Maserati MC20

I think the Mc20 looks amazing, and can't get enough of these colors:


Catch for me is over $200k there are a handful of cars I would buy before this, but damn I keep staring at this and when I go to the showroom I always look over these MC20s they have...

 

" over $200k there are a handful of cars I would buy before this"

For me that's the thing. Perhaps because I am also track focused( I like speed and driving cars to their limits which means track in 23) this car seems a little neither here nor there for me.
As a road car the 296 seems just more compelling(for a price) you know its all of the piece, ther Mclaren Artura may not look as good, but its also way lighter and probably way more worked out, esp for track.. As a road/Track car the mC20 just does not seem in the same league as a Gt3 or 4rs.

Its a really nice looking biggish heavyish road car. In may way the cf tub implies lightness and seriousness of intent, but the weight indicates Cf is a marketing thing more than a functional benefit. Im sure the mtor makes power, sonorous its not and how long willo ti last?.

Can you imagine this car weightign 3-400lbs less with maybe that 4.6 na v8?

In any event to me a Gt car ius a sop out, yeah they're comfy and work on road, but it implies the manufacturer could do all the really hard parts. Form sure this car has looks that are way beyond what the big and clumsy evtte design promises. But the z06 vette weights no more, and has that cracker of an engine. For the same 160k as a z06 vette the MC20 is an option, maybe even for a little more, but at 100k more where does this car foit, and thus we see it in sales.

Looks great, too heavy, questionable durability, besides the styling there simply are better choices for elss money, whether its road or track or both.

 

Agreed - they had that great sounding V8 already.

I think you agreed with me before that Alfa’s real missed opportunity was stretching the 4C tub and frame 10-12” and dropping in the manual 505hp V6TT from the early euro Quadrifoglio. That would have made a real 911 competitor with existing parts. Where’s Bob Lutz when you need him!?

 

Your posts have gotten hard to follow again, please turn on the spell/grammar check.

So what you're saying is that Maserati will never have any chance with a car that has its own engine because the market has no faith in their ability to manufacture a new motor right?

They are putting a slightly detuned version of the same motor in their new smaller SUV the Grecale so if that sells enough units then maybe we'll find out.
You do realize that they had to cut the cord with Ferrari manufactured engines at some point, right?
Which 4.6 na V8? is that?

Then there's all the EV BS to deal with

 

Yeah lets unpack your post.
From my understanding, including my Alfa Maserati dealer the maseratis by 5 years are money pits. Maybe its not conrods going through the block, more like 10001 systems and little bits. Now were talking about a highly stressed new motor with new cylinder head tech that highly reliant on all sensors and computer etc to really work properly. Yes many buyers of these cdars flip out after a year or two. But I think here in this site were long term keepers, so ability to do so is a factor.

Also even for short term owners there needs to be a strong secondary market, that market is based on desire. True some of that desire is pure hey look at me and brand equity. Maserati has the hey look at me with the Mc20, but otherwise the past decade of brand equity is not much. That then leaves us with the nature of the car. Essentially a big heavyish Gt car with unknown long term durability. Pretty much where aston has sat for a decade or two, and used prices reflect that.

As others here have said,m Alfa missed an opportunity not putting a TTv6 in the 4c, along with wishbone suspension for say 150K. Then maserati announced it was doing the Mc20 which omn paper sounded like that car. Instead we got a 37000lbs car, with a sparse looking interior(good for a pure car) that is in other respects a Gt car. Its not really lux, and not really a pure car. Lets say for the Gt car guy its an alternative to a 200k porsche or some aston vantage. That's a pretty crowded space.

Now its undoubtably true that if you want to do necessary volume you have to be able to sell in the Gt car space, cause that's what most buyers want, sports car pretensions, and esatz race car that really confly on road. But if that's all you offer, then its also a saturated market. We have merc Sl's Lexus Lc500 thing, pretty much most 911s, aston vantages etc. In that regard the masser is overpriced.
On th eoter hand further up the food chain we see that gt3s are realistically close on 300k, as are junior mclarens and lambos. If Maserati wants to go fishing in this pool too, it needs to loose 4-500lbs and have that mtor sound awesome(which can be done with a TT v6) plus dial in the suspension to work on track too, as well as offering seats etc for that use.
The hard care versions of cars are usualy the lowest volume(Gt4 being the exceptions) but they underpin the cred of the line, and youre building off the same platform so costs are minimal..

To me the Mc20 is a little too exotiuc to be an old mans Gt car, and for that matter not really hard focused evocative(besides styling) to be a younger persons car that really gets the blood flowing.
Its in so many ways an italian vette. I love the looks, its classy, exotic, but why would I buy this over aGt4rs, its not for the motor, or the focus, or reliability or ability on or off track, and that imo is its problem, besides looks there is no usp and its fishing in a crowded GT pool.

