Given the current state of the economy, writing about road-testing a Maserati seems like fiddling while Rome burns, and I feel guilty about it.
Wait! I just got over it.
The 2008 GranTurismo is an all-new four-passenger luxury performance coupe from Maserati, the famed House of Trident. Its rear wheels are driven fiercely by a 4.2-liter V8 engine generating 405 horsepower, 339 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of more than 175 mph, and a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds.
The thing about the GranTurismo: If it had the handling and performance characteristics it has and looked like an old shoe box, it would be fantastic enough. If it looked the way it does and didn’t even have an engine, it would still be stunning.
But to have both. It’s almost too much to bear.
This may sound ludicrous, but hear me out: With a base price of $110,000 (plus a $1,350 destination charge), the Maserati GranTurismo is a bargain. Some big SUVs and even garden variety (relatively speaking) coupes and sedans regularly seen on the road have $75,000-plus stickers. You’d have to peel off about $190,000 for an entry-level Ferrari.
GranTurismo’s Ferrari-built engine is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and paddle shifters. It makes one of the sweetest exhaust tones this side of the Cinque Terre. Driving enthusiasts might kvetch about the unavailability of a manual transmission (it’s their default complaint for every car), but GranTurismo isn’t really a sports car, it’s a sleek and speedy tourer. There’s no shortage of fun with the paddle shifters, believe me.
My kvetch would be the lack of a convertible model, but Maserati is rumored to be working on that.
A subtle, amusing touch on my tester: the wheels’ spokes form tridents.
GranTurismo’s passenger cabin provides a quiet and comfortable ride, in keeping with its touring DNA. It’s technically a 2+2 seating arrangement, since rear space is marginal.
Standard features include 10-way power and heated front seats, electronically adjustable suspension, dual-zone automatic climate control, Brembo brakes, a magnificent Bose surround-sound audio system, and a navigation system. Operation is simple and straightforward — no setup blending all systems into one “command central” that has you enraged trying to figure out how it works when you could be driving.
My tester’s options were titanium brake calipers, 20-inch Birdcage Design rims, upholstery stitching, and a wood and black leather steering wheel. GranTurismo’s 13/19 mpg EPA rating also adds a $2,900 gas guzzler tax.
My son David, not given to unbridled excitement about even the best of cars, was enthralled by the GranTurismo. In recent discussions with his wife over whether or not they should buy a house now, they concluded they should wait a while.
“We can stay in our affordable apartment and buy a Maserati,” he said. She laughed, but he was only half kidding. Maybe only one-fourth kidding.
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