Looking to purchase a Ghibli - Newbie question

[MrMickS]

I went from an Alfa Giulietta to a Ghibli S and drove it for 50k miles over the 3 years I owned it. I had two faults in that time, a failed steering pump, and a leaking headlight washer. The first was an expensive fix the second was done under warranty, but would have been expensive if I'd had to pay for it.

I did go through tyres, constant joke at the garage, but with owners club membership you can get money back from Pirelli that covers the membership costs. On 10k a year I'd budget for a pair of rears every year and fronts every other year.

It seemed to hold its own on run outs with other forum members

 

[Doohickey]

I went from an Alfa Giulietta to a Ghibli S and drove it for 50k miles over the 3 years I owned it. I had two faults in that time, a failed steering pump, and a leaking headlight washer. The first was an expensive fix the second was done under warranty, but would have been expensive if I'd had to pay for it.

I did go through tyres, constant joke at the garage, but with owners club membership you can get money back from Pirelli that covers the membership costs. On 10k a year I'd budget for a pair of rears every year and fronts every other year.

It seemed to hold its own on run outs with other forum members

Not that there was much chance to go very fast - bit twisty and narrow! Great day out though.

I seem to recall the steering pump failure wasn't entirely the car's fault.

 

[Ebenezer]

I seem to recall the steering pump failure wasn't entirely the car's fault.

Everyone else had older cars and were doing the same circular route....
Eb

 

[spkennyuk]

Everyone else had older cars and were doing the same circular route....
Eb

The older cars managed the same circular route many more times though !

 

[Richard Maxonian]

Yes the petrol service interval is officially 12500 miles or every 2 years, so at 10k miles you will be pretty much annual on servicing. The diesel is every 12500 miles or 1 year
I would drive both. The petrol sounds better and is more linear but doesnt have the shove of the diesel. I have the diesel but have driven the petrol one a few times as a courtesy car
Check the brakes dont wobble, there are a few cases of new discs "warping"
Apart from that there isnt much other than the normal stuff, serviced on time etc..

Interested in your remark about the diesel Ghibli having more “shove”. Although the diesel Ghibli is slower than the petrol as regards 0-60 time I suspect it is faster in terms of mid range acceleration (say 30-70 mph) Because of developing more torque and developing it lower down the rev range. Mid range acceleration is, to my mind, a better measure of practical performance on the road. However no mid range acceleration figures are ever published nowadays. I would be interested to learn from someone who has driven both petrol and diesel versions which has the better mid range acceleration.

 

[spkennyuk]

Interested in your remark about the diesel Ghibli having more “shove”. Although the diesel Ghibli is slower than the petrol as regards 0-60 time I suspect it is faster in terms of mid range acceleration (say 30-70 mph) Because of developing more torque and developing it lower down the rev range. Mid range acceleration is, to my mind, a better measure of practical performance on the road. However no mid range acceleration figures are ever published nowadays. I would be interested to learn from someone who has driven both petrol and diesel versions which has the better mid range acceleration.

The mid range acceleration figures are out there. Diesel figures in the article below.

Maserati Ghibli vs Jaguar XF | Auto Express

We see if new Maserati Ghibli saloon is worthy of the hallowed badge, as it battles capable Jaguar XF

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[philw696]

Drove both when the were new back in my time working for Maserati Auckland NZ and the petrol sounded so Good.
Interesting article comparing with the Jaguar XF and the one I had gave me no issues for 4 years going all over Europe faultless but when it went wrong it certainly did and off she went.

 

[CJ Romeo]

Mine is the later 350bhp one with 500Nm vs the older with 450 and diesel with 600.

Sure, if you’re fuelling with benzina, then it won’t pull very well in sixth gear from 30mph compared to the diesel, but it loves to rev and the gearbox changes readily, so unless you get caught out, the petrol is a lot faster and the diesel has a tiny powerband in comparison.

I really wanted the diesel, but it just didn’t do it for me.

