[GregD]

What are your thoughts on the maserati compared to the 911?
I have driven the Maserati, but not the 911.

911 looks like it has a pretty basic interior design, no frills or anything. whereas the maserati, a GT, has a nicer interior.

I know its all about performance with porsche though.

 

[Formula1]

Well I have a 2002 Targa and am switching to a 2005 Gransport due to arrive in September. The main reson for the change is I live in NYC and am going to have a kid. Needed more back seat room. The Maserati fits all size baby seats, where the porsche doesn't. On the performance side, I found the coupe to be a fantastic car despite the increase in weight. The engine is fantastic and the ride, with skyhook, beats the targa all day long. The interior is no comparison, the porsche looks horrible. I am an F1 fan so the F1 paddles too me are better than the manual shifting once you get used to it. The porshe handles better (i.e. changes of direction but often has understeer). I prefer a car with oversteer which the maserati has slightly. The Maserati feels like a quicker car and the sound is unmatchable. The porsche has bland sound. Now, reliability has never been an issue with the Porsche and I suspect the Maserati will not be in the same league but with all the bells and whistles paid for for 4 years, who cares. I opted for the sportier gransport as the car is lowered, better exhaust (almost as good as tubi) and more agressive styling. So the blandness of the coupe is gone for me. The gransport is one fantastic car. So was the porsche. different strokes for different folks.

 

[scott]

What are your thoughts on the maserati compared to the 911?
I have driven the Maserati, but not the 911.

911 looks like it has a pretty basic interior design, no frills or anything. whereas the maserati, a GT, has a nicer interior.

I know its all about performance with porsche though.

I came close to getting a 911 Cab before deciding on the Spyder. Did not like what they had on the lot and as I started putting together an order I could not believe the way things started to add up just to get near what Maserati gives you in the basic price. Also I had a 2001 Boxster S and was not very impressed with that car for the money I paid, about $65,000. The Spyder is a much much better sports car than the Boxster and from what my neighbor tells me its better than his 911 and he plans on going with the Maserati when his lease is up

 

[GregD]

I think the numbers are pretty much the same on both cars performance wise. The maserati salesman tells me the tip will slow you down vs the paddles which are quicker.. The porsche salesman told me not to bother going anywhere else because nothing is better than a porsche.

Which car would you say is more fun to drive aggresively? and which car would you prefer to drive daily?

When i drove the maserati, I was pretty much in awe with the car. Ive never driven anything like this car. I remember touching the gas pedal to go off the light, and its so unlike my current car. The engine rumbled at first and then we began to move forward. It was very very impressive.
I didnt drive it too hard as it was busy and I was too unfamiliar with the car & paddles, but it felt and sounded great. I like the interior and how everything is wrapped in leather. The stereo seemed pretty good too. The seats were comfortable with a bit of a reach to the wheel, but seat adjustment will resolve that.

I was also suprised at the ride quality. I expected the car to be a bit more rough on the roads, but it may have to to with were we drove.

I really liked the sound of the car when we rolled through a covered parking garage by the dealer. Man that rumble sounded good. I wonder if thats an example of the sound I would hear all the time if I added a tubi.

 

[Andrew]

Today I had lunch with a friend that raced his car at the school at Infineon. It was a group of Ferrari and Maserati owners. According to him and another both the Maserati and Ferrari are more exciting to drive. The Porsche is probably more reliable as we don't know how the new Maseratis fair over 5+ years. However, based on what I've seen here I would go with the Maserati.

 

[scott]

If you liked the stock sound you will be blown away by the Tubi, As I have said before, Putting on the Tubi turned my under 100,000 car and what seems now a much more expensive exotic formula 1 type race car. My Boxster S was not half the car this is and the car I traded for the Spyder, BMW M3 seems so tame compared to the Maserati. As for Quality now have had car for 3 months and no a single issue. If you had fun on a test drive you will have a blast with the car once you get more use to it. And while the performance numbers and price our similar there is one big plus for the Maserati, Exclusiveness, 911s Everywhere, But have yet to see another Maserati around

 

[scott]

Greg, Are you looking at the Spyder GT or Coup GT? Not sure about the Coup but if you get a Spyder and your feet are normal size make sure you get some driving shoes first. I went with the Alum race pedals but noticed even the regular pedals are very close and I had a very difficult time getting the car home. Kept pushing brake and gas together as most sneakers are very wide at bottom. Got these shoes
http://www.speedgear.com/
and totally fixed the problem. they are well over a half an inch narrower at bottom and that made a huge difference. Also do not be afraid to get the GT, It shifts great and very smooth and precise once you realize the way it goes. My brother has a Boxster S and he said my car shifts better.

 

[GregD]

Scott, Im looking at the coupe cambiocorsa. I re-read my post and can see its confusing/The GT is the manual & I was thinking "Grand Touring" as a description of how the car is more refined on the interior than a sports car.

I had considered a GT but since this car will be used for daily driving and work- not just to and from. I think the cambio would better suit my needs.

