Massive moment of inflexion

G

Guest 1678

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Well - by the end of this week I will no longer own a Maserati. Quite a wrench after almost continual ownership since 2001.

I have been a coupe man and worked my way through the 3200,4200 Spider,Gransport and onto the GT S. All different; each one moved me; all had their quirks; and I have to say all re-inforced my love of the brand.

So why the massive inflexion? Whether I desert the brand for the time being (probably 3-4 years) and buy elsewhere or wait and pray for some good news.

I enjoyed the GT S but want something more nimble and a little edgier with internal systems that do not have an iron foundry name plate on them. The wait for the Alfieri has gone on too long and I worry that the performance elements will come from Alfa Romeo (a brand I love as much - but has a long way to go in terms of filling the range and overall quality). There is nothing in the Maserati product pipeline that I can see to stop my money going else where. As a few of you know I have a fondness for the barking dogs that are AMG and they have launched and extended the GT line into 4 variations in 2 and a half years. Granted off the back of a very strong mother brand in Mercedes. But also from growing from 5,000 to 80,000 cars sold as distinct AMGs in the past 10 years.

I cannot see where Maserati is going at the moment in terms of people like me. I realise I may in the minority (one to test, as Wester kept being quoted about a'a beautiful death') as someone who want an Italian sports coupe that, not a 4x4 or 4 door saloon and is not 4.9m in length and 2 tonnes. I also want it to cost less than the unobtainium prices of a Ferrari. I am lucky that I have a certain budget, but I want a V8 (preferably) powered 4.5m, 1600kg sports car and preferably with a Trident on its nose, that sits in the price point around the F Type to top end 911's.

I have no idea of the future product roadmap and have seen no pictures of mules testing outside Modena or in the Arctic circle. The only updates seem to be the occasional infotainment patch and a little more power for the V6 turbo and possibly a petrol Levante for the UK.

I may be overly pessimistic and should wait for a minute or two to spend on my next vehicle. However, I am not encouraged by the lack of noise coming from the gates of Modena and worry that the brand will be a saloon and 4x4 biased luxury brand, not a sporting one.

I am convinced having had similar conversations with other SM members that there is a pent up demand for a sporting Maserati that is more lithe and can bridge the performance and quality gap between Alfa and Ferrari.

It is an interesting one to ponder.

Damo
 

drewf

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It's Damo's comments that will be the death of Maserati - they've not produced the goods, and many more will be thinking (quite rightly) exactly the same.

I was told by a used car salesman at the weekend (who claimed to have the info from the Managing Director of Maserati UK - there isn't such a thing, but there is for Maserati GB, a chap called Giulio Pastore), that they would be killing off the Ghibli, continuing with the QP, and launching a new sportscar with the Alfa V6 engine at Geneva in March.

I suspect every word he said was utter BS, and not just about the future of Maserati!

There are photos of the 2018 Ghibli being tested, and nothing whatsoever about any genuine prospect of a new 'proper' sportscar coming along. I'd really like to see a production ready car at Geneva, but the reality is I think it's very unlikely to come to fruition.
 

Contigo

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It's Damo's comments that will be the death of Maserati - they've not produced the goods, and many more will be thinking (quite rightly) exactly the same.

I was told by a used car salesman at the weekend (who claimed to have the info from the Managing Director of Maserati UK - there isn't such a thing, but there is for Maserati GB, a chap called Giulio Pastore), that they would be killing off the Ghibli, continuing with the QP, and launching a new sportscar with the Alfa V6 engine at Geneva in March.

I suspect every word he said was utter BS, and not just about the future of Maserati!

There are photos of the 2018 Ghibli being tested, and nothing whatsoever about any genuine prospect of a new 'proper' sportscar coming along. I'd really like to see a production ready car at Geneva, but the reality is I think it's very unlikely to come to fruition.

It's not BS as far as I understand, there will be a smaller sportscar out with the V6 engine.
 

drewf

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It's not BS as far as I understand, there will be a smaller sportscar out with the V6 engine.

Shown production ready at Geneva in March 2017, for delivery in say 2018?

