Is this a Stradale?

[Ashventini]

I have just sold my GT for 5k less than I paid for it (after 2 years and lots of miles) and the MD has just put it up for sale for more than I paid 2 years ago.

Something is going crazy with prices this week!

i sold my GT sport 3 yrs ago and it was quite tough to move it on TBH - Even though it was a nice one. I was kinda worried about this problem going forward, but there seems to be less around (of any of these), particularly really good ones, so my instinct tell me that they wont be quite as bad at depreciating as in the past. Also the dealers have very slim stock, so its a sellers market to some extent. I don't know if this will continue, but the market has changed.. Yes your gonna lose money, but not quite so much IMO. My dealer also said something similar Hawk 13, they have bought a couple GT's back for more than they sold them for 2 years ago (same cars).

 

[Ashventini]

Not in my experience. They are very good on the road too, very little warm up needed.



Again, I disagree. You should drive it before saying something like this, the difference in shift speed is one of the defining parts of the Strad as I am sure the other owners will confirm.

I hope you enjoy your test drive, all versions of the GT are great cars. Choose the one that works for you rather than going down a rabbit hole of “better”, everyone is different.

Hi. So I test drove the Strad today. Agree with a few points that's been made - disagree on others. You was correct on the brakes. They are fine when cold and not weak. The car I drove today and had a new clutch recently. Its listed with Apex cars. White one. The performance gains are so marginal its not very noticeable from the MC shift. Id say that Race mode sound was similar to Sports mode in the MC shift. Not huge difference TBH. Gearbox was different, but nothing like as aggressive as what i was expecting or constantly read about. Yeah it jumps a little, but hardly hits you in the back like ive read many times. I honestly didnt feel there was much extra performance or sense of drama in the Strad at all. I really wanted there to be as its the cheaper option for me (as im also considering a 2018+ MC shift), but there just wasnt much more to the strad. I feel the later car gives such a similar feel and performance, less jumpy and has the benefit of the newer info system. All in all i think Maserati actually got it right in the last MC. Id have loved to have kept the Carbon brakes on the latest MC, but the rest i reckon they got it right. I know some of the Stradales owners may not agree, but ive tried to remain neutral.. SO there it is. Little surprised myself. Im looking for a Magma MC...

 

[Ashventini]

X pipe a little, but cats definitely. Make sure you have valves you can close as it will be loud. With power gain, my QP felt less restricted and responsive rather than faster. I have nothing to compare before and after figures wise though.

would you do the cats and leave the standard x pipe and centre box on.. ?

 

[Zep]

Hi. So I test drove the Strad today. Agree with a few points that's been made - disagree on others. You was correct on the brakes. They are fine when cold and not weak. The car I drove today and had a new clutch recently. Its listed with Apex cars. White one. The performance gains are so marginal its not very noticeable from the MC shift. Id say that Race mode sound was similar to Sports mode in the MC shift. Not huge difference TBH. Gearbox was different, but nothing like as aggressive as what i was expecting or constantly read about. Yeah it jumps a little, but hardly hits you in the back like ive read many times. I honestly didnt feel there was much extra performance or sense of drama in the Strad at all. I really wanted there to be as its the cheaper option for me (as im also considering a 2018+ MC shift), but there just wasnt much more to the strad. I feel the later car gives such a similar feel and performance, less jumpy and has the benefit of the newer info system. All in all i think Maserati actually got it right in the last MC. Id have loved to have kept the Carbon brakes on the latest MC, but the rest i reckon they got it right. I know some of the Stradales owners may not agree, but ive tried to remain neutral.. SO there it is. Little surprised myself. Im looking for a Magma MC...

It just goes to show, different people have different opinions. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new car

 

[Ashventini]

It just goes to show, different people have different opinions. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new car

Yeah. I think with these cars its really personal and subjective.. hence emotional. I dont think there is a right or wrong answer.. That's what I've concluded in truth.. I appreciate you encouraging a comparison by drive. At least i dont have to keep "wondering". thanks for the advise. quite wise.

 

[Zep]

Yeah. I think with these cars its really personal and subjective.. hence emotional. I dont think there is a right or wrong answer.. That's what I've concluded in truth.. I appreciate you encouraging a comparison by drive. At least i dont have to keep "wondering". thanks for the advise. quite wise.

Exactly, that’s what I mean’t by not getting hung up on “better”. They are all epic cars, we are lucky to have them!

