[Vincenzo]

Originally Posted by Markcq

I totally agree, I raced my friends M5 and lost by 3 car lengths and I got a better start but one thing everyone always forgets and that is that awesome skyhook suspension.

I had the same experience with an M5 at Pocono last year. It would inch away from me under full throttle on the straights but, in the turns, I'd be right back on his bumper (I did have the FD spring upgrades though).

[RaCinStylez]

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

I had the same experience with an M5 at Pocono last year. It would inch away from me under full throttle on the straights but, in the turns, I'd be right back on his bumper (I did have the FD spring upgrades though).

Was that with your GS or a QP? I wonder if FD DBW, ECM, Larani exhaust, and air filter on a QP would close the gap on straights....

[maranello71]

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Welcome to the forum.

The QP is nearing the end of its production cycle. Not sure when "a few years" is for you, but it may be a little tough then to find one with so few miles.

I'd rather get an auto, so to avoid expensive clutch replacements, and I think it generally suits the type of car better. But if I were you, I'd rather consider a second hand GranTurismo, though no one knows what prices will be like for used cars in 2~5 years' time.

I disagree, you'll find plenty of cars with very low mileage, but at a price much lower than you planned for. I think $60K will be top money for a 4.7 liter QP GTS by the time the car is out of production. In the next 2-3 years there will be plenty of duo-select 4.2 liter cars with low mileage in the mid $30Ks.

[TravisJ]

Originally Posted by RaCinStylez

I wonder if FD DBW, ECM, Larani exhaust, and air filter on a QP would close the gap on straights....

I can't imagine anyone taking a QP to the track. Then again, I guess I have seen a number of cars on the track that I wouldn't have expected.

It would take quite a bit more than a couple of bolt-on mods to get the QP up to the speed of the really fast sedans. The upgrades mentioned (ECM, exhaust, & filter) may get the QP up to 445 hp +/-. The BMW M5 starts with 500 hp. After similar mods to the M5, you are probably up to 550 hp give or take a few.

I think one of the biggest disadvantages with the QP is the car's weight. If going fast is a concern, a Coupe or GranSport, at 500-600 lbs less, would be a better starting point.

[Vincenzo]

Originally Posted by RaCinStylez

Was that with your GS or a QP? I wonder if FD DBW, ECM, Larani exhaust, and air filter on a QP would close the gap on straights....

It was with my GS Spyder. At the time, I was running totally stock other than the springs. I now have the DBW but, that wouldn't make any difference in the straights. So, the spyder is slightly heaver than the GS coupe and I'm slightly heaver than a typical guy you'd find in a Spyder so, I'm guesing that if I had about 30HP more, it would have probably been dead even with the M5.

[QP Sport]

Originally Posted by TravisJ

I can't imagine anyone taking a QP to the track....

It would take quite a bit more than a couple of bolt-on mods to get the QP up to the speed of the really fast sedans...

I think one of the biggest disadvantages with the QP is the car's weight.

Well, I did! I have never have had a performance vehicle before and certainly never went to the track. I wanted to learn what it could do in a safe, controlled, and non policed environment and went to the Poconos for the Italian Car Weekend to "exercise" the car. I didn't have any mods other than Jeff's Larini exhaust:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05mteoF8N5g

I had difficulty on the straight away only able to reach 135 mph and was blown away by the Lambos. However, on the curved bits, I definitely held my own.

I use the QP as a daily driver except in winter; too much snow. It is a fantastic car, and if it weren't for the cost of the tires, I would track it again in a flash!

[RaCinStylez]

Here is an interesting article I found about the Alpina B5 vs Maserati Quattroporte vs Cadillac CTS-V




QP = 88.35 sec
M5 = 89.95
B5 = 90.10
CTS-V = 91.65

[princemarko]

Fastest Lap times at Hockenheim:

54. BMW M3 1:14.3
75. Mercedes C63 1:15.2
89. Alpina B3 1:15.8

101. Maserati Gransport 1:16.2
150. Maserait GranTurismo 1:17.6

165. Mercedes CLS55 1:17.8

191. Maserati 3200 1:18.4
214. Masearti Quattroporte SPort GT 1:18.9


Yes, the Maserati has tons of style, but its performance is lacking in the luxury saloon and even coupe catagories.

[maseratisportgts]

Originally Posted by princemarko

Fastest Lap times at Hockenheim:

54. BMW M3 1:14.3
75. Mercedes C63 1:15.2
89. Alpina B3 1:15.8

101. Maserati Gransport 1:16.2
150. Maserait GranTurismo 1:17.6

165. Mercedes CLS55 1:17.8

191. Maserati 3200 1:18.4
214. Masearti Quattroporte SPort GT 1:18.9


Yes, the Maserati has tons of style, but its performance is lacking in the luxury saloon and even coupe catagories.

There are no luxury saloons here, the QP is the only one. Rest of them are coupes! And even the gransport has the same engine, and is a ton lighter!! So you can't compare these. it should be with 750i and S63, and B7 Alpinia=

[TravisJ]

Originally Posted by maseratisportgts

There are no luxury saloons here, the QP is the only one. Rest of them are coupes! And even the gransport has the same engine, and is a ton lighter!! So you can't compare these. it should be with 750i and S63, and B7 Alpinia=

Of the 8 princemarko listed, the second one (C63) is a saloon. Here are some more luxury saloon data points...

74. BMW M3 (sedan)
75. Mercedes C63

80. Audi RS6 (c6)

82. Audi RS4 (b7)
83. Mercedes E63

88. Audi RS6 Avant (okay, so this one is a station wagon)
89. Alpina B3 bi-turbo
90. Lexus IS F

108. BMW M5

http://www.fastestlaps.com/track7.html

Without a doubt, there are many faster saloons than the Quattroporte and also many that are slower. None however, have as much style and class.

[maseratisportgts]

I totally agree-

[CashChase]

anyone else find the original post hilarious?

[princemarko]

Originally Posted by maseratisportgts

There are no luxury saloons here, the QP is the only one. Rest of them are coupes! And even the gransport has the same engine, and is a ton lighter!! So you can't compare these. it should be with 750i and S63, and B7 Alpinia=

The C63 is a 4door saloon, so is the CLS55 and CLS63 and that list doesnt even have the monster S65 in it.

Mercedes is the king of ridiculous Horsepower in a saloon, cant argue with 600hp and 1000 ft lbs of torque. 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago.

THe Maserati QP is certainly the most stylish though. It's not fair to compare the QP to those type of cars. The Maserati is like a beautiful woman you have on your arm at the Monte Carlo Casino. Might not be the best as a mother of your kids, but damn are you going to have a fun time.

[RaCinStylez]

you just cant compare.

Maserati gets stares and gasps all the time, its super rare. Mercedes are a dime a dozen, you see them everywhere so therfore no one really cares when they see them on the road.

[princemarko]

Originally Posted by tampagt

I have an 07 QP Sport GT and have driven it to work for the better part of the last 2 years. I love the ZF tranny for everyday around town driving and the sport mode for when the opportunity is there.. No problems with the car at all and now at about 16k miles. The negative dealer issues I have read about hear are not a problem in the Tampa Bay area. Reeves Imports is here and they have done a great job for me, and they are friendly. I see you are planning on moving to Florida so if you are anywhere near Tampa you will get well taken care of there. It still turns heads and gets a regular thumbs up from other drivers and I can go weeks without seeing another one. Great car, not for sale.

Buy one and enjoy, at any speed.

Reeves is good. The Ferrari dealership they put in Palm Harbor has terrible service.