I've owned the Gts for 2 weeks and have had a surprisingly high number of dirty looks from drivers and pedestrians. Even had a neighbor complain about the noise. Never happened before in the Porsche I had prior. Any of you guys have this experience?
Dirty Looks?
maseratigt2013
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Lotus story, Newport Beach, Co Cal: At a stop light before a 270 degree freeway on-ramp, CHP pulls up and winds his window down and we go through the usual conversation:
“What’s that? Looks awesome!”
“Lotus”.
“Never heard of it. Italian?”
“No, British.”
“Why isn’t it on fire then? Italian engine though, surely? V8? V12?
“Ha, no, just a 4, but light so pretty quick”
“Looks like it handles?”
“Like it’s on rails. Want to race me round the corner…?”
No idea why I said that but he laughs, pulls down his Aviators and says “You’re on!”.
He‘s on the inside of the curve but in a Crown Victoria, and I see him in my rear view mirror grinning all over his face as he drifts it. By the time we straighten up after the turn I look down and I’m doing 90, but he pulls up alongside me, gives me the thumbs up, and accelerates away.
“What’s that? Looks awesome!”
“Lotus”.
“Never heard of it. Italian?”
“No, British.”
“Why isn’t it on fire then? Italian engine though, surely? V8? V12?
“Ha, no, just a 4, but light so pretty quick”
“Looks like it handles?”
“Like it’s on rails. Want to race me round the corner…?”
No idea why I said that but he laughs, pulls down his Aviators and says “You’re on!”.
He‘s on the inside of the curve but in a Crown Victoria, and I see him in my rear view mirror grinning all over his face as he drifts it. By the time we straighten up after the turn I look down and I’m doing 90, but he pulls up alongside me, gives me the thumbs up, and accelerates away.
DB9 story, Irvine, CA. First sunny day of the year, ladies in summer dresses, top down (on the car, not the ladies)
Sport cats on a V12, biblically loud, sounds like Old Testament wrath of God doing some smiting.
Floored it off the lights past a UPS truck only to find a CHP right in front of it. Went past him accelerating through 65 in a 45.
Resigned to the inevitable I pull into the right lane at the next light, looking expectantly in the rear view mirror for the flashing lights, but instead he pulls up alongside me, winds his window down and says Good Morning.
“Sorry, sorry, can’t help myself, I honestly have no excuse”.
He laughs, says it the most awesome noise he’s ever heard, and he’ll let me off if I do it again off these lights too.
Seriously, I’m not making this up.
I pull away at perhaps 80%, something just wouldn’t let me give it 100%, but slowed up around 50mph until he caught me up, waved, overtook me and drove off on his way.
Epilogue: 30 seconds later when I was home in my garage, giggling to myself at my lucky escape, I indulged myself in a rather juvenile throttle blip as I shut the engine down, forgetting (as is so easy to do an Aston as the gearshift is in the form of buttons on the dash and not a more traditional lever) that I was still in gear. 6 inches later I did $18,000 of damage to the front of the car and moved a supporting wall 2 inches.
Sport cats on a V12, biblically loud, sounds like Old Testament wrath of God doing some smiting.
Floored it off the lights past a UPS truck only to find a CHP right in front of it. Went past him accelerating through 65 in a 45.
Resigned to the inevitable I pull into the right lane at the next light, looking expectantly in the rear view mirror for the flashing lights, but instead he pulls up alongside me, winds his window down and says Good Morning.
“Sorry, sorry, can’t help myself, I honestly have no excuse”.
He laughs, says it the most awesome noise he’s ever heard, and he’ll let me off if I do it again off these lights too.
Seriously, I’m not making this up.
I pull away at perhaps 80%, something just wouldn’t let me give it 100%, but slowed up around 50mph until he caught me up, waved, overtook me and drove off on his way.
Epilogue: 30 seconds later when I was home in my garage, giggling to myself at my lucky escape, I indulged myself in a rather juvenile throttle blip as I shut the engine down, forgetting (as is so easy to do an Aston as the gearshift is in the form of buttons on the dash and not a more traditional lever) that I was still in gear. 6 inches later I did $18,000 of damage to the front of the car and moved a supporting wall 2 inches.
