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14/12/2009 23:53:49  

Posts: 13
Since: 14/12/2009
Status: offline 		I'm a new owner of a 2006 QP with only 4,700 miles on it.  Would it be total folly to try to take it from Los Angeles to Seattle (about a thousand miles one way) and back without reasonably expecting a tow-away breakdown somewhere along the way?  Newbies want to know . . .
15/12/2009 2:37:35  

Posts: 555
Since: 9/3/2008
Region: Vikersund, Norway & Ashford, Kent
Status: offline 		Welcome scotus

One of the strangest question I've come across on this forum so far, not because Maserati is on par with almost any quality motor manufacturer today, but that you've gone ahead and purchased a car you know so little about - and by the sound of it a product you have no faith in.

You'll be fine, just makes sure you remember to keep the fuel (gas) topped-up, have a good trip.

< Message edited by Evoluzione -- 15/12/2009 2:38:43 >
15/12/2009 7:00:38  

Posts: 13
Since: 14/12/2009
Status: offline 		Thanks for the input, Evoluzione, but I think your astonishment at my query might be a trifle misplaced; that is, because I bought a Quad and question its long-trip reliability does not mean that I know “so little about” the car.  Indeed, much of what I “know” of the car through anecdotal tales from friends and colleagues and web sites suggests that my concerns are prudent.  However, having owned myriad English cars over the years, I know that one can enjoy (say) a '63 XKE and still have to suffer the slings and arrows of constant mechanical problems.  So, even if my expectations of reliability for the Quad are guarded, I realize I live in a community (Los Angeles) where I have excellent access to service facilities that can keep the car running and fairly convenient.  True that all that might be does not necessarily mean that the car can be realistically counted upon to make its way through a two-thousand mile freeway trek.  I recall a few years back visiting with the owner of the Rolls Royce dealership here in Beverly Hills.  I was with a friend who also dealt in exotic cars and my friend and I not entirely jokingly offered to syndicate a $100,000 bet that the dealer could not take any Rolls off his lot, do any prophylactic maintenance to it that he chose, and then have it driven to New York without it having to be towed off the road at some point  The dealer didn’t hesitate.  “Are you kidding,” he said, “I wouldn’t take that bet to drive it to Phoenix!”
15/12/2009 7:55:44  
 

Posts: 94
Since: 1/11/2007
Status: offline 		Hmm! I've read some reports, group tests etc comparing the QP with the likes of BMs, Mercs, Astons etc but never a 63 E Type.
I ran a QP for 9 months, 12,000 miles without a single issue other than a bit of loose trim so I don't think a round trip of 2,000 miles is too challenging I would be more concerned in my wifes BMW.
15/12/2009 8:26:24  

Posts: 4164
Since: 5/6/2007
Status: offline 		Shssss the car will hear your  negative vibes  and pay you back , Just done 3000 miles in the GS across europe in October  and not a single blip bar the cigarette lighter fuse blowing which rendered the tea making facility and spare sat nav useless for a while     when you see in the factory how these cars are meticulously built   it certainly reassures your confidence     Do the trip  im sure all will be fine    just check the oil, tyres  and water  before you go  , then again when you get there

I'd be as worried as you if it was a DB9   there always breaking down   but Massers in the last 7 years  have a far better track record  

regards lozcb

< Message edited by lozcb -- 15/12/2009 8:28:14 >

_____________________________

Old pompous spods current stable
52 plate 4200 cc Lowered Tubi's and full GS body kit,steering wheel and rack
55 plate 4200 cc Gransport Full Larini system,AP Racing big brake upgrade ,more stuff pending

15/12/2009 12:45:22  

Posts: 527
Since: 15/5/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: scotus

I'm a new owner of a 2006 QP with only 4,700 miles on it.  Would it be total folly to try to take it from Los Angeles to Seattle (about a thousand miles one way) and back without reasonably expecting a tow-away breakdown somewhere along the way?  Newbies want to know . . .


Go for it Scotus, a number of posters on here state its been THE most reliable four door saloon they've owned in recent times.....Mercs and BMWs included!

Have fun, and do a photo blog of ur super trip!


P


15/12/2009 16:59:25  

Posts: 18
Since: 9/11/2009
Region: Glasgow
Status: offline 		Scotus, I use my QP every day. I go from Scotland to the South of France 3 or4 times a year( 1250 miles each way.) I have had a 2006 QP since new and it has now done 62k miles .I have had one electrical breakdown (bad earth) otherwise it hasnt missed a beat. You go for it.
15/12/2009 20:04:29  

Posts: 2477
Since: 27/1/2008
Region: Bristol
Status: online 		Most of the bad press Maserati's have is based on late 70 to 80's Bi Turbos, which if you read deep down were built on a shoe-string and had almost no factory support outside of Italy...read some of the old articles in 'Trident' [The Maserati Club UK Mag] and you will bow your head in shame when you find out how badly cars were made a few decades ago...no wonder they had a bad reputation.