Black on Black with silver console
vintage package
skyhook suspension
leather headliner
xeon lights
cd changer
heated seats
no spare tire

I know everyone loves the tubi, but I have to hear it first and make sure its not going to be too loud for me in an everyday driving situation. Do you recall approximately what a tubi goes for installed? I'd like to work it into the lease negociations.

 

[scott]

OK, My Tubi installed at the Maserati dealership came to $2850. That Grand Touring is the sharpest Coup car you can get in my opinion, If it was not for me having too keep my cars for at least two years (wife's rule) I would have been interested in ordering one this coming up fall. But things should work out pretty good for me as I should be just on schedule to be able to order the newly redesigned Pinnafaria Maserati the following fall. I am totally hooked on Maserati

 

[GregD]

Thanks for the info on the tubi.


The 2005 models will have a slightly modified grill. It will be a little bigger than the current grill and the trunk lid will have some minor changes. I dont think there will be anything noticably different. The grill will look like the grandsport grill, per the salesman.

2006 is year they do the redesign I belive, but Im not sure what it will look like. I am going for a 3 year lease on this one.

The grandsport has a fantastic design, but I really dont know about the interior. From what ive seen on the maserati site its pretty dramatic.

 

[JohnD]

I, too, came close to a 911 convertible but ended up with a Cambio Coupe after seeing and driving the car for the first time. (I like the lines better on the Coupe than the Sypder.) No comparison!!! You'll see plenty of Porsches driving down the road any given day, but rarely will you see another Maserati. One of the most stunning differences is the fit and finish of the interior: the Porsche actually looked cheesey, whereas the Maserati is impecable. Also, a set of golf clubs will fit in the trunk of the Coupe, and the Coupe has a decent back seat -- the 911 has neither of these features.

 

[GregD]

Thats how I felt about the porsche. The maserati interior is super nice in comparison. They do a good job of providing both luxury and performance.

 

[mvarat]

Maserati over 911

911 versus Maserati. This was a big decision for me. I bought an 03 Cambiocorsa and would NEVER go back. I love the Maserati.

I have had it out at Willow Springs (local So Cal race track) and found safe laps (remember no roll cage or safety gear in a stock car) to be around 1:40 on stock Michelins for the Maserati where I can do around 1:37 in a Porsche at same comfort level on stock tires. Race tires should drop 5 seconds off of that at least. My race car is 1:25 so I am used to the track. Porsche is lighter and will always win around a race track. The Maserati destroyed a set of stock front tires in about 1 hour of track time. The Maserati has the same power/weight as the Porsche but that extra weight kills tires in the corners on a track. On the street, 0-60 is almost identical. That being said, my response is "so what". On a canyon road, you will never care.

Go drive a 911 or better go rent one for a day or two. I did. It is German and does everything right. It goes, it stops, it turns. My M3 is the same. Excellent, effortless performance with absolutely no soul. To me, the 911 felt like a very good performing VW or Audi. It will win races but doesn't stir passion like the Italian cars.

The Maserati (Cambiocorsa) makes me feel like an F1 driver everytime I get into it. It is very fast, handles great and has true Italian passion. 17K miles and I am absolutely in love with it. Mine hasn't had any problems yet but I still don't expect German reliability. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised about that.

Kid seats don't work well in the 911. They fit great in my coupe.

You never see Maseratis and for me that is a plus.

There is no comparison between the interiors. The Maserati is awesome and the 911 is like a VW.

Basically, after I have now pissed off any 911 drivers reading this, I will say it is up to personal choice. I have friends who love their Porsches. I just think that is because they have never driven a Maserati.

Happy driving because whatever you choose, it will be fun.

 

[GregD]

Michael, that is exactly the way I felt about the porsche. Since I have had my coupe for about a week, Ive seen a few guys in porsche's nod at me as we passed.

In all fairness porsche makes a great car, I just see way too many of them here in west los angeles and I didnt like the interior or ride as much as the maserati.

now over the past 5 days, I think the mercedes drivers feel they are the competition for maserati, even though i dont think so. I've been tailed by two AMG's: an older e55 and an s 55. There are a boatload of amgs around here being driven mostly by men in their late 40's to late 50's.

I found the most enjoyable drives have been when the road is empty, especially at night.

 

[WDMinnow]

Porsche 911 GT3 v. Maserati Spyder/Coupe

I am a current owner of a GT3 and I have to say I really love it. It's only just past it's break-in period, but it really performs unlike any car I've driven. That performance comes at the price of comfort, and I don't really like to use it as a daily-driver because the suspension is rather stiff on the roads in my town.

I recently test-drove an '04 Maserati Coupe with a Tubi exhaust for kicks, and I must say that as far as engine sounds are concerned, there is just something about the Maser engine that just SOUNDS Eye-talian. The suspension was firm but smooth, and much more pleasant on the routine city streets than I had expected from a performance car. When I punched the throttle, it clearly was not as fast as the GT3 (the Porsche is a cool 700 lbs. lighter with the same BHP) but the acceleration was still exhilarating.