Maserati Story, freeway south of San Francisco.
“How fast do you think you were going, Sir?”
“Honestly, 85”.
“Exactly right, I appreciate the honesty”
“I know this isn’t an excuse but can I show you my challenge?”
“Umm Ok”
I start it up, rev it, and explain that you drive this car to the sound to the engine, often meaning you’re really not looking at the actual speed.
“Well I do see your problem Sir, but I encourage you to try to overcome it. It does sound awesome though – I have to ask what gear you were in when you came past me just now…”
“You’re asking me what gear I was in when I overtook you doing 20mph over the posted speed limit…”
“Yes”
“3rd, I was still accelerating…”
He roared with laughter and gave me a fixit ticket for not having a front plate.
Epilogue: when I took it into SFPD to prove compliance the guy behind the counter told me it was ugly and to take it off again immediately.
“How fast do you think you were going, Sir?”
“Honestly, 85”.
“Exactly right, I appreciate the honesty”
“I know this isn’t an excuse but can I show you my challenge?”
“Umm Ok”
I start it up, rev it, and explain that you drive this car to the sound to the engine, often meaning you’re really not looking at the actual speed.
“Well I do see your problem Sir, but I encourage you to try to overcome it. It does sound awesome though – I have to ask what gear you were in when you came past me just now…”
“You’re asking me what gear I was in when I overtook you doing 20mph over the posted speed limit…”
“Yes”
“3rd, I was still accelerating…”
He roared with laughter and gave me a fixit ticket for not having a front plate.
Epilogue: when I took it into SFPD to prove compliance the guy behind the counter told me it was ugly and to take it off again immediately.
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I enjoyed the stories, Brit Maz 
I was driving around the beach earlier today with a black Lambo Murceliego - such a beautiful piece of machinery - I think the color really makes a difference on what type of attention a car receives. It seemed to get positive feedback almost entirely (same as my black maserati). Last week I drove around with a buddy in his red 458 ... definitely different level of attention and some looks were not especially friendly. I never understand why some people seem to disdain others whom are doing maybe better than themselves financially. I'm in the market for a gallardo right now and really set on orange or green - I expect more dirty looks in that than the 99% positive looks I get in my black GT S. We will find out soon! (Patiently awaiting the right car to come up... maybe not so patiently)
I was driving around the beach earlier today with a black Lambo Murceliego - such a beautiful piece of machinery - I think the color really makes a difference on what type of attention a car receives. It seemed to get positive feedback almost entirely (same as my black maserati). Last week I drove around with a buddy in his red 458 ... definitely different level of attention and some looks were not especially friendly. I never understand why some people seem to disdain others whom are doing maybe better than themselves financially. I'm in the market for a gallardo right now and really set on orange or green - I expect more dirty looks in that than the 99% positive looks I get in my black GT S. We will find out soon! (Patiently awaiting the right car to come up... maybe not so patiently)
I enjoyed the stories, Brit Maz
I was driving around the beach earlier today with a black Lambo Murceliego - such a beautiful piece of machinery - I think the color really makes a difference on what type of attention a car receives. It seemed to get positive feedback almost entirely (same as my black maserati). Last week I drove around with a buddy in his red 458 ... definitely different level of attention and some looks were not especially friendly. I never understand why some people seem to disdain others whom are doing maybe better than themselves financially. I'm in the market for a gallardo right now and really set on orange or green - I expect more dirty looks in that than the 99% positive looks I get in my black GT S. We will find out soon! (Patiently awaiting the right car to come up... maybe not so patiently)
I have an orange gallardo spyder. Expect it to be in the middle of that black murci and the red 458.
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Actually exactly what I am looking for (spyder) - I'm just doing my best to practice patience whilst searching daily online while at work. The 'perfect' one hasn't come up just yet. (interested in selling yours?hah.) At this rate I might hold off until next spring. You know how lovely these NH winters are.
Colour is indeed part of the equation, particularly with Ferrari & Lambo. I should have mentioned that the Lotus, Aston and Maz are all black.
