GranCabrio - talk to me.....

Woody

Woody

Member
Messages
2,802
Hi chaps,

As much as I would like this to be for me, its not.

Yesterday, my brother in law mentioned he wanted to change his car, one car in contention is the GranCab. He's seen one at H R Owen which caught his eye and asked me what I thought.

Now, I don't know much about GranCabs so thought I'd ask the collective wisdom on here.

What I think I know is:
- came out in 2010
- haven't sold exceptionally well so deals can be had
- 4.7 only (i.e. no 4.2 option)
- spec/colour sensitive
- as reliable as the coupe (i.e. pretty good!)
- seats 4 but a very small boot!

What else would I need to know? Any 'must have' options? Anything to avoid paying a premium for?

I'm keen to get him into one if it stacks up. He's also looking at Porsche's but I think (hope!) my Maserati affliction is catching!

Any input greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Woody
 
J

jamesc69

Junior Member
Messages
495
I think the ridiculously small boot is the main reason why they have not sold so well, at odds with the GT image and spacious 4 seat interior.

Fabulous looking car though!

James
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,259
Hi Woody,

I don't know much but I did test drive one, mainly just to compare the auto box (which the Grancab had) with the MC I had tested previously.

My comments:

- 4 good seats but I *think* slightly less room than the GTS.
- Rubbish boot
- Wind noise over the roof not as quiet as my old Merc E-cab
- Gorgeous
- Far better access to the exhaust noise!

I don't know how colour sensitive they are but there seem to be more white ones around than anything else. Whether that higher availability would drive down the price for white I don't know. Personally I think they look great in blue. Reliabiility wise I'd be amazed if there was any different between the GT, which (touch wood) seems pretty well-behaved.

Not sure of that helps much but if I wanted a 4-seat convertible and didn't need much boot space I'd have one in a heatbeat (over-looking the budgetary aspects for a moment!).
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,343
The boot is terrible and for me the look doesn't quite work...It's lovely but wouldn't have one over the GTS...
 
Woody

Woody

Member
Messages
2,802
Interesting feedback so far chaps, thanks (especially Adam!).

I did say the boot was terrible to which he said "if we need to take lots of stuff, we'll take the estate....and if we take it away as a couple, without the kids, we'll use the back seats" I think he was selling it to himself!

The one he saw was blue and it looked superb!

Am I right in thinking they're all 4.7? Do they come with auto and MC-S or just auto? If auto only, were the paddles standard or an option (a la QP)?

Benny, as for it being a posers car, I was trying to work out if that'd bother him....then remembered him telling me he drove his M3 in auto almost all the time. Question answered :)
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,662
Yes Woody, all 4.7. Gearbox wise, I know they just released a new version (the Italians are great at doing this) but have a feeling, Autobox was the only option in the beginning but I could be wrong.
 
Woody

Woody

Member
Messages
2,802
Conaero said:
Yes Woody, all 4.7. Gearbox wise, I know they just released a new version (the Italians are great at doing this) but have a feeling, Autobox was the only option in the beginning but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

OK, ta.

One thing that they have just released, which I didn't know about, is this body styling......IMO its spot on (albeit too dear for this purchase).


GranCab.jpg
 
S

slay

Member
Messages
409
Just took delivery of a 2013 Grancabrio Sport... as a loan car, because of the dealership delay on getting the tax disc for the car i bought (09 GTS auto). Yes, very generous of the dealer (graypaul in Birmingham), they even delivered !

I have only driven it around the local street and through Richmond Park, so can't really say much about e handling. yes, the boot is just shockingly small, no... it is tiny.

However, ignoring the practicality of the car, I think I would get one just for the noise, you can really take it all in with the roof down, such a charismatic engine and exhaust note!

The car that I have has the automatic transmission, to be honest with you, I am not sure if the MC shift would suit this car. If you are thinking of the MC shift just for the noise, believe me, it is already loud enough, I would not want it any louder. the shift paddles are quite responsive when you are in the mood as well. I have not tried the MC shift yet, so I can't compare, but I am very happy with the ZF Auto box, and it is also more reassuring to know that there is no clutch to replace when the time comes.

I was thinking of getting the Mini kit from Noor, just so that I could have the exhaust valve opened and closed at will... If my GT-S sounds as loud as the Grancabrio Sport, not sure i need one!

I thought the 6.3 AMG sounds bloody good already, but the Granturismo is on another level all together!
 
wardlem

wardlem

New Member
Messages
36
I have one (in black), have had it 2 years now. Boot is **** (although other half seems to be able to get the weekly shop in it). back seats are a good enough for an adult. Its a very unusual car in that there arent many around so it gets a lot of attention

roof off and sports mode on is very loud. I have had issues with the battery going dead, but to be fair in 2 years I have only done 4 thousand miles.

My choice was the GC, a DB9 or a Gallardo. I went for the GC as it was more unusual and had decent back seats (although i dont have kids so they werent essential). My previous car was an Elise S2 so quite a difference in comfort levels !

main critiscism is that the sat nav is **** (ie dosent take full postcode), plus the attention they attract can be annoying sometimes when you are in a hurry !
 
npaskin

npaskin

New Member
Messages
506
Woody said:
I did say the boot was terrible to which he said "if we need to take lots of stuff, we'll take the estate....and if we take it away as a couple, without the kids, we'll use the back seats"
Click to expand...
Right, and leave all the luggage on display every time you stop even for a cup of tea; protected by a fabric roof. Not a brilliant idea I think.
I also looked at a GranCab when I bought the QP. The boot is a real shot in the foot by Maserati; you can't get a single sensible bag in there. And it's a BIG car which makes it all the more ridiculuous. Ruled it out for me straightaway.
 
BigR

BigR

Member
Messages
447
npaskin said:
Right, and leave all the luggage on display every time you stop even for a cup of tea; protected by a fabric roof. Not a brilliant idea I think.
I also looked at a GranCab when I bought the QP. The boot is a real shot in the foot by Maserati; you can't get a single sensible bag in there. And it's a BIG car which makes it all the more ridiculuous. Ruled it out for me straightaway.
Click to expand...

I think you may have been 'whooshed' there... I think the double-entendre about using the back seats...with the Mrs because the kids wouldn't be there!
 
wardlem

wardlem

New Member
Messages
36
i think i read somewhere that the footprint of the car is as big as a range rover !
 
npaskin

npaskin

New Member
Messages
506
wardlem said:
i think i read somewhere that the footprint of the car is as big as a range rover !
Click to expand...
Whoever wrote that was wrong...Grancabrio: Length 4881 mm/Width 1915 mm; Range Rover L405 is 4999/2220. So the Grancab is12cm shorter and 30cm narrower (surprising amount of difference there, though the new RR does feel pretty wide); GranCab is still smaller than the previous RR too.
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,259
Could have been me that wrote that in which case I was wrong... should have said same footprint as a Disccovery. Which I think is true... hold on.

edit:
Disco length: 4,829mm
Disco width: 1,915mm

So the Grancab is longer but the same width. Certainly my GTS takes up as much space as the Discos did.
 
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