![]() When driven hard, it sits flat and balanced. Aside from that, I personally think the balance between comfort and sport is spot on for this cars target market. The auto adjusting skyhook suspension does a great job providing comfort and fun when required, but the steering is far too light for my taste. It was also the first time the 4.7l engine was available on the QP, and had updated infotainment, so it was a great year to target. The 2009 model was fitted with the 6 speed ZF auto, rather than the DuoSelect transmission of earlier models. Regardless it pulls hard and you can’t hear the screams of the greenies over the engine note anyway. There is no fancy cylinder deactivation or stop start, just a thirst V8 slowly killing the planet. Fuel consumption is predictably high at over 14 l/100km. The car came with the best available multiband radar detector to avoid speed traps (legal where I live) which can be handy. Wind and road noise is really well controlled, but you can always hear the V8, and that’s the way it should be.Īcceleration is solid with 0-100 of 5.2 seconds, but more impressive is how linear and effortless it is. The seats hug you, and there is even a "self adjust" function where air pockets inflate to fit around your body. It is an incredibly comfortable place to be, and as long as you don't compare the switchgear to an Audi, you will be impressed. It feels special, even if it feels a little bit old skool. The leather is the best quality I have seen in any car so far, and everything screams high end dead cow. However as soon as you open the door, or turn the key, everything is forgiven. Many cars like this are secondary/ weekend cars, and with irregular use there can be issues even with meticulous service records. A bi annual inspection and oil change is $2000 USD and many mechanics have refused to touch it. Wihin the first month of ownership I had to install a new alternator (2700 USD) and I need to do the front ball joint (I’m afraid to ask). There is no spare wheel (optional) and not even run flat tyres (optional). Yet the biggest functional failure for me is that the rear seats don't fold down, so you can’t slide a surfboard through, or get a bike in. Although this is the size of a 7 series BMW, the boot is smaller than a 3 series BMW. The Bose infotainment system, although great for 2009, is very 2009, and the bluetooth doesn't even have audio streaming without aftermarket adapters. The car squeaks and occasionally reminds you it is a 9 year old Italian car. You are now “the guy with the Maserati”, for better or worse. That’s been the single biggest difference in my ownership experience vs other European cars I’ve owned. Whether or not you believe modern Maserati deserves it’s status in the general public, it attracts a lot of attention. The QP-S is like the girl from the Bunga Bunga party. You will probably get a nasty infection, but it will be memorable and you will brag about it. However most people would rather bring a few girls home from one of Burlesconi's Bunga Bunga Party. she seems logical, functional, reliable, intelligent, maybe even pragmatic. When I think of German cars I think of Angella Merkel. The 750i was sublime but in comparison soulless. I admit I didn't seriously consider competing cars because they just didn't seem as special. The Maserati QP-S competes with the Mercedes S Class, BMW 7 series etc. More importantly it has a 4.7l Ferrari derived V8 and sounds like an angelic Italian orgy, it looks better than any german (car or otherwise) and can massage me while I attract envious stares from people that regret their pragmatic decisions. There are isofix points for my kid, rear parking sensors, and other pointless stuff like refrigerated compartments and reclining rear seats. There are a few token airbags somewhere, and a fuel gauge to remind you that you are killing the planet. In my defense, it does have 4 doors, 4 wheels and a boot. My wife asked me to buy a practical and safe family car, that wouldn’t attract too much attention, so I bought a Maserati. This information therefore has been kept off the list.I recently moved overseas and subsequently had to buy a new car. Figures vary with the source and even Maserati states different numbers for the same model. The total number of cars built of a certain model prior 2001 often is difficult to determine. The following lists contains all Maserati production car, racing car and concept car models.
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