room down there in a Coup. Had zero issues with the car other than yes the NAV and Stereo sucked, But did not buy the car for those features. Yours spoke with a German accent? Mine had a very nice English lady and nothing like that German Biiitch in my BMW.

 

Call Algar 610-527-1100, ask for Francis, they did get a used gear shift coupe

 

Voice is pretty funny and definitely British school teacher like.
"Turn right at the next signal and you will have arrived !"

It is true about the pedals. I will sometimes tap the brake when accelerating. More pronounced in the Melchior Mephistos than in the cowboy boots or the new Pilotis (thanks, Dan!)

 

You can go here and check out the various options for the Maserati, and I think price them:

http://www.maseratiusa.com/

You can also have fun "building up" a car in your preferred colors. In addition to having lots of options, Masers are custom-designed in a rainbow of exterior and interior colors & trims.

I still think you would do best to custom-design a new Coupé and then close-end lease it, keeping that lease at or within the 4/50K warranty period. I think that the Chase leases through Maser dealerships are particularly attractive because Ferrari has been underwriting them to get the cars moving. This is probably another reason why the secondary market in Masers is so bad and their depreciation so ferocious.

I know you think you want a 6-speed, but I bet you would find that the car is really designed for the Cambiocorsa. And really, really try out a Gransport!

 

Cup holders came in 04, my 03 did not have them. Not sure you will like the lease numbers on a new one. If I remember they were really high.

 

In addition to getting exactly the car you want, with the colors and options you want, with full 4/50K warranty, remember that the depreciation on Masers is staggering and the resale market very slim and slow. That's why I recommend a new one under a closed-end lease.

I think this is all the more important because of Ferrari's sale of Maserati back to Fiat, thence in some arrangement to Alfa Romeo. It's too early to say what impact this will have on Maserati sales/service systems, car quality, and image, but I for one would be pessimistic.

This early in the process you would still be getting a new "Ferrari Maserati", I would think, but the other factors may rear their heads in the next year or so.

 

Excellent advice, IMHO!

 

Top Gear tested the Grand Sport coupe in a recent episode and they basically hated everything about the car. They said it did nothing well...it wasn't luxurious enough to be a luxury car and handle so poorly that it couldn't be considered a GT or sports car either.

 

you probably dont understand british cuz thats not what i heard

 

I just watched an episode that I recorded the night before last I believe. It was not on the GS but the Cambio Coupe, JC definately hated the car.

Christian

 

Top Gear did a separate GranSport review a few weeks ago, in fact they referenced the coupe review in the GranSport review and praised it in a total reversal from bad to good. The regular coupe they tested too was the model out 3 years ago, prior to all the improvements.

The reviewer said the GranSport is the only car he has ever driven that he liked the paddle shift plus and said it was a contender to the 911.

The Top Gear review of the GranSport can be seen on a site called "jabbasworld" if I'm not mistaken.

Phil

 

wait until the new, 2006 model comes out, you wont be dissapointed. and the other day on top gear, on discovery channel, he said in a nicer way that the coupe is a big piece of ****, and some that i know of who work on them daily, agree.

 

All these Pin Head reviewers who feel they can give an opinion after driving a car for a day or two have been what's holding Maserati back. You need to drive theses cars for a little bit of time to get the most out of them. Out of the couple dozen cars I have owned I would rate my Spyder as the most fun giving you a great driving experience. Absolutely no problems in the year I owned and now realize I made a huge mistake getting rid of it. Now hoping for something great to come from them next year and I will be first in line.

 

Agreed for the most part, I've been lucky enough to drive a lot of cars so I can form my own opinion on exotics they've tested and reviewed. I do agree with some of the writers out there, but not all. As far as these boards though, any new buyer should look whose posting. Reading car magazine reviews and posting alone just don't cut it, take advice from owners who actually drive these cars.

The Maserati is a rare breed of car that has two faces. Its a Gran Tourer you can take on a long trip and a night out on the town with a nice smooth ride and the next morning take it out on the track and it becomes a different animal.

 

I agree about reviewers, I take what they say with a grain of salt. I love the Maser Coupe. It's a rush to drive, it by no means handles like any of the 911's I have owned but in a straight line or curvey roads it will hold it's own. The fit and finish is nice, but I do question the build quality for a $100k car.

Christian

 

The fit and finish has greatly improved over the days of old. The amount of money Ferrari had dropped into the Maserati factory is emormous. If any of you haven't checked out the Maserati website lately they have a tour of the factory since all in the improvements and its impressive. The perfect mix of technology with still a little bit of old world built by hand type of construction.