Fifth Gear

[dem maser]

Alfa 159 model? Your right......

 

[Maser Sod]

I still haven't seen a single Ghibli on the road. I imagine that, when I do, the non-diesel sound of the diesel will phase me a bit. A bit like the turbo-prop sound of the jet airliner in the film Airplane! (anyone remember that?)

 

[CliveP1]

I still haven't seen a single Ghibli on the road. I imagine that, when I do, the non-diesel sound of the diesel will phase me a bit. A bit like the turbo-prop sound of the jet airliner in the film Airplane! (anyone remember that?)

remember it well

Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

 

[alfatwo]

remember it well

Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

Another Alfa Brera then,total rubbish!

Dave

 

[Andyk]

It aint got a good chassis, the diesel isn't up to class standards, its residuals are very poor, whose going to stump up the dosh to loose it hand over fist.........but it looks the part and is nicely appointed....is that enough?

P

No not enough to help Maserati survive.....We should not see this car like the Maserati's we have had now and in the past....It is not the same as it is aimed at a wider audience and one that has to take on the big boys as it will not survive on its history and passion as most buyers of this car would not even not the history of the marque we love........Maserati is going into a whole new field..company car.....trying to take sales from Mec/BMW/Jag.....they may have tried before but it was not so important back then now their future I believe depends on it....This car needs to be competitive and at least on a level playing field at least....

 

[CatmanV2]

This rather sounds like the conversations when the 156 came out.....

C

 

[dem maser]

Its not competitive....as a car it doesnt get near the 535d, i drove that car and its one quick and quality car....

Need to offer good finance packages and get people in them, ofcourse doing that could cheapen the brand

 

[conaero]

Haven't seen the fifth gear review but I have it recording tomorrow.

Benny has driven the car and says its very good for what it is and he is not one to mince his words.

The Ghibli is a brave move and is ripe for taking a kicking but I think we all have to remember what this car is.

Its a bit of a Eurobox aimed at sales to increase funds for Maserati so they can then reinvest this into models that we want....remember the Alfieri?

I have little respect for fifth gear its a second rate programe presented by has beens.

I think we should get behind the Ghibli and not kick it down and put prospective purchasers off.

 

[Elliott653]

I'll watch the show in due course. However, for me, Maserati is as much about aesthetics as anything else. A Maserati has to touch the soul. Even when standing stlll. I've seen the new Ghibli twice now. Once at the Classic Car Show last year and then recently at the Ace. It looks safe, boring and predictable.

I understand that Maserati had no choice, considering the market that they are aiming at and the huge amounts of money involved. But, I don't have to like it just because it's a Maserati. And, at he moment, I don't.

 

[Wattie]

Haven't seen the fifth gear review but I have it recording tomorrow.

Benny has driven the car and says its very good for what it is and he is not one to mince his words.

The Ghibli is a brave move and is ripe for taking a kicking but I think we all have to remember what this car is.

Its a bit of a Eurobox aimed at sales to increase funds for Maserati so they can then reinvest this into models that we want....remember the Alfieri?

I have little respect for fifth gear its a second rate programe presented by has beens.

I think we should get behind the Ghibli and not kick it down and put prospective purchasers off.

Trouble is many will view the Fifth gear comments and not buy one..........lets face it we all love Maserati but the majority were probably left feeling a little flat and doubtful over the sub standard review.

Cheers wattie

 

[Parisien]

Well given the poor reviews of early coupes by TG, who can say what effect reviewers had on sales?

Nowadays, theres no where to hide, Maserati clearly doesn't quite grasp the way turbo diesel work nor their short comings.

Who are Maserati trying to win over? People who want something different/exclusive, but apparently dynamically less good than the class leader or those who don't look at the bottom line when putting their money into buying one?

The seismic shift from being an exclusive maker of high end cars to be more mass market is a very difficult trick to pull off......JLR have done it, can Maserati/FIAT do the same?

P

 

[Contigo]

Yep all respect to Benny but Tiff slated the handling and chassis. Too lardy and underpowered to compete with the performance of the 535d and tempt those owners away from it. Company car owners look at list price and emissions for tax reasons and once specced up it will be worse than the German rivals. Sure there will be a few people who want to move into something different and they will account for the majority of the sales but they will be few and far between imo.

If this was launched with a proper diesel plant and sorted chassis in the first place then I think it would have been a winner as the styling is much nicer than the Euroboxes.

 

[Parisien]

How many people watch or read, and take into account reviewers opinions though........2%.....10%......40%?

I like to make my own mind up and ask people who have them for their thoughts.

Vast majority on here drive the older models.......ultimately our views count for little, especially as prospective first time buyers aren't found on enthusiasts internet forums


P

 

[Contigo]

You would be surprised how many "sheep" base their car buying decisions on progs like Top Gear and 5th Gear!

 

[Parisien]

.....but wheres the stats to support that Contigo.......Maserati buyers aren't sheep types....or are they now cos Maserati want to try and stack 'em high and sell them........not-so-cheap!!!!!!!!!





P

 

[Contigo]

It is very subjective but the sales figures will speak volumes so I guess we just have to wait and see. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a higher rated Diesel version S available in the coming months....

 

[Parisien]

The thing that does sway most people is if everyone raves about it..............is this the case with the Ghibli?

P

 

[CliveP1]

sorry for being a bit dumb here
not being a company car driver and i haven't brought a new car for well over 30 years what are the incentives to buy new apart from the "oh its a new car", it used to be buying new was about the money lost, far better to get a 1 year or 2 year old car better values, are there still company car benefits or are you given a sum to spend is this aimed at the company car driver? then its down to the individual.
Then maybe the Maserati would be a good choice. but if the 3 series 335d is £41.000 and the 5 series 535d is £48.500 and the Ghibli is near the £50.000 and the leg room in the Ghibli was not much more than a hatchback its going to need to be more than the badge on the front.

but as I said dare to be different?

 

[bigbob]

Rear leg room - or rather lack of it- did take me back a bit when I went to see the Ghibli. Then the QP is too big. They need a SWB QP or a LWB Ghibli to exactly fill the space left by the old QP.

 

[conaero]

You would be surprised how many "sheep" base their car buying decisions on progs like Top Gear and 5th Gear!

I have to agree, the GranSport and 4200 is a case in point.

Both essentially the same but both received very different TG reviews and look where the prices are now. OK the GS does have a lot of bells and whistles on it, but underneath its the same car just tweaked a little.

Its sad, but true nowadays.