I was in a similar position a couple of months ago and chose a GranSport over 997 (and Jag XKR and Nissan GTR).
If you're more concerned with feelgood factor, low speed engagement etc then don't even bother thinking about a 997. Buy a 4200! I drive my GS once a week but I get a thrill from looking at it twice a day when I leave for work and when I come home. The 400bhp, high-revving V8 upfront makes every drive special. And for a coupe/GT, this car has a huge amount of interior space. A proper boot, too, although not very big.
BUT if you're someone who likes to occasionally drive like you're on a qualifying lap, then you need to know that a GT car weighing 200kg more than an equivalent Porsche is going to lose something on a B road. The GS is lower than a 4200, but I'm probably going to get it lowered even more. The CC gearbox does have a certain sporty appeal but I still really miss a manual. Again, it depends on what you want (and you'll need to try the CC box and a manual car to know).
The Internet is full of horror stories. If you buy a 997 the engine will probably be fine. But for some people a 1 in 20 chance of a 15k car needing an 8k rebuild is unacceptable. That's one other thing about the Maserati 4.2 engine: major failures are totally unheard of. Just be aware that you'll need to set aside 1.5-2k a year for running costs. These cars were 65k new. The porsche is lighter and more economical, but there's that possibility of a rebuild.
So, in conclusion, if you want a beautiful machine that can seat 4 adults and has one of the world's greatest engines, buy the car with the trident badge! I ain't swappin mine for a car from Stuttgart and I have a lot less loyalty to the Maserati brand than some people here..
If you're more concerned with feelgood factor, low speed engagement etc then don't even bother thinking about a 997. Buy a 4200! I drive my GS once a week but I get a thrill from looking at it twice a day when I leave for work and when I come home. The 400bhp, high-revving V8 upfront makes every drive special. And for a coupe/GT, this car has a huge amount of interior space. A proper boot, too, although not very big.
BUT if you're someone who likes to occasionally drive like you're on a qualifying lap, then you need to know that a GT car weighing 200kg more than an equivalent Porsche is going to lose something on a B road. The GS is lower than a 4200, but I'm probably going to get it lowered even more. The CC gearbox does have a certain sporty appeal but I still really miss a manual. Again, it depends on what you want (and you'll need to try the CC box and a manual car to know).
The Internet is full of horror stories. If you buy a 997 the engine will probably be fine. But for some people a 1 in 20 chance of a 15k car needing an 8k rebuild is unacceptable. That's one other thing about the Maserati 4.2 engine: major failures are totally unheard of. Just be aware that you'll need to set aside 1.5-2k a year for running costs. These cars were 65k new. The porsche is lighter and more economical, but there's that possibility of a rebuild.
So, in conclusion, if you want a beautiful machine that can seat 4 adults and has one of the world's greatest engines, buy the car with the trident badge! I ain't swappin mine for a car from Stuttgart and I have a lot less loyalty to the Maserati brand than some people here..