Our cars are so slow it’s like living in a black and white world
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Hurricane52
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In our little corner of the world, the QP is plenty fast enough and crucially narrow enough. I think it's quite a bit quicker than my 456 was, which I think is quicker on paper.
Since leaving London, I've often been tempted by 911s, as not every street has a few down this way. Never having owned a German car, something always stops me though and last summer a mate took me and the kids out in the silver Turbo Cabriolet below. The youngest (9) fell asleep in the back at double the legal limit. Can't imagine that happening in a Maserati.
Since leaving London, I've often been tempted by 911s, as not every street has a few down this way. Never having owned a German car, something always stops me though and last summer a mate took me and the kids out in the silver Turbo Cabriolet below. The youngest (9) fell asleep in the back at double the legal limit. Can't imagine that happening in a Maserati.
Sam McGoo
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I think the thread title is a bit harsh 
They're not 'that slow' but there are a lot of modern cars that are as fast/ faster than a GTS.
As most others have said, The GTS is not about outright speed and performance, but a balance of prestige, comfort, luxury, performance, looks and noise all while being able to carry 4 adults. Its pretty hard to get that right and the GTS does a bloody good job of it.
Although a bit antiquated in some respects, its a testament to how good it is that it has been able to be produced for so long. And even after all this time it still makes it into most motor press's top 10 GT cars or 4 seat sports car lists.
If it wasn't for the V8 and the glorious noise it produces, I wouldn't even have considered the GTS. YES, I would prefer it to have 50-100hp more....BUT not at the expense of the noise! No way!
IMO the 4.2GT is under powered, and for that reason I waited a few years until I could get into a decent 4.7.
If it has to be forced induction for a decent power hike on the V8, I think a supercharger would suit the GTS much better than any Turbo, keeping its linear power curve and not interfering too much with the exhaust note.
If I just wanted 0-60 times, traction, lightning gear changes, turbos and 4 seats ...I would have kept my Nissan GT-R.
In the 3 years I owned it, I didn't come across anything that could 'beat' it, but still, I sold it for a GTS-MC-shift. There's more to being a petrolhead than speed.
They're not 'that slow' but there are a lot of modern cars that are as fast/ faster than a GTS. As most others have said, The GTS is not about outright speed and performance, but a balance of prestige, comfort, luxury, performance, looks and noise all while being able to carry 4 adults. Its pretty hard to get that right and the GTS does a bloody good job of it.
Although a bit antiquated in some respects, its a testament to how good it is that it has been able to be produced for so long. And even after all this time it still makes it into most motor press's top 10 GT cars or 4 seat sports car lists.
If it wasn't for the V8 and the glorious noise it produces, I wouldn't even have considered the GTS. YES, I would prefer it to have 50-100hp more....BUT not at the expense of the noise! No way!
IMO the 4.2GT is under powered, and for that reason I waited a few years until I could get into a decent 4.7.
If it has to be forced induction for a decent power hike on the V8, I think a supercharger would suit the GTS much better than any Turbo, keeping its linear power curve and not interfering too much with the exhaust note.
If I just wanted 0-60 times, traction, lightning gear changes, turbos and 4 seats ...I would have kept my Nissan GT-R.
In the 3 years I owned it, I didn't come across anything that could 'beat' it, but still, I sold it for a GTS-MC-shift. There's more to being a petrolhead than speed.
Sam McGoo
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Yeah that's true, but didn't someone say that this engine has been re-approved emissions wise?
Turbos can sound really good! I agree. But its not very 'Maserati' . There are many other cars out there that suit that image, I just don't think Maserati is one of them. When I tell anyone (that knows about cars) that I have a GTS, 99% of them say "best sound I've ever heard from a car" or something similar. It would be a shame if Maserati didn't realise the importance of that to their current fans.
Unfortunately though, I fear it is the way all manufacturers are heading, which is why I decided I needed one in my life now, while I still can.
If Maserati go down that route with their coupes/Gt they'll probably loose a lot of die-hard fans, but will probably appeal more to the masses and sell more cars, which I suppose any business is all about. But they certainly wouldn't be as special.
Sam McGoo
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Well if that's the case, maybe its what Maserati need to do in order to retain/get back their true followers!
