I'd go for it. I do believe they offer more flexible usage since you should be able to engage a stiffer set up through a "sport" button and have a softer ride without the button engaged.

 

trice9,

If you can get a test ride in the QP Sport GT-S that is out now, the driving and handling dynamics should be very similar to your ordered GranTurismo S. Then determine if that ride is acceptable for all of your driving conditions. Adding Skyhook option offers a computerized way of "softening" the ride.

 

i would not get the skyhook on the GT-S.
as bcube mentioned, you should test drive a QP Sport GT-S and see how the suspension behaves.

 

skyhook is a must!

My GranTurismo has skyhook, which is an ad-on-option in Europe!
In activating the sports button, the car gets both, stiffer and more throttle responsive.

However I drove also a GT without the skyhook option. In this case the damping characteristics will not change. If the sports button is activated, only the throttle gets more aggressive.

I really would miss something if I could not soften the damping while cruising!

I suppose the same will apply for the GT-S

 

Just read an article on the GT S from Car Magazine (see post here: http://www.maseratilife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4350) where apparently the Maserati engineers adviced that the non-skyhook set up is better. Go figure...

 

well, for one the skyhook seems to compromise a little on both the soft and on sport mode. it seems to be neither (lexus) soft, nor (race) sport.

when developing the S models, and for the QP, being a very heavy car, they resort to conventional setup for the Sport GT-S, which i find to be amazingly sporty, compare to Skyhook on Sport.

one good thing is, as the article mentioned, the Skyhook for the GT S is also tuned. so i wouldnt expect it to be cushy either.

 

I would suggest the skyhook , it's more versatile and provides a better ride. If down the road you decide to upgrade the car, you will have more options.

 

Does the skyhook have different settings that I can set, or does the car adjust the settings in real time based on the driving? If I can set it to soft vs. hard, I think then it would make sense to get that option. On my M5, I like to set the setting based on what kind of driving I'm doing. The stiffer suspension is fun, but is too harsh for all the time.

 

Skyhook gives you 2 settings, Sport and Normal. Normal is obviously a little softer. I use sport 100% of the time, and still feel that the ride is quite comfortable.

Eric

 

We are currently developing the ability to independantly control the ride produced by the skyhook suspension for the Quattroporte, GranTourismo and 4200 Series Models.

 

That would be great, I love the Sport shifting mode, but would like to drive around town in Normal mode at the same time.

Eric

 

We do have a list of pet peeves that many owners have. i.e. I have a 2003 coupe and every time I get in the car I have to switch to sport or turn off msp, etc... We can and will provide some reasonably priced fixes to these problems.

 

Thanks, keep us posted, and keep the great products coming. Have you added an approved installer section yet to the website?

Eric

 

I think he means you can turn on and off the sport mode in the skyhook without it changing the other sport-related features (eg. gearchanges, exahust flaps on the GS).

But I await Jeff's reply - perhaps he's got something even more interesting up his sleeve

 

You will have the ability to soften or firm the ride of the skyhook suspension on the fly. This will allow adjustment beyond the normal or sport modes of driving and will be independant of any other changes such as shift points or the exhaust flap on the GS. Very cool technology, similar to that of the Ferrari F430.

 

You will have the ability to soften or firm the ride of the skyhook suspension on the fly. This will allow adjustment beyond the normal or sport modes of driving and will be independant of any other changes such as shift points or the exhaust flap on the GS. Very cool technology, similar to that of the Ferrari F430.[/QUOTE

When will this be available?

Eric

 

It's in development no firm ETA as of yet.

The difference is YOU will be able to adjust it. Most owners can't tell the difference (in suspension) between the two modes and it also means that your shift points and ( if a GS ) your exhaust note changes when you switch modes. Our product will be a knob that turns up or down the dampening. It will go firmer than the factory allows you to and softer than the factory allows as well. It will be great to firm up the ride when you're in the twisties and dial it back when the wife is in the car and you don't want to rattle her teeth out. They look much better with teeth

We'll keep you updated!

With so much interest in the CATS and a better exhaust system, we're working on that as well as finishing some other suspension projects.

FYI, for those interested our Swaybars and in production. We've completed testing and they are performing very well. ETA is 4 weeks for purchase.