Upgrading to a Strad

Guy

Member
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1,999
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this write-up also.

I have a GranTurismo itch to scratch, some years off mind - but already pondering the differences which you've kindly taken the time to elaborate upon and explain.

BTW - I do love the gormless (or perhaps envious) look of the drivers of the Micra next to your Strad!!
Thanks makeshift. I still miss my QPV GTS and admire yours in that stunning colour! Enjoy it, there's plenty of time to get into a GT in the future.
 

CLRut

Member
Messages
120
Well done Guy, great looking Stradale and you won’t look back for a second. It’s hard to explain why they are such great cars but now you know!!
Despite not buying mine through Richard Grace, he was incredibly helpful so I’m not surprised you speak so highly of the whole experience.

Many congratulations Guy - a lovely car indeed. You won't regret it and I highly recommend a geometry check/review before the summer comes around and you properly drive her. I also fully concur re Richard - he was a legend in freely giving his time to me back in 2017 when I purchased mine. Still haven't forgotten that help, or that from other Strad owners/forum members. Craig
 

White tiger

Junior Member
Messages
68
What a great writeup Guy, and I'm sure you have decided very well to buy a Strad.
At the same time I really envy you guys to have so many options when buying a Mas.
In my country (Slovenia) there are maybe one or 2 GTs or GTSs for sale each year ...of course I can only dream of Strad :(.
Importing it is not an option for me, as I would have to pay a ridicolus 48% of tax.
I'm really happy that I got my GTS MC Shift at the end of 2018, which makes me smile everytime I drive it.
 
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Guy

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Many congratulations Guy - a lovely car indeed. You won't regret it and I highly recommend a geometry check/review before the summer comes around and you properly drive her. I also fully concur re Richard - he was a legend in freely giving his time to me back in 2017 when I purchased mine. Still haven't forgotten that help, or that from other Strad owners/forum members. Craig
That's a really good point regarding geometry Craig It never ceases to amaze me the money people spend on remapping yet ignore this critical aspect. In my Porsche days I used a genius called Chris at Centre of Gravity and it transformed the handling of my 993. I guess there is a thread somewhere here but I would be interested to know other Strad experiences with set up (factory settings or otherwise)
 

Guy

Member
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1,999
What a great writeup Guy, and I'm sure you have decided very well to buy a Strad.
At the same time I really envy you guys to have so many options when buying a Mas.
In my country (Slovenia) there are maybe one or 2 GTs or GTSs for sale each year ...of course I can only dream of Strad :(.
Importing it is not an option for me, as I would have to pay a ridicolus 48% of tax.
I'm really happy that I got my GTS MC Shift at the end of 2018, which makes me smile everytime I drive it.
Thanks White Tiger. I bet you have some interesting and lightly traffic roads to enjoy in your part of the world! GTS MC Shift is no hardship! Guy
 

philw696

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25,113
Wow what a Great time you had there with RG. As the others have said a brilliant write up indeed.
 
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Guy

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Wow what a Great time you had there with RG. As the others have said a brilliant write up indeed.
Thanks Phil. I have taken so much out of this forum thanks to the knowledge and experience of others so I am very happy to share my own. I have enjoyed many cars over the years but nothing compares to my Maserati experience enhanced (and amused!) by this forum.
 

Guy

Member
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1,999
Thank you to so many contributors who recommended the x-pipe. I had mine fitted today and I love it. Very tuneful and quite loud in Race mode! Definitely needs to be switched to Sport for any long motorways hauls I suspect!

Still keen to for any guidance on alignment. Recommendations appreciated.
 

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
Thank you to so many contributors who recommended the x-pipe. I had mine fitted today and I love it. Very tuneful and quite loud in Race mode! Definitely needs to be switched to Sport for any long motorways hauls I suspect!

Still keen to for any guidance on alignment. Recommendations appreciated.

Yup, normal modes for long drives, race mode for giggles! I had alignment done on mine at a specialist set up company in glasgow. They made it as neutral as possible so it cornered really flat and with confidence.
 

