[jscalia]

what is old is new again … the Ghibli is the modern equivalent! Built on a Chrysler 200 platform with Maserati problems.

 

[jscalia]

I liked the body of the Allante but yeah … mechanically it was a nightmare.

 

[jscalia]

I have no idea what you are talking about..They were 4 cylinder Chrysler 2.2 turbos...Nothing like the current twin turbo cars...Fiat owns Chrysler...It wasn't the other way around...Fiat is the parent company and owned Maserati before the merger..Jason

Stellantis is actually the parent. And yes, Fiat bought Chrysler; and Marchionne expanded the Maserati range to include more “downmarket” offerings, i.e., the Ghibli. (My 4200 CC was $90,000 in 2002. A new Ghibli is about $95,000 20 years later.). But the Ghibli was based on the Chrysler 200 with an engine assembled by Ferrari using a Chrysler 6 cylinder block. Sure, the Ghibli has more engine than used in the TC — a 4 cylinder Chrysler or a 6 cylinder Mitsubishi — but the TC engine was probably comparable to a Porsche 944 of the day. (Given that the TC likely weighed in at a half ton less, 160 GP was likely pretty sporty.).

I wouldn’t buy one. Stick with a BMW that’s more easily serviced with greater parts availability. (I have to drive by 7 BMW dealers before I get close to the Maserati dealer and the staff at the MaseratI dealership are jerks.). It’s not my intention to trash Maserati. I love my 4200 with no plans on retiring it. But, if you’re going to “marry an Italian woman” — whether automotive or human — make sure that she’s worth the headache and maintenance.

 

[jscalia]

I'm well aware of that, but I wasn't going even deeper into that pond with him..Marchionne wanted to sell more cars and that is exactly what they did...Downgrade or not...If you don't sell cars then you are screwed as that luxury segment isover saturated with brands currently IMO..J

(Sorry, I didn't realize you were not responding to my original post about the TC -- "what's old is new again.") But to follow-through ... how much do you want to sacrifice your pedigree for an extra 5-7,000 car sales per year. Wasn't that why Ferrari bought Maserati: to make use of excess capacity and increase sales? They just did it with a "second label" rather than dilute the Ferrari brand. It was certainly a high-risk move for Maserati ... if you fail in the US market, you're banished for a generation or more.

 

[jscalia]

No worries..I don't agree on the whole pedigree thing..I deal with customers all day about cars...95% of them don't care about stuff like that...People are just weird about vehicles and like them for different reasons...J

LOL. I can empathise with that -- "... just weird about vehicles ..."

 

[jscalia]

Dude, you are about a f-ing moron. Techs nor people at my shop get a commission on parts..Quit talking about stuff you know nothing about is my best advice..I don't need to go to Italy or England to fix a Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, or Ferrari product...They invented the internet along the way..You can actually learn about a particular brand of car without visiting the home country... You are correct and I'm not factory trained,but I have fixed cars for like 33 years and my shop is filled with cars including cars from out of state so I'm good with that and I don't give two shits about Modena...You obviously have no understanding on how modern cars are built with similar technology and the same vendors for a lot of parts...Go back to 1950..

Jason is one — if not — the best on this board. Always generously providing help and advice. If he’s still around when my wife and I retire to Savannah in a few years, he has my business. But, I do appreciate the concern that not all repair facilities can be trusted and that “free” coffee at the dealerships costs you at least a 50% premium on maintenance. (I previously post my ordeal purchasing a couple of ignition coils. The Maserati dealership was outrageously expensive and they didn’t even have them in stock.). But Dealerships have lots of “mouths to feed” and it’s has to be Reflected in the prices charged. So, choose a good independent and buy your own coffee.