Struggling sales

midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

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Sounds like the classic effect of negative inflation with import duties being reduced. Why buy now when it's be cheaper tomorrow. The report eludes to other factors, but not what those factors are.
 
Nayf

Nayf

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midlifecrisis said:
Sounds like the classic effect of negative inflation with import duties being reduced. Why buy now when it's be cheaper tomorrow. The report eludes to other factors, but not what those factors are.
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I’d imagine it’s because so much of Maserati’s bulk sales were in the Diesel engines. Once demand for those fizzled out...
Also, the Ghibli has had a rough ride from its critics (having not driven one, I can’t comment), and Alfa’s resurgence has stolen its thunder on the enthusiast front. The latter is an issue that will forever cause problems - too many Italian brands with too much crossover. See also: Lancia.

Though electric cars do sod all for me personally, the electric route might save Maser if those looking for an electric luxury car find Tesla off the radar.
 
Wack61

Wack61

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They're gradually turning Maserati into luxury Fiats , wouldn't surprise me to find out the giulia quadrifoglio started its design life with a quattroporte badge on the drawing
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

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There nothing wrong with small Fiats, Alfas etc, as lots of people already love them..
On the other hand there's Maserati and Ferrari, you have to be a fairly fat wallet to own either nowadays!
Ferrari, there fine as they have a huge global fan base and lots of potential customers
Maserati I'm not so sure!

Dave
 
MrMickS

MrMickS

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"The sky is falling, the sky is falling".

Diesel is the key outside China. That and competition from the Giulia at the bottom end. The Ghibli and QP are now reaching the midpoint in their life, if you take 10 years as a reasonable model life, and need a major refresh. This has been delayed whilst they sort out drive trains going forward. What is needed is a hybrid to replace the diesel sales in order to maintain the volume.

I've no doubt that people will moan about the Giulia taking sales, or that there isn't room for both Alfa and Maserati within FCA. I'd say look at VAG. There is overlap across their ranges. FCA just need to get the balance between the marques right. Also its better to cannibalise your own sales than let someone else take them.
 
Nayf

Nayf

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MrMickS said:
"The sky is falling, the sky is falling".

Diesel is the key outside China. That and competition from the Giulia at the bottom end. The Ghibli and QP are now reaching the midpoint in their life, if you take 10 years as a reasonable model life, and need a major refresh. This has been delayed whilst they sort out drive trains going forward. What is needed is a hybrid to replace the diesel sales in order to maintain the volume.

I've no doubt that people will moan about the Giulia taking sales, or that there isn't room for both Alfa and Maserati within FCA. I'd say look at VAG. There is overlap across their ranges. FCA just need to get the balance between the marques right. Also its better to cannibalise your own sales than let someone else take them.
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The difference with VAG is that a lot of their brands platform share, helping to reduce costs. It could also be argued that they too have too many brands - Seat, for example, struggles in the lineup (or until recently).

Quite what will happen with PSA/Opel is intriguing.
 
MrMickS

MrMickS

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Nayf said:
The difference with VAG is that a lot of their brands platform share, helping to reduce costs. It could also be argued that they too have too many brands - Seat, for example, struggles in the lineup (or until recently).

Quite what will happen with PSA/Opel is intriguing.
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They've been at it a while. The new smaller Maserati SUV will be the first platform share between Alfa and Maserati so there's time there.

There is a degree of Chrysler parts bin in the Ghibli/QP VI/Levante as well, but people don't seem to like that ;)
 
Corranga

Corranga

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Fiat - Alfa - Maserati - Ferrari all seem to have distinct markets, and with a bit of platform sharing thongs should work out.

They need to decide if Masrati is about luxury or sports though.
I doubt that the regular Guilia takes sales from Maserati, so really, we're talking about the Quadrifoglio. Platform (or part / drivetrain?) sharing the Quadrifoglio with the Ghibli (as the baby Maser) seems to make a lot of sense but the Ghibli is fairly new in the grander scheme of things.
The Quadrifoglio is the M3 - does the M5 taker sales from the M5? Is the Quattroporte an M5 equivelent?
If they set it up right, there is a nice progression into Maserati via previous Alfa owners. Right now the problem is that the QF is better than what Maserati offer (or certainly reviews that way) and many will have gone the other way!

As has been said a LOT, Maserati needs a sports car - a miniature Ferrari at a price point that is significantly less than the red car, but can be more than the Alfa equivelent (such as the smaller 4C)
FCA need to realise that Maserati won't steal sales from Ferrari - Ferrari will always be Ferrari and sell cars despite. If they can share stuff and create a similar baby Ferrari with a Maserati badge, it'll sell. If they want to stick to convertibles and 4 seats, it'll also sell. Ferrari do small sports cars and big GTs.
 
P R

P R

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I wonder how many "single sales" they get, when someone buys one and then doesnt buy another.
I have had the full range of Maserati emotions in the last few weeks. The Italy trip was great, the car was perfect for it, loved it. Then got back and get charged nearly £2000 for an oil and filter change and some new headlight washers.
I dont think they've got it quite right with the new breed. Fiat diesel with Ferrari pricing won't work long term.
 
MrMickS

MrMickS

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Interesting question.

I’ll not swap for another car the same so will want something new when it’s time to change. That said a V8 in a Ghibli would be enough for me.

I have toyed with using the Ghibli as a stepping stone to an F car but probably won’t. Though I may switch back to an Alfa depending on what the new GTV is like. If I do that I’ll have to pick up an older Maser just to have one.
 
B

BRR

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Surely their biggest problem is that their current offerings aren't very good, are out performed by cheaper rivals and don't even have the character that would make them the enthusiasts choice anymore. The Granturismo is the only true Maserati still being produced and that's massively long in the tooth these days
 
Lozzer

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BRR said:
Surely their biggest problem is that their current offerings aren't very good, are out performed by cheaper rivals and don't even have the character that would make them the enthusiasts choice anymore. The Granturismo is the only true Maserati still being produced and that's massively long in the tooth these days
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Like? Please explain those points to a neanderthal like me.
 
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MrMickS

MrMickS

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Like I’ve said. The last true Maserati was built in the 1960s. At that point Maserati became a car manufacturer rather than a racing company that produced cars to enable them to race.

Even though there is a GT4 version the GranTurismo is a tourer first and a race car second.

The current four door cars are as much follower of Maserati heritage as the GT is. The QuattroPorte has been around since the 60s.

Dismissing them, and presumably 1980s and 1990s cars prior to the 3200, is complete rubbish.

Might as well say a Dino isn’t a real Ferrari because it has Enzo’s son’s name on it.
 
Andyk

Andyk

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Most are struggling for sales these days. Just look at the 0% finance deals. Even Maserati had an advert on the radio this week advertising 0% finance deals on the Levante.....Probably the diesel but missed that bit.
 
Mattp

Mattp

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My views on maserati, I love the marque, always have, but like almost recent alfa, there's a bit of a dry spell and isn't anything to really whet the appetite,

My wife can't tell the difference between the Ghibli and QP6 - to her they both just look like cars... while she does agree that the QP5 has a distinct gravatas and is a bit of an event...

She likes the Levante, but i expect that if we were in the position to by one, we would end up with a high spec Stevlio and a holiday!

The GT, another car I really love and another car that is quite special, but i wouldn't want to drop that amount of money on car that's over 10 years old...

M5 and AMG65 rivals I don't see maserati as, those are thuggy cars, power and performance may be similar, but the maserati is more refined, classy, special.
 
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