Ill put it another way, if the car could get to a near competitive 3300lbs and a little more focus with less complexity(like they did with some of the special Gts coupes theyd have somehti9g compelling, dosent have to be the ":fastest": whatever that means, just benchmark a Gt3 on track in terms of speed, feel, sound durability, cost to run etc.
The mc 20 doesn't need wings and over the top tasteless crap. It needs the hard work done, thoughtful weight loss by loosing a bunch of gt crap, focused suspension, and a motor that sounds like it sing's form the cabin(doable in a TTv6).

The template was set by porsche and well learned by the vette team, you build a number of variants of one platform. the changes are minimal(mc 20 same mtor) but you cover a broad bandwidth and gain cred. For the same price as the Gt Mc20 masser could offer the focussed one. The MC20 could and should be the modern day rendition of that sweet spot hit by the 288 Gto. Classy, stylish, good/reasonable comfort for the road, with a touch of lux, but near on track capable suspension and powerplant. That's the Halo that sells the Gt's. A car that is an occasion to take out on a early sunday am, and/or "feels" focussed like a racer on track As a modern it can still hack it in traffic etc.

Perhaps to you last point this car was flawed from conception because they wanted to make an electric version, so it is irredeemably heavy to accommodate that. But most elric cars if you remove the batteries are built really light, cause that's where weight is lost, in the rest of the car.

I think Lotus is making the same flawed assumptions witht he emira. It looks exotic, the cabin is really nice, it even has a manual. But there is simply no area in which the car stands our and makes a up, unless one considers exotic styling with a stick to be usp. They'll sell a bunch for a few years then saturate quickly.

I don't know whether kids still put car posters on walls, but if they did, would the Mc20 be in the top 3, unlikely.

BMW built its brand cause those in the know bought them, and others who couldn't really tell the difference followed. Alfa sales in USA have been on a slow steady upward trajectory for the same reasons.

 

Well, that IS an ugly story. I wonder how many buy backs there are for the other exotics?

Just call me Al seems to love his?

 

Gosh Stewart it sounds like you've developed MDS by just exchanging views on this car.
I haven't even driven it have you?
You also haven't answered my specific question about the V8 you guys were referring to.

If their new V6 turns out to be the disaster you claim it potentially could be then that's the end for Maserati and I think they know that.

I wonder if they'll drop the Ferrari V8 from the Levant next year and replace it with their new V6?

 

My understanding is the V8 is gone by the end of this year. Only the vette Guys and Porche are smart enough to keep NA.
Im pointing out that if the v6 really had that exotic bark it could work, impo it can be every bit the equal of the motor in the f40.
Doesn't mean the v6 is a disaster, its just an unknown, with the maserati track record which is not great in th esense that after a few years these cars become very expensive to run.

 

I clearly remember the day this engine was revealed. A former employee of the late Ted Rutlands (may Ted RIP) Ferrari parts, Lee, and myself were driving to NJ to see the folks at AW Auto parts. I read the specifics of the engine, emphasizing the massive injection pressure, and Lee, being encyclopedic of all things Maserati from the 80s, gasped together and stated, "Maserati, two turbos, extremely high pressure injection system essentially unused and untested on anything else to date, what could possible go wrong". Now, all that said, this is an entirely different company so I don't expect this to be a '84 biturbo engine, but I would not be surprised if this 300 bar injection system with pre-chamber doesn't see some issues after a few years, not to mention the turbos themselves having issues, as all turbo cars eventually do.....

 

They will be dying too.

They get paid by Maserati to service your vehicle. It is in their interest to make sure they have a way to service your car, whether you bought it there or not.

Service and sales, while simpatico in many respects are really separate profit centers.

 

@Call me Al drives his MC20 at the track quite a bit, in addition to a highly customized Giulia QV and a moderately customized Stelvio QV.
he is very active on the Giulia Forum; I have not heard him post about any issues with the Maser; and he is a pretty straight shooter when it comes to stuff like that.
There will always be 1st run cars with issues; **** happens; and the squeeky wheel is the one that gets the oil; I like the styling of the MC20 very much; never drove one however; as someone mentioned at the current pricing there are other sports cars that I covet more; not a knock on the Maser; maybe my opinion will change if I get a chance to drive one

 

I’m still hoping prices depreciate on these sooner than later. I think it looks to be a great fit for me. But like everyone said, too many other “better” options over the $200k price point on the used market in particular.

