Choosing my Quattroporte, a little help needed

[Samstagmoonyham]

Hey there my Italian car enthusiast brothers .

I'm sorry for the fact I'm about to bombard you with a load of questions but I thought who better to ask than you guys .

I have decided to sell my 147 GTA after fixing her up and move to the big leagues as oddly, the GTA seems to be worth 4.2 Quattroporte money.

Initially I was going to break away from Italian cars and buy a Jag XFR which I known is the sensible choice but Maseratis and everything about the brand itself has seduced me just as Alfa Romeo did, so I'm taking the gamble and getting the four door Ferrari .

The only trouble is I'm a little puzzled, I can't figure out which one to get, from what I have read the 4.2 does not sound as good as the 4.7 (by much? Can it be fixed?).

On the sound front does the 4.2 GTS come with that Fantastic valved exhaust that the later 4.7s got?

I'm not too bothered about performance here sub 6 second acceleration to 60 is more than enough for me.

I also would be getting a ZF model without a doubt. Is it true that the 4.2s will kickdown even in manual mode? Even the 2008 GTS? Does it actually matter in the grand scheme of things? Lol.

I'm also not sure on what trim is best for me, they all look absolutely glorious with the GTS being the most appealing to me at first glance, as I understand the GTS models ditch the adaptive dampers, presumably making replacement costs cheaper?

Heres where things get a little complicated though, I have a very tight, uneven right angled turn to get to me parking space, like real tight. I'm a little concerned as to whether the Quattroporte has a decent turning circle or not? I think this is a bigger issue than the increase in size or width as my daft GTA is a nightmare to get around this bend but my lovely Alfa 164 does it with ease .

Does anyone know the ride height/ground clearance of the Quattroporte too? Google tells me it's something like 100mm which is 50mm lower than my GTA that is already scraping on the aforementioned lumpy road, but thinking about it, a glorious luxury saloon can't be even lower to the ground than a rock hard hot hatch on coilovers can it?

Also do any of you guys attempt DIY servicing on these wonderful machines? I'm hoping to save money where I can just in case it goes all Italian on me at some point and have always tried to work on my own cars where possible.

On that note are the ZF cars reliable in relative terms? (Relative being I know it's a heavily equipped half limousine/half Ferrari and I know parts prices are sadly quite steep on Masers).

Also do you guys have any insurance company recommendations as I will be 25 with 7 years no claims when it comes time to purchase but the quotes I'm getting are very high at 800 or more versus 385 for a Jag XFR or around 500 for my heavily modified GTA.

Last but not least should I just wait for a Ghibli S to depreciate a bit? Again it strikes me as a lovely all round package albeit not quite as special.

Thanks in advance for all your help guys

 

[Ewan]

In stock mode, the 4.7 does sound better and louder than the 4.2. But you can easily fit aftermarket bits to the 4.2 if you want it louder. The 4.2 GTS does not have the valved exhaust that the 4.7 GTS has. But a 4.2 GTS can be had for around £15k, whereas you’re more likely to need £30k for a 4.7 GTS.
For value, the standard 4.7 S is the sweet spot, at high teens.

Ground clearance isn’t really an issue, and the turning circle is perfectly reasonable. But you’ll need to test a car in your own parking space if you want to be sure.

Reliability is fine also. I ran a series of QP’s as my daily car for about a decade and over 100k miles with no serious issues - just standard servicing. But they are ******* tyres and brakes, as they are big cars.

Try and test drive a few near to you, then go from there.

 

[CatmanV2]

4.2 does not sound as good as the 4.7 (by much? Can it be fixed?).

Welcome.

Yes, just buy a set of MC rear boxes and a remote control valve kit

On the sound front does the 4.2 GTS come with that Fantastic valved exhaust that the later 4.7s got?

No. Parts are interchangeable though, and it's an easy install

Is it true that the 4.2s will kickdown even in manual mode? Even the 2008 GTS? Does it actually matter in the grand scheme of things?

Yes and no in that order. From memory the MC will kick down as well. I can't think, off hand, of any circumstance where you would not want it to but....

Also do any of you guys attempt DIY servicing on these wonderful machines?

Loads

On that note are the ZF cars reliable in relative terms?

Yes. Mine had over 100k on it and was still going strong when the next owner sold it.

Enjoy!

C

 

[Samstagmoonyham]

Wow you guys respond quickly, thank you, it's really appreciated if that's the case I'll keep my eye out for a 4.2 GTS or similar, there is a lovely one for sale right now but my GTA isn't ready for selling right now and if I can I would ideally hold out for a blue Maser.

Good to hear they can be reliable machines too

What do you guys drive now? I'm not sure what you could consider an upgrade from one of these hehe.

Now I just need to find someone or a dealership that's brave enough to let me take the car to my house to see if I can get it round the corner

 

[CatmanV2]

What do you guys drive now?