Guy

Member
Messages
1,999
Thanks Craig. I’ve been running those Michelin’s ever since the P zeros wore out on my QPV!
I’ll check out this guy.
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Matt, I am well overdue a Le mans trip having 12 in a row up to 2008.
Come on! 34th consecutive visit this year! I’m so obsessed I’ve even bought a property there. Every time I think this is getting to be an impressive stat, someone puts me back in my box with a greater number.

Anybody on here visited prior to my first time in 1986 (probably) or been more than 34 times to the main 24H so I can feel humbled again?
 
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Guy

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Come on! 34th consecutive visit this year! I’m so obsessed I’ve even bought a property there. Every time I think this is getting to be an impressive stat, someone puts me back in my box with a greater number.

Anybody on here visited prior to my first time in 1986 (probably) or been more than 34 times to the main 24H so I can feel humbled again?

That's commitment! I believe my first was 1987, then '88 when Jaguar won. Back for '95 (Mclaren F1 won) with a bunch of Rockets (Light Car Company) and then organised for a group of friends the next 12 years. Not been since 2013. A lot of great memories (especially the driving their and back avoiding all RN and Autoroutes where possible)
 

mischaRS

Member
Messages
154
We have used Chris@ Center Gravity for absolutely years for all our cars. Our MC S 4-7 was transformed by him, in 2019. Best money you will ever spend.
 
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rossm

New Member
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27
Guy - here we go; highly recommended by several of us on here. Not that far from you methinks and worth planning in.

https://blackboots.co.uk/wheel-alignment/tony-bones-wheel-alignment-expert-250/

Also highly recommend the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's......

I spent yesterday morning at Blackboots having my 2015 Granturismo Sport properly aligned and would strongly recommend them.

I noticed before Christmas that my car had eaten the inner edges of both front tyres so had the car checked at my local Kwik Fit who have a Hunter alignment machine. They reset the front toe to factory specs but did not want to touch camber and caster due to it being a "specialist job"... When I reviewed the new settings, they had actually added toe out on the front to meet Maserati specs, which was only going to exacerbate the tyre wear issue.

The guys at Blackboots reviewed the Kwik Fit settings and immediately pointed out the caster and camber issues at the front and confirmed adding toe out wasn't going to help. They recommended their own custom settings which are more neutral than Maserati specs to make the car less nervous by reducing toe at both ends and also re-shimming the wishbones to equalise caster and camber. The result is a much more stable and planted car that doesn't tramline and twitch during lane changes on the motorway, but also inspires more confidence when cornering as it simply tracks straight and true. Steering responses are a touch slower than before but it means you can relax when cruising and then lean on the car more confidently through corners when the opportunity arises.
 

Guy

Member
Messages
1,999
I spent yesterday morning at Blackboots having my 2015 Granturismo Sport properly aligned and would strongly recommend them.

I noticed before Christmas that my car had eaten the inner edges of both front tyres so had the car checked at my local Kwik Fit who have a Hunter alignment machine. They reset the front toe to factory specs but did not want to touch camber and caster due to it being a "specialist job"... When I reviewed the new settings, they had actually added toe out on the front to meet Maserati specs, which was only going to exacerbate the tyre wear issue.

The guys at Blackboots reviewed the Kwik Fit settings and immediately pointed out the caster and camber issues at the front and confirmed adding toe out wasn't going to help. They recommended their own custom settings which are more neutral than Maserati specs to make the car less nervous by reducing toe at both ends and also re-shimming the wishbones to equalise caster and camber. The result is a much more stable and planted car that doesn't tramline and twitch during lane changes on the motorway, but also inspires more confidence when cornering as it simply tracks straight and true. Steering responses are a touch slower than before but it means you can relax when cruising and then lean on the car more confidently through corners when the opportunity arises.
That's great feedback, appreciated. Would you share the costs of the alignment? Thanks, Guy
 

Ianed0

Member
Messages
241
Although I love my GS I've wanted a GT ever since they were launched but i have one major problem thats preventing me from taking a serious look, can't fit it in my garage:( as I'm ocd about my cars I wouldnt even contemplate leaving it outside