Struggling sales

[MrMickS]

Most are struggling for sales these days. Just look at the 0% finance deals. Even Maserati had an advert on the radio this week advertising 0% finance deals on the Levante.....Probably the diesel but missed that bit.

It’s 0% across the range. The local dealer offered to price up a Levante S for me.

 

[Andyk]

So is now the time buy...0% and I'm sure you can get a nice sum of money off the list price.

 

[Delmonte]

The current cars are a real problem for me, and I suspect many. If I had the money and was in the market for a new car, I wouldn’t, sadly buy a Maser even though I love the marque. The GT is too old and has hardly been updated in years (same engines) so I’d buy secondhand and save a fortune. The new QP is too big, which in itself is not a problem but they have diluted the looks so much compared to the early Guigiaro design, which was epic, it’s like they’ve unstyled it and it now looks anonymous. But if they are going to make it so big, it needs a junior version.... which brings us to the Ghibli.... This seems unloved by everyone. It’s biggest problem being its looks, it is completely anonymous which for a 4 door saloon, and also a Maserati, is a real problem. The earlier QP shows just what you can do with a 3 box shape but the Ghibli styling misses the mark completely. Then there’s the interior, something Masers of the last few decades are famed for, it fails there too. Throw in a lot of obvious Chrysler, (one of the most unloved brands globally for at least 30 years) and its surprising they thought they would get away with it.
Which just leaves the Levante.... Personally I hate SUVs but this does seem like a good attempt, though I would have thought to introduce such a departure you need the core lineup to back it up.

I see trouble ahead for Maser. They need 3 new models and they have to be competitive.. Can’t see them getting them soon. Where will the new CEO take the brand...?

 

[Rwc13]

Well you know what they say about opinions........you’re entitled to yours, of course

 

[conaero]

Without wishing to upset members who have the new cars I tend to agree with Delmonte who has diplomatically hit the nail on the head. I don’t really have an issue with the new cars as I’m happy in the Strad for now but in the next year or two I want to step up again with around £100k to spend. I would dearly love that to be a new Maserati but current line up it won’t be.

I’ve never had issue with the Ghibli styling, I quite like it. It’s the engineering and interior finish where my issues lay.

If Maserati do deliver the new promised ranges then I think they will be ok but could see me changing marque for the first time in 15 years which would be very sad.

 

[MrMickS]

Oddly I think that Maserati are in a better position now than they've been for a while.

- The latest revision of the QP and Ghibli are now getting decent reviews, though lots of the bad stuff was for things that someone who buys the cars to drive wouldn't be worried about.
- The Levante has proved to a be decent 4x4 that fits well with the lifestyle aspirations of the brand.
- The roadmap should deliver another seller and a halo car in the next couple of years
- Diesel is going to be replaced by hybrid
- FCA now seem to have an idea on what they want to do with Maserati

I see the latter being a problem to many on here because the more desirable cars are only going to get pushed further up market, especially when you consider the cost that the new Alfa GTV and 8C are going to be. This will mean that it'll probably be at least 5 years before the new cars drop into the affordable second hand market.

I'm still debating what to do once I come to change the Ghibli. I think I'll have to wait and see what the range is at the time and make a decision then. I could very well just stick with it and buy a classic to compliment it and keep it as my daily driver.

 

[P R]

Talking to a friend on the weekend who has a 911, Porsche seem to have a scheme of servicing in their main dealer network where as the cars get older the servicing prices are reduced. A full service on a 911 carrera 4 or around 8 years old is a lot less than my diesel Ghibli.

 

[Devonboy]

They are Maserati's of that there is no doubt, but the brand has built some horrors and some stars over the years.....suspect they need a halo car badly and falling sales might encourage them to revisit their strategy. There is a lot riding on the Alfieri in my view and it will be interesting to see what Fiat does with its brands following the management changes.

 

[Devonboy]

Talking to a friend on the weekend who has a 911, Porsche seem to have a scheme of servicing in their main dealer network where as the cars get older the servicing prices are reduced. A full service on a 911 carrera 4 or around 8 years old is a lot less than my diesel Ghibli.

Quite a few dealers do this, My BMW 5 series 58 plates has only been touched by BMW as the prices after 5 years were so close to the independents it wasn't worth it in my view..

 

[Rwc13]

I disagree with some of this, particularly regarding the looks of the QPVI and Ghibli. I agree the QPV is a fantastic looking car of its era - I own one. But car design has moved on and if Maserati we’re trying to still sell the QPV today they would sell very few. The Ghibli and QPVI are modern designs that meet the expectations of current new car buyers far better, as can be seen by the relative sales numbers. And as for anonymous, I don’t look out for the Ghibli or QPVI, but when one passes I notice it immediately. It absolutely stands out from the current mid-sized saloon crowd. The curve and power of the haunches, the general muscular look of the car, the aggression of the grille, all completely different to its universally bland competitors IMO.

Concerning, the Chrysler connection, yes there are a few buttons that may be shared and should have been better disguised to differentiate them, but overall the interior of a MY18 Ghibli is now a very nice place to be IMO - they have got very significantly better since the early cars. But again it’s more modern, whereas the QPV is quite old fashioned. Again, I own a QP5 and love the old school feel of the interior, but Maserati would sell few cars to current new buyers if they were building them now to look the same.