My previous car that I traded for the GT3 was the '03 BMW Z8 Alpina, and I must say that the Maserati Spyder has that car beat hands down as far as performance and fun-factor are concerned. The interior of the Z8 was equal to the Maserati with respect to refinement, but my Z8 had this particularly annoying problem of having interior components that randomly fell off (which, long story short, is what led to my dissatisfaction with the car and eventual trade). For $40,000 cheaper MSRP, the Maserati Spyder wins not only in performance but also in value.

All this leads to my current plans to purchase an '04 Maserati for a daily driver. I'm just trying to decide on a Coupe or Spyder. I like the idea of a 4-seater but I really miss my convertible!

D. Min

 

[sjohnston]

Maserati and Porsche Comparison

I just traded in a much beloved 911 Cab for a 2004 Spyder Cambio. The Spyder handles just as well, feels more powerfull, sounds much better, and definitely has the "different" look cornered. I hear the paddle will beat the tiptronic by 2 seconds per lap at the track......I think the 911 is a bit "done" now. They seem to be everwhere, and everyone has had one.... not true with the Spyder.

 

[marcw]

I sold my 95 NSX in order to get something with real back seats. I've been in Porsches (on and off track) but don't own one and the NSX is comparable to a 911.

I think the Maserati Coupe (mine is an 04) strengths are the interior, the engine, the rarity, full sized rear seats and the F1 shifter. The Maserati (with skyhook suspension) is very smooth and quiet. There is also more body roll but it feels like the grip is there. There's not as much understeer as the NSX and the NSX feels more benign(easier to drive hard). The interiors are comparable. I think the NSX (as well as Porsche) might have better reliability but the 4 year/ 50K warranty makes it less risky.

An interesting note. I have gotten much more attention in my black Maserati Coupe than I did in my red NSX. Nice...

Marc

 

[Maseroche]

I got both and to me they are different sides to the sports car coin.

I take the Maserati out if I'm relaxed and want to cruise around revelling in the beautiful interior, the engine sound, and the faces of the adoring people who I pass.

The Porsche is diffrent. I love the way it talks to me like there is this link between me and the car as a whole. The feel of the steering wheel changes to let you sense if you're about to go too far. It does understeer, while the Maserati seems to oversteer, but that can be corrected by adjusting corner entry and power application.

I love them both and I can't see them go head-to-head against each other. The Maserati is like a mistress and the Porsche is like your efficient secretary.

 

[MaseratiSpyderF1]

Maserati vs Porsche

I have an 04 spyder cambiocorsa and a 97 TPC supercharged Boxster. With the supercharger the performance is about equal to a 911.. same power lower weight. There is no real comparison between the two cars. The Maserati has nice power, gets tons of attention, sounds incredible and is obviously much rarer. The interior is the best looking of any car I have ever seen. While the car isn't a total sports car and "just" a GT is really is a lot of fun and once again.. I love the attention.
The porsche on the other hand is a totally different animal. The handling on the car is phenomenal.. totally neutral.. The feel through the steering wheel is totally communicative. I have had the car lowerd and the exhaust changed to get more of a rumble in addition to the Eaton supercharger. The interior is very functional but not of the best quality material.
I really can't choose one over the other for every purpose. The Porsche is easier to drive fast and really allows you to communicate with the car. The Maserati is a nice touring car with great sounds, nice power and gets tons of attention. They serve different purposes and each does certain things better than the other. Ahhh... isnt it nice to be able to alternate between choices.... Jeff

 

[sjp3003]

Porsche vs Maser

I traded a 996 coupe (and a C5 coupe) in for my Maser. The interior on the 996 was poor. Leather at the touchpoints wore more than I would expect for a car in this class. Road noise was pronounced. On the plus side, the 996 was more agile in traffic and made a better track car. And the sports exhaust sounded great.

I traded for the Maser because I wanted a car that was more of a Grand Tourer-- I use this car for long drives & trips. I just put in 2500 Miles in Vermont, Maine & New Hampshire last month (and I live in Miami, Florida). The day after I bought it I travelled to Georgia, the Carolinas, Tenessee and Kentucky over the following week. I also drove it to the Porsche driving school in Alabama. The Maser is better suited to those trips with the exception of the radio's mediocre reception. The interior is decidedly better than the 911's. I thought long & hard about the CC transmission, but am glad I picked it-- it's a unique way to shift and quicker than I could row on my own. Space is much better on the CC than the 996 as well, especially in the rear seats. The V8 is a fantastic engine with an alluring sound even with the stock exhaust.

One shortcoming with the Maser is that OEM and aftermarket accessories are very limited, and those factory accessories that are available are waaay overpriced. I bought a leather/carbon fiber steering wheel for the Porsche for $1200. I priced the Maser equivalent last week & was quoted $3700 with a 10% discount. Fortunately the stock leather wheel is nice enough. Porsche has plenty of options available from the factory and third parties.

Now that the redesigned coupe & spider are hitting the US market, the number of original 4200 series US cars has been defined, and it is only a couple of thousand in total. I think that will make for relatively unique cars with specific combinations of colors and options. Resale prices versus new are relatively low but over time I think the declines will be less pronounced. There are a good number of Masers in south florida, but north of Palm Beach they are difficult to spot.

I hope to keep my Maser for many years.