Ghibli 3 month Review

[P R]

Well I bought my first Maserati in February, a Ghibli Dv6 in Blu emozione, with carbon trim, privacy glass, 20" alloys and a convenience pack (not sure which!), it was 6 months old and had 6500 miles on it.

So far so good, it has just passed 14k miles and I am loving it. The engine is quite peaky, with all the torque coming in one fairly large lump, but as long as you are careful its fine.

The ride is excellent, even on the 20" wheels, it is firm without being uncomfortable. The pay off is it feels a little soft when pushing on on a twisty road.

I find the sat nav and entertainment system excellent, easy to use and has all the features you might need. (I came to this from an Alfa 156 GTA which Id had for 10 years and 160k miles)

Economy wise (I know the purists wont like this) I get around 38mpg in everyday commuting use (that's calculated, the trip computer is way off, because it is US gallons maybe?).. and on a run I can get 40 - 42 which is excellent for such a car.

I have just replaced the rear tyres (they lasted 13,500 but Im not sure how it was driven before I bought it).

It gets plenty of positive attention and overall I am very happy with it.

 

[StuartW]

Good review PR, I'm glad you're happy with it - one happy camper!

 

[Andyk]

Good read...Nice to see you are still happy..

 

[EXCF350]

Thanks for the feedback PR. I drove the Ghibli for the first time last week at Milbrook and was pleasantly surprised. I won't be trading in the GT just yet but if it was a choice between the usual BMW, Audi, Merc offerings then I'd definitely choose the Ghibli.

 

[bigbob]

Glad you like it. Still not many around. Mind I was in Northallerton recently and saw a Ghibli then later the same day saw a different one in Richmond!

 

[P R]

Glad you like it. Still not many around. Mind I was in Northallerton recently and saw a Ghibli then later the same day saw a different one in Richmond!

I live in Stokesley and was recently in Richmond... was it blue!?

 

[bigbob]

I live in Stokesley and was recently in Richmond... was it blue!?

Black, plate started with a K.

 

[Classico]

Good to see you finally made it across PR

Nice car. Congrats.

 

[GeoffCapes]

Good to hear positive feedback, especially with regards to MPG as I'm contemplating one for next year.

 

[Fangio63]

As I may have mentioned previously - a close friend of mine has the "baby" petrol version...for well over 6 months now...and she's still completely in love with it.. Only niggle was rats ate through the washer hoses.. but quickly fixed (hoses and rats)...

Although it's not my sort of spec... Silver/Black and with small wheels as it was bought as a "London" car... I do like the look of it when I see it every week... And as she has the loud button on all of the time - it sounds great too..

To my mind ... if you are going to go for one of these - you really need to get a petrol one... with a proper Italian engine..

 

[bigbob]

As I may have mentioned previously - a close friend of mine has the "baby" petrol version...for well over 6 months now...and she's still completely in love with it.. Only niggle was rats ate through the washer hoses.. but quickly fixed (hoses and rats)...

Although it's not my sort of spec... Silver/Black and with small wheels as it was bought as a "London" car... I do like the look of it when I see it every week... And as she has the loud button on all of the time - it sounds great too..

To my mind ... if you are going to go for one of these - you really need to get a petrol one... with a proper Italian engine..

+1 on the engine. I have not driven the base petrol but I've done reasonable miles in the S petrol and it sounds and feels good.

 

[Fangio63]

I can sort of see the reason for a Diesel QP as a chauffeur car... But for the Ghibli ?... not so sure. If its an "accountants purchase" then you are always going to go German aren't you ?

But... Provided you know you are not getting a sports car, the small petrol V6 seems to me the sweet spot in the range, You've got the cache of the marque and a Ferrari built V6 under the bonnet, with a lovely interior and a practical boot...When you look at the saving over the S... it looks like a bargain to me..

That said... the previous owner of my GT Sport was a Tax partner with a big accountancy firm... So it must make sense...

 

[P R]

I would have loved a petrol one, but with the miles I do I needed to go diesel (so far in 3 months I have covered 8k miles).. I also enjoy a jaunt to Italy every year.
It was a private buy, not a company car.

 

[bigbob]

Have you considered what 30k+ pa of miles will do to the residual?

Probably an unfair question as you would have. I guess it's all down to preference but I would have a 520d or some such for heavy weekly miles and use the remaining ££ to fund a weekend toy.

 

[P R]

Yes this will be a fairly long termer all being well. I bought the car to use. If you bought a 520d and had a weekend toy I think then the majority of miles would be covered in a 520d and Id rather do that in the Maser. I came from a 3.2 V6 Alfa and considered doing similar, but enjoyed the car instead. It did nigh on 160k miles and I reckon over the 10 years the extra depreciation that led to was peanuts

The mileage so far is probably a little untypical usually between around 15k-20k a year. Just been using it more as its new

 

[bigbob]

Looking forward to the long term running reports. Maserati should be sponsoring you!

PS Agree that if you keep it ten years then whether it does 100k or 150k does not really matter depreciation wise.

 

[P R]

Looking forward to the long term running reports. Maserati should be sponsoring you!

PS Agree that if you keep it ten years then whether it does 100k or 150k does not really matter depreciation wise.

Good idea, I might ask them

 

[Maser Sod]

+1 on the engine. I have not driven the base petrol but I've done reasonable miles in the S petrol and it sounds and feels good.

Pretty sure that the base petrol is the same engine as the S - just with some clever remapping by Maserati's (de)tuning division.

 

[bigbob]

Pretty sure that the base petrol is the same engine as the S - just with some clever remapping by Maserati's (de)tuning division.

Seems to be the way with many manufacturers' now in that you can get essentially the same engine in multiple states of tune. PITA.

 

[P R]

Up to 18k miles now. I have now replaced the front tyres (at around 16k miles), one of which was ok one was worn out (they fitted a new one at 6k when I bought it as it had a bulge on the sidewall). I have kept the good one as a spare.
Still loving the car.. getting 45mpg on a run now, especially if I use cruise control which is excellent. I have scuffed an alloy wheel (sob sob) but will get that fixed when I get a moment.
One slight niggle is there is a loose "rattle" from the rear suspension. I suspect it is the ARB bush but there is no play in it (I got my garage to have a fiddle when they were fitting the new tyres. It sounds a lot like the same issue I had (many) times on my various Alfas!