[Palmnuts]

I know the Turbo is some peoples' dream car and it is an absolutely awesome performance car with the most sublime suspension, crazy performance and the most wonderful tactile 'feel'....it's pretty much without peer for the way it drives.

But it's never been a car that I've LOVED, the looks don't excite me, it sounds pretty dismal and theres little sense of occasion....look, I've never even changed my avatar photo so what does that say!! Oh, it also broke down and couldn't be fixed for a week - although it works now, the dealer still isn't sure what happened and if what they've done to fix it will work.

If the love ain't there, it just ain't there and theres no point continuing to pay for such a car if ultimately, I don't really love it.

I was almost certain that I'd get a new C63 AMG in the summer (and may still do so if what I've just bought doesn't work out) but a few days ago a guy I know bought a similar car to one that I considered a few months ago. I had a drive in it and was so impressed this time round that I started investigating what affordable examples were about. And today, I was offered a deal that meant 5 months worth of Porsche ownership has basically cost me the princely sum of £900 :thumb: (plus retro-fit cruise )

Well, with an offer like that I just couldn't turn down selling it and replacing it with this....














So, what's it like?

Well, it's a Maserati Granturismo 4.7S MC Shift with all the right options (Bose, Nav, Bluetooth, full leather and alcantara interior etc etc), it's a 2 year old, absolutely pristine example with just 7k on the clock and, as I didn't buy it from a main dealer, it's currently one of the cheapest of it's type for sale in the UK (the only one cheaper has considerably more mileage). It's still under warranty, it's got a Palmball-spec interior (i.e. not black) and, with just 440bhp, it's probably the slowest car I've owned for 3 years.

However, having now owned what is probably one of the fastest cars on the planet and having very little opportunity to enjoy it, I'm comfortable with moving to something a bit slower as the sense of occasion with the Maserati is on another planet to the Porsche. All you pesky M3 / tuned 335i drivers will probably be able to nail my new car now!

For those who remember why I didn't buy one before, the appalling seats...why has this not put me off this time? Well, it's all about relativity.

When I looked at one of these a few months ago, I was coming out of the C63 which simply has the best seats of...well, anything IMO. The Porsche seats aren't as good as the C63's and as I've got used to those, getting out of the Porsche and into the Maserati means I don't notice the seats to be all that bad now. Funny how that works isn't it!

A couple of final things.it - firstly, it'll be so good to get back in a car that sounds great. The Maserati has a flat-plane crank V8 so sounds exactly like a Ferrari and as it's the MC Shift model (semi-auto), it has a sport by-pass button for the exhaust which sounds delicious.

Secondly, it's so pleasant to drive a car that doesn't rattle, creak, buzz etc. The Porsche has been plagued with such noises since I've had it (and indeed so were the other two 911's I had as courtesy cars over the last 5 months), yet eveytime I've driven one of these Maserati's they've been nothing but well built, solid and totally rattle free. Again, funny that....given you'd expect it to be very much the other way round.

Ready for the flaming now.....

[E92BSM10]

Very nice car palmnuts

[Mani59]

Wow, I want!!

Absolutely gorgeous

[Real Thing]

Think I better put the kettle on because I don't thnk I'd mind that parked on my drive probably one of the nicest looking cars on the road today imo I suppose the performance is what you might miss the most

[Palmnuts]

Cheers guys...I'm far more certain about this one than the Porsche!

Originally Posted by Real Thing

Think I better put the kettle on because I don't thnk I'd mind that parked on my drive probably one of the nicest looking cars on the road today imo I suppose the performance is what you might miss the most

If you want to see the Porsche, you've got this weekend lol!

At least now you'll have a quicker car than me

[Hotcoupe]

It might be slower and less comfortable than a lot of cars, but the sound and sheer presence of a Maser, especially that model would be enough for me.

There's no point in having one and driving it so no one can see it, it's the type of car that you need to be seen in.

Awesome, and one of your better, if not best buys

[rogerxp]

Who the hell is going to flame you Andrew with THAT .

I absolutely freakin' love um. Yes, I've got a little bit of a biase towards the marque but when you mention things like 'sense of occassion' there are few that can come close.

When I scrolled down, fully expecting to see another boring AMG (flaming in my direction now ), I couldn't help but mutter bastard under by breath.

Very jealous now .

[sheps]

Awesome.
That is all.

[sheps]

Repost
Stupid iPhone/sausage fingers combination.

I'll use the opportunity to say "what a car".
Love it.

[rogerxp]

Andrew, have you played with the configurator on the Maserati website, the sheer number of options, colours & combination is just eye-boggling (so is the fuji bianco paint-job at £5k )

EDIT - just checked and not only did I get the name the wrong way round, it's bianco fuji, but I was a little out on the price - it's £15,000 .

[Palmnuts]

Wow...thanks guys! I really didn;t expect such a positive reaction given I am getting rid of a 911 Turbo for it (the 911 is after all the most common and well-liked car on this forum )

It is genuinely a nice car....not a sports car but a very good GT (and as such, probably more up my street).

