Would you sell or keep.....

[rockits]

What and cost 5k+ a year to tax!
As were out of the EU at the end of the year, hopefully we'll be immune to all this.

Dave

What would cost £5k+ a year to tax?

 

[Motorsport3]

Wheeler Dealers did the electric conversion of a bi-turbo.

I would love to have an otherwise identical QPV converted next to my D-S.

 

[philw696]

Thing is power is addictive but as I get older I feel I don't need it as much and 300bhp is a sweet number for me.
Glad to have experienced what I have had but too many people against us for having really fast cars these days.

 

[Ewan]

300bhp is plenty in an older, lighter car. But I agree that a GranTurismo doesn’t feel all that fast, even with 450bhp, as it’s a big and heavy thing. My Westfield, on the other hand, feels ballistic with half that power.
To the OP, keep the GT if you can, as a beautiful and practical tourer. But add an out-and-out sports car to your garage for weekend blasts. It could be something relatively inexpensive such as Caterham, TVR, etc, all the way up to a Ferrari if funds allow.

 

[Hawk13]

Outright speed is not what this car is about IMO but if you don't think it is fast enough, buy something else.

After all it is only a car.

 

[Hawk13]

I'm also interested in what you mean by not fast enough? OK it doesn't have a sub 3 second 0-60 but where can you really use that?

Or is it more a matter of pub top trumps and your mates having faster cars on paper?

 

[Froddy]

I'd say sell it, but only for you then to realise how much you miss it!

Once the Trident gets under your skin, there's no going back ....

 

[rs48635]

Would you sell or keep - can't make my mind up no Ferrari sounds like it but I find it too slow these days!!! first world problems with a small 460bhp.....

View attachment 77386

No expert, but front looks like a Stradale. Easiest maserati to sell and therefore buy again. Plenty of faster things out there, subjectively and objectively.

Speed is so relative. I stopped skydiving, for several reasons. It was not as exciting after the first 20 jumps. Wanted clouds or anything stationary to feel the speed. Once the acceleration finished it felt like just floating in one place - while doing 120mph+ wearing only overalls and goggles.
.....there is always another man with a bigger cigar.....

 

[bigbob]

I find it pretty funny how some people defend the GranTurismo as fast enough. Viewed as a classic it is fine but compared with anything from 2010 on it is slow. 0-100mph in 11.5s is nothing fancy when a C63 can do it is 8.5s. I say this as probably one of the longest GranTurismo owning peeps on the forum as the car is fast enough for me but when I met up with some of my mates recently on the Supercar Drivers tour of Scotland it reminded me that I drive a moderately fast car. Mind there was a GranTurismo on the tour, not sure how it kept up with all the Mc/La/Fe/GT3 stuff.

For the OP, if you want another 100bhp in a relatively cheap nice looking coupe then take a peek at the M6. £25-40k gets you one. There is a lovely one for sale in Glasgow in the BMW version of the French Blue 3200 that was recently discussed here - I was very tempted.

 

[Andyk]

Perhaps it's more a case that the GT is too heavy which can blunt the that sensation when on you favourite twisty road. You probably wouldn't really notice it when cruising down to the South of France but on a Sunday morning blast on your fav road it may show up more. Suppose it all depends what you want in a car. Sounds like you are ready for a change and as I said there is too much to try before you die so crack on I say.

 

[bigbob]

Perhaps it's more a case that the GT is too heavy which can blunt the that sensation when on you favourite twisty road. You probably wouldn't really notice it when cruising down to the South of France but on a Sunday morning blast on your fav road it may show up more. Suppose it all depends what you want in a car. Sounds like you are ready for a change and as I said there is too much to try before you die so crack on I say.

That's true, when I drive Mrs BB's Golf R on B/C roads it has much better turn in than the Maser as it is carrying 400kg less. Actually with 'only' 310PS but a fast responding DCT gearbox with another ratio it is fast too for day to day stuff.

 

[lifes2short]

must admit all this speed talk is beyond me, ive never actually bought a car on whether it has a certain 0-60 time or top speed, yes i like fast cars but overriding factor for me is the looks of a car,pedigree, history etc, don't really give a sh1te if it's not as fast as caterham seven or a couple seconds slower than some modern hatchback or exotic car, i'll get my coat

 

[Oneball]

must admit all this speed talk is beyond me, ive never actually bought a car on whether it has a certain 0-60 time or top speed, yes i like fast cars but overriding factor for me is the looks of a car,pedigree, history etc, don't really give a sh1te if it's not as fast as caterham seven or a couple seconds slower than some modern hatchback or exotic car, i'll get my coat

I’ll get my coat too. Does shock me occasionally the speeds people talk about on here and that’s from someone who’s been playing with race cars for 25 years.