But today, well like the fabled bird of fire rising from the ashes Maserati is a brand to be proud of. Reliability is on a par with most major car makers.

Like many on here I did 3200 miles this year in 10 days, and 2200 last year in a week of rapid driving round Europe...[And Loz knows I don't dordle on the country roads].

So if that does not make you realise you can do any trip without reasonable fear I would advice you fly and get DVT.  

< Message edited by Safrane -- 15/12/2009 20:32:52 >

_____________________________

Peter

4200 CC
Volvo C70 Cabriolet
VW Golf mk1 Cabriolet
2CV LHD In France
15/12/2009 21:06:05  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: scotus

Indeed, much of what I “know” of the car through anecdotal tales from friends and colleagues and web sites suggests that my concerns are prudent. 


Well the only other webforum for Maserati's is Maseratilife and you don't see any major problems on there. Love to "know" your information sources!

Back to your question, you tend to get problems when you don't run the car, mainly due to a low battery rather than driving it too much.
15/12/2009 21:16:15  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Safrane

Most of the bad press Maserati's have is based on late 70 to 80's Bi Turbos, which if you read deep down were built on a shoe-string and had almost no factory support outside of Italy...read some of the old articles in 'Trident' [The Maserati Club UK Mag] and you will bow your head in shame when you find out how badly cars were made a few decades ago...no wonder they had a bad reputation.

But today, well like the fabled bird of fire rising from the ashes Maserati is a brand to be proud of. Reliability is on a par with most major car makers.

Like many on here I did 3200 miles this year in 10 days, and 2200 last year in a week of rapid driving round Europe...[And Loz knows I don't dordle on the country roads].

So if that does not make you realise you can do any trip without reasonable fear I would advice you fly and get DVT.  


Just to add, in 1999 Ferrari took full control of Maserati and built a new factory. A lot of components are shared/jointly developed between the two marques. The Maserati's of today have nothing in common with those Biturbo's of the De Tomaso era except for the badge.
15/12/2009 21:28:05  
 

Posts: 713
Since: 12/3/2007
Region: Hampshire
Status: offline 		Oh Scotus, do be serious.

In the early 1900’s Rolls-Royce was setting reliability records with luxury motors while the American car industry was playing around with Model T’s made from scrap iron and string. Then your folk realised that the Brits were on to a good thing, up popped Springfield to capitalise on it, and the love affair with the Spirit of Ecstasy has continued ever since.

Now I’m not one to gossip, but rumour has it that the American V8 industry only came to prominence when your designers realised that if you lost a couple of cylinders you still had a few left to get you home, much like the QP really. Don’t fret so. Just take a mobile phone for comfort, enjoy the ride, and rejoice in the fact that you have an automotive icon, even if it’s not English.

PH


BTW, that dealer you mentioned; he doesn’t sound overly confident about his maintenance abilities, does he?
15/12/2009 21:28:32  

Posts: 2477
Since: 27/1/2008
Region: Bristol
Status: online 		http://www.maseraticlub.co.uk/trident66.htm

Just one article on Italian electrics

_____________________________

Peter

4200 CC
Volvo C70 Cabriolet
VW Golf mk1 Cabriolet
2CV LHD In France
15/12/2009 22:47:58  

Posts: 13
Since: 14/12/2009
Status: offline
quote:

Well the only other webforum for Maserati's is Maseratilife and you don't see any major problems on there. Love to "know" your information sources!


Actually, sjn2004, there are a few more sources out there on Maserati reliability than the two you cite.  For instance, http://www.google.com/search?q=maserati+reliaility&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-alists 466,000 sites (presumably including the two you mention), and that's just one Google search!  Base canard that it might be that Maserati has reliability problems, the issue seems to have found fertile soil in the "conventional wisdom."  That said, the very helpful comments that have come in on this post have given me invaluable ammunition in dealing with a skeptical wife who is, alas, at one with the conventional wisdom.  This is a cool site!
15/12/2009 23:07:07  

Posts: 4164
Since: 5/6/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks Scotus  on behalf  of all the members for the compliment , every member aims to help and please where possible ,  thats why this forum  along with maseratilife are at  the forefront of all maserati forums   we are all like minded people  with Maserati's at bheart ,     another great  maserati  source is Enrico's pages    but generally for the older models , the search link  you gave really  doesn't help much with genuine info , Glad atleast you can now appease the wife

regards loz


_____________________________

Old pompous spods current stable
52 plate 4200 cc Lowered Tubi's and full GS body kit,steering wheel and rack
55 plate 4200 cc Gransport Full Larini system,AP Racing big brake upgrade ,more stuff pending

16/12/2009 0:29:20  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: scotus

quote:

Well the only other webforum for Maserati's is Maseratilife and you don't see any major problems on there. Love to "know" your information sources!


