Grancabrio advise please

[stevieg]

Apologies for driving you guys mad,but I notice that the Grancabrio is also in my price range of £45/60K.
I need some advise on the different gearboxes,skyhook etc and the differences in year models.
I will only be driving say 2/3 K miles a year,mainly in London unfortunately, although I dream of driving it on my holiday in Italy. I have driven a DB9 auto with paddles and found it o.k. As I felt the paddles enabled me to have more control on the faster roads outside London as I could use them like a stick.
So is there a comparable box to the DB9 your opinions please.
Sorry that my knowledge of Maserati's is so limited but I learn quickly and I am grateful for your advise.

 

[BennyD]

Welcome to the madness StevieG. The Grancab is not a very common car on here so our practical knowledge is, perhaps, a little lacking I'm afraid although we do have several GT/ GTSs which are very similar. I've driven a new Grancab and it was a very nice drive but the boot space really is non-existent. I am sure one of the Grancab/GTS guys will be along at some point to fill you in. Figuratively, not literally!

 

[Andyk]

Grancab is only available in Auto which has paddles so no MC shift........Skyhook...you would need to drive one with and one without to decide as soom say its not worth the money and some love it.....Sounds like the Grancab would suit your needs and driving.

 

[Wattie]

If you want control then the way ahead IMO is manual, sport. Mc shift with skyhook which IMO is very good.
Not available on Grancabrio...but neither is a big boot! Therefore think Granturismo GTS.
It can be jerky on start up when cold and it does have a lazy shift auto option (but you'll never use it) but the MC changes are quick, blipped throttle down changes and more fun than you think you could ever have (30mph in London will sound like the gods gargling Thunder) as the noise will bounce off everything. There is no better sound in motoring.full stop. The end.
Oh and when you hit the open road and 5000rpm..........best hang on
Cheers Wattie
Loads of YouTube stuff on the GTS exhaust noise....turn your speakers up.

 

[bigbob]

I maybe wrong but the gearbox on the GC is the same as on the DB9. Personally I like it and in sport manual mode with skyhook it drives really well to my mind.

You will need to watch the battery on the GC/GT(S) as they don't like sitting for more than a couple of weeks unused. I have a battery conditioner on mine but that requires a garage or electric near where you park.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Welcome, StevieG. I agree with everything Wattie says* but note that you can fix the jerkiness when cold by depressing the throttle twice with the ignition on and then starting the engine. I test drove the auto Grancab and it's a great drive but lacks the charismatic growl of the MC box (in my view). I had an XFR for 20k miles with the same (i think) auto 'box and it was as easy to drive round town or hammering round A-roads. Horses for courses. My biggest gripe with the 'cab is the pointless boot. If you don't ever need to carry anything bigger than a mobile phone it won't bother you.

Anyway, happy hunting and let us know how you get on.

* I may live to regret that statement

 

[stevieg]

Thanks gents ,lots for me to think about.

 

[Wattie]

Little example....no more than30mph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNObquepD1w&list=UUnUUINE-7T3R6Vu4Asha-xg&index=6&feature=plcp

Cheers Wattie

 

[wardlem]

ive got a grancabrio (I think there are only 2 people on here with them) - Ive never driven a db9 so cant give you a comparison. I was thinking about a db9, but the lack of rear seats put me off (grancab has proper rear seats for adults)

Echo what others have said about the battery my car was brand new last september and I have had the RAC out 3 times (and its gone back to the dealer to be recharged/sorted). the boot is very small as well - you couldnt get a set of golf clubs in there.

roof off and sports mode on makes it all worthwhile though - I have no idea if I have skyhook suspension or not to be honest !

happy to answer any other questions you have

 

[stevieg]

ive got a grancabrio (I think there are only 2 people on here with them) - Ive never driven a db9 so cant give you a comparison. I was thinking about a db9, but the lack of rear seats put me off (grancab has proper rear seats for adults)

Echo what others have said about the battery my car was brand new last september and I have had the RAC out 3 times (and its gone back to the dealer to be recharged/sorted). the boot is very small as well - you couldnt get a set of golf clubs in there.

roof off and sports mode on makes it all worthwhile though - I have no idea if I have skyhook suspension or not to be

happy to answer any other questions you have[/QUOTE

In my Aston there is a switch to isolate the battery,is it not the same with the Maserati ?
Agree about the rear seats on DB9 Volante,useless.
Dissapointed that you say the boot is tiny, is the boot on the granturrismo much bigger ?
I must say there does not seem to be a bad word about reliability of either the Cabrio or Turismo,
Is that really the case, no problems ?
Am I right in thinking that the Cabrio is the convertible form of the Turismo,sorry if that is a stupid question.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Dissapointed that you say the boot is tiny, is the boot on the granturrismo much bigger ?

Yes, 173 litres vs. 260. From what I remember of the Grancab boot the space is a weird kind of shape. The Granturismo boot is more square and hence more usable: it can accomodate a couple of decent sized bags and odd shaped odds and sods. As a family of four we can go away for a week in it and are expecting it to swallow all our shite for 10 days in France.

I must say there does not seem to be a bad word about reliability of either the Cabrio or Turismo,
Is that really the case, no problems ?

[fingers crossed at this point] Reliability is far better now than rumour and folklore would have you believe. Don't expect German-car levels of reliability but do expect a supremely well put together machine which, so long as you stick to the service schedule should treat you well. More experiened minds will comment in more detail but many people here use their Masers as a daily drive.

Am I right in thinking that the Cabrio is the convertible form of the Turismo,sorry if that is a stupid question.

It is (and it's not a stupid question)

Cheers,
Adam

 

[stevieg]

Thank you Adam and others for your helpful advise.

 

[Wattie]

Boot in the cabrio is stepped....ending in a trench, which makes the space very odd and narrow!

No good for golf bats....agree on GTs....been away and it swallowed enough bags for 4 adults.

Cheers Wattie