I don’t get the matte paints or satin finishes or Easter egg colors… I can’t imaging resale being great on any of those options in the future. Kind of like green refrigerators… always frozen in time and not currently sought after.

but I guess they make the cars for all tastes. I think the engine posters are referring to is the 4.7 engine from the granturismo s from 2009-2017. Sounds great. But only 450 hp and that may not be enough with this heavier mc20 to get better than sub 4 sec 0-60… but it sounds great in my Granturismo sport.

Robb

 

Additionally, that is a dead engine architecture manufactured by Ferrari. Engines manufactured by Ferrari are being phased out so that's not something to build a future upon.

 

Here you go. https://youtu.be/L_CkvlR2Or4

 

it should have flat plane crank

 

Sean,
.. the sounds I heard as I drove with and was passed by an MC20 on E6 in Sweden last year were absolutely fabulous, IMHO. I wish I had captured it.. it gave me nothing but positive vibes.

Maybe it's like the old 4.9 - which was selected by the journalists at Classic and Sportscar Magazine as the best sounding classic car engine in automotive history: You may have to hear it "in anger", WOT on the open road... it's not just for sitting and blipping the throttle to titillate teenagers.

Cheers,
- Art

 

Hey guys. Looking for some feedback here. I’ve got a great deal on an as-new 2022 MC20 spec’d pretty much how I’d order it with the exception of it having steel brakes vs CCBs. Two potential issues here: 1) resale and 2) driving enjoyment. Regarding the latter, I’m a canyon carver not a track rat, so please consider that in your response. Would love to hear from anyone who’s driven the MC20 with both types of brakes and can offer a comparison. As for resale, it does seem as though quite a few of them — like 50% or more — were ordered with steelies, which sort of surprises me. Possibly that’s due to them being hard to distinguish visually from the CCBs. In any case would love any and all types of feedback.

 

My 0.2c, Steelies are a way better option than ceramics, other than for bling. As for resale, you can see on BAT that a MC20 with only 1k miles wont fetch msrp, its not an investment., If you like the car and love to drive it thats why you should buy it. BTW that shoudl be true for nay new car. The porche and ferraris are currently an anomaly ASt elkast with Ferrai you can buy at MSRP with a wait. Porche is a market that will collapse..

 

Last week I was invited with other european club presidents to Autodromo Varano outside Parma. In the afternoon we were treated with the Maserati masters driving experience. For me it was the first time driving the new GT Trofeo as well as MC 20. Both cars were very impressive and we were allowed and and encouraged to drive as fast as we could. What was incredibly impressive was that both cars seemed to take hour after hour of track driving in 40 degrees C without any complaint! No bad smell, no smoke, just lap after lap without any issue. That shows that these cars are very well built!

 

How did the two compare to each other

I am curious to know


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

How did the two compare to each other

I am curious to know


I just wrote an article about this experience for our club magazine. It is a long article so this is just a short part of it, using google translate.

"The interior of the GranTurismo Trofeo is completely new and modernly designed with electronic screens in front of the steering wheel and in the center console. There are a number of different "driving modes" and we are not allowed to drive with the most aggressive "corsa", but all cars are set to "sport", which gives a good balance between performance and safety. When you sit in the driver's seat, you feel that it is a big car with a long hood. The track is quite tricky and not entirely easy to figure out during the first laps.
The GT Trofeo turns in impressively well for being so big and heavy. The gears fly up and down without the slightest delay. What a difference compared to old cambiocorsa boxes! The grip is also fantastically impressive. It sits as if glued to the track with no perceptible under or oversteer. The 550 horses push well out of the turns. It has very good torque and we are told to drive in third gear even in the slowest corners, which it does just fine. On the straight I manage to register just over 180km/h before it's time to step on the brakes. All four GT Trofeo have regular disc brakes which work really well despite the extremely hot and heavy car.
Time to drive the MC 20! The driving position is lower and the seat more upright, just as it should be in a racing car. It is already felt in the first turn that this is a much more focused car. The steering is more direct, the suspension considerably stiffer. The whole car feels incredibly solid and this is due to the ultra-stiff carbon fiber monocoque. There is slightly better power in the engine (630hp) compared to the GT Trofeo, it is noticeable that it has higher turbo pressure. Over 5000 revolutions it pulls away properly. I drive the first session with a good margin to get to know the car. Out of a total of five passes, I get two in MC 20, the second and fourth.
When it's time to drive the MC 20 for the second time, I know the track and got used to the car. Now it's time to push a little! I see 195km/h flutter by before it's time to step on the brakes after the start/finish line. Here there are carbon fiber brakes and it's like driving into a wall when you brake at max. Impressive!"

 

Thank you


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Thanks for the feedback. Concur this car isn’t an investment unless bought really right, but maximizing resale is a factor even if one is facing certain depreciation. Can you expand a bit on why you think steel brakes are a better option in general and this car in particular?