Calling Gransport owners - a few questions

rockits said:

It does to me as well. At 25k or less it would seem a very good GS LE to me compared to others. He is Northants way so not sure how local that is for you.

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I'll be around Northampton on Saturday. Zep is also around there.

As for exhaust - my GS spyder has Larini H-pipe and 2ndary decat. Close valves for the village at 6am and it's civil. Sport mode and valves open engages wrath! It's great.

I test drove this car today at Giallo. It’s done just over 31k miles, had a new clutch at 27+k, and felt like a tight, well maintained, car. The interior is also much nicer in the flesh than I thought it was going to be from the pictures.

Driving impressions were:

- Much smaller than my Granturismo (and feels it when sat in the drivers seat)
- The sport seats are “sportier”, with bigger side bolsters, and feels like a tighter fit (in a good way). They are also much firmer and feel lower. It’s a slightly harder car to get into and out of.
- The driving position felt good, and very clear view of the dials. I also really like the funny shape wheel and the carbon top half with the stripe to show you straight on.
- The ride is definitely a lot firmer, although we only really drove on a decent A road and a couple of decent quality main roads. Due to the timing and the weather, there wasnt much opportunity to really test the handling, but I did get a little twitch when accelerating off a roundabout
- the gear box would take me some time to get used to. It wasn’t at all bad, but just felt different, and the couple of times I tried to change gear without lifting slightly off the accelerator it was slightly jerky and a bit of a lag. However, it was smoother than I was expecting when going up the gears (e.g. 4th to 3rd).
- Exhaust note was quieter than my GTS, especially when not in Sport mode, but there was enough there to know you were driving a V8. It also got much better when in Sport mode.
- Road noise and amount of shudder from the road was also more noticeable
- Performance felt quick - maybe because it’s a little smaller, but it felt just as fast as my GTS
- Little things like air conditioning controls, petrol cap release, stereo, etc, all felt older and slightly retro / vintage.

Overall, I enjoyed the drive, and I now have a decision to make!

Pleased it was to your liking and they do grow on you.

Nice summary. It's interesting seeing someone interested in going this direction, from a GTS to a GS.

Yes, the gearbox will take getting used to, but is very rewarding once you've sussed it. Being robotised manual, it will jerk if you don't lift on lower-rev changes. If you're flooring it and change near redline, then the shifts are super-sweet and the kick is exhillerating.
For noise, the stock exhaust is too quiet if you're used to GTS.
It is pretty much as fast as a GTS.

I'll be passing Towcester on Saturday morning so could arrange to check out the black one there.

MrPea said:

Nice summary. It's interesting seeing someone interested in going this direction, from a GTS to a GS.

Yes, the gearbox will take getting used to, but is very rewarding once you've sussed it. Being robotised manual, it will jerk if you don't lift on lower-rev changes. If you're flooring it and change near redline, then the shifts are super-sweet and the kick is exhillerating.
For noise, the stock exhaust is too quiet if you're used to GTS.
It is pretty much as fast as a GTS.

I'll be passing Towcester on Saturday morning so could arrange to check out the black one there.

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Thanks - the bit underlined is very useful as it’s fair to say all my driving today was at fairly low revs.

I’ve pinged an email to the dealership selling the one in Towcester / Silverstone, but have not had any response.

I have also just tried to call them, and the number on the eBay advert and the one that comes up on Google is not connecting, but is available to buy from TTNC...!

@rockits - if you are in contact with the owner, any chance you can get a mobile number or an email so I can contact him direct?

Yes good summary Jon. Appears to reinforce what other owners have said.

I guess your decision will be influenced by what you want from the car. Maybe change to GS if a weekend toy or keep GTS if you want a more comfortable daily driver.

I'm sure you could easily sell your GTS via this forum as it's a rare and desirable colour for a pre facelift model. To my mind doesn't make sense to trade it as you might have to pay to change for a car that retails for less than your GTS.

BuckRog64 said:

Yes good summary Jon. Appears to reinforce what other owners have said.

I guess your decision will be influenced by what you want from the car. Maybe change to GS if a weekend toy or keep GTS if you want a more comfortable daily driver.