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

It might be slower and less comfortable than a lot of cars, but the sound and sheer presence of a Maser, especially that model would be enough for me.

There's no point in having one and driving it so no one can see it, it's the type of car that you need to be seen in.

Awesome, and one of your better, if not best buys

Lol! So what IS my best buy IYO?

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Who the hell is going to flame you Andrew with THAT .

I absolutely freakin' love um. Yes, I've got a little bit of a biase towards the marque but when you mention things like 'sense of occassion' there are few that can come close.

When I scrolled down, fully expecting to see another boring AMG (flaming in my direction now ), I couldn't help but mutter bastard under by breath.

Very jealous now .

Boring AMG? Boring AMG????

Flush your head down the toilet Roger

Originally Posted by sheps

Repost
Stupid iPhone/sausage fingers combination.

I'll use the opportunity to say "what a car".
Love it.

Cheers sheps! When did you become an AMG owner (one of those NOT boring cars...Roger!)? I must have missed that one

[peterg1965]

Andrew, I can't believe you have done that - got rid of the Pork TT after so little time!!! I know absolutely bugger all about Masers, and it has never been a Marque that has 'spun my props' at all. I think I would have prefered the Aston DB9 over a Maserati. Your Pork TT looked absolutely stunning, and niggles aside, it would be a car that I would happily saw my left leg off (with a blunt knife) to own, it really is the everyday supercar.

To cap it all, you loose next to nothing on an OPC bought TT after just 4 months! How do you do it you jammy git? If I was to move on my C4S I would loose a significant chunk of money.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your Pork experience today, a decent way of saying farewell to the brand.

My money is on you not enjoying the Maser experience.........

[dxb335d]

I love these. Very, very classy!

[E92westy]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

....Ready for the flaming now.....

Flaming!
You're 'avin a larrrff!

I would give my left testicle (that's the good one!) to have that car!

Enjoy it, I am jealous.

[sheps]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Cheers sheps! When did you become an AMG owner (one of those NOT boring cars...Roger!)? I must have missed that one

I got a CL55 in November when the Beemer went back and took delivery of a new C63 4 weeks ago. Love it, I can see why you're so passionate about the latest generation of AMG's

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by sheps

I got a CL55 in November when the Beemer went back and took delivery of a new C63 4 weeks ago. Love it, I can see why you're so passionate about the latest generation of AMG's

Well done mate - you kept that quite (I think). Yes I am passionate about them - they're incredible (and much faster than what I've just bought)! Are you on MB Club yet?...theres a few C63 owners over there who are all very nice people.

[Snooky]

Beautiful car Andrew! No flaming from this direction, I prefer the Maser!

[sheps]

I did post it up, but I think it disappeared down the list pretty quickly.
Not as pimp as yours was, but I'm over the moon with it. The noise is addictive.
Can't wait to see the Maserati in the metal. Without wishing to sound like a total deviant, how does it smell?! I have always found Italian cars have a totally unique and beautiful smell. Even at 15 years old my old Ferrari smelt amazing.

[rogerxp]

You need to update your list here...
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498179
(trust you to be the first to need to update their list )

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Andrew, I can't believe you have done that - got rid of the Pork TT after so little time!!! I know absolutely bugger all about Masers, and it has never been a Marque that has 'spun my props' at all. I think I would have prefered the Aston DB9 over a Maserati. Your Pork TT looked absolutely stunning, and niggles aside, it would be a car that I would happily saw my left leg off (with a blunt knife) to own, it really is the everyday supercar.

To cap it all, you loose next to nothing on an OPC bought TT after just 4 months! How do you do it you jammy git? If I was to move on my C4S I would loose a significant chunk of money.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your Pork experience today, a decent way of saying farewell to the brand.

My money is on you not enjoying the Maser experience.........

The Porsche Experience day was quite good - if not as exciting as I expected.

The track had too many slow cars on it (i.e. everyone else other than me) meaning I really couldn't get into a rhythm...it also hammered home the fact that the Turbo isn't the easiest to drive on track - the power delivery is just too brutal for the relatively tight track that they have. The low grip circle isn't as good as the wetted circle at MB World but on the flip side, the kick plate and ice hill were great for practicing car control - I could've spent longer on those bits.

Now, as for me not enjoying the Maser experience....harsh , but maybe fair given my form

However, I've been much more certain about the Maser this week than I was prior to buying the Porsche and it's more 'me'....a bit more of a refined GT than hardcore sports car - it's also not got a black interior, it just looks awesome inside and out and it brings back the thing I miss most about the AMG...the noise (albeit in a different, slightly harder tune)!

The acid test will be the weekend polishing session....I love spending a weekend polishing my car but I never really got into it with the Turbo. I reckon the Maserati will be different - it's just too good looking not to!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Lol! So what IS my best buy IYO?

The Maserati, forget BHP & torque it oozes class and like any Aston Martin smacks of sophistication.
One never mentions speed when talking about these marques, it's like talking about your wealth, it really is unimportant.

[Desmondo]

I know it's not a nice thing to say but I'd just like to call you an utter bastard