Well the good thing about having a 4 seater & a 5 yr old child is that you do a lot of mileage pretty steadily when away on family trips. Then when I go out by myself for a good hoon, its all full revs through the gears, very hard on it...so mine gets a good combination of hard & soft driving. To be honest I think most would as a lot of these are used a lot daily, and you dont go mad everywehre.
I think it does them a lot of good to be hit hard regularly!

 

All types of driving but basically use auto ice or manual sport depending on rain and traffic density. Strangely I rarely use auto normal.

 

Like you stole it! LOL
:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

 

Well, seeing as I only have 378 miles on the car, I am driving gently keeping it below 3,000 rpm. My routine is turn the car on, keep it in auto normal for a few blocks until it warms up and then put it in either manual or sport manual and paddle shift. I use it very little as an every day driver for errands. I dont do expressways so I probably wont be hitting any great speeds at all. Most of the time I am in 3rd gear and 40 mph in town. -Robert.

 

Well, seeing as I only have 378 miles on the car, I am driving gently keeping it below 3,000 rpm.

If you averaged 30mph for those 378 miles, your pistons have gone up and down over a million times. Why drive so gently at this point?

 

combination of both for me. It would be a shame not to drive this car hard sometimes.

 

Once the car is warmed up, rip it up! Maserati is meant to be driven! As long as you're mindful of not stomping the pedals and putting the suspension at risk, why not go for it? Even if we all want to drive like demons, the road and laws do not allow that 100% of the time, so take advantage of it when you can IMO.

 

I dont think there is any rule of thumb but common sense. If you can afford a $100K car, drive it any way you want to. If you track it, it will cost you a lot in upkeep, new tires and parts, as they stress. If you baby it, maybe all you spend is a battery tender. With 400+ horsepower, and 35-70mph speed limits, I think you dont have much choice but to drive it like any other car.

The only idiot that would stomp on or drive a car over the top on our legal road system would be a kid or an immature adult, the same ones you see hammering a camero or rice rocket. And they pay for parts too.

So basically, unless you track it, you shouldn't hurt it at all(if you are a mature driver). Its not much different than any other car. A lot of stop/go will wear out break pads quicker regardless of what car it is.

Usually, at this level of investment and above, its either a hobby or status symbol. What I mean by hobby is that it could be for the track, show, or collection. As for a status symbol, i mean that in a good way... you get to a point in life where you can afford the things you have always wanted, and like to enjoy it, whether its just for yourself, family, or for everyone..

 

I've been told, "drive it hard - the car is designed for it" by every knowing mechanic I've asked. It took a bit of adjustment before truly accepting that (having come from cars that would not appreciate the same). Now I drive exactly as I want without concern for wear and tear, which is to say that I drive rather aggressively when traffic allows and sensibly where it doesn't.

 

Drive it any way that makes you happy! Between the opportunity cost of a lot of money and the high cost of depreciation, there is no sense is spending all that cash to not be happy. :autofahrer:

 

avoid hitting something.

 

If you are in control, you are driving too slow - Parnelli Jones

 

How should you drive your Maserati?

HARD

It's difficult to imagine owning a Maserati and not driving it hard when the opportunity presents itself. That's what it is built to do, and that's why I bought mine. Nothing quite like downshifting and screaming past the guy in front of you just for the fun of it. And the sound!!! It's hard to hear that beautiful opera driving gently.

Drive her hard when you can, then post a picture of that giant smile on your face. Enjoy!!

 

One bit of caution - Let the temp gauge get to it's happy place before hammering on it. Usually takes 10 minutes from a cold start but it's the spot where it remains steady after a long drive.

 

Good point. It makes me cringe when I see people go from start to pedal-down in three seconds. A fool and their money...

 

When you own a car with 400+ HP you need to drive it the hard way from time to time but it should be in full safety. Therefore, I suggest that you register to join the track days at the Sepan F1 circuit near KL where you will be able to explore the full potential of your car in a safe and organized environment. I think they have track days almost every month.
I will be pleased to join you when I will get my GTS in Dec...

Cheers

 

Is that rore as in Rory? or as in Roar-y.....I've always thought that would be a good name for my car. Perhaps better for a Series I E-Type roadster.

 

They run better when driven hard. they are happiest given some long legs. I am pretty convinced I can hear the car creak and groan after an extended period in the garage. Of course make sure its warmed up before giving it the "italian tune up".

 

Thanks guys,

The car sounds great when driven hard but I am always wary not to breach the redline. Good to learn that we need to keep the engine warm before doing this.

And Rore, please show us your new car when it arrives before year end.

Cheers.

 

The car sounds great when driven hard but I am always wary not to breach the redline.

It should be electronically limited to never go above the redline. You should never have to worry about it, just give her the business.

I found this out very much by accident in my GS, behind a slow car on an on ramp, in 2nd, revs slowly climbing, then an opening appears, punched it, passed him accelerating hard and then nothing, no more acceleration, looked down to see her pegged on the redline!! I forgot that I was still in 2nd gear, so easy to do with the F1. No tactile feedback.

Phew! Thank you Maserati engineers!!!!!

 

Picture of wrecked Maserati GT...

2011 Maserati Granturismo wrecked, Atlanta, GA

 

Total buzz kill. Jeez

 

It'll make us drive a little more carefully.