I'm sure you could easily sell your GTS via this forum as it's a rare and desirable colour for a pre facelift model. To my mind doesn't make sense to trade it as you might have to pay to change for a car that retails for less than your GTS.

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Reality is my Maserati is mainly a weekend toy and something to drive to Le Mans, etc... Not a daily driver at all, but is occasionally used to take the family somewhere (hence the need for 4 seats). This is why I think a GS could be a good alternative...

There’s also been a couple of occasions where I’ve been in convoy with a few other friends (who have Porkers/Vantages), and they have flown through gaps or down narrow roads, and I’ve been holding my breath wondering if my GT S was too wide to squeeze through.

In terms of my GT S, I think many on here would probably discount it because it’s an auto, and there’s a strong preference for the MC-Shift. However, if there were any interest I’d be delighted to talk to someone, as it does feel slightly illogical to be thinking that I could end up effectively swapping my car for something that is 6-7 years older, and which has a retail value (including dealer margin) that is less than mine.

Hey Jon,

I contacted the dealer in Silverstone via Ebay message and they got back to me straight away saying they'd be open on Saturday morning when I'm passing by and look forward to seeing me. Hey, my car is tucked up hibernating, so why not have a play with someone else's that isn't!? Particularly if I'm doing so to help them sell the thing.

There is at least one person I know of here that could be interested in your car. The auto box is a very nice drive for many many people so I wouldn't be too worried at the mentions of anything MC.

JonW said:

Reality is my Maserati is mainly a weekend toy and something to drive to Le Mans, etc... Not a daily driver at all, but is occasionally used to take the family somewhere (hence the need for 4 seats). This is why I think a GS could be a good alternative...

There’s also been a couple of occasions where I’ve been in convoy with a few other friends (who have Porkers/Vantages), and they have flown through gaps or down narrow roads, and I’ve been holding my breath wondering if my GT S was too wide to squeeze through.

In terms of my GT S, I think many on here would probably discount it because it’s an auto, and there’s a strong preference for the MC-Shift. However, if there were any interest I’d be delighted to talk to someone, as it does feel slightly illogical to be thinking that I could end up effectively swapping my car for something that is 6-7 years older, and which has a retail value (including dealer margin) that is less than mine.

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It was the size that steered me away from GranTurismos to the older cars.

A Gransport isn’t going to loose much money where’s as GranTurismos are only going one way.

It is strange that they went back to the 3200 HVAC controls but they work well in mine and they are auto climate control just the same as a push button afair. The radio is easily updated, I’ve put in a DAB, Bluetooth, USB jobby with hands free.

And the headlining is fab makes me think of 60s Ferraris

On the downside there’ll be more maintenance

JonW said:

- the gear box would take me some time to get used to. It wasn’t at all bad, but just felt different, and the couple of times I tried to change gear without lifting slightly off the accelerator it was slightly jerky and a bit of a lag. However, it was smoother than I was expecting when going up the gears (e.g. 4th to 3rd).

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In the 4200/GS the gearbox is always jerky if you don't have it in Sport.
The gear change is that much faster in sport that the jerkiness is reduced by a huge margin.

Hence I always drove mine in Sport.

GeoffCapes said:

In the 4200/GS the gearbox is always jerky if you don't have it in Sport.
The gear change is that much faster in sport that the jerkiness is reduced by a huge margin.

Hence I always drove mine in Sport.

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Just a pain (literally sometimes) that in Sport it also switches the suspension to (even) stiffer mode!

Towcester, just down the road from me. Less than 5 miles

JonW said:

Thanks - the bit underlined is very useful as it’s fair to say all my driving today was at fairly low revs.

I’ve pinged an email to the dealership selling the one in Towcester / Silverstone, but have not had any response.

I have also just tried to call them, and the number on the eBay advert and the one that comes up on Google is not connecting, but is available to buy from TTNC...!

@rockits - if you are in contact with the owner, any chance you can get a mobile number or an email so I can contact him direct?

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I'm sure I have his details. I will drop him a quick message out of courtesy to make sure he is OK with me giving you his details and will PM them over.

