Maserati issues??

Hey guys, I am looking at getting a weekend car with a little more reliability than some of the other more aggressive sports cars. Many people have mentioned the feeling of a MAS. What do you guys think. I have an S550, TT viper, and a skyline......I want an F-1 style car.....

please tell me what things to watch out for, maintenance, and which ones are really more of the sports models. I know nothing about maserati.
Thanks
cameron

 

The Quattroporte is a fantastic car but some of the early MY2005 cars had some issues, many were able to be fixed with software updates.

 

You want a GranSport.
Ferrari engine, in a sporty coupe, with the F1 paddleshift.

As a weekend car, this should be very reliable.
(much cheaper to maintain than a Ferrari with it's belt drive cams)

 

+1

 

Not recommended (the F1) based upon a confidential source who ought to know.

 

I daily drove a 2004 Maser Coupe Cambio for 3 years.

I had the F1 pump and relay replaced under warranty at the end of 2 years. Had the car not been under warranty, cost would have only been $2000.

I can not recommend a car higher than the Maserati. Buy one and enjoy it.

-dsd

 

what kind of cr@p is this?

GS is a better car than the coupe and only comes with the F1....which mechanically is the exact same F1 as in the Ferrari 575...

 

My friend, I have been driving a GS for the past year and a half and never had even the slightest problem with my Cambiocorsa Transmission.

It is one thing to offer advise or criticism, but atleast provide the details to back up your statement. Your statement as it is, is totally worthless!

Cheers

 

I was leary of the CC. So I opted for a 6 speed.

Some people seem to have good luck with the CC, some people don't. At least that's what I heard on Mlife.

Where other than the dealer can you go for service on a CC ?

 

I agree with Tony.
Criticism only has value with objective support.

Whether you choose a CC or 6-speed; choices are subjective.
I did my research and selected a 6-speed - my personal preference. I think the CC would take some getting use to. Follow up reviews have identifed the CC as having refinements and enhancements over the first release. I'm stuck on keeping my 02 Coupe - has something to do with first model year back since the 228.

 

I am entertaining alot of ideas right now. I am either going with the 360/355 or more luxury sport...like a sl65 or a CC. I know that they are all good cars but they definetly all have their inheirent issues. I think that is just the research and finding the right one now that is the big deal. Thanks for the advice.
I have heard that maserati's drop like rocks......value wise...is that true?

 

I think that the value initially drops, then holds after about two years. I've got an '05 CC that I expect will pretty much hold it's value. I think the best thing to do is to search the net for the best deal, then make your purchase on a slightly used car that the original owner has taken the biggest hit on. Of course, that pretty much pertains to just about any car and not just Maserati's.

 

I agree.

Maserati’s depreciating like a rock is an understatement. Sad truth is, they auger into the ground like Jet Blue is more like it.

You’re much better off with a Ferrari as far as holding its value.

Maserati’s have never held their value. They’re more like the Toyota from Italy. A lot of women drive them, my wife included. It’s not a real head turner, and not even considered exotic by many.

Most guys into them (me included) have a past with the marquee.
I had to give my bi-turbo away when the time came, couldn’t even sell it with conscious.

I drive my coupe daily as it’ll be worthless in a few years anyways.

I hope to add a ‘05 GS within 2 years, as I think they’ll be in the low 40’s high 30’s by then.

 

We paid ~$130k after tax and options for our new Quattroporte in spring 2005. If we were to sell it now, market value is $85-$95K, that is a STEEP drop off.

I think any brand new car you buy is bad these days (with exceptions like a new F430 Spider at MSRP) in 2002 we bought a brand new BMW 745i for $82k and sold it in spring 2005 for $42k...

Bottom line is a car is a toy not an investment, especially the high end ones. Buy it, drive it, and enjoy it for what it is and try not to lose too much sleep over depreciation, just make more money until you feel like you can afford a car like that.

 

Very well put.

If you buy around 4-5 years old, a great deal of the depreciation is gone, but there's still some left to go.

 

By the fall, the QP's will probalby be in the 70's! They will continue to depreciate but for 70K, you'll have a semi-exotic for the price for a regular german sedan.

Well that's my logic anyway when I pick up one to replace my M5 (which is also depreciating like a rock).

 

I agree that cars depreciate like a rock. Ever checked the price on a used Mercedes SL65. They've plummeted.

Back to the poster's original question, I've got a Coupe Cambiocorsa, '05, that I picked up at a reasonable savings. It's got a tubi and around 400 horsepower. Needless to say, it's very quick, has a great feel for the road and is fairly tight. . .much tighter than my daily driver, an '05 MB E500.

If you're looking for a weekend car with a decent back seat and enough fun factor to bring a smile to your face, an '05 or '06 coupe' that's got a few miles on it is a great buy, considering someone else has taken the biggest hit on depreciation.

 

We bought a new Maserati Gransport Spyder last August and have loved it since the moment we got it. We've really had no problems or complaints with the car except for the $3500 it cost to replace a cracked wheel. In terms of the Cambiocorsa transmission it hasn't given us any trouble (two days ago the transmission error light popped on when the car was idling in front of the post office, but turned off quickly, i guess its just a quirk of the car). I'd definitely suggest the car.

 

Now that the 355f-1 spyder arrived.... I'm thinking of replacing my 996TT w/ the QP (or Baby 4 door -Mas)? Does it have the same Maintanence schedule of Ferrari (i.e. Cambelts, bearings, tensioners, clutch?)

Thanks!!

 

I have had my 05 Coupe Cambiocorsa for over a year as my daily driver - no problems with the tranny at all. Apparently it's the same unit in the Jags?

 

Well as far a reliabilty goes
Friend 1: 4200 GT, daily driver, no problems at all was 6 speed manul
, traded to 2005 GS, daily driver, driven very, very hard, no problems at all aside for an appetite for Pirelli's, now traded to MC Victory, no trouble so far
Friend 2: 2005 GS, everyday use, not problems at all.
Friend 3: GS, weekend car, no problems at all

As for value, car all depreciate, I think one needs to ask oneself if you buy cars as an investment or to enjoy.

 

My wife has 22k miles on it and is an agressive driver. We had the clutch replaced at 13k and as we understand it we should see the clutch replacement every 9 to 12k miles ($3200 a pop!). Anyone know how that can be prevented or slowed down???

Thanks, Dan

Fi shifter

 

Transmission fluid heating up, idling for a period of time, no air to cool off.

 

Absolutely, I recommend you never use auto mode. Always use the paddle shifters. When in auto mode, the number of unnecessary shifts is just excessive. Also, try to use reverse as little as possible.

 

What a great piece of engineering for a street car ...