I must admit, I'm a new fan, who only got sucked in when the GranTurismo was released. Prior to that it was just a distant appreciation.
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I bought my GTS after hearing one start, not feeling how fast it was or how well it went round corners. My heart-strings were tugged by the noise.
outrun
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All this green talk - the worst thing for the planet is to scrap all the lower value stuff and keep building new cars by the boat load, especially the electric ones. The scrappage scheme may have been good for car sales in the automotive industry but it certainly wasn't good for the planet. I just bought myself the cheapest 4.5 v8 Porsche Cayenne for my dogs in the UK maybe, keeping it from a scrap yard. If you really think about it, that's the most green thing i've ever done! My old Saab estate was getting long in the tooth so I sold that for a grand more than I paid for it, again helping save the planet.
At no point did I think that my Stradale was slow or could use extra power, seemed about perfect. The FF obviously has another 200+ bhp but in reality, you can't use it for more than a few seconds as it's bananas fast on normal roads. My 210bhp Mini is plenty quick for daily driving. I could remap it easily and get another 50bhp but it just doesn't need it. Same is true of our 530d. Easy to map but it's just not required, I have to actively try and stay below 100 on the motorway as there is so much torque. Don't need any more.
My old Saab estate was getting long in the tooth so I sold that for a grand more than I paid for it, again helping save the planet. At no point did I think that my Stradale was slow or could use extra power, seemed about perfect. The FF obviously has another 200+ bhp but in reality, you can't use it for more than a few seconds as it's bananas fast on normal roads. My 210bhp Mini is plenty quick for daily driving. I could remap it easily and get another 50bhp but it just doesn't need it. Same is true of our 530d. Easy to map but it's just not required, I have to actively try and stay below 100 on the motorway as there is so much torque. Don't need any more.
I have my first GTS MC Shift and love it. But compared to my admittedly highly modified Audi B5RS4 and AMGSL55, it is embarrassingly slow. Also our remapped Saab Diesel 1-9 can easily keep up with the Maser. But thats not the point of the Maserati, its the theatre. I will soon sell and get a Novitec Stradale.. for investment purposes as well.
daverichardson
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My first week of QP ownership resulted in a speeding fine and I attended the 1 day course instead.
I realised the I had to learn how to drive it. So plenty fast enough for me.
Also last weekend I was in a taxi heading to town pubs and stuck at traffic lights alongside a Tesla.
Lights changed to green and the Tesla (not sure of the model) was away like a scalded cat and left us for dust.
Really impressive, but having sat in one in Edinburgh it is not a nice place to be - unlike my QP and that is important to me.
I realised the I had to learn how to drive it. So plenty fast enough for me.
Also last weekend I was in a taxi heading to town pubs and stuck at traffic lights alongside a Tesla.
Lights changed to green and the Tesla (not sure of the model) was away like a scalded cat and left us for dust.
Really impressive, but having sat in one in Edinburgh it is not a nice place to be - unlike my QP and that is important to me.
Wanderer
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Just drove down from Edinburgh in the QP, largely 70-80, bit of 90+ on the 'top' around Shap/Tebay, it's great in outside lane, held up by slower cars, some a4sehole up my rear when slower car in way, it moves over, and even uphill not even floor it just 3/4 pedal manual sports, still in 6th and up we go, all behind left for dead.
258 miles, trip tells me 23.6mpg, just over half a tank (I know the fuel gauge has funny ideas about 'half') but still....
More importantly car doesn't drift, takes bends such as they are on motorway, is largely quiet inside, feels responsive all the time, home totally relaxed, no feeling of white-knuckle ride when to be honest I did tank it occasionally......
Great GT. great car be sorry when there's no spares left cos Maserati can't be arsed with older models as we are all aware now...
258 miles, trip tells me 23.6mpg, just over half a tank (I know the fuel gauge has funny ideas about 'half') but still....
More importantly car doesn't drift, takes bends such as they are on motorway, is largely quiet inside, feels responsive all the time, home totally relaxed, no feeling of white-knuckle ride when to be honest I did tank it occasionally......
Great GT. great car be sorry when there's no spares left cos Maserati can't be arsed with older models as we are all aware now...