Can't see it Phil, nor can I see them ceasing production of the Ghibli in the near future. The QP on the other hand, that I can see disappearing.
 

P R

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If the Ghibli wasn't selling they might think about it, but it is so that would be insane. Also FCA have plenty of spare capacity in Italian factories (eg Mirafiori) so its not like they need the lines to be freed up for a new model..
 

outrun

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That's why I'm keeping the Strad. It will be sometime, if ever, before they have anything to touch it in the product line up.

Given that the last couple of years have seen several momentous shifts - Brexit, IndyRef, Trump - that most of us didn't believe where possible, I hope that Maserati has latched onto global trends and is preparing a supercharged v8 Alfieri that costs less than a 911. More likely that we'll see a small 2+2 coupe using the v6. I'll be Ok with that if it looks halfway decent.

Damo - I don't believe those crappy AMGs can do donuts.
 

FF1078

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I'm with you Damo
Exactly the sideways shift I'm looking at into an AMG GT/s
It's got the tech and the looks with a great V8 so is the ideal in my eye's
I've also looked at the California but it would have to be a normally aspirated one for me and that's too old
Good look and like you I hope to be back in the future
 

bigbob

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I understand the brand frustration in that we are not all getting what we want. I am sitting it out with my GTS (using it less and less) and will wait to see what coupes come along. I have been told that something is happening at Geneva re a Maserati to make at Modena but who knows. Due to absence of mules I wonder if they are slotting a load of new stuff into the GranTurismo body as a stop gap.

We do need to caveat all of this though, Maserati is not dying, it is having its most successful period ever. At some stage the money which the saloons and SUVs bring in will produce coupes and convertibles as will be the case with Alfa. We need to be patient and wait with our ageing Maserati products or go elsewhere and...possibly...come back in a few years time.
 

Contigo

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But they are still turning out the same turgid stuff. AMG GT R as fine as it will be is still almost the same styling as that of the SLR which came out early 2000's, one drove past us last week (an S model) and it looked like an SLK. They are too samey and don't stand out enough for the cost of the car, sure they are rapid and full of new tech but is that the be all and end all of motoring? You've sold your soul Damo :(
 

Morebeans

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Damo - as it's not your daily runner, get a LHD high miler V8 F-car. Agree that the low mileage garage queens are silly prices, but the high milers are often overlooked. Will be the same price as the AMG GTS, tech will be 21st century and build quality is strong vs the old days! Then, when/if Maser build the "unicorn" sports car flip back.

......just a thought!
 

Contigo

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Damo - as it's not your daily runner, get a LHD high miler V8 F-car. Agree that the low mileage garage queens are silly prices, but the high milers are often overlooked. Will be the same price as the AMG GTS, tech will be 21st century and build quality is strong vs the old days! Then, when/if Maser build the "unicorn" sports car flip back.

......just a thought!

Good shout!
 

conaero

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Guys, do not fret, there are sporting Maseratis in the pipeline you'll just have to be patient for a couple of years.

Damo, I had 3 coupes then a GTS and am back in a coupe again so your not alone.
 

midlifecrisis

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So if V6 turbos are the far distant future. Normally Aspirated V8 will become classics sooner as people get fed up of waiting...
 
G

Guest 1678

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But they are still turning out the same turgid stuff. AMG GT R as fine as it will be is still almost the same styling as that of the SLR which came out early 2000's, one drove past us last week (an S model) and it looked like an SLK. They are too samey and don't stand out enough for the cost of the car, sure they are rapid and full of new tech but is that the be all and end all of motoring? You've sold your soul Damo :(

I have not sold my soul, as nothing has replaced the GTS. I want an alternative to the hegemony that is the German collective. I am patient, but need to be tickled by the Italians. I may spend all my money on the Alfasud and go round corners properly.

Selling my soul - a criticism more fairly directed towards Maserati.

 

iainw

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3,386
I ageee with your thoughts damo.
I think the GTS is stunning looking
And sounds fierce but is just too big.
The 4.5m 1600 kg you mention is a 4.7 Vantage as near as **** it.
If maserati offered similar- a lot
Of us would be in one