seattlecarfreak

News is out that the new maserati gran turismo will start at the same price as the SL550. this makes me seriously consider this car as a replacement... am I alone here?

CY

For me it depends on the lease terms.....I like it but not enough to get raped on it. Pleasant surprise about the price.

jmejones

Why? It only does a 5.7 0-60, not hard top convertible, and unproven quality. Maserati is notori0us for poor suspensions (feel for the road that is). I'm not a MB homer but I cant see this being a player in vs an SL except on sheer looks.

seattlecarfreak

Well 0-60 in 5.7 for $95k is faster than the SL550 for $95k.

I expect the convertible to follow shortly thereafter the hardtop.. in terms of unproven quality.... the current one isn't "that" bad in terms of quality, so they have proven themselves.

I love my SL, but it is tempting...

JackStraw

It is a very nice looking car, and it has a usable rear seat. I have read many reviews of the Maseratis and get the impression that the transmission has not been perfected. However, I have not driven one, nor have I driven a 7-speed MB. I'd love to hear from someone who has driven both.

ItalianStallion

Early MB 7speeds have had their share of problems too (believe me on this one). I am pretty sure that this new Maserati will come with the 6 speed auto that is used in the quattroporte which is supposed to be a very good tranny. I think the car is beautiful and it will probably be more rare and more of a headturner than the SL. Plus, for some reason Maserati seems to impress more people than a Benz. I'd get it just for its hot style and back seats. Plus the 400hp engine probably ain't THAT bad. Its definitely worth considering.

Murtaza

SL550 0-60 is 5.3sec. Where is the GranTurismo 0-60 5.7sec coming from? It puts out 400 hp and doesn't look too heavy, would expect something better than the 550

I think it looks great and will certainly be an attention getter, i'd just rather spend the same money on a nice 05-06 SL55

BrabusTrojanSL

Its a nice car but no comparison to an SL. I have driven the Quattroporte and the transmission is in no way as clutch as the SL 550 7speed. It looks good, but not as good looking as an SL. Sure there will be a convertible, but probably not hard top. And why get a sports car that has a rear seat? Hands down an SL over that car, but it does look nice

pmb600

This is very true. Maserati's always draw more attention because of their realative rarity compared to MB, even though they are comparably priced. This weekend I saw two Quattroportes put right up front at the Neiman's valet in Short Hills. The dozens of MBs, BMWs, and Audis were put away in the valet lot though because everyone is used to seeing those lol.

RJC

The engine note from the Maser is musical, the interior will be awesome and the car will not be on every other corner like an SL. In addition the car will get the new 6 speed just like the new QP's so the herky jerky stuff will no longer be an issue. I think the car is more of an alternative to the CL than the SL.

Guido1986

I heard that the maserati gran turismo will go for about $135k so it will be a alternative to the SL600 more than the 550....Anyways, I love the gran turismo but I dont think ill trade my SL for it.

blazinginder

I'd get one IF there were a hardtop conv for around 100 (which will never happen) haha

Guido1986

I just looked at some more pics of the gran turismo I still love it but it kinda looks alittle jaguarish to me

JackStraw

To me looks it like a Maserati Coupe fused with an Aston rear end and Ferrari front fenders. I think it is a great looking car. They have one in Ferrari showroom on Park Avenue.

seattlecarfreak

"At the Chicago Auto Show, Maserati PR man Jeffrey Ehoodin said "We are not an exotic." In case that didn't get the message across, Maserati has put its money where its mouth is, pricing the new GranTurismo at $95,000. That slots the Maser in above the Jaguar XKR convertible and below the BMW M6 Coupe and Mercedes CL.
Maserati discovered that people thought their cars were as expensive as DB9's and Continental GT's. That's great for the prestige stakes, but awful for the bottom line. The GranTurismo is, in fact, $18K cheaper than the cheapest Aston Martin, the V8 Vantage. Though the Maserati is short 15 hp to and .7 seconds slower to 60 than the XKR, what you get instead is a rolling sculpture designed by the man who penned the 599, usable rear seats, and the Maserati cachet that everyone else seems to think costs so much. And even though you don't see too many XKR's on the road, you're guaranteed to see even few GranTurismos -- if you're into that sort of thing. To all those folks who wanted Maserati's but thought they couldn't afford one, when the car arrives in June, you can come on in from the cold."

Germancar1

Actually the SL550 is a 4.8-5.2 sec 0-60 car so it is actually faster than the Maser, according to real world test numbers for the SL vs a MFR figure for the Maser.

M

boylston

The cost of the two cars may be the same today but the SL won't depreciate as much. Owners will take their "second hit" when it's trade in time.

m_berman

The Mer is like a beautiful woman...but with a disease. In talking to previous owners, they tell you its more like a Sunday car.

The Itals make a beautiful cabin design interior as well as the English's AstM. MB is not in this league.

06CLK350

I owned a 2005 maserati grandsport and i have to say that the back seat is very usable. I have used it many items comfortably. As for the gearbox, they repaired it. It is not flappy anymore. It is very smooth. I am going to be getting this car in July 2008.

06CLK350

What year was the quattroporte that you drove? In 07, they came out with a full automatic transmission.

Also, the gran turismo will do 0-60 in 5 seconds flat. Who said 5.7?

ItalianStallion

That basically sums it all up.

harpz

final production pics

mikeblah

I think this is an interesting new model, the rare factor is huge, especially when everyone and their mother (literally) has an SL around here. i think i'll check them out more.

but i'll tell you i was blown away when i chanced upon a new Jaguar XKR couple a few weeks ago. i was minding my own business checking out range rovers with the girlfriend, and couldn't get enough of that XKR. the convertible looks like *** with the top up, but the coupe is hot.

they had upgraded rims on it, supercharged, and still only about 100k and when you sit down and see that jaguar in the steering wheel growling it, well, i liked it.

i've been looking for an sl alternative, but with the amount i drive, about 1-2k a year, i'm not interested in stepping up to the $180-$250 range.

any other alternatives people are looking at?

Guido1986

Check out the new Audi R8 nothing else on the road looks like it

TimsSL65

Two observations:

1) When I bring my Ferrari to the Auto Gallery (Ferrari and Maserati authorized dealer) for service, I notice a disproportionate number of Maserati's in the service bay's. My good friend, the service manager, told me that there are substantial reliability issues with these cars.

2) If the Maserati maintenance cost remotely approaches a Ferrari (the engines are similar...albeit the Maserati is substantially detuned), you better budget accordingly. Examples of my Ferrari service are as follows: oil change $600, 5000 mile tune-up $2000, clutch $5000, 30,000 mile major tune-up $6000, etc.

Tim