Never found my GS or late 4200 to have a jerky change... a new clutch makes a major difference to the change as too a new set of bearings.

Ok nothing like a real auto but not jerky.

JonW said:

Reality is my Maserati is mainly a weekend toy and something to drive to Le Mans, etc... Not a daily driver at all, but is occasionally used to take the family somewhere (hence the need for 4 seats). This is why I think a GS could be a good alternative...

There’s also been a couple of occasions where I’ve been in convoy with a few other friends (who have Porkers/Vantages), and they have flown through gaps or down narrow roads, and I’ve been holding my breath wondering if my GT S was too wide to squeeze through.

In terms of my GT S, I think many on here would probably discount it because it’s an auto, and there’s a strong preference for the MC-Shift. However, if there were any interest I’d be delighted to talk to someone, as it does feel slightly illogical to be thinking that I could end up effectively swapping my car for something that is 6-7 years older, and which has a retail value (including dealer margin) that is less than mine.

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It might be an auto but I recall yours has the sport pack including the faster MC Autoshift box that became standard on the facelift car. That might sway a few that had their eye on an automated manual. If you also have the MC Handling suspension, rather than skyhook, it would be a particularly rare car.

Jon, just dropped you PM with his details

BuckRog64 said:

It might be an auto but I recall yours has the sport pack including the faster MC Autoshift box that became standard on the facelift car. That might sway a few that had their eye on an automated manual. If you also have the MC Handling suspension, rather than skyhook, it would be a particularly rare car.

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Sounds like a nice motor...hmmm

MrPea said:

Nice summary. It's interesting seeing someone interested in going this direction, from a GTS to a GS.

Yes, the gearbox will take getting used to, but is very rewarding once you've sussed it. Being robotised manual, it will jerk if you don't lift on lower-rev changes. If you're flooring it and change near redline, then the shifts are super-sweet and the kick is exhillerating.
For noise, the stock exhaust is too quiet if you're used to GTS.
It is pretty much as fast as a GTS.

I'll be passing Towcester on Saturday morning so could arrange to check out the black one there.

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I'll never forget @hoyin asking @Moz1000 why he 'downgraded' to a 3200. Moz's face was a picture, the birds stopped singing and the atmosphere was thick.... till the rest of Wayne's gite burst out laughing....

MrPea said:

Hey Jon,

I contacted the dealer in Silverstone via Ebay message and they got back to me straight away saying they'd be open on Saturday morning when I'm passing by and look forward to seeing me. Hey, my car is tucked up hibernating, so why not have a play with someone else's that isn't!? Particularly if I'm doing so to help them sell the thing.

There is at least one person I know of here that could be interested in your car. The auto box is a very nice drive for many many people so I wouldn't be too worried at the mentions of anything MC.

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Thanks Stevie - if you do drop into the garage and have a look at the black GS I’d be interested in what you think of it...

I also appreciate yours and others comments re my car. If I decide to go down the route of switching I will definitely think about doing a proper advert on here to see if there’s any serious interest. The quick version is:

2012 Granturismo S Auto
Sport pack
Skyhook (not MC Handling)
36,500 miles
Med Blu (with £3k+ full paint correction, detail and ceramic coating 12 months ago)
2 owners (I’m the 2nd)
Full main dealer service history (last service by Maranello in August 18)
Black leather interior
Light Grey alcantara headlining
MC Stradale black gloss wheels
Larini x-pipe (removable and replaceable with stock)
FD spacers (removable)
Set of winter and summer tyres
Maserati indoor cover

Navcorr said:

Think I recall seeing photos of a "fold out" double din unit in a GS. Someone here on SM I think.
The screen covered the aircon dials and, iirc, the angle of screen adjustment wasn't quite perfect - but a nice "upgrade" nonetheless.

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This is the one that I keep thinking of getting but I want to see how it looks first. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-AV...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2QWBVS900KP3D80DWZHY

At the moment, I’ve just got one of those cheap plastic iPhone holders which works just fine, but the single Din fold out looks the business as long as it will fold our properly.