There are maintenance issues! However, a very reliable car. Here are the issues:
1. If you get a cambio corsa (which is the early version of the ferrari F1 tranny, it will wear out at around 15-20K miles and will need to be replaced!) cost 4-5k
2. If you take it to a deal for routine maintinance you'll get raped on labor which charges $250 per hour plus parts. a 6k service will set you back 1.5k
3. You genarly want to stick to an 05/06 because software upgardes were made in 05 which caused the transsmission shifters to shift faster thus reducing clutch wear.
4. The stock springs are a joke for a sports car
Now that the bad stuff is out of the way, here is are some great things:
1. The engine is bullet proof. Its the same block as the Ferrari F430. 05 models (non-GS) have 390 hp. However, add a bypass exhaust system and larini mufflers, and you get 400hp which is what the GS has plus one of the best sounds you'll EVER hear! It literally makes the car sound like a Ferrari.
2. The aftermarket modifications are amazing and priced well. Formula dynamics
www.formuladynamics.com makes performance springs and a host of other aftermarket products which transform the car to the beast the car really is.
3. Drive-by-wire is an enhancement that remaps the air/fuel ratios and makes the car as responsive as anything as well as corrects engine matching to reduce clutch wear.
4. There are multiple companies who are now coating Ferrari and Maserati clutches with KEVLAR thus reducing the need to replace one. cost 600 dollars.
5. You can order oil and all of the fluids the car needs online and have an independent or DYI and eliminate ridiculous dealer costs.
6. If you own a Maserati get ready for the carparatsi. You will have people take pictures, stare, point, ask you to pull over, and countless other things both humorous and not so humorous. The car get attention period. But no one will want to race you, they just want to pull by your side and stare. Which is a good thing
What a Maserati is not:
1. It's not the fastest car, but will give you a thrill, because the engine sound by itself is intoxicating and I'm not talking about exhaust! Engine sound.. period, NO other car has this sound.
2. Its not a Luxury. It has beautiful leather, but it's instrumentation is absolute garbage, but it does work. So if your into your ipod, your technology etc.. fogetabout it. It does have a 6 disk cd changes, so you can go back to the oldschool way of entertaining yourself.
3. It is not a BMW, AUDI, MERC, or any other high production car so you won't get all the goodies a BMW etc.. offer at the dealership.
What a Maserati IS:
1. Think of it as a "fine" watch. It's an instant classic, its chic and very sexy and as a result demands your full attention.
2. It is a great daily driver.
3. with modest modifications it can be a thrill on the race track
4. It is a work of art, it has flaws but if taken care of, will provide endless enjoyment. You wont' be board of it in 2-3 years. If you own it, you'll want to keep it!
Finally, if you buy a Maserati, you will need to budget $300 a month for repairs, oil changes, etc.. So if you can afford to buy it, pay for Gas which is no better than what the M3 gets, add an additional $300 a month to the cost of the car. If this is not a problem, then you can afford a Maserati. and like you said, it's the exclusivity and beauty which no high production car can provide. A Maserati is on Par with an Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
-PS. Resale value of all exotic vehicles take a 20-30% hit within the first year. So a 115k car in 05 will have been 95k in 06 and in 08 about 70k in 09 about 50k and it will finally bottom out at 30k mid-late 09 early 2010. The reason for this is simple supply and Demand. People who can afford to purchase a Maserati new, will not want to buy a used one. Those who want a Used car have an option of buying a BMW new, so most tend to head that way because they get afraid of the Maintenance costs thereby further reducing the demand for the cars. Lastly, lack of service and dealerships adds to the depreciation factor.
With all of this aside, owning a Maserati has intangibles that normal high end cars just don't provide. Besides you will be part of one a great community here at Maseratilife. The folks on this board for the most part all Maserati owners are first class and the camaraderie adds to value of ownership. Hope this info helps.. Best of luck with your decision!
Cheers
Tony