 

[Gazcw]

would you do the cats and leave the standard x pipe and centre box on.. ?

I'm not sure the xpipe does all that much sound wise tbh. Yes you can change tone a little by using x or h, but if you want loud I think cats is the way to go first. With the Strad in oem format and in race at 80/90mph it is loud and does get a bit much on the ear drums if driving at a constant speed for a distance. I will be fitting xpipe but only because I have it lying around.

 

[woody1144]

I suspect the newer auto boxes are pretty good on the later models but I haven't tried one personally. The Stradale I think is only different to the rest of the models when at over 90% of max performance (so really going for it). i.e the gear box only does the 60ms shifts in WOT over 6k RPM. I decided to go for the Stradale as the Enzo seats and the superfast2 gearbox meant it was a 430 Scud/599 GTO that I could afford but if I had kids or wanted more of a GT, I think i'd have gone later non-strad model like you are thinking.
I think you made a wise move trying both of them, everyone is different and look for want varying things from a car so smart move. Hope the right car comes along for you soon!

On the x-pipe/cat questions. I put an x-pipe on mine but I always felt it made it sound more like a muscle car (verges more towards my old C63 noise when over 3k RPM). In the future I might look to put it back to stock so the resonator (or muffler I forget which it deletes) is in and then just get some sports cats.

 

[mischaRS]

Dicky, the issue and comments about 'depreciation' are based on our sales over a 30 year period of 'modern' automotives. Very few % of cars actually dramatically increase in value, but we have sold a very large number that are now so expensive that they virtually become impossible to stock. That is why 90% of all quality cars are routinely sold on Sale or return. As you are a Dealer with a formidable reputation for quality cars , you will be insured against some of the problems ordinary traders routinely experience. We found that the only recent Maserati model that is relatively depreciation proof is the Stradale. My German Business Partner agrees. The Stradales have shot up in value in Europe. Not so the ordinary GT's/ Quattroportes'. However, Maserati depreciation is nothing like as horrific as Aston Martins and Jaguars. Or plenty of other top end models. A Company I deal with regularly are selling an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster at £845,000, delivery mileage of 45 miles. And a hit of nearly half million pounds for the initial purchaser, no doubt wrongly assuming he would make a financial killing...!! Our website www.mcpmotorsport.com shows the models we recommend.

 

[Ashventini]

I suspect the newer auto boxes are pretty good on the later models but I haven't tried one personally. The Stradale I think is only different to the rest of the models when at over 90% of max performance (so really going for it). i.e the gear box only does the 60ms shifts in WOT over 6k RPM. I decided to go for the Stradale as the Enzo seats and the superfast2 gearbox meant it was a 430 Scud/599 GTO that I could afford but if I had kids or wanted more of a GT, I think i'd have gone later non-strad model like you are thinking.
I think you made a wise move trying both of them, everyone is different and look for want varying things from a car so smart move. Hope the right car comes along for you soon!

On the x-pipe/cat questions. I put an x-pipe on mine but I always felt it made it sound more like a muscle car (verges more towards my old C63 noise when over 3k RPM). In the future I might look to put it back to stock so the resonator (or muffler I forget which it deletes) is in and then just get some sports cats.

Thanks. I was thinking at some point down the road when i get the next one to start with CATS and then see before the x pipe. I hear some say similar to what you said on muscle car sound and other say raspy... The stock sound is pretty sweet anyway and the danger is ruining this. So not sure if you have any info about people that change CATS only and what that did to the sound and feel of car.

 

[Ashventini]

Dicky, the issue and comments about 'depreciation' are based on our sales over a 30 year period of 'modern' automotives. Very few % of cars actually dramatically increase in value, but we have sold a very large number that are now so expensive that they virtually become impossible to stock. That is why 90% of all quality cars are routinely sold on Sale or return. As you are a Dealer with a formidable reputation for quality cars , you will be insured against some of the problems ordinary traders routinely experience. We found that the only recent Maserati model that is relatively depreciation proof is the Stradale. My German Business Partner agrees. The Stradales have shot up in value in Europe. Not so the ordinary GT's/ Quattroportes'. However, Maserati depreciation is nothing like as horrific as Aston Martins and Jaguars. Or plenty of other top end models. A Company I deal with regularly are selling an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster at £845,000, delivery mileage of 45 miles. And a hit of nearly half million pounds for the initial purchaser, no doubt wrongly assuming he would make a financial killing...!! Our website www.mcpmotorsport.com shows the models we recommend.

