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Maserati road test
Not everyone knows about Maserati’s
fabulous sporting heritage. What Spyder
owners need say to these people is that
this car is really a Ferrari. It’s the first
Maserati to be developed entirely by its
illustrious new owners, but at £65,750 it
costs well below the Ferrari starting price of
£103,000.
Not that you’re short changed. Based on
the 3200GT coupe, the Spyder convertible
looks fabulous (ignore those who say it
resembles a pumped up Fiat Barchetta)
The new 4.2-litre V8 engine is every bit as
good as Ferrari powerplants and the
leathered-up interior oozes Italian
opulence. For three grand more there’s
even a Schumacher-style paddle shift to cut
down on messy gearchanges.
On any straight road, a planted right foot
forces an instant blast of petrol-based
opiates into your bloodstream. A 0-60mph
time of 4.9secs just pips rivals from Jaguar
(the £63k XKR Convertible) and Porsche
(the 911 Convertible at £62k), but it’s the
sound of that normally aspirated V8 you’ll
revel in most.
You have to like it because the Spyder isn’t
quiet, even with the hood up. Not ideal
when your heritage is as much tourer as
sports. However, a smooth motorway ride
restores pride and ensures that the
contents of the gift hamper don’t mingle.
On B-roads, the Spyder shows a different
personality. Trick suspension and
sophisticated traction control keep the car
stuck to its line at all times. Give it a boot
over a crest for example and the wheels
stay firmly on the road; joyride through
corners and any rear twitches are firmly
dealt with. However, craggy surfaces are felt
down to the tiniest detail and this jarring
sets off the familiar side-to-side shake
common to many convertibles.
The paddle shift system (mounted on the
steering column) isn’t fantastic, either;
gearchanges up and down feel sluggish and
are difficult to make smoothly. Londoners
will appreciate the auto function, but that
too isn’t slushbox smooth.
The manual ’box isn’t supercar stiff, but it’ll
still be chore around town. It’s just that bit
too far forward to change without leaning in.
If that’s bad, you’re almost out of the seat
to change the radio. In fact the cabin doesn’
t bear close scrutiny. No complaints about
the acreage of padded leather with its
contrasting piping, but a VW Golf is better
constructed (although, to be fair, the Golf is
better constructed than most cars).
But none of this will harm sales. In the UK,
the Spyder has already sold out until next
year. Allocation of the updated Coupe with
the new 4.2 engine has similarly been
bagsied. What do you expect from an
almost Ferrari?
Maserati Spyder
Price: From £65,750
Engine: V8, normally aspirated, 4.2 litres
Bhp: 390
Top speed: 176mph
0-60: 4.9secs
Mpg: 15.2
fabulous sporting heritage. What Spyder
owners need say to these people is that
this car is really a Ferrari. It’s the first
Maserati to be developed entirely by its
illustrious new owners, but at £65,750 it
costs well below the Ferrari starting price of
£103,000.
Not that you’re short changed. Based on
the 3200GT coupe, the Spyder convertible
looks fabulous (ignore those who say it
resembles a pumped up Fiat Barchetta)
The new 4.2-litre V8 engine is every bit as
good as Ferrari powerplants and the
leathered-up interior oozes Italian
opulence. For three grand more there’s
even a Schumacher-style paddle shift to cut
down on messy gearchanges.
On any straight road, a planted right foot
forces an instant blast of petrol-based
opiates into your bloodstream. A 0-60mph
time of 4.9secs just pips rivals from Jaguar
(the £63k XKR Convertible) and Porsche
(the 911 Convertible at £62k), but it’s the
sound of that normally aspirated V8 you’ll
revel in most.
You have to like it because the Spyder isn’t
quiet, even with the hood up. Not ideal
when your heritage is as much tourer as
sports. However, a smooth motorway ride
restores pride and ensures that the
contents of the gift hamper don’t mingle.
On B-roads, the Spyder shows a different
personality. Trick suspension and
sophisticated traction control keep the car
stuck to its line at all times. Give it a boot
over a crest for example and the wheels
stay firmly on the road; joyride through
corners and any rear twitches are firmly
dealt with. However, craggy surfaces are felt
down to the tiniest detail and this jarring
sets off the familiar side-to-side shake
common to many convertibles.
The paddle shift system (mounted on the
steering column) isn’t fantastic, either;
gearchanges up and down feel sluggish and
are difficult to make smoothly. Londoners
will appreciate the auto function, but that
too isn’t slushbox smooth.
The manual ’box isn’t supercar stiff, but it’ll
still be chore around town. It’s just that bit
too far forward to change without leaning in.
If that’s bad, you’re almost out of the seat
to change the radio. In fact the cabin doesn’
t bear close scrutiny. No complaints about
the acreage of padded leather with its
contrasting piping, but a VW Golf is better
constructed (although, to be fair, the Golf is
better constructed than most cars).
But none of this will harm sales. In the UK,
the Spyder has already sold out until next
year. Allocation of the updated Coupe with
the new 4.2 engine has similarly been
bagsied. What do you expect from an
almost Ferrari?
Maserati Spyder
Price: From £65,750
Engine: V8, normally aspirated, 4.2 litres
Bhp: 390
Top speed: 176mph
0-60: 4.9secs
Mpg: 15.2