[KathrynV]

I'm looking for a second car and was settled on a Porsche 911 until I found that the Maserati GranSport is not the outrageously expensive car that I had assumed it to be. I love the way the 2006 GS looks and I would prefer to have a car that I'm not going to see in every third driveway in my neighborhood, but I have read a couple of posts that make me a little nervous. Specifically, comments about the GS transmission.

Why do people advise against using reverse to the extent possible and against using the "auto" button? And what is it like driving the GS in the city (stop and go)? I read that "stop and go is not your friend". Unfortunately for me, almost all of my driving is in the city.

I appreciate any advice.

 

[maseratifan]

I have a 2006 GS with 16K miles.
I absolutely love the car.
In sport mode the transmission is excellent, and shifting is not a problem, easy to live with in stop and go traffic.
I have >50% clutch left.
The reason for sport mode is that in regular mode the shifting is a little too "lazy" for my tastes. Auto mode is horrible for that same reason, and it is an unnatural feeling to have an auto "pause" in between gears when you aren't expecting it. I really think the reversing thing is overstated by people, ho wmany people are driving around in reverse up long hills? (The issue is rapid clutch wear secondary to a lot of slippage.)
Reliability shouldn't be much of an issue in my expereince.
I have had 911s (both 993 and 996) and the GS is far more unique and special experience to drive. If you crave reliability in the city then the 911 tiptronic is hard to beat, but if you are looking for a unique "exotic" ownership experience usable every day then the Maserati is the car to have....bar none.

 

[BeeYouZeeZee]

I'm looking for a second car and was settled on a Porsche 911 until I found that the Maserati GranSport is not the outrageously expensive car that I had assumed it to be. I love the way the 2006 GS looks and I would prefer to have a car that I'm not going to see in every third driveway in my neighborhood, but I have read a couple of posts that make me a little nervous. Specifically, comments about the GS transmission.

Why do people advise against using reverse to the extent possible and against using the "auto" button? And what is it like driving the GS in the city (stop and go)? I read that "stop and go is not your friend". Unfortunately for me, almost all of my driving is in the city.

I appreciate any advice.

First off, once you drive the Maserati (much less own it) you will become quickly osessed. The looks you get from people is very different than a 911 or Cayman. People assume you have magabucks when they see the elegance of the lines and read the Maserati badge. I can read people's lips behind me when I come to a light... "What is that? .... Ohhhhh Maserati" Camera phone pops out.

Next, the car is quick as sh*t and if you're brave enough to drive it without the traction control (please DON'T until you learn the car), you're in for a wild ride!

The clutches seem to wear a little faster than true manual transmissions but the Cambiocorsa F1 gearbox is a BLAST. I personally think the clutch wears from people playing with it so much. Expect about 15-20k miles for replacement (some get much more). A computer clutches, shifts and lets the clutch out for you so in an effort to make non-sport mode shift smoother, there is some clutch slippage as you shift. Sport mode shifts very fast so is better on the clutch. Auto mode is a joke. It's a program to try to "smoothly" shift as you go. LOTS of slipping in this mode!

Remember this car is a true Ferrari at heart. The engine is based on the F430 V8 and the transmission is Ferrari F1 all the way. It simply can't e compared to a 911.

Welcome to the board!

 

[davethechemist]

Just buy one already!! You'll find lots of reasons why you shouldn't but your heart is still screaming YES! If you buy the Porsche, the first time you stop at the lights and there is another one next to you (and there will be), you'll look at them and smile. They won't smile back.....they'll think your a weirdo. That'll never happen in a Maser.

 

[tommyfromla]

First off, once you drive the Maserati (much less own it) you will become quickly osessed. The looks you get from people is very different than a 911 or Cayman. People assume you have magabucks when they see the elegance of the lines and read the Maserati badge. I can read people's lips behind me when I come to a light... "What is that? .... Ohhhhh Maserati" Camera phone pops out.

Next, the car is quick as sh*t and if you're brave enough to drive it without the traction control (please DON'T until you learn the car), you're in for a wild ride!

