Maserati Quattroporte (2004-2013) Buying Guide
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by Richard Dredge The Four-door doesn't sound very alluring does it? But when you call your luxury saloon Quattroporte it suddenly sounds a lot more enticing. The Quattroporte has been part of Maserati's line up since 1963; the fifth-generation saloon that was designed by Pininfarina arrived in 2003. Up against the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera it takes a very different kind of person to buy Italian instead of German or British, but if you take the plunge you'll be rewarded with a car that's great fun to drive and has plenty of soul. You'll also get plenty for your money thanks to sharp depreciation, but the build quality and reliability can't match that of the Porsche or Aston, while running costs are high - potentially very high. |
We Like | We Don't Like |
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Image Driving experience Value Design Luxurious interior Performance Exclusivity Engine sound |
Patchy reliability Clunky DuoSelect gearbox Running costs Short service intervals No diesel option |
Key Dates | |
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2004 | The fifth-generation Quattroporte goes on sale with a 400bhp 4.2-litre V8. All cars have a DuoSelect automated manual gearbox with paddle shifts. |
2005 | Executive GT and Sport GT versions join the range; the former with extra wood trim, the latter with faster gearshifts and 20-inch wheels. |
2006 | A ZF six-speed auto becomes available, alongside the DuoSelect. |
2008 | The Quattroporte is facelifted and at the same time the S arrives with a 424bhp 4.7-litre V8. |
2009 | The 434bhp 4.7-litre Sport GT S arrives too, with lowered, stiffer suspension for sharper handling and faster gearshifts. |
Checklist | |
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