Bentley Continental GT Speed. Not so much of an upgrade, more of a side step. Very different beast, but I wanted to scratch the W12.....

C

 

[zagatoes30]

Welcome, most of your questions have been answered but best advice is get out and drive a few, fortunately they do come up for sale so search out the car that is right for you but be warned running costs of a Maserati are in a different league to Alfas but then again so is the performance.

Good luck with your search

 

[MarkMas]

The most important thing about a GT S is that it is a "GT S" not a "GTS".

 

[Gazcw]

In stock mode, the 4.7 does sound better and louder than the 4.2. But you can easily fit aftermarket bits to the 4.2 if you want it louder. The 4.2 GTS does not have the valved exhaust that the 4.7 GTS has. But a 4.2 GTS can be had for around £15k, whereas you’re more likely to need £30k for a 4.7 GTS.
For value, the standard 4.7 S is the sweet spot, at high teens.

Ground clearance isn’t really an issue, and the turning circle is perfectly reasonable. But you’ll need to test a car in your own parking space if you want to be sure.

Reliability is fine also. I ran a series of QP’s as my daily car for about a decade and over 100k miles with no serious issues - just standard servicing. But they are *** tyres and brakes, as they are big cars.

Try and test drive a few near to you, then go from there.

Agree with all of this. The S is certainly the best all round value and you can make it as loud as you want. It also has pressure regulated valves inside the backboxes so at 3000rpm you get the full chorus from standard.

 

[conaero]

S’s are the best bang for your buck. Fit MC suspension and Viola quids in

 

[safrane]

They are very big... check the size out if you have a small parking area.

 

[Ebenezer]

S’s are the best bang for your buck. Fit MC suspension and Viola quids in

Yes it does sound symphonic
Eb

 

[Samstagmoonyham]

Welcome, most of your questions have been answered but best advice is get out and drive a few, fortunately they do come up for sale so search out the car that is right for you but be warned running costs of a Maserati are in a different league to Alfas but then again so is the performance.

Good luck with your search

Thank you, yes I am starting to see that, for instance I now no longer require a GT S, I have seen the price of its brake discs and I certainly won't be driving hard enough to warrant brakes like that either aha.

I'm aware there is going to be an increase in price of parts, I'm guessing it's availability as brands like brembo, ferodo etc dont seem to make aftermarket replacements.

The GTA is a bit of a pig for maintenance (as Alfas go) with £1000 belt changes, alternators requiring engine removal to replace and ECUs that like to fail costing 2k to replace, but I'm guessing that a Quattroporte is going to be like that no matter what the part in question is?

Does anyone know if the Ghibli is the same in that respect?

Cheers guys

 

[Samstagmoonyham]

They are very big... check the size out if you have a small parking area.

Size wise they are about a foot longer than my 164 and 100mm wider, but people get cars with a trailer round this corner to my parking space, the bigger problem is turning radius, the GTA is worse than useless at this despite its size.

 

[Wanderer]

Thank you, yes I am starting to see that, for instance I now no longer require a GT S, I have seen the price of its brake discs and I certainly won't be driving hard enough to warrant brakes like that either aha.

I'm aware there is going to be an increase in price of parts, I'm guessing it's availability as brands like brembo, ferodo etc dont seem to make aftermarket replacements.

The GTA is a bit of a pig for maintenance (as Alfas go) with £1000 belt changes, alternators requiring engine removal to replace and ECUs that like to fail costing 2k to replace, but I'm guessing that a Quattroporte is going to be like that no matter what the part in question is?

Does anyone know if the Ghibli is the same in that respect?

Cheers guys

Big expenses are clutches (if DS, I have a DS and it's wonderful, proper drivers car, no old-man slush box), suspension stuff, and specific Maserati/Ferrari parts like the ever-failing TPMS ECU (350 quid). My disks which I replaced a years ago cost 150 quid a wheel, rear pads were 9 euro believe it or not (Mintex) but the big money comes in with anything needing the special SD3 code reader to diagnose/setup, you just cant do it yourself unless you've got £15k spare.

I think from memory the front pads are same as BMW 7-Series, 75 quid or so from BMW, something daft like 600 quid from Maserati. There is a thread of aftermarket equivalent parts on the forum.

People hate me for this but the Ghibli/QP6 is basically a Chrysler 300C. Not my cup of chai....

QP5 has timing chain so usually no worries there.

MD servicing is a rip-off, mines so old now I get my local garage to do it, service usually costs me 150-200 quid, plus another 100 if plugs need changing which is rare, every 100k I think. Last service and extra bits bill (Charles Hurst, Belfast) I have in service history just before I bought it was £9k so beware.

Mine got a cracked windscreen, cost £2k, that's when you realise these cars aren't cheap to look after.

So it I was you I'd source a well looked after DS for the full paddle-experience, use a good indy for servicing, parts off eBay when you can, and bank 3-4k for the clutch job. My first clutch lasted 92k so take a pragmatic view.