And all convertibles, which I think is also important as it somehow takes away a barrier between the disgruntled outside and the perceived wanker inside. A stop light or a car park with the top down almost always produces a conversation.
And all convertibles, which I think is also important as it somehow takes away a barrier between the disgruntled outside and the perceived wanker inside. A stop light or a car park with the top down almost always produces a conversation.
The car for which I received the warmest reception was without doubt the DB9. I was living in The OC at the time but I brought it up to San Francisco for a few weeks for purposes of wooing she who is now my wife, and was quite concerned as the conspicuous consumption that is so acceptably brash in The OC is completely the reversed in the Bay Area, where your average 21 year old tech billionaire drives a Prius, a bike or nothing at all.
Happily I found people actually stopping and applauding (!) as I drove by, sport cats shooting flame out the back and End of Days V12 thundering off the walls. The most bizarre incident came when I parked it on the street in The Mission (not smart at all in any way) and came out from the restaurant to find a group of 6 or 7 “young Gentlemen” standing around it. I thought I’d finally got my comeuppance until they told me they were actually guarding it for me!
Or was it for James Bond…?
Happily I found people actually stopping and applauding (!) as I drove by, sport cats shooting flame out the back and End of Days V12 thundering off the walls. The most bizarre incident came when I parked it on the street in The Mission (not smart at all in any way) and came out from the restaurant to find a group of 6 or 7 “young Gentlemen” standing around it. I thought I’d finally got my comeuppance until they told me they were actually guarding it for me!
Or was it for James Bond…?
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77 Posts
Loving all these experience stories.
Figured I'd share a non-Maserati related one. My business partner drives a matte black LP640 coupe with black chrome wheels. I'm convinced this thing has zero pipes...the sound of the 6 liter V12 is seriously ear piercing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE engine/exhaust sounds, but there's a limit. After about 30 minutes of driving this thing you would actually have a headache and want to jump out. To make matters worse, he has something called a Liberty Walk kit on the car (I think it completely ruins it as a whole). So this means very wide fenders, with that comes very bad width clearance issues, and the thing is slammed to the ground. Which, calls for very bad ground clearance issues. Whatever modification this was clearly disabled Lamborghini's genius front axle lift feature...keep in mind, this guy is much older than I am. I've just got powder coated wheels on my silver GT. When I had my Gallardo I left it completely stock and no cosmetic modifications...maybe I'm just boring.
I have to drive this thing from his house to our office where my very modest 2002 Jaguar XJR100 is parked so we can both get our cars and part ways. The drive was all of 45 minutes, not through any particularly bad areas, but people were out and about. College kids, families, people going to work, etc....I'm getting death glares left and right. Luckily his pitch black tint can shield my face from the outside world. Last leg of the drive where I go to get off the exit to where our office is, BAM someone throws a huge blob of ice cream at me as I'm getting off the exit. What blows my mind isn't the act, it's that how the hell were they able to propel a massive blob of ice cream at highway speeds without a container...blows my mind to this day.
I go upstairs and give him the keys and walk to my office and scratch my head and say "dude you might want to go downstairs and hose your car off. Someone threw ice cream at it"
His response: "eh, happens all the time"
Figured I'd share a non-Maserati related one. My business partner drives a matte black LP640 coupe with black chrome wheels. I'm convinced this thing has zero pipes...the sound of the 6 liter V12 is seriously ear piercing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE engine/exhaust sounds, but there's a limit. After about 30 minutes of driving this thing you would actually have a headache and want to jump out. To make matters worse, he has something called a Liberty Walk kit on the car (I think it completely ruins it as a whole). So this means very wide fenders, with that comes very bad width clearance issues, and the thing is slammed to the ground. Which, calls for very bad ground clearance issues. Whatever modification this was clearly disabled Lamborghini's genius front axle lift feature...keep in mind, this guy is much older than I am. I've just got powder coated wheels on my silver GT. When I had my Gallardo I left it completely stock and no cosmetic modifications...maybe I'm just boring.
