Living with a Stradale

T

Tresco

New Member
Messages
7
Hi All.

Currently drive an XKR, great car and been faultless but just before I get to the pipe and slippers stage, being the wrong side of 50, I fancy something a little more wow, I do about 3000 miles a year

I've test driven a Gen 2 911 turbo, fast but tyre and mechanical noise was just too wearing. Audi R8 was fun but almost zero luggage space and the XKR-S was good but just feel like a change.

Budget is around £60k, I don't need rear seats so I'm thinking Stradale.. I'll arrange to test drive but in the meantime I'd be grateful to hear ownership experiences, I know there's a couple for sale at the moment and I like the one at Redline but is the advice to stay within the franchise network for the Maserati warranty?

Thanks in advance and this forum has already been a great source of information.
 
AndyW

AndyW

New Member
Messages
57
Hi,

I have owned all the above cars you have mentioned so can hopefully give you some insight. I have a new MC Stradale (just rolled onto 500 miles) so not an expert owner but have a good feel for it now. I would say the nearest car I have had to the Stradale is my old XKR (mine was a 2012 with Speed and Black pack). Similar ride quality - Stradale slightly firmer but still very compliant, similar steering feel. Both can be quite relaxed when you want them to be but fun when you want as well. The Stradale gets way more attention and looks and the noise is incredible! I had a quicksilver exhaust on my XKR but still sounded nothing like the MCS! No complaints about build quality so far compared with the German cars either. Power delivery is different as the XKR is all torque - too much sometimes! MCS is more linear but feels just as quick. XKR is a very underrated rocketship in my opinion. On a dry road not much will touch it. If you aren't used to semi automatic gearboxes drive it as a manual and you will like it. Live it in auto and you wont. It is much better than others I have driven (R8 was quite clunky) and is smooth but more involving than the Jag auto box.

I have had 3 R8's from a V8 to V10 GT and loved them all. Very involving to drive but not relaxing for a long run and the lack of space for weekends away is why I sold the last one. 911T very fast but found it soulless - even compared to other 911s I had had before. Was very quick but that was all - no sense of occasion.

I cant really comment on the warranty side as mine is new but with any car of this nature I would say its worth having one and some after market ones are just as good as the manufacturers I believe.

Good luck finding one and I'm sure you wont be disappointed! :thumb3:
 
T

Tresco

New Member
Messages
7
Thanks Andy, useful information and I'm guessing that whilst there clearly are differences between a 2011 model and yours it's not night and day. I don't want the roll cage or harnesses, (can see the Wife being very unimpressed with the latter!), so a matter of waiting for the right car to come up.

Thanks again.
 
AndyW

AndyW

New Member
Messages
57
Tresco said:
Thanks Andy, useful information and I'm guessing that whilst there clearly are differences between a 2011 model and yours it's not night and day. I don't want the roll cage or harnesses, (can see the Wife being very unimpressed with the latter!), so a matter of waiting for the right car to come up.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I think 10 bhp and rear seats and a extra scoop in the bonnet. Nothing much you will notice to drive.

A friend of mine is just ordering a 458 Speciale and his wife is insisting on a cage and harnesses! - Said it must be his driving!
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,232
Mrs. N. fell for a 458 the other day. Until she noticed the "1" at the start of the price on the screen. Still, cracking car.
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,198
A big warm welcome to the forum...

Don't buy the one at redline..............It's mine and I want it.......The Redline one has been for sale for ages and ages and has come down in price so could be a deal there.....I love the car and can not understand why it hasn't sold...Maybe the two seats or blue inside...Either way I would be very jealous if you bought it as I love it....Not many Stradalea for sale at the moment around 60k.......Look forward to hearing how you get on.
 
T

Tresco

New Member
Messages
7
Thanks for the warm welcome chaps.

I don't think the interior of the car at Redline really helps it but I love the exterior colour. I'm happy to wait for the right car although I'm not sure how many were sold so it might be a wait.

Oh well they say the wanting is better than the having..
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
Tresco said:
Thanks for the warm welcome chaps.

I don't think the interior of the car at Redline really helps it but I love the exterior colour. I'm happy to wait for the right car although I'm not sure how many were sold so it might be a wait.

Oh well they say the wanting is better than the having..
Click to expand...

I have seen the car in the flesh at Redline and it is really really nice - sadly unless I sell the wife and Kids I can't afford it!
 
stewarttownsend

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
I was in a similar mind but less budget I was close to getting a 2011 XKR with speed and black pack which I still think is an awesome drive and under rated

These guys swayed to the GranTurismo which Im picking up today which will keep its value, sounds like nothing on the road and just looks a stunning car, whilst the Jag looks fab it was the drop in value that worried me
 
AndyW

AndyW

New Member
Messages
57
What about the white one at Meridian? Sure the harnesses can be swapped back to normal seat belts.
 
AndyW

AndyW

New Member
Messages
57
stewarttownsend said:
I was in a similar mind but less budget I was close to getting a 2011 XKR with speed and black pack which I still think is an awesome drive and under rated

These guys swayed to the GranTurismo which Im picking up today which will keep its value, sounds like nothing on the road and just looks a stunning car, whilst the Jag looks fab it was the drop in value that worried me
Click to expand...

Mine dropped a lot. Got a big discount off from new -£17k I think but still dropped another £30k in 18 months! :omg:
 
3

3leftovercrest

Member
Messages
310
Morning all,

This is my first post so please go careful on me....

Never really been active in viewing this forum before but the posts are very informative and there is a lot of positive activity.

In terms of "living with a Stradale", please feel free to link into a Pistonheads post I effusively commented on in October:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...t=Maserati+mc+stradale+vs+regular+granturismo

I have the same username as here. 3leftovercrest

Happy to answer any specific questions as I bought my one new and have had it since January 2014. 100% fantastic car. Everything about it (other than the **** infotainment system) is just perfect for my needs (clearly my needs are different to someone else's).

The only reason I may be selling mine is that I am at the limit of what I can garage (unless I can convince the boss to allow me to build another 4-6 bay) as I am bent on a mint 4.9 Ghibli SS or 4.9 Indy (there is a price differential I know) before they hit money that I will never be able to justify based on my earning potential.

So it's not the fastest for £120,000'ish but I think (for me), Masersti got this one absolutely right.

Stu
 
D

DJZ1

New Member
Messages
14
Bought mine new back in June this year but wanted a 4 seater.I did drive a 2 seater 12 plate just to see what the Strad was like.As there were not many for sale at the time I went new abeit with a very healthy discount and comparing with the price being asked for the 12 plate it was a no brainer.
Not my everyday car but on weekends all the family can be accomodated,drives and handles lovely and it was the lovely noise that was the icing on the cake.
 
D Walker

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
stewarttownsend said:
I was in a similar mind but less budget I was close to getting a 2011 XKR with speed and black pack which I still think is an awesome drive and under rated

These guys swayed to the GranTurismo which Im picking up today which will keep its value, sounds like nothing on the road and just looks a stunning car, whilst the Jag looks fab it was the drop in value that worried me
Click to expand...

I too have considered the Jaguar but would probabaly be a 2008 on my budget so the depreciation may have happened. Just not sure I am ready for the pipe and slippers tag just yet!
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,198
A big welcome Stu...WHat a lovely Stradale.....I was lucky enough to drive the 2 seater version and I loved it...Such an event....As you say...not the fastest or best handling car for the money but so right....and its a Maserati..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.