Ferrari Mailing List: Re: ot Maserati GranTurismo

[Dennis Liu (bigheaddennis]

Resend - the pic (showing the GranTurismo v RX8) I attached didn't go
through, so check out this link instead:

http://tinyurl.com/2ars7n

Vty,

--Dennis

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Liu [mailto:BigHeadDennis [at] gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:39 PM
To: Ferrari List (Ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com)
Subject: RE: [Ferrari] ot Maserati GranTurismo

Dennis wrote: "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)."
----------

Bob responded:

>I wish you hadn't said that last bit ... I just went limp. I assume you
mean there is some similarity from the front
(www.supercars.dk/images/products/mazda-rx8-supercar.jpg)


Check out the attached pic (hope it comes through).  Let me know if you see
the similarities....  :-)

-----------------------------------

Bob also wrote:

>I have put a fair number of road miles on the Bentley, the 550, and the
360. The 360's lines don't work for me. I want something classic, hence my
bias for the front-engine layout. I wanted an honest-go-god stick shift,
minimal electronics, and about 400 HP. I had pondered a Z8, which I have
driven quite a bit too, but when I saw that new Alpha 8C, ohh momma! See the
family resemblance at:
www.maseratiamerica.com/gallery/Download.aspx?file=MM/26/MM_26_800x600.JPG
God bless Italian design. But the price tag on the 8C is up there. I wonder
how that will fare in the long term market? 

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

Well, Bob, I know you're a Porsche guy at heart, so I'm sure you've already
considered and ruled out the 911 GT3.  Let's see, "classic", "honest-to-god
stick shift", "minimal electronics", and "about 400 hp".  Assuming that
doesn't work for you...

Aston Martin Vantage V8.  Gorgeous, simply gorgeous, and while not light,
not as heavy as the GranTurismo.  Can get it with a stick.  V8 up front,
RWD, minimal electronics, what more could you ask for?

As for the Alfa... Sure, it's gorgeous, but Alfa has a FAR from "prestige"
label here in this country.  If you tell people you drive an Alfa (much
different from Aston Martin, Maserati, Porsche, or even Jaguar), they either
take pity on you (if they know anything about Alfas), or they think you're a
middle aged guy who wants to live the Graduate life.  :-)

My prediction - the Alfa will be trading at a stupid premium for awhile,
while the usual suspects lay out cash to be the first kid on the block (just
like those who paid big over MSRP for the 575 Superamerica), then will
plummet like a rock.

I think Alfa itself will do OK if it comes back to the states, as a
competitor for Lexus and Infiniti and *maybe* BMW, assuming quality is OK,
but there is no way they should be playing in Maserati territory, much less
Ferrari-esque.

Vty,

--Dennis