[maranello71]

I just had a fantastic time driving my modded GS very hard on the best roads of Tuscany. Thanks to the FD + Larini upgrades I was able to keep up with 12-cylinder Ferraris (ok, everything except for the stellar 599 GTB) not only in tight handling sections, but also in the straights.

I now fully believe that the FD/Larini upgrades do make a HUGE difference, especially when running on the 100-octane fuel that you can buy at the pump in Italy (at $10 per gallon, ykes!!!). Feeding the engine the good stuff further improves the performance massively - I could not believe how brutally powerful the car felt after a tankful of 100-octane Shell.

A Ferrari-driving friend came for a ride on my GS and was also impressed by the brutal acceleration and power delivery. He was totally unable to shake me off on a drive down some twisty lanes in the Tuscan countryside, and when I was in front of him I could put some clean air between my GS and the nose of his 550 Maranello, even in the straights. Altogether I am 100% satisfied with the performance of my GS, the brakes also performed well after a full service before the trip.

Still... I could not help the feeling that having done everything possible to make the car go as fast as a Ferrari F430, the handling could still be improved. The GS rolls way too much, at least seen from the outside: see the attached picture of me diving into a tight 3rd gear bend. Is it me or that bodyroll is outrageous? Do you think an F430 would display the same wide angle between body and road?

Now the dilemma. Should I invest more money and fit the FD sway bars and springs (and maybe the big brake kit...) or should I just upgrade to an F430 Spider? I DO need the 4-seats (I travelled to Tuscany with wife & two kids in the back), but at this point I do not see any genuine 4-seater SPORTScar beyond the Gransport (The Granturismo S is awesome, but way too big and heavy to be a true sportscar).

[bvanzyl]

It's been said time and again - a Maseari is NOT a sports car (save the MC 12). Love the fact that it could keep up in most cases with F cars, but these are GTs, not super cars. If I wanted to be as quick and nimble as a Ferrari 430, I would have had my junk tied several years ago, and bought a two seater.

I love the sound and performance, but honestly, I find it puzzling why some are so obsessed with trying to get super car performance out of a car that was never built to be one. Nothing wrong with unleashing the beast within (FD DBW and ECU for example), but realism has to be a factor As usual, just my opinion, and no offense is intentionally directed at anyone.

[TravisJ]

Originally Posted by bvanzyl

It's been said time and again - a Maseari is NOT a sports car (save the MC 12). Love the fact that it could keep up in most cases with F cars, but these are GTs, not super cars. If I wanted to be as quick and nimble as a Ferrari 430, I would have had my junk tied several years ago, and bought a two seater.

I love the sound and performance, but honestly, I find it puzzling why some are so obsessed with trying to get sports car performance out of a car that was never built to be one. Nothing wrong with unleashing the beast within (FD DBW and ECU for example), but realism has to be a factor As usual, just my opinion, and no offense is intentionally directed at anyone.

Agreed on all points! No amount of upgrades or modifications will make a heavy 400hp (stock) front-engine grand tourer feel or perform like a lighter weight 485hp (stock) mid-engine sports car like an F430.

Lots of guys think their car can hold up to the performance of high end sports cars but in reality, it is a matter of driver skill over anything else. I'm certain there is a Honda Civic forum somewhere on the web where guys feel like their modded Hondas can hold up to our Maseratis because of some spirited driving where the Maserati didn't pull away. Of course, that doesn't mean the performance of the two cars is similar.

Is is always best to buy the car you really want and not try to make it out of something else.

Back to the OP's question: yes, these cars are horribly undersprung in stock form. I would start with the springs and then think about sway bars if you still aren't happy. I was happy at the racetrack with just new springs but those that pushed harder felt like the sway bars were a help. FlashGordon had both and has written some posts based on his experience.

[maranello71]

Guys, you're missing my point. My main problem is that I see no other decent 4-seater alternative around.

Aston DB9: too big, slow gearbox, heavy, NO space in the back even for kids
Porsche 997: NO space in the back for kids older than 5, and NO trunk space!
Ferrari 612: comes close to my requirements, but still very big.
BMW M3: too common.
BMW M6: the wife doesn't like it, too heavy
Granturismo S: I love it, been driving it for 3 years, but much, much heavier than GS. Definitely miles away from being a sportscar.

