[WannabeItalian]

Long time lurker on this site....thought I would throw out a request for help/input

I have got a 2005 CC Coupe on lease about to expire and need a new car.
I have 2 children ages 4 and 3 so my wife is urging me to upgrade to a car with usable back seats for the kids.

Problem: drove the QP and while it drives nicely...better than the new Jag XF...different than an M5 or M6. More style than the others with nice road feel. Nonetheless, not remotely as much fun as driving the coupe. So I think maybe get purchase a 06 Gransport rather than lease a QP since I really enjoy the coupe so much.

Anyone have 7 year old kids and use their GS as daily driver with kids in car? How's it working?

It seems from other posts on the site this is a decision at least one other member is going through and others have considered. Any updates from those members about their revelations?

Any random thoughts from others greatly appreciated too?

Thanks

 

[fade2grey]

I've got an 06 GS & am 6'7 - I always have problems with space in cars & I can actually sit in the back with the front seat set for me.

Down side is the lack of extra doors

 

[Glenn Wallace]

I've been eyeing the 335i convertible (hard-top). I drove one the other day, and was quite impressed. I know it isn't "exotic" but it seems to get the job done and we're enjoying our other BMW (535xi wagon) a lot.

Oddly I found the exhaust a little loud though.

 

[GrndLkNatv]

The Gran Turismo is the car...

Plenty of room in the back seats for adults, the Maserati mystic, all of the good stuff.. If not that, and you want to look somewhere else brand wise then check out the new BMW M3 Sedan 4dr.. I myself, am leaning toward the Gran Turismo...

 

[barbuckle]

Random thoughts...
I am changing my 02 CC coupe and considered:
- Granturismo (rather large, rather pricey and automatic box),
- Porsche 911 (never really liked the styling - still don't)
- Aston V8 (overpriced and never liked the interior styling much)

So I am looking at buying an 07 Gransport - but then I don't have kids in the equation!

 

[Niteroi]

I have 3 kids, 7,9 and 11 years old, and I use my GS as a daily driver. My other car is a Chevy Suburban but the kids don't like it.

But why would you trade your CC for a GS? The size is the same.

It seems like the Gran Turismo is the way to go for you.

 

[bluyork]

Went with my wife today to drive the XF - nice car but not an ounce of passion. No kids here, so the back seats not much of an issue for us, which also leans us away from something as big as the QP. Problem is, I now think everything needs as much passion as my GS, so how do you make everyone happy?

S6 could be worth a look.

True that the dimensions (CC - GS) are the same

 

[Niteroi]

If you take into consideration exclusivity, beauty, compact size (for a 2+2 with a real back seat), heritage, Ferrari engine, sound and etc.. it's hard to beat the GS.

If I had to replace my GS today the only choice, in my opinion, is a Ferrari 612. I like the Gran Turismo, but I wouldn't replace my car with one with less power (same power but more weight).

I would only go german or british if I have more dissapointments with my warranty and dealers...

 

[shed17]

Got two kids 14 & 10, both fit in the back of the GS no problem. 14 year old is 5'10" and she has big hair and fits no problem.

Have had two 911's and they did not fit. The only other car they would let me consider at the moment is the QP Love the GS and have recently been considering getting a QP as well.

 

[BigFoot]

GranTurismo S and you're sorted

 

[WannabeItalian]

Let me see if I can answer some questions:

05 Coupe CC was a lease....didn't know I would like it so much and wasn't at the time sure about reliability. Now I think the platform (i.e. 2002-2007 coupe/GS) is an awesome car and would buy one....that is why I would be trading in.

I share some of the same ideas that almost all of the posts have stated. Not a Porsche kind of person..think they are great on the track and wonderfully engineered but don't excite me.

Same impression of the XF that it had a nice engine but was just too isolated from the road.

Thought about purchasing a Gransport and maybe a new mini with the back seat and back doors (for some reason can't remember the name of that body style right now). I hear the minis are fun to drive....haven't driven one yet.

Not sure about the first year Gran Turismo yet.

Happy to hear the GS fits older kids...although looking at my coupe's backseat it seems like it would be snug...but I guess who cares the car is mostly for me everyday. O think I can work it out with the wife

Thanks for all the posts...I think I will Gransport shop

 

[Niteroi]

Being the Coupe and the GS essentially the same, another option would be buying your car from the bank at the end of the lease at a very low price and spend the extra cash with some mods from Formula Dynamics, like springs, ECU, DBW and etc, and your car would be better than a GS. Well, not better than the black ones, they are the fastest.

 

[flashgordon]

Being the Coupe and the GS essentially the same, another option would be buying your car from the bank at the end of the lease at a very low price and spend the extra cash with some mods from Formula Dynamics, like springs, ECU, DBW and etc, and your car would be better than a GS. Well, not better than the black ones, they are the fastest.

I agree. Why not keep the car, mod it to the level of Ferrari for a very reasonable price (using FD parts), and buy an Infiniti G35 Sport (4 doors, sport suspension, 6Spd manual with 306HP) or something similar as your daily driver - "relatively" cheap, amazing performance and rock solid reliability. That's what I did.

 

[BigFoot]

Well, not better than the black ones, they are the fastest.

The Truth Has Been Spoketh

 

[shed17]

Well, not better than the black ones, they are the fastest.

No, the red ones are the fastest

 

[fade2grey]

When I come to swap my GS probably later in the year, I'm probably going to go for a landrover disco 3 - or some equiv tonker toy - I figure there isn't much faster & or more different & I can swap it for a disco & a boat

 

[RickBullotta]

Long time lurker on this site....thought I would throw out a request for help/input

I have got a 2005 CC Coupe on lease about to expire and need a new car.
I have 2 children ages 4 and 3 so my wife is urging me to upgrade to a car with usable back seats for the kids.

Problem: drove the QP and while it drives nicely...better than the new Jag XF...different than an M5 or M6. More style than the others with nice road feel. Nonetheless, not remotely as much fun as driving the coupe. So I think maybe get purchase a 06 Gransport rather than lease a QP since I really enjoy the coupe so much.

Anyone have 7 year old kids and use their GS as daily driver with kids in car? How's it working?

It seems from other posts on the site this is a decision at least one other member is going through and others have considered. Any updates from those members about their revelations?

Any random thoughts from others greatly appreciated too?

Thanks

I'm surprised that no one has suggested buying out your Coupe! That would actually be the best option, if you like driving it (which you indicated). You'd be able to purchase it for a fraction of what you paid (probably 50%?) and would have a "known quantity".

If I were in your situation, with a 2005, I'd give serious thought to buying it outright and taking my time making the next purchase decision.

Also, the rear seats are quite "usable" for kids (and adults) in your Coupe. I shuttle mine to and from baseball and lacrosse practice all the time in my Coupe.

 

[WannabeItalian]

Buy out advice noted and accepted. Will check on residual and see if worthwhile. Is the buy out negotiable in the event the price of the car in the market has tanked below this figure? anyone ever negotiate their buyout?

 

[RickBullotta]

Buy out advice noted and accepted. Will check on residual and see if worthwhile. Is the buy out negotiable in the event the price of the car in the market has tanked below this figure? anyone ever negotiate their buyout?

Very negotiable. Having a used Maserati sitting on the lot is an expensive proposition for the dealer. They also want your service business. They're willing to deal in exchange for a "convenient transaction".

 

[Niteroi]

I'm surprised that no one has suggested buying out your Coupe!

Yep, I have, look upstairs.