Actually, sjn2004, there are a few more sources out there on Maserati reliability than the two you cite.  For instance, http://www.google.com/search?q=maserati+reliaility&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-alists 466,000 sites (presumably including the two you mention), and that's just one Google search!  Base canard that it might be that Maserati has reliability problems, the issue seems to have found fertile soil in the "conventional wisdom."  That said, the very helpful comments that have come in on this post have given me invaluable ammunition in dealing with a skeptical wife who is, alas, at one with the conventional wisdom.  This is a cool site!


The two major user sites are here and Maseratilife, most of that google stuff is junk. To prove a point I did a search "maserati thong" and it pulled up 33,700 sites. Do you really thing there are that many sites devoted to "maserati thongs"? Digging further I did this search

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=maserati+condoms&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

..only 85,000 pages!

Whats this "conventional wisdom" you talk of? Do you actually mean the view of a "lay person"?

If you really want to convince your wife of the build quality, first show her your shiny wheels and brake calipers on your 06 QP, then take her to a BMW garage and show her an 09 car that has rusty hubs and calipers.

< Message edited by sjn2004 -- 16/12/2009 1:01:36 >
16/12/2009 7:32:35  

Posts: 13
Since: 14/12/2009
Status: offline
quote:

The two major user sites are here and Maseratilife, most of that google stuff is junk. To prove a point I did a search "maserati thong" and it pulled up 33,700 sites. Do you really thing there are that many sites devoted to "maserati thongs"? Digging further I did this search

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=maserati+condoms&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

..only 85,000 pages!

Whats this "conventional wisdom" you talk of? Do you actually mean the view of a "lay person"?

If you really want to convince your wife of the build quality, first show her your shiny wheels and brake calipers on your 06 QP, then take her to a BMW garage and show her an 09 car that has rusty hubs and calipers.


  I suppose “conventional wisdom” can be defined however one chooses; such as, the average consumer, or the average erudite high income potential Maserati consumer, or perhaps, were we to adopt your paradigm, the average Maserati owner.  In my case, I was probably talking about the middle option.  That said, a site such as Edmunds [http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef2546b/158] provides reviews—mostly positive, truth be told—by what appears to be a few dozen Maserati owners with interesting, sometimes harrowing and sometimes reassuring tales to tell.  I think there is some value in assessing these anecdotal reports in their raw unedited candor.  Similarly, while almost universal hagiographies are conducive to a warm and fuzzy feeling, they may not be the most objective source in making significant decisions. The "BMW garage" approach would doubtless be a successful stratagem were my wife a Powhattan princess.  But, alas, she is a mechanical engineer and tends to be more responsive to information such as provided by this site than to being shown shiny beads.
16/12/2009 22:18:14  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: scotus

quote:

The two major user sites are here and Maseratilife, most of that google stuff is junk. To prove a point I did a search "maserati thong" and it pulled up 33,700 sites. Do you really thing there are that many sites devoted to "maserati thongs"? Digging further I did this search

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=maserati+condoms&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

..only 85,000 pages!

Whats this "conventional wisdom" you talk of? Do you actually mean the view of a "lay person"?

If you really want to convince your wife of the build quality, first show her your shiny wheels and brake calipers on your 06 QP, then take her to a BMW garage and show her an 09 car that has rusty hubs and calipers.


  I suppose “conventional wisdom” can be defined however one chooses; such as, the average consumer, or the average erudite high income potential Maserati consumer, or perhaps, were we to adopt your paradigm, the average Maserati owner.  In my case, I was probably talking about the middle option.  That said, a site such as Edmunds [http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef2546b/158] provides reviews—mostly positive, truth be told—by what appears to be a few dozen Maserati owners with interesting, sometimes harrowing and sometimes reassuring tales to tell.  I think there is some value in assessing these anecdotal reports in their raw unedited candor.  Similarly, while almost universal hagiographies are conducive to a warm and fuzzy feeling, they may not be the most objective source in making significant decisions. The "BMW garage" approach would doubtless be a successful stratagem were my wife a Powhattan princess.  But, alas, she is a mechanical engineer and tends to be more responsive to information such as provided by this site than to being shown shiny beads.



I think the fact that there is no corrosion is highly valued by a mechanical engineer. So when do you pick your car up?
16/12/2009 22:53:54  

Posts: 13
Since: 14/12/2009
Status: offline
quote:

I think the fact that there is no corrosion is highly valued by a mechanical engineer. So when do you pick your car up?


Ah!  I picked it up last Thursday but I only live five miles (all city traffic) from my office and haven't had a chance to stretch it out . . . much.  Hopefully, we'll be taking it down to San Diego this weekend.  If so, I'll pick a route through the mountains and hope to be able to enjoy the car's not so subtle athleticism.  It obviously takes some getting used to the automatic feature on the transmission.  It seems like the shift points lag behind what "feels" right.  Any advice?  Thanks for your interest.  I'll keep you posted.
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