Borrowed Ghibli

[Contigo]

I feel like looking for an MCS is just too limited when there are so many 4.2's out there? I am wondering with a remap and exhaust mod if it will be worth the bigger layout. Be interested to hear thoughts on residuals of the two engine sizes too.

 

[Fangio63]

After another morning in the Ghibli and some miles on the M40 and some country roads... I can report I quite like the steering too.. nicely weighted and not got the vagueness around the middle that the GT has......oh ... and the sat nav's fine too..

Really started to like it ... a lot...

 

[bigbob]

I feel like looking for an MCS is just too limited when there are so many 4.2's out there? I am wondering with a remap and exhaust mod if it will be worth the bigger layout. Be interested to hear thoughts on residuals of the two engine sizes too.

I suppose that the autos can appeal to a wider audience as they get older due to no looming clutch costs.

The 4.2 does not allow manual control - well without kickdown even in 'manual' mode - whereas the 4.7 auto will. The latter are a tad cheaper than the 4.7 MC which may help.

Personally I would pay extra for whichever 4.7 suits your needs as you will then not need to spend on the remap/exhaust. Just check brakes on the 4.7 as the fronts costs a lot more than on the 4.2 (rears are the same).

 

[bigbob]

After another morning in the Ghibli and some miles on the M40 and some country roads... I can report I quite like the steering too.. nicely weighted and not got the vagueness around the middle that the GT has......oh ... and the sat nav's fine too..

Really started to like it ... a lot...

Ghibli petrol is sweet sounding but different to the V8. S is rocket fast but has fair bit of lag. Payback is epic mid range. Not driven the 'basic' petrol.

 

[iainw]

Just when I had decided on the GT...Fangio is tempting me with the Ghibli. And he and the rest of you guys know what you are talking about... I took the Ghibli S out for a test drive and enjoyed it - but certainly felt like a 'big car' - less sporty and more luxurious. Didn't help that I scratched the front bumper on my ridiculously narrow drive.

I think you are right - as more people hear about them , sales will go up - but surely one of the charms is the lack on them on the roads?

Can you REALLY compare with a BMW 5 series when you see so many around. Those that go on about the 'ride' and 'practicality' of german cars. Please - which one would sane people choose next to each other.

 

[bigbob]

GranTurismo and Ghibli are not competitor cars they just happen to be from the same brand. You really need to look at the usage you want from the car and then decide.

 

[keith]

Just to share my experiences as an owner of a MY16 Diesel Ghibli.
For my purposes, which means driving in the UK on typical roads with typical traffic, being able to accelerate to sixty half a second quicker or having a noisier exhaust (in sport mode in particular the diesel exhaust still sounds pretty good) was not worth spending several thousand pounds more for the petrol engine. Whilst there is a question mark over servicing costs, RFL is of course cheaper as is fuel costs, and like all new cars sold from September the Ghibli Diesel is Euro 6 compliant.
In terms of performance dynamics and technology the simple fact is, the likes of BMW and now Jaguar better the Maserati.
However buying a Maserati isn't for those reasons. Rather like Jaguars previous model ranges, they come close to competing with their rivals, but easily beat them for looks feel and ambience. When I look at, and sit in my Ghibli I feel like its a car from several grades higher, more like a Bentley! Indeed the name 'Maserati' has become almost as exotic as many more expensive marques.
My budget would have allowed me to get the petrol or even a basic 'S' model, but I doubt given todays traffic and general congestion, the opportunity to use the extra performance would I doubt, present itself, and even if it did it probably wouldn't be safe sensible or even legal! Simply in realistic day to day driving the diesel drives much the same as the petrol. My money went on areas that I use the most, the cabin and features. This makes a car that cost me around £63k after discount feel like a car that cost double that.
For many traditional enthusiasts the idea of a diesel engine in a Maserati will be simply wrong no matter what, and maybe I am a little boring with my analysis of the life of todays motorists, but like everything its always a question of personal priorities, and the most powerful engine isn't at the top of my list.

Regards
Keith



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[Fangio63]

Very helpful Keith....

As it happens Dick Lovett has called.. my car not ready till next week... but they need their Ghibli back tomorrow as its a demo car not on the courtesy fleet..

So i'll be swapping it for a diesel Ghibli tomorrow... i'll let you know my thoughts ...

 

[P R]

I'm with Keith. I waited for the right spec for me and apart from the lack of flappy paddles, pretty much got what I wanted (Emozione Blu, 20" Uranos, Privacy glass, carbon trim, a few other "packs" were also on it!)... I went for the diesel as I do high miles. I bought it in Feb with 6k miles on now it has 21k on... and I love it. I came to it from an Alfa GTA with the 3.2V6 busso, which I do miss but it was 10 years old and had 160k miles on it, so needed a change!

