Gransport first impressions - 100 miles in

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Hi all,

I’ve now had the chance to drive my Gransport a bit, and have done just over 100 miles in it. This includes a couple of semi-spirited weekend jaunts, a few trips with the family, and a trip round a very busy M25 to pick up my new Maserati space saver tyre and bumped floor cover.

First impressions are very good, and it’s amazing to me how completely different it is to my former Granturismo S (Auto).

I am really enjoying how free-revving the engine is, and I’m spending a lot more time in the 4-6,000 rpm range than I did in the GT S. What this means is I’m enjoying driving like a teenage hooligan at 5,500 revs in 2nd! I’m also slowly getting used to (and better) at changing gear, and the snarl when changing down is great fun.

I really like the decrease in size, and increased chuckability. For example, I did a drive yesterday around Leith Hill and down several narrow, windy roads, and it was fab. In the GT S it would have been scary...

I think the final thing that stands out in terms of first impressions for me is the interior... the sports seats are much snugger than in my GT S, I love the leather headlining, and the tan / beige colour feels much more special than the black I had previously.

Things I don’t like as much just yet include the sound - it is a lot quieter than my GT S was (which had an x-pipe on) and the firmness of the ride... in sport mode you feel every little bump or crack in the road, which might be interesting on longer journeys. I also need to sort out whether I’m going to try and put in a more modern stereo with Bluetooth and Handsfree, etc...

Next steps is to take the car down to Myles at Emblem next weekend for their Saturday morning clinic, and then I’m planning to treat it to a full paint correction, a detail, and some decent protection ( haven’t yet decided whether to wax or ceramic coat it). There will also probably be an X or an H pipe added.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Interesting to hear your thoughts about the size. It was what made me choose mine over a GranTurismo

I’ve put a Pioneer with Bluetooth, DAB, USB, aux in and handsfree in my 3200. I picked the model purely because it didn’t look out of place and hand a variable light so you could match the colour.

601838F0-29CC-4437-B083-1E6B7C1A9411.jpeg
 

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D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Hi Jon, you will soon learn to have your finger poised over the sport button. I’ve had occasion during spirited driving to convince myself I’ve broken a wheel, then you realise you went over s lolly stick in the road, glad you are enjoying it, same reason I went GS, the size of the GT worried me, especially where I live and indulge my driving, as sometimes I wince in the GS..
Mine has x pipe, and like I said, I will pick up the larini’s for fitting at service time in June(ish)
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,013
Thanks for sharing that, Jon. I'm really pleased that you're pleased. I know what you mean about the size. I have the same opinions having moved from a GTS to a Vantage.

... and then I’m planning to treat it to a full paint correction, a detail, and some decent protection ( haven’t yet decided whether to wax or ceramic coat it).

Correct, ceramic, PPF, ceramic. The final coat of ceramic just makes it so easy to wash.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Thanks for sharing that, Jon. I'm really pleased that you're pleased. I know what you mean about the size. I have the same opinions having moved from a GTS to a Vantage.



Correct, ceramic, PPF, ceramic. The final coat of ceramic just makes it so easy to wash.

Interesting - so you apply a coat of ceramic on top of the PPF?

I had old PPF on my GT S, which I took off as it was starting to age and lift in one or two corner... however, lots of people have told me that the newer stuff is much much better.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Jon with reference to the ride, do you have Pirelli’s on the car? If so, change them for Goodyear Eagle F1’s.

It transformed the car and ride.

The stiffened sidewalls make the ride in sport on lumpy roads terrible and it won’t be long till you split them and become stranded.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Jon with reference to the ride, do you have Pirelli’s on the car? If so, change them for Goodyear Eagle F1’s.

It transformed the car and ride.

The stiffened sidewalls make the ride in sport on lumpy roads terrible and it won’t be long till you split them and become stranded.

Cheers Matt - luckily I have the Goodyear’s already!

The ride is definitely not terrible, but is just noticeably firmer than the GT S, and is something I need to get used to... It’s great when on a good surface, and going round twists at a decent pace, but you definitely feel the road imperfections more. I think some of it is also that the seats are firmer as well... but it may just be that I’m imagining that
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Interesting - so you apply a coat of ceramic on top of the PPF?

I had old PPF on my GT S, which I took off as it was starting to age and lift in one or two corner... however, lots of people have told me that the newer stuff is much much better.

Newer stuff is better and there are now specific products for coating PPF:


Scroll down for a blue Maserati January 13th https://www.facebook.com/Detailmycar/

https://carpro.global/catalog/cquar...f2__Q3rzcxWL0qe_D4tvZ7X8ak1kR8HIuxSXWvEoc-N4w
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
Yes the ride is stiff... I have toyed with the idea of some 18" wheels for every day use. But then at 850 miles pa it is not a urgent part as yet.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Cheers Matt - luckily I have the Goodyear’s already!

The ride is definitely not terrible, but is just noticeably firmer than the GT S, and is something I need to get used to... It’s great when on a good surface, and going round twists at a decent pace, but you definitely feel the road imperfections more. I think some of it is also that the seats are firmer as well... but it may just be that I’m imagining that

It depends how lucky you are with the roads in your area. As you say it is great on a good surface but the roads near me have been destroyed by buses and it is a killer even on Goodyears and Michelins. But once on the open road, happy days!
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
Interesting to hear your thoughts about the size. It was what made me choose mine over a GranTurismo

I’ve put a Pioneer with Bluetooth, DAB, USB, aux in and handsfree in my 3200. I picked the model purely because it didn’t look out of place and hand a variable light so you could match the colour.

View attachment 54866
Does that stereo work with the CD changer in the boot ? i might get one for my GS .
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Does that stereo work with the CD changer in the boot ? i might get one for my GS .

I don’t know. Whoever speced my car when new ticked all the options boxes except the six disc and had the basic Becker tape player.

It had some good write ups

I’ve copied all my CDs to a USB and it goes in a slot in the front of the Pioneer so don’t need a changer. 100+ CDs all on one stick
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
I've got a flip up screen . The only problem is when you disconnect the battery and turn it back on the screen comes out flips up and marks the dash below the clock . I want to replace it with a basic one .
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
Get one of those small clear silicone buttons used on kitchen doors to stop them banging... mine has a small square of the same just above the heater dials which I always have set on auto.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
What flip up screen units do you both use? Right now I’ve got my phone for Navigation (Waze), but want to be able to play music on my phone through the speaker and to have Handsfree calls, etc...
 

jayblue

Member
Messages
452
Just took my GS out of hibernation for its first run of the year. Started first time, no issues or warning lights and was a pleasure to drive. As the OP stated, the car feels agile, free revving and light (and in my case loud!) Really enjoyed getting back in it and blowing out the cobwebs.