Ferrari Mailing List: Re: ot Maserati GranTurismo

[Dennis Liu (bigheaddennis]

Bob wrote:

<snip>

>Since you know the Marque's recent market history better than I, let me
ask:
how quickly do you think they will fall in price, post-purchase, and are
they fussy or are they of a durable design?

=====================

Saw one in person last week.  Certainly the most attractive Maserati (aside
from the MC12) in decades.   Though the design that comes to mind is a
11/10ths scale Mazda RX8 (really, check it out).


Keep in mind that it is effectively a rebodied Quattroporte.  Which may not
be a bad thing, and compared to the GT/Spyder, is probably a very good
thing.  But it's a LARGE and HEAVY car.  Think of it really as a competitor
not so much for the 550/575, but rather to the 612, the XKR, the DB9, or the
Continental GT.  Basically, its for guys who would usually buy a CL550 but
want the new flavor of the month.

If you were truly thinking 575/550, instead of 360, then you may consider
the GranTurismo, but if you're looking for more sporty, forget it.

In terms of depreciation, so long as the supply lags demand, you'll be fine
(assuming you can get one), but I'd say by next fall, they will be below
MSRP and will plummet so thereafter.  Without the Ferrari mystique, it's
just another used car (heck, the 456 HAS the Ferrari mystique, and how do
you think the guy who bought the last 456M GTA for $212k feels today, when
he sells it for $118k?  Or go ask the guy who just bought a CL55 for $39k.
Right now, he 550 is certainly much closer to the bottom of the 3/4-year
depreciation curve than this.

As for fussiness, well the QP's biggest weakness is/was the paddle shifting
transmission, and the slushbox has been selling well, but doubt you want
(can get) that in the GranTurismo.

Vty,

--Dennis