Sales.........

[drewf]

On the Jag topic, had a good look at the XE at the Geneva show. Compared to the German competition the materials used feel cheap, the doors feel cheap when closed, and the boot lid doesn't have electric closure which was on every BMW in the hall. Maserati have the same problem - the German cars are simply better built.

 

[Andyk]

The XE doesn't look as good as the XF I find...The back is very Audi where as the XF is very Jaguar...

 

[BJL]

Alfieri or not I think I preferred Maserati when it was the oddball semi super car rather than what it is today. The QP doesn't get the juices flowing, the Ghibli is sullied by the diesel, mediocre material quality and bland design, the GT is now 8 years old and needs replacing and the Alfieri keeps being put back to the point that when it hits the streets it will struggle at its price point to compete with nearly all the perceived competition. Lovely to look at but on a shortened Ghibli chassis with a V6 I'm not so sure. Sadly......

 

[dickygrace]

^^^^ what he said.....spot on.

 

[Classico]

On the Jag topic, had a good look at the XE at the Geneva show. Compared to the German competition the materials used feel cheap, the doors feel cheap when closed, and the boot lid doesn't have electric closure which was on every BMW in the hall. Maserati have the same problem - the German cars are simply better built.

Agree re: superior German build quality, from my own experiences anyway.

Used to drive an Audi A5.

Everything about it was solid and dependable.

The trunk used to close as solidly as the door on a Bank vault. (yes, I have heard one in person).

In comparison, the light switch in the Maser GT fell off second time I drove it.

Small gripe, but then again, says a lot I've jumped ship from the Germans back to Italia.

 

[drewf]

Maserati have missed the boat with the Alfieri.

When it eventually arrives, it will be competing against the F-type coupe which is available today with 550 bhp and a price tag which undercuts the lower end of the Alfieri price guesses. It's also stunningly beautiful... I fear the Alfieri will look dated, underpowered and overpriced. If it is only available with a V6, they may as well not bother - it needs to be a thundering V8 halo car, something magical, something Maserati....

 

[Parisien]

German cars = invisibility
Italian cars = look at me

Never mind the rest of the perceptions/sterotypes we have about both country's cars


P

 

[Andyk]

Alfieri or not I think I preferred Maserati when it was the oddball semi super car rather than what it is today. The QP doesn't get the juices flowing, the Ghibli is sullied by the diesel, mediocre material quality and bland design, the GT is now 8 years old and needs replacing and the Alfieri keeps being put back to the point that when it hits the streets it will struggle at its price point to compete with nearly all the perceived competition. Lovely to look at but on a shortened Ghibli chassis with a V6 I'm not so sure. Sadly......

Spot on....... I don't look at the new QP or Ghibli and ache to own one....Now the last QP Sport GTS I would kill to own one.....Big difference....MAserati have always made me ache to own one...but now that only involves the back catalogue and not what's on offer now...Sad.......

 

[bigbob]

Spot on....... I don't look at the new QP or Ghibli and ache to own one....Now the last QP Sport GTS I would kill to own one.....Big difference....MAserati have always made me ache to own one...but now that only involves the back catalogue and not what's on offer now...Sad.......

I really miss the n/a V8 engine. I understand why it's gone but I am unlikely to afford the turbo V8 and the turbo V6 engine is a bit muted and has bad low end lag. That said they will improve it with time and most other V6 engines have similar noise issues - I heard an M4 set off the other day and it was bland.

I agree about the Alfieri points - I have seen and heard a few F type coupes now and really like them. I need the rear seats though but if I didn't I would have a test drive of the V6 S.

 

[Michael]

Alfieri or not I think I preferred Maserati when it was the oddball semi super car rather than what it is today. The QP doesn't get the juices flowing, the Ghibli is sullied by the diesel, mediocre material quality and bland design, the GT is now 8 years old and needs replacing and the Alfieri keeps being put back to the point that when it hits the streets it will struggle at its price point to compete with nearly all the perceived competition. Lovely to look at but on a shortened Ghibli chassis with a V6 I'm not so sure. Sadly......

+1

And go back to using Pininfarina to design them - this Centro Stile mob don't have a clue

 

[drewf]

+1

And go back to using Pininfarina to design them - this Centro Stile mob don't have a clue

+1

Pininfarina are the right people for the job. From the Dino to the QPV, they've rarely put a foot wrong.