There’s only one new car on sale in the uk that I really fancy even if I’d got 3 million quid for a Bugatti or Gordon Murray thing

 

[dickygrace]

must admit all this speed talk is beyond me, ive never actually bought a car on whether it has a certain 0-60 time or top speed, yes i like fast cars but overriding factor for me is the looks of a car,pedigree, history etc, don't really give a sh1te if it's not as fast as caterham seven or a couple seconds slower than some modern hatchback or exotic car, i'll get my coat

I’ve discussed this with so many customers and plenty of people on here. Most modern cars are too fast for the driver, the roads, the laws etc etc. 1990-2015 is about the sweet spot in my opinion; cars are mainly N/A, not too quick, and not over engineered either.

 

[bigbob]

I’ve discussed this with so many customers and plenty of people on here. Most modern cars are too fast for the driver, the roads, the laws etc etc. 1990-2015 is about the sweet spot in my opinion; cars are mainly N/A, not too quick, and not over engineered either.

That largely explains why I have kept mine as I really enjoy driving it but the pace of automotive technological change is such that cars have got materially faster in the last decade which will be only accelerated - sorry - by electrification. I had a test drive a while back in a BMW M4 and it spent most of it's time trying to send me off the road with a very aggressive turbo delivery at low revs. However, these sort of cars are pretty much all getting AWD now to make them point and shoot machines.

It depends on what people want. For those who want only one car or care about not being able to keep up with cross country overtakes then the GranTurismo is now past it but for those who want to own one as part of a mixed car fleet then it is still perfect IMHO.

 

[Hawk13]

must admit all this speed talk is beyond me .......

I agree it absolutely is in the context of a grand tourer ..... and if you want a bonkers out and out sports car, then buy one.

But it also about how that power is used. I recently took a trip to Scarborough with a number of mates including a TVR, a Morgan Aero and Nissan GTR .... all of which are quicker than my GT on paper. The GTR was night and day the quickest on normal roads followed by my GT ... with the TVR and Morgan struggling to get the power down or to get off the line in anything but perfect conditions.

For me, the GT is the perfect 4 seater grand tourer and so I don't car if it is not the quickest car on the planet.

If I want real ***** and giggles, my motorbike comes out. 1 bhp per kg, 10 second quarter miles and quicker than any car that I have ever been in to 100mph (after that it is all academic).

 

[Sommi]

I think a few would agree that driving brings pleasure to us in many different forms, be it speed, sound, handling, public appeal, brand brandishing, etc.
No two cars offer the same amount of above factors.
Even if you spend a million pounds on a Bugatti Veyron, you will find the speed thrilling but the sound is no where near as spine tingling as a challenge stradale 360.

To suggest a replacement for the OP:

I loved my QP DS for all its faults. It wasn't the quickest, wasn't the best on brakes either. Handling wise it was brilliant for its size and bulk but it wasn't the best handling by far. Not what you would call nimble. But it was a Maserati and when you drive one you have no point to prove to anyone. You are not the annoying asbo with drain pipe exhaust or the brand narcissist for whom only a Ferrari, McLaren or Lambo would do.

I believe and good air-cooled Porsche 911 is a close match for pleasure to a Granturismo and Gransport. Or perhaps a TVR for those who are able to wait patiently for roadside assistance.

 

[zagatoes30]

The SZ only has 210BHP and weighs more than the 75 Saloon it is based on but it makes me smile everything I take it out. The little Fulvia 1.3 has 90BHP but only 900Kgs, it has cart leaf spring suspension and FWD but it is by far the most fun car I have ever driven. Its eager, handles much better than you would expect and goes surprisingly well especially on the little country roads we have over here. It's not fast in any sense of the word but smiles for miles it takes some beating

 

[hashluck]

I’ve discussed this with so many customers and plenty of people on here. Most modern cars are too fast for the driver, the roads, the laws etc etc. 1990-2015 is about the sweet spot in my opinion; cars are mainly N/A, not too quick, and not over engineered either.

Yep

 

[lifes2short]

I’ve discussed this with so many customers and plenty of people on here. Most modern cars are too fast for the driver, the roads, the laws etc etc. 1990-2015 is about the sweet spot in my opinion; cars are mainly N/A, not too quick, and not over engineered either.

in complete agreement, modern motors are far too fast for your normal everyday driver and it's no wonder driver electronic aids are required otherwise the car would be unmanageable and possible death trap if switched off, more to cars than just speed