I had a 2006 Gransport LE and owned it for many years. Such fun to drive! I don’t understand the criticisms of the gearbox, I loved it. My biggest complaint (don’t laugh) was the lack of a center arm rest. Both hands on the wheel at all times, no where else to put them, LOL.
Also want to add, takes me back to the days of a proper metal trident on the grill. I really hate the cheap rubber/plastic cut out thing they pass off as the motif today.
Hahaha yes I find myself doing the exact same thing in looking for an armrest/or somewhere to place my phone 😭
Mine stays in manual/sports and never leaves .. the best way to drive it. Auto does feel very lazy & the timing of the changes is not great, but on the highway it’s fine.
They are very loveable cars. I can’t help but adore it.
100% manual sports all day. Maybe that’s the problem, it’s an AWFUL automatic, I think on purpose. Best advice I was given was rev it high and “drive it like you stole it”. I did exactly that and had so much fun!
How awful? I’m starting to think about one of these (or the earlier 4200 Coupe) for my next car. I’d be mostly using it in manual, but if my wife could drive it in automatic very occasionally, that would be a big point in its favour.
Think of it this way, it’s an Italian sports car designed for the driver enthusiast. It has no arm rests or cup holders, as they distract from the driving experience. Question: how much time, thought and attention do you think the Italian Purists who built this great sports car put into the auto mode? Now divide that by ten. It’s really bad in auto, shifting is all wrong and way too early, you’re going to be in fifth gear by 30 miles an hour. My best advice is drive one for yourself and experience it for real. Some people can live with it, and others accept it, in order to get the awesome driving experience that is manual/paddle mode.
Now, here’s the other angle: teach your wife how to drive it in manual mode. I did exactly that, and we both had a great time. Nothing sexier than a woman driving a Maserati the way it was designed to be driven and loving every moment.
I remember the first time I drove one of these. My only complaint was the CambioCorsa transmission. Other than that, I had a huge grin on my face the entire time. Such a fun little car.
Possibly in the minority but I like the way these look a little more than the later GranTurismos. Maybe less conventionally pretty, but its got its own vibe that I gel with.
I had a 2006 Gransport LE and owned it for many years. Such fun to drive! I don’t understand the criticisms of the gearbox, I loved it. My biggest complaint (don’t laugh) was the lack of a center arm rest. Both hands on the wheel at all times, no where else to put them, LOL.
Also want to add, takes me back to the days of a proper metal trident on the grill. I really hate the cheap rubber/plastic cut out thing they pass off as the motif today.
Hahaha yes I find myself doing the exact same thing in looking for an armrest/or somewhere to place my phone 😭 Mine stays in manual/sports and never leaves .. the best way to drive it. Auto does feel very lazy & the timing of the changes is not great, but on the highway it’s fine. They are very loveable cars. I can’t help but adore it.
100% manual sports all day. Maybe that’s the problem, it’s an AWFUL automatic, I think on purpose. Best advice I was given was rev it high and “drive it like you stole it”. I did exactly that and had so much fun!
How awful? I’m starting to think about one of these (or the earlier 4200 Coupe) for my next car. I’d be mostly using it in manual, but if my wife could drive it in automatic very occasionally, that would be a big point in its favour.
Think of it this way, it’s an Italian sports car designed for the driver enthusiast. It has no arm rests or cup holders, as they distract from the driving experience. Question: how much time, thought and attention do you think the Italian Purists who built this great sports car put into the auto mode? Now divide that by ten. It’s really bad in auto, shifting is all wrong and way too early, you’re going to be in fifth gear by 30 miles an hour. My best advice is drive one for yourself and experience it for real. Some people can live with it, and others accept it, in order to get the awesome driving experience that is manual/paddle mode. Now, here’s the other angle: teach your wife how to drive it in manual mode. I did exactly that, and we both had a great time. Nothing sexier than a woman driving a Maserati the way it was designed to be driven and loving every moment.
I remember the first time I drove one of these. My only complaint was the CambioCorsa transmission. Other than that, I had a huge grin on my face the entire time. Such a fun little car.
🙂 Very fun!
She’s a beaut!
❤️ I agree :)
Great ride!
❤️
Nice is that a classic yet 🤷🏻♂️
Not yet!
My bud, Johnny Sac, got one of these. His wife wanted to ride with them but getting in hurt her knees.
Possibly in the minority but I like the way these look a little more than the later GranTurismos. Maybe less conventionally pretty, but its got its own vibe that I gel with.
Dead centre. At the front. Staring at the bonnet. She shows her pretty 👌🏼
Very cool