Maserati Q's

Welcome.

It is my understand that the GS system was a big software upgrade from that of the earlier system. F1 pumps go out, but it is not some freak phenomenon that only happens to this particular car. By the time this car came out, a lot of initial issues with F1 systems had already been worked out and they certainly had a much better idea about what they were doing than they were say, in a '98 355 f1 system. Clutch wears a little faster in an F1 car.

Reliable? Absolutely. Not uncommon seeing one of these as a daily driver without hassle. I live in Las Vegas and these and QPs are very commonplace now. Especially QPs come to think of it.

 

A "real" Gransport can only be '04, '05 or '06. And I'm not even sure there are any '04s in the US. If someone is trying to sell you an '03 "GS" they are lying to you.

As for the gearbox, I've driven mine as a daily driver until october this year, you can do it but it doesn't like heavy traffic. One day I got stuck in the worst jam ever, it got so bad that the clutch started slipping. That's when I decided "no more". However improved the software is, it doesn't cope with bad traffic conditions as well as a human-operated clutch.

 

Mine (2004f1) has been very reliable. Keep it in sport mode for smoother changes. The gransports already had that update built in. First model of the GS was in 2005.

In heavy traffic, I drop back a little bit and it makes a big difference. If your intent on sticking to the rear bumper of the guy in front of you, it will be an unpleasant drive. In late 05 or 06, they had a campaign which provides more "fluid" shifts but takes away a bit of the rawness to the car. I opted back to the original. Your car may have already been upgraded if it was serviced at a dealership.

Other than a clutch change, which involved a few return trips to have the clutch adjusted, and scheduled services, the car has been problem free. The brakes are still good/original with about 33k. no problems with the pump. only items repaired that I can recall is tightening the reverse lever, lubing the front seat rails (i recommend you have this done on each service as preventative maintenance) and replacing the chrome grill(under warranty).

That said, I would look for a car that has a verifiable service history. I've seen some cars driven and cared for very, very poorly.
I think mainly because many were leased and there was little incentive to care for them.

 

Don't know about the QP, but basic Coupe/Spyder/GS maintenance schedule has an initial 6K service, then every 12K miles afterward. 18K, 30K, etc. Plus fluid changes every two years.

Here in SoCal:
Approx: $1750 for my upcoming 6K and fluid change.
Clutch replacement can run $4500+.
And it burns up tires as fast as your Z06. My rears are bald, the front Pirelli P-Zeros may make 8K or 9K miles.