 

[MarkMas]

....Mine got a cracked windscreen, cost £2k, that's when you realise these cars aren't cheap to look after. So it I was you I'd source a well looked after DS for the full paddle-experience, use a good indy for servicing, parts off eBay when you can, and bank 3-4k for the clutch job. My first clutch lasted 92k so take a pragmatic view.

Or get windscreen cover with your insurance so its only £75, and buy a ZF so you don't have to worry about the clutch.

 

[Samstagmoonyham]

Big expenses are clutches (if DS, I have a DS and it's wonderful, proper drivers car, no old-man slush box), suspension stuff, and specific Maserati/Ferrari parts like the ever-failing TPMS ECU (350 quid). My disks which I replaced a years ago cost 150 quid a wheel, rear pads were 9 euro believe it or not (Mintex) but the big money comes in with anything needing the special SD3 code reader to diagnose/setup, you just cant do it yourself unless you've got £15k spare.

I think from memory the front pads are same as BMW 7-Series, 75 quid or so from BMW, something daft like 600 quid from Maserati. There is a thread of aftermarket equivalent parts on the forum.

People hate me for this but the Ghibli/QP6 is basically a Chrysler 300C. Not my cup of chai....

QP5 has timing chain so usually no worries there.

MD servicing is a rip-off, mines so old now I get my local garage to do it, service usually costs me 150-200 quid, plus another 100 if plugs need changing which is rare, every 100k I think. Last service and extra bits bill (Charles Hurst, Belfast) I have in service history just before I bought it was £9k so beware.

Mine got a cracked windscreen, cost £2k, that's when you realise these cars aren't cheap to look after.

So it I was you I'd source a well looked after DS for the full paddle-experience, use a good indy for servicing, parts off eBay when you can, and bank 3-4k for the clutch job. My first clutch lasted 92k so take a pragmatic view.

Thanks for all the info, i'll be sure to check out this equivalent parts area.

Yeah, I saw the Ghibli had a lot of FCA parts in it, but in terms of refinement it should still blow my GTA out the water (not that there is anything particularly uncooth about it, just Maserati is in a different league). The Twin Turbo V6 seems better for the DIY mech than the similar unit in the Giulia Quadrifoglio too.

Ideally though, I want that V8 and the slightly sexier look of the Quattroporte V. Im glad you have had positive experiences with the duoselect and as I understand the Duoselect dry sump cars are also much less likely to have VVT issues? But even still I couldn't take the risk on that transmission, I'm very much a fan of what has been done with these ZF 6 and 8 speed auto boxes over recent years. Strange really as I have always been strictly manual.

 

[Wanderer]

Or get windscreen cover with your insurance so its only £75, and buy a ZF so you don't have to worry about the clutch.

Yeah I had that, was being dramatic!

 

[Gazcw]

Thank you, yes I am starting to see that, for instance I now no longer require a GT S, I have seen the price of its brake discs and I certainly won't be driving hard enough to warrant brakes like that either aha.

I'm aware there is going to be an increase in price of parts, I'm guessing it's availability as brands like brembo, ferodo etc dont seem to make aftermarket replacements.

The GTA is a bit of a pig for maintenance (as Alfas go) with £1000 belt changes, alternators requiring engine removal to replace and ECUs that like to fail costing 2k to replace, but I'm guessing that a Quattroporte is going to be like that no matter what the part in question is?

Does anyone know if the Ghibli is the same in that respect?

Cheers guys

The S and GT S have the same dual cast front discs rears are same as 4.2 and there is a forum replacement (not sure on cost comparison).
If this is an issue then 4.2 is the way to go, but if you are concerned about disc prices you may want to really consider if it is right for you. Most say to allow 1.5 to 2k per year. Some years will be a lot less than that but some maybe double. It depends on the vehicle condition, its use, owners etc. That's why you are in the right place as a forum or known car may come up on here if you can wait.

 

[Samstagmoonyham]

The S and GT S have the same dual cast front discs rears are same as 4.2 and there is a forum replacement (not sure on cost comparison).
If this is an issue then 4.2 is the way to go, but if you are concerned about disc prices you may want to really consider if it is right for you. Most say to allow 1.5 to 2k per year. Some years will be a lot less than that but some maybe double. It depends on the vehicle condition, its use, owners etc. That's why you are in the right place as a forum or known car may come up on here if you can wait.

Yup I'm aware it's not going to be a cheap car to run but at the same time, if one model has brake discs at £150 each and a sportier model has them at £600 each that's certainly going to swing me the way of the "lesser" model so to speak.

Granted that's not perfect logic here because obviously sporty ones do away with the skyhook dampers so you save there but I would hope these cars get through brake discs quicker than the do dampers lol.


Oh yes, there is no rush, I'll be interested to see what pops up

 

[Wanderer]

And beware of SM thread drift, won't be long before this thread turns into a discussion about beekeeping or what happens if you put a cat in a microwave....