Is a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S a good daily driver proposition?

[mondie]

We bought an M5 3 months ago that is due for delivery now but we are getting messed around by BMW finance because we are newish to the Uk from Oz and so dont have a long credit history. If its not approved by noon tomorrow they can jam it, the customer service since we signed up from the dealer has been woeful and this just caps it off. Had better service buying a new pair of shoes!

Anyway,I am hoping for some advice from owners of the now old shape QP, specifically a 4.7 GT S with the ZF transmission. Are these a reliable car and a good proposition for 10-12k miles year as the family chariot? Its now or never for the QP, I could never own the new one and this just looks like a good alternative to the new M5. Is servcing every 10k miles? is it expensive, are there common faults? Am I even mad for asking?

Comments and jibes more than welcome

Cheers
mondie

 

[BennyD]

If you are in the market for an M5 how about a new V8 Ghibli? They are approx the same size, both have plenty of go and one of them isn't German.

 

[mondie]

Probably more than we want to spend Benny, not that I have taken much notice of the Ghibli. BMW are doing ridiculous deals on the M5 so its the monthly cost of a new M5 against a used proposition such as the GT S. Just been doing some more reading and it sounds like the GT S may manage even worse fuel economy than our old M5. less than 16mpg

 

[Parisien]

The standard QP is a great car fullstop, in 4.7 GTS ZF guise a truly wonderful vehicle.

However doing average miles will hammer re-sale, ( depending on whats on it now and how long you intend to keep it) as stated low miles per gallon....but thats a trade off for lots of oooommmpppphhh and a big car




P

 

[outrun]

Mondie, no matter what you do you will not experience the same depreciation as an M5. There's a reason why BMW can't shift them. From memory you have experience of the old M5 and it's various issues too. For me, after buying a couple of new M cars, I wouldn't do it again.

Go Maserati. Much more passion, much more style.

Best get some winter tyres for up there. I visit regularly and when it's cold, it's really cold!

 

[mondie]

Yeah winter tyres will be a must for sure.

On the depreciation, lets say a good 2010 model is 45k and has 20,000 miles on the clock. Drive it for 2 years and she now has 45,000 miles, reckon I might get 30k back for her? That's still low mileage but are QP's as mileage sensitive as Ferraris seem to be?

 

[Parisien]

QP values do seem to plummet generally, plus now being superceded, GTs kept value better


P

 

[mondie]

I wonder if the new model will help the resale of the old model. The new one doesn't have the looks or class and is huge!

 

[outrun]

It's also mind blowingly expensive! 120k for average spec is outrageous. That will probably help second values as much as anything. Go for GFV finance package and the worst you will achieve is handing it back. All big cars plummet, especially with our fuel costs. Just ask any Mercedes S, CL or BMW 7 owner!

A QP will make you the coolest dad in town!

 

[npaskin]

Had mine for two and a half years. Servicing on the post 2008 models is every 12K or 2 years, the last one cost me £800 plus VAT so £1K at a well known independent. Tyres seem to last 10K or so. Has not missed a beat since I had mine. But I am only doing about 8-9K per year as it is not in daily use. Smiles per gallon is enormous. Miles per gallon is 23 average – typically that's not in traffic jams, and I am not a heavy-footed driver (usually). Only issue I had was front tracking geometry needing correcting when I bought it, since then tyre wear and drive feel was much better.

I don't regret buying mine for an instant. Fantastic every time, gets much positive comment.

Depends what you want to prioritise: resale value?

A Ford Ka will be cheaper

 

[mondie]

Its tempting, I suppose I will wait and see what the clowns at BMW come up with tomorrow. I am happy to since the lease payments on the M5 into a car like this provided I can feel comfortable on the resale, fuel usage and servicing. I think the servicing is probably not too much of an issue actually, take it to a Indy in Edinburgh.

 

[mondie]

Had mine for two and a half years. Servicing on the post 2008 models is every 12K or 2 years, the last one cost me £800 plus VAT so £1K at a well known independent. Tyres seem to last 10K or so. Has not missed a beat since I had mine. But I am only doing about 8-9K per year as it is not in daily use. Smiles per gallon is enormous. Miles per gallon is 23 average – typically that’s not in traffic jams, and I am not a heavy-footed driver (usually). Only issue I had was front tracking geometry needing correcting when I bought it, since then tyre wear and drive feel was much better.

I don’t regret buying mine for an instant. Fantastic every time, gets much positive comment.

Depends what you want to prioritise: resale value?

A Ford Ka will be cheaper

Great info thanks.

Are you getting 23mpg from the 4.7lt? That's about as much as I had hoped for from the new M5.

Resale is a concern simply because I am trying to limit my losses to that I had set aside for leasing an M5, thats the basis of the man maths right now.

I like that this has a ZF box and not the F1 my GS had, no worries over clutches etc.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I thought about getting an M5. Then I realised my mates would see me driving a BMW!
I couldn't live with the shame! ;-)

 

[mondie]

As an Aussie there is no shame in driving a BMW. At least in the UK you can drive a Maser without looking like a drug dealer

 

[dem maser]

Maser a drug dealer car in OZ?

 

[allandwf]

Here's hoping BMW slip up!

 

[mondie]

Maser a drug dealer car in OZ?

Well so the stereotype goes. Its the only way you can afford one in Oz. They were $270k in base spec

 

[dem maser]

Here in London its an M3, bad rep.....

 

[Elliott653]

Any decision should also take into account the type of driving you'll be doing. For instance, 95% of my driving is done in and around London. When I owned my 4200CC I used it for two years as a daily driver with no problem whatsoever. (OK, the clutch finally gave out on the outside lane of the North Circ. But, that's another story )

However, as the QP is considerably larger and far less manoeuvrable than the 42, I decided to buy a Fiat 500 Twin Air to use as my daily driver. I keep the QP mostly for longer drives and continental trips.

 

[mondie]

Driving would be a mix of 25/25 A & B roads and 50% motorways. Not much stop start although being a ZF box not really an issue either way I guess. If 23mpg is real world with the 4.7 then that really removes one of my biggest fears.