Autocare article - why Maserati Granturismo might not yet be considered a classic

slay

Member
Messages
409
Got this in my email - not sure what the link is. I would argue that it is already out of production and already a classic in my mind :)

Here is the article

There’s actually one very good reason why the Maserati GranTurismo might not yet be considered a classic, and that’s because it remains in production. While there are some cars that become instant classics, the GranTurismo, for all its quietly elegant beauty, is not one of those. But it feels like it’s fast making the metamorphosis because it’s been around so long, besides being quite rare and carrying that glamorous Italian name.

The GranTurismo is 12 this year, making it one of the oldest new cars you can buy, along with the Fiat 500. Only the Mitsubishi Shogun is more ancient. The GranTurismo will not be replaced directly, as was once the plan – the two-seat Alfieri coupé now scheduled to do that job from 2020. It will lose four-seater convenience, but the new coupé will be offered both with highly potent battery-electric and plug-in hybrid power. Appealing, although the fact that the Alfieri is now almost half the age of the GranTurismo, having appeared as a concept in 2014, has you once again wondering how FCA goes about its product planning. But that’s another story.

None of which alters the fact that the GranTurismo remains a great-looking car, and a great-sounding one too. Its V8 gargles with a satisfyingly rich air of menace during low-speed drive-bys, and welling venom when you let it rip. The ripping could be a bit more frenetic, in fact, because early GranTurismos come with a 400bhp 4.2-litre V8 that only sounds ample until you discover that this four-seater coupé was born overweight – its 1880kg heft more what you’d expect from an SUV. So its thrust is a little blunted, 62mph arriving in 5.2sec, its all-out speed 177mph. You’d feel further bluntings if you fail to realise that this is an engine to be revved, the 7250rpm redline there to draw you to the fruitiest zones of the power band. Besides getting your Maserati to get a move on, you’ll get to hear the V8 singing one of the finer songs to emerge from beneath a bonnet.

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The chassis is well able to handle these orchestrations, Maserati having pursued its regular quest for equal weight distribution by mounting the GranTurismo’s six-speed ZF automatic in unit with the back axle, to achieve a 49:51 front-to-rear weight allocation. The road below you’ll feel via either conventional dampers or Maserati’s electronic Skyhook shockers, these optional self-adjusters achieving slightly more accomplished results than the standard items.

The Maser’s springing medium was in any case not the key limiter to making bold commitments through curves – the GranTurismo’s sheer size ensured that, on back-woods twisties, you’ll be very much occupying all of your side of the road, and more than that if you want to show the tail-lights a slice of nearside verge. As a mate mentioned the other day, this is a car that’s a good 15% bigger than it needs to be.

Those frustrated by the 4.2’s absence of impetus may be semi-sated by the GranTurismo S, which arrived a year later in 2008. Powered by a 434bhp 4.7 version of the Maranello V8, this is the engine that the car should have had in the first place. It yields 22lb ft more torque, too, while the rev limit stretches to 7500rpm and the 0-62mph time shrinks to 4.9sec.



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Over the years, those outputs have continued to rise, to reach their current peak of 454bhp and 384lb ft – this output was also granted the GranCabrio that made its debut in 2010. The fastest production GranTurismo to date has been the race-inspired MC Stradale, the removal of the car’s two sumptuous rear seats and much other luxurious superfluity paring enough weight to launch it to 62mph in 4.5 gloriously wailing seconds.

And glorious still describes this car – its Pininfarina styling bestowing it with a beauty rare in modern showrooms, its Ferrari-manufactured V8 only heightening its allure. These days, you can pick up an early 4.2 for a little over £20k – a temptation that your reporter almost succumbed to over Christmas, before remembering the Maser’s 18mpg. Never mind – a classic it almost is, and a classic it will be.


Richard Bremner
Senior contributing editor
 

Oliver6796

Member
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497
Interesting view and one I think that’s shared amongst many here. Let’s hope that the ridiculously cheap prices stop and the cars hold there value (I say now I have one and no longer sucking my teath trying to get money off lol)
 

Andyk

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61,038
The most obvious reason is it ain't old enough yet to be a classic surely. It will be though.
 

Carmico

Junior Member
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33
i am sure it will be, and i am sure that MC Stradale (real one, 2 seats) and QP GTS M139 gonna price up for sure in around 3-4 years because have been produced only 497 and 1.847 pcs worldwide , gonna becomes like Collector's Masterpiece , end of an era. The 4.7L V8 NA is Glorious.
 

hashluck

Member
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1,515
No mention of the MC-Shift which will be the one to have. Reminds me, shocking how may ads for these cars list MC Auto-Shift cars as MC Shift with main dealers the worst offenders! If you are lucky enough to get a decent interior photo then one can spot the error but a bit shoddy. But then it was ever thus.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
20 years too early to be a classic.

You can still get built but unregistered ones now and there is a glut of cars for sale.

It will only be when the basket cases raise in value because the nice ones are in demand that you will see any return on a GT.

Still waiting for the 3200 to reach that stage and they are a min of 17 years old for the final ones.
 

Chrisb2015

Member
Messages
538
The GT is going back into production. The engine has just been tested to meet the new legislation and will be available again with the same 460 BHP. It’s seems another resuscitation is on the cards for this year.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
My point being the longer it is in production and high numbers the longer the wait for classic status/being collectible
Agree. But I bet the won't make it with automated manual or a 'proper' Strad version so these may go that way sooner.
 

Carmico

Junior Member
Messages
33
My point being the longer it is in production and high numbers the longer the wait for classic status/being collectible

exactly, that's why i said MC Stradale and QP GTS M139 gonna raise soon , very limited units production / sold
 

Carmico

Junior Member
Messages
33
looking at Wikipedia

for MC Stradale , real one, with 2 seats, carbon ceramic and MC Shift (same 599 F1 Gearbox if i am not wrong, 60ms shifting time)

units production sold were 497 worldwide

for the QP GTS M139 2009-2012 production numbers said 1.847 pcs (including 126 Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition )

if you think that many of them were crashed / damaged on accidents , the units running are lower
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
exactly, that's why i said MC Stradale and QP GTS M139 gonna raise soon , very limited units production / sold

I never thought the QP GTS would get as low as it now. Thought it would be the only one to buck the trend but I was wrong...and they still going down. May take a while yet before they start to go back up and by then anyone driving them will be seen as the devils spawn probably.