 

I really don't get why people buy cars like these and never get them above 3000 rpm as one of the psoters above mentions, it is missing the point of the car completely. If all you want to do is drive gently and sedately (which is fine if that is your thing, just not mine) get a Lexus, you would be far happier. The whole ethos of owning a car like the GTS is that when the opportunity arises the car can rise to the challenge, it becomes alive and the noise as it approaches the red line is intoxicating. These cars were designed to be driven hard, for covering serious mileage at serious speed in a day, in comfort, style and safety.

Arguements about wear and tear are irrelevant, the car is designed to be driven hard, that is why Maserati do all of the endurance testing they carry out, to make the cars robust and able to stand the punishement the extreme conditions they are taken to can throw at it. Driving the cars hard on your average road will not even come remotely close to the design parameters that have been used in the car's design. As such, don't worry, don't fret, drive it like it was meant to be and enjoy the car for what it is.

 

I really don't get why people buy cars like these and never get them above 3000 rpm as one of the psoters above mentions, it is missing the point of the car completely.

I agree with you - there's great joy above 3,000 - but I understand those who buy Maseratis for reasons other than speed. A car is so many things that's it's tough to give one reason why people would buy Car A vs. Car B.

 

Crashes invariably happen for a variety of reasons, but generally it is due to human error, sometimes due to mechanical failure. The point as Elambo has said is that we are all aware that accidents can happen, but showing a picture of a crashed Masser when there is no idea as to how or why the crash happened is kind of pointless.

Maybe I am in the minority but I believe the whole point of owing cars such as a Masser is that they are they are meant to be driven and driven hard (because that is what they are designed to do), when conditions allow. Owning and driving a high powered car comes with certain responsibilities for sure, but that does not mean you cannot enjoy them for what they are and use them accordingly. If the concern is that driving like that is too dangerous as it could result in a crash then perhaps a Masser is not the right car for such people, there are plenty of tanks around that will give better perceived crash protection, the reality may however be different!

 

Hi. I am the guy who drives the car at 3,000 rpm. lol. You know, its funny because I love the look and feel of powerful fast cars but do not want to drive them fast. Maybe I am doing the car a dis-service, but first of all, in town, it is not possible to drive fast due to heavy traffic. I am lucky if I get it in 4th sometimes on bigger streets during the middle of the day when traffic is lighter. I have never gotten it in to 5th or 6th and probably never will. I just love being inside these works of art. It makes me feel good to be going any speed while I am enjoying the surroundings and exclusivity of the car. I guess I am in the minority here, but I will never go fast, but am enjoying the hell out of the Maser. And, get this, other than the Maser, my dream car is a Ferrari F430. Probably could get one in a few years but will drive it the same. LOL. -Robert.

 

I agree that, just because you have a 400+ bhp car, it doesn't mean that you cannot drive it sensibly. Many drivers in smaller cars and motorcyclists overtake mine because they breach the speed limits but very few can overtake mine during accelerations from a standstill. I don't think driving fast is a big deal because of the speed limits in our countries but it is how the car handles and how it makes you feel that matters. Still, it does not hurt to bring the car to a race track once in a while to explore its potentials because these cars are designed to withstand being driven like a race car. Just do not race them on public roads because this could harm ourselves and someone else. Accidents happen because of mechanical failures, human errors and also due to unpredictable (especially public) road conditions. The GT is a wonderful car that can be driven daily in comfort and style, yet will not be out of place on a race track. A great product in my book, so it hurts less to remember this when I pay for it every month. Ha...Ha...:laugh:

 

perhaps if driving in such a way on public roads that a crash is an acceptable consequence then maybe driving on public roads is not right place for you. over the time i've been a member on this forum i've read so many instances of irresponsible behavior on public roads, eg, someone was surprised at the stopping distance when they were doing way over a hundred, someone rear-ending a car on the highway when the other car was doing the speed limit, etc.
you may have confidence in your driving abilities... i don't.

pause and reconsider what you're doing before you unalterably change your life or worse the lives of others.

 

You might go thru a set of tires...

Add $1000 to the tab

 

I understand and agree that on the public roads it is (increasingly) rare to get the opportunity to drive our cars with any enthusiasm and that each and every one of us has a responsibility to drive in a manner that is appropriate for the prevailing conditions, regardless of what it is we are driving. That said, those that never take their Masser above 3-4000 rpm are really missing out on one of the joys of driving a cars like these. These cars truly come alive at the top end, they become so much more communicative and the combination of the speed and noise is something that you should try to experience, provided conditions allow. I am not advocating street racing, but simply stretching the car when the circumstances are right. You will begin to appreciate your car even more when you can understand how well it is able to cope and the way it makes you feel.

If it makes you feel safer by all means take the car to a track and try it out there but these are not really track cars, they are too heavy and too soft to really perform well on track but it would certainly be fun. Far better to go on the Andretti F1 experience, which sounds a blast, than to trash a set of tyres and brakes by driving the car far harder than you would ever be able to on the road. That said, if you don't have a problem doing that then it would be great fun.

On the topic of accidents, they can happen in any car at any speed and most are avoidable if the driver(s) were aware of what was going on around them and drove in a manner and at a speed that was appropriate for the prevailing conditions. Most accidents are caused by human error, speed in itself is generally not the cause of accidents so I do not understand why people would say "I would never go fast" when they own a car like a Maserati. If there is a deserted highway that has good visability in dry weather I don't see the problem in giving the car some beans, if there is traffic or the conditions are poor then, no it is not appropriate. But I do urge you to go out and explore a little bit of what your cars are capable of doing if you haven't already done so, it will be a rewarding experience!