I have to drive this thing from his house to our office where my very modest 2002 Jaguar XJR100 is parked so we can both get our cars and part ways. The drive was all of 45 minutes, not through any particularly bad areas, but people were out and about. College kids, families, people going to work, etc....I'm getting death glares left and right. Luckily his pitch black tint can shield my face from the outside world. Last leg of the drive where I go to get off the exit to where our office is, BAM someone throws a huge blob of ice cream at me as I'm getting off the exit. What blows my mind isn't the act, it's that how the hell were they able to propel a massive blob of ice cream at highway speeds without a container...blows my mind to this day.
I go upstairs and give him the keys and walk to my office and scratch my head and say "dude you might want to go downstairs and hose your car off. Someone threw ice cream at it"
His response: "eh, happens all the time"
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Hahahahahaha. Loved this story. I like a nice sounding exhaust/engine ... but from how you described that ... too much! (Maybe I'm just getting old at 26, lol, but there is a limit with exhausts until, like you stated, it's just TOOO much.)
I have a colleague at work who thinks all cars should be slammed and loud ... I had to just politely say "i'll think about it" when he suggested I do that to the granturismo. I'm all for tasteful mods - but the line that goes from tasteful to TOO much/stupid is VERY thin.
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I found my Porsche 911 caused much more dirty looks and road anger. Three and a half years (25k miles) with the GT and only two instances of angry drivers. One guy yelled at me (believe it or not) for pulling over to let an ambulance by. Another passed me and flipped me off because I wasn't going fast enough for him (I was doing 59 in a heavily patrolled 55 zone). All other interactions have been positive, with men, women and kids giving me the thumbs up or coming over to chat.
Was it a GT3RS or a specialty 911 in a bright color? I see base 911's in black, silver, and white everywhere and I while I've never owned one I feel they blend into traffic and cause absolutely no drama from other drivers. I have actually seriously considered a 2017 4S in black because of this...
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Nope, base 911, had two - one dark blue and the other white. My GTS is very bright blu sofisticato though.
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Love 911's. I'm a Porsche man at heart. I had a 993 which I deeply regret selling, base 996, 997 GT3 RS, and 997 C2S (guards red). All of which blended in for the most part.
Funny you should say you're considering a 991.2, I read an article noting the trends of 911 generations (air cooled to water cooled, and now to turbocharged), and how they think the water cooled models will appreciate in value like the 993's did when the water cooled 996 came out. I'm on order for a 911 R. The only reason for this is that I passed up an opportunity to buy a 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 at a bargain back in late 2011. Last naturally aspirated 3 pedal Porsche (911 R)...or so they say?
I've actually got my eye on a 2016 991 C4 GTS in triple black with 7k miles. I also think these will depreciate for a while but then come back up in value in the long term. Not sure if I can part with anything in my lineup for it though!
Haha - I have the same issue. I have a serious desire for 991.2 Targa, but I just don't have the garage space... I would have to sell my dirt bikes and my Moto Guzzi (which is my commuter) to make space. But that's a major decsiion - as much as I love cars, nothing gives the same feeling of engagement as a motorcycle - I just love my commute everytime I get on my bike.
And my kids love spending time either riding the dirt bikes or taking day long trips exploring on the road bike. Such a great way to spend time together.
And yet that Targa beckons...
Decisions...
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Holy moly! a gated Gallardo?! I don't blame you one bit. My biggest regret is getting rid of my LP550-2 Balboni. Biggest mistake ever.
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I noticed the picture of your GTs, beautiful car, but I also noticed you are parked in a handicap cross-walk or handicap loading access area in the picture, do the dirty looks you mention happen primarily when you do that??
I'm just having fun with you man... welcome to the group, we a friendly bunch...
You are parked in a blue zone in the picture though, right?
Love reading these stories.. tempted to drive a little faster to hopefully get a story of my own lol. I usually go only about 8 over. I get up to the speed limit really.. really fast, but don't speed often lol.
Worried one day I'm going to open it up on an empty freeway, get seen, and lose my license or something.
Worried one day I'm going to open it up on an empty freeway, get seen, and lose my license or something.
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