S55 or Maserati Quattroporte
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Joined: Jun 2002
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S55 or Maserati Quattroporte
I have an E55 on order, but the wife wants more room. The Maserati is SWEET looking, but given only a reported 400 hp and the ususual Italian auto problems and a first year car, am I crazy to even consider it?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Vail, Colorado
well that depends on where you live. If you dont live in a city with a maserati/ferrari dealershi then you will be SOL. Personally i dont like the look of it either and 400 horses hmm....GO for the S55 its a great car best MB in the family so far.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 237
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From: MA, USA
W126 1991 350SDL
i've got my eye on the QP. still a TON of unanswered questions on the car though.
the biggest potential mess appears to be that it is only shipping with one tranny option: the F1 sequential manual paddle-shifter. historically, ferrari's F1 trannies have not been wildly superb for in-traffic driving. there apparently will be no "fully automatic" mode.
again, this is all conjecture and rumor. i have no hard data yet. i don't believe we'll see any deliveries in the US until 2004.
doody.
the biggest potential mess appears to be that it is only shipping with one tranny option: the F1 sequential manual paddle-shifter. historically, ferrari's F1 trannies have not been wildly superb for in-traffic driving. there apparently will be no "fully automatic" mode.
again, this is all conjecture and rumor. i have no hard data yet. i don't believe we'll see any deliveries in the US until 2004.
doody.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: .
08 GL450
Since it was designed by the same person who did the Ferrari Enzo and the coming Ferrari 460GT replacement for the 456 GT , I was expecting something very exciting for the QP. Instead , it looks like a Buick Park Avenue , even down to the triple port holes on the front fenders.
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From: Atlanta
2004 S 600
By next July you can get the Royal version of the Quattroporte which is a 560 HP Ferrari V12.....and the car is an L version with an even more elaborate back seat. Check out Italiaspeed.com for info....a good source.....I'm getting the Royale and dumping my S600.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: NYC
2004 Maserati Coupe
I agree with MercManiac. If the Italiaspeed website is correct (and I am not sure it is), monster versions of the QP are in store in the near future. At 400 HP, the QP won't be able to compete performance-wise with an AMG rocket, but a 550+ HP version will. So it might be worth waiting. My most recent monthly email from Maser showcasing the QP only mentioned a 400 HP version, however, so we will have to wait and see. Perhaps we will get more details on Sep 9 at Frankfurt.
As far as the transmission is concerned, similar to the the current coupe and spyder, the QP F1 will have a fully automatic mode. In fact, the auto mode will be the default setting (not manual like in my car). In addition, Maser has stated that the F1 software has/will be re-mapped for the QP to provide much smoother shifts and driving. Given that my own F1 tranny has undergone considerable improvements (upgraded by my dealer) in the last 6 months, Maser's claim has some validity. But it will be a tough feat to make it perform as well as the buttery smooth autos seen in the MB. As a coupe driver, I spend 95% of the time in manual mode (sport), but I imagine buyers of a luxo-cruiser will need a viable automatic to consider a QP. I guess only time will tell (and a test drive), but I would not rule it out. Hopefully, for Maser's sake, they do it right.
Regarding aesthetics, I agree the portholes are not needed, but I like the car anyways. Key is to get a DARK COLOR!!
As far as the transmission is concerned, similar to the the current coupe and spyder, the QP F1 will have a fully automatic mode. In fact, the auto mode will be the default setting (not manual like in my car). In addition, Maser has stated that the F1 software has/will be re-mapped for the QP to provide much smoother shifts and driving. Given that my own F1 tranny has undergone considerable improvements (upgraded by my dealer) in the last 6 months, Maser's claim has some validity. But it will be a tough feat to make it perform as well as the buttery smooth autos seen in the MB. As a coupe driver, I spend 95% of the time in manual mode (sport), but I imagine buyers of a luxo-cruiser will need a viable automatic to consider a QP. I guess only time will tell (and a test drive), but I would not rule it out. Hopefully, for Maser's sake, they do it right.
Regarding aesthetics, I agree the portholes are not needed, but I like the car anyways. Key is to get a DARK COLOR!!
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: SoCal
W221
my 2 cents....I personally think the Maserati is nice. Lately I have been about trying new things. That is why I bought an audi when I did. Didn't want to be another mercedes or bimmer driver. Not sayin anything is wrong with that, but look at what I'm gettin next. The dark side has pulled me in. I loved the audi cause it was new and I thought it was worth just as much as an E320 or 530I. My 2 cents...try something new...go againest the flow....