I am hoping that in addition to Stradales, the latest facelift MC shift models will depreciate less after first 3 years and then slow down. In time possibly even flatten out and creep up. Last NA V8, last model in this car, low miles, mint cond, Rare colour etc. Im not an expert, but common sense about availability and rare-ability would suggest this in a few years from now. Picking the right one and keeping like that would be the key.. that my thought anyway. This is my dilemma now. Thats what I'm looking for and i may have to wait a few months with a dealer helping me. So i know its a sellers market for the right car... This will only continue for the right models and specs imho .. Its not about appreciation at this point in the life cycle, but more about slowing the depreciation.

 

[safrane]

people have been saying this about 3200s and GSs for years... and still they fall.

You may be lucky and retain value if you don't drive it but also service it every year... but fall into that game and you face large bills for little benefit... rather like me!

 

[woody1144]

Thanks. I was thinking at some point down the road when i get the next one to start with CATS and then see before the x pipe. I hear some say similar to what you said on muscle car sound and other say raspy... The stock sound is pretty sweet anyway and the danger is ruining this. So not sure if you have any info about people that change CATS only and what that did to the sound and feel of car.

I don't know of anyone with just the sports cats but I do think that surely the cats will just enhance the stock sound rather than changing it slightly like the x-pipe does. I think there are a couple of people on the board with both X and 200 cell cats so would be interested to know if they did them at the same time or maybe cats first.

 

[Zep]

I don't know of anyone with just the sports cats but I do think that surely the cats will just enhance the stock sound rather than changing it slightly like the x-pipe does. I think there are a couple of people on the board with both X and 200 cell cats so would be interested to know if they did them at the same time or maybe cats first.

Matt has a sport cats and x-pipe, it is super loud at start up and in my view is like the standard sound but a lot louder. Mine has an x -pipe and std cats, this also sounds like standard but a bit louder. The H-pipe is what makes it sound more like an American v8, with more of a throbbing sound. The Larini H is silenced so not as loud as the x.

 

[Ewan]

My Strad has the Larini Sports cats, but standard everything else. It’s considerably louder than stock, especially in Race mode. I don’t feel the need to add an X or H pipe at this time, as it is already sufficiently sonorous.

 

[woody1144]

Matt has a sport cats and x-pipe, it is super loud at start up and in my view is like the standard sound but a lot louder. Mine has an x -pipe and std cats, this also sounds like standard but a bit louder. The H-pipe is what makes it sound more like an American v8, with more of a throbbing sound. The Larini H is silenced so not as loud as the x.

Yeh it's a fair bit louder isn't it but I certainly feel I lost some of the 2-3k "exotic howl" when opening up the throttle once I added the x pipe compared to stock. Mine isn't the Larini so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[woody1144]

My Strad has the Larini Sports cats, but standard everything else. It’s considerably louder than stock, especially in Race mode. I don’t feel the need to add an X or H pipe at this time, as it is already sufficiently sonorous.

Would love to hear that one day, hopefully our paths cross soon at a meet as I think that will be my next step! Would be good to get them side by side.

 

[bigbob]

people have been saying this about 3200s and GSs for years... and still they fall.

You may be lucky and retain value if you don't drive it but also service it every year... but fall into that game and you face large bills for little benefit... rather like me!

+1. Cars need to be very special and hardly used to go up in value and even then after servicing, insurance, tax, repairs and cost of capital the returns are not likely to be worth it. Sure someone will come on and cite something that has done well but the point is that 99%+ of even sports cars depreciate to next to nothing, 996 being a good example.

As you imply 3200 and GS have been weak but it also applies to 4200, 4.2 GranTurismo and, especially, QPV. Parts availability and pricing is killing these cars. A sub 20k mile Stradale will be worth a good price in 10-20 years time but is it worth buying something this nice and not using it? I'm enjoying my GranTurismo whilst I can before it's worth sub £10k and I'm not allowed to take it into any of the Scottish cities. When we get to that stage and powerful ICE cars can only be used in rural settings then I'm as well having a lightweight screamer rather than a GT.

 

[Ashventini]

My Strad has the Larini Sports cats, but standard everything else. It’s considerably louder than stock, especially in Race mode. I don’t feel the need to add an X or H pipe at this time, as it is already sufficiently sonorous.

Did you buy direct from Larini and do they install or you found an independent?

 

[Ewan]

I bought them from someone on this forum and had them fitted by Sports Italia near Southampton.