GranTurismo GTS road test

[bigbob]

I sometimes like looking through old road tests of cars I own/have owned. This one of the GranTurismo GTS Auto sums it up very well from my perspective of having spent three years with one of these cars:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/235735/maserati_granturismo_s_auto.html

 

[Andyk]

Remember reading that...They did like it and thought the Auto suited the bature of the car more than the MC shift.

 

[bigbob]

Remember reading that...They did like it and thought the Auto suited the bature of the car more than the MC shift.

I know that I keep banging on about that point but I put a lot of thought into buying my GranTurismo and came to that conclusion - it's a GT not a sports car. Roll on the Alfieri for those who want the sports car experience.

 

[Yeti]

It can be both. Refined and effortless GT or something with a bit more vavavoom when required. I used both modes on my recent road trip and it was perfect. Hearing the engine reverberate off the hills of Glencoe on the downshift was wonderful to behold.

 

[Felonious Crud]

I'm in an MC and whilst I'd be the first to berate auto mode for being a waste of time the car is a wonderful and refined tourer in non-Sport manual mode. It's not as easy round town as the auto but I'm not very interesteed in driving round towns so it suits me well. As Yeti says, if you want a more spirited blast then it can do that too.

 

[zoros]

Yeti - I would have to disagree with you: A refined Grand Touring car - YES! Sports car - absolutely not, not even in sport mode. Too big and slugged feedback forces from its posture on A roads.

 

[bigbob]

They were keen on the MC shift GTS too when it was launched a year earlier:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/222228/maserati_granturismo_s.html

 

[c4sman]

The GT is well... A GT, not a sports car. In saying that the MC shift gives more of the initial impression and involvement than the auto IF that's what you are looking for. I was and so the MC suits me, but the auto is also a great brain out mile eater that you don't have to worry about burning clutches when you have to reverse up a driveway. Both great cars with compromises that make them both interesting and unique. MC or Auto are not cars to thrash for extended periods down bendy roads as they will both eat tyres, brakes and in the MC's case, clutches. A sports car feels like it wants you to do that every day and won't make you pay dearly.

 

[Andyk]

They were keen on the MC shift GTS too when it was launched a year earlier:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/222228/maserati_granturismo_s.html

Remember they put it up against the Aston V8 and Jag XKR and they put the Maserati 1st...

 

[hashluck]

It was a draw in this one http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/210218/maserati_gt_v_aston_martin_v8_vantage.html

I only know because I had many a sleepless night choosing between a GTS and a V8VS

I could have tossed a coin in the end but went with the Aston, mainly as Gaydon is just up the road and I thought there willl be a new Maserati before a new Aston. I will get a Maserati one day though.

 

[Yeti]

And I would have to disagree with you Zoros, if you use the car's obvious advantages - huge torque, decent brakes and smooth driving, it's an amazingly competent car. I will say that on standard Pirelli tyres it's pretty poor which is why I've swapped to the new Vredesteins as well as decent pads in the brakes. Granted, it's not a baby Porker or a Lotus, but it still hustles along pretty well. It just can't be hurried.

Yeti - I would have to disagree with you: A refined Grand Touring car - YES! Sports car - absolutely not, not even in sport mode. Too big and slugged feedback forces from its posture on A roads.

 

[rd993]

And I would have to disagree with you Zoros, if you use the car's obvious advantages - huge torque, decent brakes and smooth driving, it's an amazingly competent car. I will say that on standard Pirelli tyres it's pretty poor which is why I've swapped to the new Vredesteins as well as decent pads in the brakes. Granted, it's not a baby Porker or a Lotus, but it still hustles along pretty well. It just can't be hurried.

What pads are you using Yeti?

 

[Yeti]

Yellow stuff from EBC

Tyres are Vredestein Ulrac Vorti and they are awesome, really pleased with these.

 

[rd993]

Thanks. I'll have to look at the Vredesteins come replacement time. How have you found them in the wet? Autoexpress test seems to suggest they are great in the dry but not so good in the wet:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/66057/vredestein-ultrac-vorti

Yellow stuff from EBC

Tyres are Vredestein Ulrac Vorti and they are awesome, really pleased with these.

 

[fcz360]

Before anyone says if a car is a sports car or not - ask the people who i have taken around dunsfold and bruntingthorpe for 3 years - believe me when you get passengers who have never been in an exotic they think its a sportscar dont worry about that. Yes its big and isnt a 458 or a P1 - but to me it will always be a sportscar as thats what i feel about it.

 

[BennyD]

That's because you drive it like a sportscar. Perhaps those owners that don't, or maybe can't, don't appreciate how hard it can be made to go. A lot of people didn't rate the 4200 as a sportscar but I know quite a few Supercar drivers that do now. It's great fun educating them!

 

[c4sman]

That's because you drive it like a sportscar. Perhaps those owners that don't, or maybe can't, don't appreciate how hard it can be made to go. A lot of people didn't rate the 4200 as a sportscar but I know quite a few Supercar drivers that do now. It's great fun educating them!

I guess we are down to personal definitions here. A sportscar to me has to be light, smallish but not necessarily massively powerful (due to lightness) although lots of power is fine. I think the GTS is closer to a "supercar" than a sportscar. It has, drama, noise, is relatively rare, grips and handles well, and is quicker and more powerful than many sports cars. My 997 turbo is supercar quick but doesn't have the drama of a Lamborghini, Ferrari or many maserati so to me is more of a sportscar that just happens to go like a supercar.


.........In fact, the more I think about it, it is a GT car! Big, comfey for transporting passengers and luggage huge distances, but can show many sports cars a thing or two if flat out along a twisty road (although not it's not it's preferred manner of being driven). The clue is in the name....

 

[Felonious Crud]

If it's definitions we're after I was pleased to notice that Goodwood now classifies the GT/S as a supercar, regardless of how many seats it has.

 

[bigbob]

I suppose the definitions are all getting blurred as active suspension and DCT gearboxes allow heavier, bigger cars to get closer to what a Lotus Elise type car can pull off. The thing is even supercars are not sports cars as they are too wide for British B roads so the definition depends on the roads you drive on and your perspective. I have never seen my GranTurismo as a sports car but understand members of the public seeing it as a supercar.

 

[Chrisbassett]

I've never regarded the 4200 Spyder as a sports car, though lots do. It is capable on twisties, and fun on the track, but not as nippy as a sports car should be. Again, personal definitions.