 

[Fangio63]

My chum has one with no paddles too... I had thought them a bit superfluous as the 8 speed auto is pretty good ... but tried them today and rather enjoyed myself..

Not sure of the point of them on the diesel - not enough revs to play with ... those 20" Uranus really change the whole look of the car though... parked next to another one with the standard smaller wheel, the black one I've borrowed looked a bit of a beast ...

 

[keith]

Absolutely agree. The 20" wheels really make the look of the car! Also I have the Skyhook and even with the wheels the ride is still fine.

 

[Fangio63]

I'm assuming there's skyhook on this one... It seems well specced.
Nero with ivory interior, black dash and door cards,
standard wood, not the shine one.
reversing camera (bloody useful)
heated seats - which I think were a pricey option as they come with the multi adjustable electrics I think...
black calipers , and the big 20" wheels..

I have however banged by head on the boot catch Twice !.and the last time , may have left some dna behind...... It's just the wrong height when it's open for me...

 

[bigbob]

I'm assuming there's skyhook on this one... It seems well specced.
Nero with ivory interior, black dash and door cards,
standard wood, not the shine one.
reversing camera (bloody useful)
heated seats - which I think were a pricey option as they come with the multi adjustable electrics I think...
black calipers , and the big 20" wheels..

I have however banged by head on the boot catch Twice !.and the last time , may have left some dna behind...... It's just the wrong height when it's open for me...

If it has a damper button it has skyhook.

 

[Fangio63]

Righto... in a diesel now.... again with the big 20" wheels... in some sort of silvery beige (Champagne I think).... daughter says "it's an Old Mans colour..". but I think it looks great...Black interior a bit "steady " for me..otherwise nicely specced..

no rear cameras on this one, or sky hook... has paddles - which I've not been motivated to use..... as I suspected the auto box deals with it better than I do..

Does make a bizarre noise with the sport button on... lots of head turning from pedestrians... not quite authentic .. but quite cool all the same..

A few decent trips to Rugby matches etc... (not the internationals) ... so had a chance to form an impression.... compared to the Petrol this one is sipping the tank... and I can quite see that thats a big draw for some (but not a high priority for me)..

Plenty of grunt.. but not as much fun... (too much happens too soon and not enough later)...

Can't make a direct comparison - but I'm certain the speedo is marked differently... - and not as instantly readable... I needed to look hard at the divisions to see how fast I was cruising at...

For me the extra vibration and rattly noise from the diesel - and the way the power is delivered - are a couple of compromises too many for the fuel saving.... felt rather course on start up compared to the silky petrol V6...

If you can cope with that then there's not much wrong with it ... but I think the basic petrol one is the sweet spot in the Ghibli line up...

 

[Fangio63]

Just when I had decided on the GT...Fangio is tempting me with the Ghibli. And he and the rest of you guys know what you are talking about... I took the Ghibli S out for a test drive and enjoyed it - but certainly felt like a 'big car' - less sporty and more luxurious. Didn't help that I scratched the front bumper on my ridiculously narrow drive.

Just for the record, if the Ghibli felt big to you - then the GT will feel bigger... I think it is anyway - but the more elevated driving position in the Ghibli gives you a much better sense of where the edges of the car are... I still find myself "breathing in" when faced with a narrow opening and oncoming traffic in the GT.... and as for parking in tight spots - it's doable - but you need to study the mirrors with a sweaty brow... so far as figuring out where the nose ends when parking nose in - well thats just guesswork...

parking sensors helpful - but getting my GT in the garage is beyond them... I've resorted to a number of corks on long strings having from the roof... when they move - then I'm close enough !..

 

[Ebenezer]

Having been taken for a ride with Fangio on Friday in the petrol one, I found the cabin a very nice place to be. Certainly felt quick and didn't skimp on the noise. Styling was nice as well, save for the rear end which I think is a bit bland and "large" so doesn't stir the juices like the rears of other might. Fangio said that the boot is enourmous. However to my mind choosing one depends on what you want from a car. Certainly i'd not replace my QP with one as the QP is "special". I couldn't see myself yearning for a Ghibli in the same way you might a QPV/GT/4200/3200 and in future the Alfieri etc. However for a daily drive, it would certainly be far more appealing than a Merc/BMW/Audi/Jag which are common as muck.
Eb

 

[outrun]

Yes, boot is huge. De Niro described it well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN65mEhgpqQ

 

[hodroyd]

Hahahaha, love it..!!

 

[Needamaser]

parking sensors helpful - but getting my GT in the garage is beyond them... I've resorted to a number of corks on long strings having from the roof... when they move - then I'm close enough !..

Trick I learned from my late father was just have a couple of bits of triangular wood to use as chocks so you simply reverse into garage and when wheels touch them you are in.
As long as non one moves them you are ok.

 

[hodroyd]

Corks, tennis balls and other such items can work well as dangly things, or you can use an old bra just for the laugh factor..!!