At the end of the day, I can go for an F430 but it will be my car to use mostly alone. But it is much more fun to go on holidays with the family and enjoy a nice 4-seater.

By the way: from what I have experienced, a GS with all the FD upgrades including sway bars/springs and brakes, gets as close as you can get to a 4-seater sportscar. And it can kick some serious Ferrari a@@

[TravisJ]

Originally Posted by maranello71

Guys, you're missing my point. My main problem is that I see no other decent 4-seater alternative around.

I don't think anyone doubts that your car is the best solution for your needs. The review read more like a "my car is just as good as" report than a "this fits my needs best" report. That is all. We all love Maseratis, that is why we are here. We just know what they are and what they aren't.

[TBigs]

I'm also not that happy about the body roll, although admittedly it only comes up a few times a year when I'm pushing it beyond its GT intent. I'm considering getting the FD springs, but not a big priority at the moment. Sounds like something you'd get a lot of enjoyment out of though. Not that expensive, either. Give'em a try! Let us know what you think, if you do.

[TravisJ]

IMHO, a set of sport springs is a huge upgrade for anyone that drives fast. Great money spent in my experience!

[AERspyder]

Originally Posted by TravisJ

IMHO, a set of sport springs is a huge upgrade for anyone that drives fast. Great money spent in my experience!

I 100% agree with Travis!! I just got them for mine and WOW what a difference. took 3/4 of the "floaty" feeling away in the turns and specially in higher speed driving.

[TBigs]

No doubt that FD springs will improve body roll on a GS, but I expect that the effect would be even more dramatic on a non-GS car.

[flashgordon]

The Maserati 4200 is a great car hampered by some deliberate design shortcomings. Just because it came that way from the factory doesn't make it right nor does it mean it can't be improved. These cars were handicapped by the factory because they are "world cars" whose market is biased toward the US (where speeds are slow and drivers are more concerned about comfort than "go". They appear to be optimized for Palm Beach cruising and consequently the OEM handling and braking is bad for aggressive high speed use (IMO) and not comparable to most Japanese sport sedans costing 1/3 as much - let alone a real performance car.

A switch to FD springs, sway bars and a big brake it will transform the car. It is not about changing the car in to a sports car but about removing obvious deficiencies that were incorporated solely for marketing purposes. Do it and you will be very surprised at how competent the car will be keeping up with (and often beating) it's F car cousins. I know that I was.

[maranello71]

So the verdict is a 100% "go" for the FD springs.

What about the FD sway bars? Consider that many of the most scenic and enjoyable handling roads in Europe tend to have fairly uneven surfaces. Would the sway bars go too far into making the car too stiff?

I once drove a Ferrari 360 ex-GT racer that had been registered for road use. Every bone in my body was hurting after a short run up a back country road. The road looked smooth, but the car was uncompromisingly stiff and the racing springs/sway bars had absolutely no "give". And the car was jumping all over the place, making it very twitchy and not very effective for a fast driving experience. So... how far should I modify the GS before it goes too far for "real" road use? Springs alone or springs + bars?

[adam01]

Maranello,

Have also added FD DBW & Larini decats/xpipe and consider the performance now is more than adequate.

As already mentioned, the wallowing on these cars at high speed is discomforting and for a GT should be far more stable/directional.
Probably go down the path of the springs first and then maybe add the sway bar

[TravisJ]

Originally Posted by adam01

Probably go down the path of the springs first and then maybe add the sway bar

Agreed. I would install in stages. If the springs alone make you happy with the handling of a car, there is no sense in going any further.

[TBigs]

Agreed, that would be my plan too. Don't overdo it.

[teoh2005]

I did springs, sways and brakes (in addition to dbw,ecu, larini decat/exhaust, spacers, Michelin supersports) all at once. It's a great upgrade that decreases body roll, improves handling and braking without affecting daily driveability. Before the springs the front end would lift on heavy acceleration, now no longer.

If you can spring for an f430, doing all these FD upgrades is a relatively small expense but worth it.

In the end a front engine car (not even mid mounted) will never handle like a mid engine car. FD mods will inspire more confidence but at the end of the day the gransport will still be a 3700lb front engine gt. I love mine for its interior space, style, sound etc but it will ever handle like my cayman.

-Kevin