 

[boomerang]

How do you guys rate 4wd?
As with my Giulia, I made the convinced choice for RWD. It saves weight and quite some extra moving (wearing) parts and maybe some petrol.
Heard about very dirty (thickened black) oil in 4wd transfer cases on a low milage car, what makes me question long time durability.
Does anyone have knowledge about this?
Btw: drove in 4wd and RWD both, did not think the 410hp 4wd version was much quicker than the 350hp rwd to be honest.
B.o.t: very happy with my petrol Ghibli, it drives like a dream.
Can be advised without hesitation!
Just buy the nicest example you can afford and you will have no regrets!

 

[CJ Romeo]

How do you guys rate 4wd?
As with my Giulia, I made the convinced choice for RWD. It saves weight and quite some extra moving (wearing) parts and maybe some petrol.
Heard about very dirty (thickened black) oil in 4wd transfer cases on a low milage car, what makes me question long time durability.
Does anyone have knowledge about this?
Btw: drove in 4wd and RWD both, did not think the 410hp 4wd version was much quicker than the 350hp rwd to be honest.
B.o.t: very happy with my petrol Ghibli, it drives like a dream.
Can be advised without hesitation!
Just buy the nicest example you can afford and you will have no regrets!

If you want a Ghibli in right hand drive there is no AWD option, apparently it made the drivers footwell too small.

 

[boomerang]

Really?
Didn't know that.

 

[CatmanV2]

How do you guys rate 4wd?

Probably not what you're looking for but my GT was AWD. It has benefits without a doubt, but personally I prefer RWD for normal use.

C

 

[P R]

Interested in your remark about the diesel Ghibli having more “shove”. Although the diesel Ghibli is slower than the petrol as regards 0-60 time I suspect it is faster in terms of mid range acceleration (say 30-70 mph) Because of developing more torque and developing it lower down the rev range. Mid range acceleration is, to my mind, a better measure of practical performance on the road. However no mid range acceleration figures are ever published nowadays. I would be interested to learn from someone who has driven both petrol and diesel versions which has the better mid range acceleration.

It definitely did (does) have more shove, but as mentioned above the power band is somewhat narrower. The petrol sounds infintely better. For me and my uses though the diesel was a better fit

 

[MrMickS]

Not that there was much chance to go very fast - bit twisty and narrow! Great day out though.

I seem to recall the steering pump failure wasn't entirely the car's fault.

Not sure what you mean . According to Maserati the car wasn't being used as designed. However some of the dealer would quite happily prep the car for driving around a circular route and they would quite happily charge you a few thousand € for a similar drive in Modena.

 

[MrMickS]

On the noise and shove. I remember that to get the shove in the petrol I need to get in the right gear to get the engine in the power band. The noise was pretty good for a V6 as well. You can get the idea on this clip (shamelessly plugging old videos)

 

[CatmanV2]

On the noise and shove. I remember that to get the shove in the petrol I need to get in the right gear to get the engine in the power band. The noise was pretty good for a V6 as well.

This is very much the case. If you drive it lazily, it'll behave lazily. (So much so I'm wondering if I need to reset my gearbox adaptations)

C

 

[c3nturi0n]

Whilst I only had the MY18 petrol for a year it had no issues at all. But as Safrane said it is not big in the back and with lanky teenagers I had to go to a QPVI (well, that and the V8. Well the kids were just the excuse given to Mrs C tbh)!

hi MarkC, how find QP? Anything to watch out for in the engine bay (turbos, injectors etc.)? Thanks

 

[Markc]

hi MarkC, how find QP? Anything to watch out for in the engine bay (turbos, injectors etc.)? Thanks

Sadly I only had it for about a year but no issues at all. Enjoyed every second.

 

[CJ Romeo]

Sadly I only had it for about a year but no issues at all. Enjoyed every second.

I’m in over two years and not had anything that prevented a journey or that I couldnt fix myself for under £50. The brakes are unique though and cost a fortune unless you get lucky.

The engine bay is huge and you can see everything. Misfires and exhaust rattles should be on your list along with a proper look at the brakes and service history.

 

[Cyclone1]

I’m in over two years and not had anything that prevented a journey or that I couldnt fix myself for under £50. The brakes are unique though and cost a fortune unless you get lucky.

The engine bay is huge and you can see everything. Misfires and exhaust rattles should be on your list along with a proper look at the brakes and service history.

Good info.

Are the brakes unique as they are Model specific? Also any info on the misfires and what the cause is please?