The clutches seem to wear a little faster than true manual transmissions but the Cambiocorsa F1 gearbox is a BLAST. I personally think the clutch wears from people playing with it so much. Expect about 15-20k miles for replacement (some get much more). A computer clutches, shifts and lets the clutch out for you so in an effort to make non-sport mode shift smoother, there is some clutch slippage as you shift. Sport mode shifts very fast so is better on the clutch. Auto mode is a joke. It's a program to try to "smoothly" shift as you go. LOTS of slipping in this mode!

Remember this car is a true Ferrari at heart. The engine is based on the F430 V8 and the transmission is Ferrari F1 all the way. It simply can't e compared to a 911.

Welcome to the board!

Man I totally agree the looks you get from people and the class of the car is amazing I had one for about 4 months last year then just recently bought me a spyder its yellow - and when I drive this car I turn more heads than when a 360 drives by no joke def get this car all of us owners know that the actual cost of owning one is alot less than people who dont own one always say I was a chicken too and was like omg I will have pay sooo much but its not true at all you find a good independent shop and you go from there its sooo dam fun driving these cars you just have to have one to know as a matter of a fact I cant wait till this weekend to go around driving with the top down...

 

[Vincenzo]

Since owning my '06 GranSport Spyder since December:

1st drive: Stopped by a 'Tour de France' bicyclist who wanted to check the car out and then screams "Bellissimo!"

2nd drive: Stopped at a light and notice teens in the car behind me whipping out their cell phones to take pics of my rear-end

3rd drive: Cruising through Georgetown on a Saturday night...waiting at a light on M Street and 3 G'town students kneel in front of my car in traffic pleading to exchange car keys for the night

4th drive: Cutting through a neighborhood in Baltimore I come across kids skateboarding in the middle of the street...they all stop in their tracks and one yells to the others "OMG - Did you see that? What was that!?"

5th drive: Sitting at a light, I notice the pickup beside me puts it in reverse to back up and check the GS out

Every Drive: Cars drive constantly in your blind spot to check you out, drivers eyeballing the entire length of the car as they pass, and cars wait for you to take them over so they can get a better look....

You want exclusivity? Get the Maser. This NEVER happens to me in the Bimmer!

 

[maseratifan]

I too have noticed the "driving in the blindspot" thing. Drives me nuts! I can sense the other car and they just hang there, pinning me in so that I can't get around the dork in the pickup in fron tof me! I can't say i blame them though, the 3/4 rear iew is one of the best of the GS.

Forget the Porsche....(I have)...get a Maaazzerrrrrateeeeee.....you won't be sorry.

 

[MaseratiBoy]

Actually, yesterday I decided I wanted some el pollo loco... In the drive through line a girl ran up to me and screamed "Oh my God... Can I please just touch it?" (The car). Very excited.

 

[Fred]

Why do people advise against using reverse to the extent possible and against using the "auto" button? And what is it like driving the GS in the city (stop and go)? I read that "stop and go is not your friend". Unfortunately for me, almost all of my driving is in the city.

I appreciate any advice.

If almost all of your driving is stop and go, I would go for the std coupe with the 6 M/T.
The manual clutch is much better for creeping along in traffic. (assuming you know how to use a clutch)

 

[bluyork]

buy the car, it will change your life.

 

[DeaneG]

buy the car, it will change your life.

I agree. The experience is irreplaceable, from a carload in a BMW with their cell cameras out, to the eight-year-old with his face pressed up against the glass in his mom's car, to the Carl's Jr drive-through-window worker with the first words of english I have ever heard from her: "nice car"!

Plus you feel the craftsmanship just sitting in it, rather than the manufacturing.

 

[BeeYouZeeZee]

I agree. The experience is irreplaceable, from a carload in a BMW with their cell cameras out, to the eight-year-old with his face pressed up against the glass in his mom's car, to the Carl's Jr drive-through-window worker with the first words of english I have ever heard from her: "nice car"!

Plus you feel the craftsmanship just sitting in it, rather than the manufacturing.

Oh, so true! It doesn't feel like any other car inside. I am still amazed at the beauty and comfort of the interior. DAMN! Maybe I'll buy another one!!!