The point is they are different because they are from different eras. They have to be different because otherwise Maserati would be history. I understand that people with QPVs are likely to prefer their cars - that’s why they have them. But in assessing a current car you need to remove that inherent bias. If I was looking to buy a new 4 door saloon, I would definitely buy a Ghibli or QPVI, despite their minor “faults’, because they look different, drive different and sound different to the competitors in a way that I feel upholds their Maseratiness. And I like to be different to the crowd.

 

[MrMickS]

it will be interesting to see what Fiat does with its brands following the management changes.

This is twice that you've said this. What makes you think that the chap that was part of the management team that presented the plan just under two months ago would change from that? If they'd brought in an outsider then all bets would have been off but listening to the Q&A session it appeared that the whole team, which included the new CEO, were in on the plan.

 

[daverichardson]

Broadly agree with RWC here, I saw a Ghibli in York the other day parked up and it looked great. It stood out from the many many other German brands parked along side.
I would certainly look seriously at moving to a Ghibli should I be in the market.
The QPVI is a different proposition though. It looks good to me but it is very big and that may rule it out for me.

 

[P R]

Broadly agree with RWC here, I saw a Ghibli in York the other day parked up and it looked great. It stood out from the many many other German brands parked along side.
I would certainly look seriously at moving to a Ghibli should I be in the market.
The QPVI is a different proposition though. It looks good to me but it is very big and that may rule it out for me.

How big is the QPV vs the Ghibli? The Ghibli is near as dammit 5m long. I think when they introduced the Ghibli and QPVI the introduction of the Ghibli allowed them to go even bigger (long) with the QP VI, as the Chinese market likes long luxury cars.

 

[Rwc13]

Yep, QPV sits between the Ghibli and QPVI in length

 

[conaero]

Talking to a friend on the weekend who has a 911, Porsche seem to have a scheme of servicing in their main dealer network where as the cars get older the servicing prices are reduced. A full service on a 911 carrera 4 or around 8 years old is a lot less than my diesel Ghibli.

Most Main Dealers offer this too. Meridien certainly did. I think it was about £80ph instead of £110 from memory.

 

[conaero]

...the interior of a MY18 Ghibli is now a very nice place to be IMO - they have got very significantly better since the early cars. But again it’s more modern...

My comments were indeed based on the early cars, I feel I must go and take a look at the revamp as to date, I have not.

 

[MrMickS]

How big is the QPV vs the Ghibli? The Ghibli is near as dammit 5m long. I think when they introduced the Ghibli and QPVI the introduction of the Ghibli allowed them to go even bigger (long) with the QP VI, as the Chinese market likes long luxury cars.

Ghibli III - 4.97m long
QP V - 5.09m long
QP VI - 5.26m long

The latest QP is about the same size as the German LWB variants of their top end saloons.

 

[Rwc13]

I

My comments were indeed based on the early cars, I feel I must go and take a look at the revamp as to date, I have not.

I think that’s part of the issue here, quite a few have never actually been and looked, let alone driven, and many who have, it was 4 years ago. As we know with Maserati throughout history, they improve cars continuously after launch. The last S I drove was a MY17 and that was night and day to my MY14, and the MY18s are a further step forward. All IMO of course.......

 

[bigbob]

I


I think that’s part of the issue here, quite a few have never actually been and looked, let alone driven, and many who have, it was 4 years ago. As we know with Maserati throughout history, they improve cars continuously after launch. The last S I drove was a MY17 and that was night and day to my MY14, and the MY18s are a further step forward. All IMO of course.......

Agree with the improvements over time comment, something that Italian car manufacturers' have been good at. I've driven loads of Maserati loan cars over the years and they do improve with time - had a week in a new Ghibli diesel recently and it drives well and has always looked great. Still light on the standard spec mind.

Anyway, much of the issue for Maserati is that they sit in the middle ground which is where much of the pain is, diesel and £50-70k prices are not doing well across the board but the bigger manufacturers can hide it with more offers on the cheaper cars but for Maserati the volume effect is more acute. They've come a long way in recent times which is great to see. Personally I don't buy saloons and the Levante is not the sort of 4x4/SUV I would buy so there is nothing for me at the moment for me. Like many I am waiting for the new coupe and, thankfully, am patient!

PS Slightly off topic but a mate has a new 488 coming and mentioned that they often need a lot of dealer finishing before delivery. Must find out more about that.

 

[Soleith]

The QP is lush but on current pricing and tech I don't see it as competing with the best from Germany. I love my GT Sport (bought new in 2016) but am trading it in for an A8. Maserati is special but I feel as though it's lost its way a bit. Spoke with my sales chap at HR Owen a couple of weeks ago and he seemed to think that an Alfieri in electric/hybrid guise is on the way and for Maserati's sake I genuinely hope so and hope they go back for the top end market. I drove a Levante S when it launched in the UK and while it was a nice luxury/sporting 4x4 I did find it a bit underwhelming. I do feel as though the marque has been cheapened by decisions in recent years to go cheaper cars like the ghibli and levante as well as diesel, a brand like Maserati shouldn't have to chase sales numbers.

I bought a GT Sport because for £100k it was the only car that felt special in the price bracket. 911's are as common as muck and I don't want to spend 6 figures on a car that generic.