By Staff Writer
Mar 15, 2024
|
Maserati,
Buyer's Guide,
Quattroporte
| Posted in
Buyer's Guides
| From the May 2016 issue
| Never miss an article
Photography Credit: Courtesy Maserati
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of Classic Motorsports, when Maserati Parts USA was still in business.]
Maserati is best known for its sports cars and racing machines, but the four-door Quattroporte has been part of the company lineup for more than half a century. Collectors haven’t exactly flocked to these models, however, leaving depressed prices for the rest of us.
Exhibit A: the 2004-’12 Quattroporte, one of the world’s finest sedans. It initially sold for six figures, but can be found today for much less. The hit to its value hasn’t made this Maserati’s looks or driving experience any less stunning.
As David Thursby of Maserati Parts USA describes it, “It’s almost the sound, performance, handling and smile factor of a Ferrari with almost the practicality of a Camry.”
Development of that fifth-generation Quattroporte began after Ferrari’s investment in Maserati. The car’s power, for example, comes from the F136, a twin-cam V8 produced by the prancing horse. That same engine powers not only several other Maserati products, but various Ferraris, too, including the F430, California and today’s 458.
When the fifth-generation Quattroporte debuted, its 4.2-liter, 394-horsepower V8 came backed by a semiautomatic six-speed DuoSelect gearbox–an evolution of Maserati’s Cambiocorsa transmission. That box is known for being a bit laggy and tough on clutches, but a traditional ZF automatic became optional starting with the 2007 model year. The car received a facelift for 2009, the same year the 4.7-liter Quattroporte S joined the lineup.
No matter which Quattroporte you’re considering, David Thursby stresses the importance of performing due diligence before you start shopping. “These cars are Italian thoroughbreds. The car may be a bargain, but be prepared to pay accordingly for parts and servicing,” he advises. “Find a good specialist mechanic and develop a rapport with them before you buy a car. Have them perform a PPI, or better yet, buy a car they already know. They will be your friend–after all, you will be sending their kids to college.”
Maserati Parts USA serves Maserati and Ferrari owners, and the company’s David Thursby offers this practical advice.
Suspension bushings are the Quattroporte’s weakest link. There have been numerous TSBs on these. They shared the same components as the Coupes and were just too heavy; even newer cars are showing problems.
Maserati has kits to replace the bushings and lower control arms. Depending on the car, plan to spend a few thousand per axle in parts alone.
These are basically Ferraris with four doors and four seats. Maintenance costs are similar to a Ferrari’s, and many of the older cars haven’t been kept up to date with dealer servicing as their value has dropped.
The Cambiocorsa cars also eat clutches, particularly when driving in stop-start traffic.
Parts availability is surprisingly good. Most items are specific to Maserati and Ferrari, so often there is no aftermarket option. Owners don’t need to pay dealer prices, however.
Certain model years tend to have issues with some of the ECUs for tire pressure monitoring systems. In general, though, they are pretty good.
The ’07 automatic in Executive trim is the one to get. It’s a fast, easy-to- drive everyday car with great value for money.
For the person with a little more money to spend, the 2010-and-newer Sport GT S is great in any trim, and a handful of special editions over the years add that something extra.
A well-maintained and well kept Quattroporte is a pure joy. A neglected car with delayed maintenance will be an absolute nightmare, not to mention a money pit.
yupididit said:So...I know this is old but
I came across this this and remembered how they could sound like THIS. Are they forbidden fruit?
To me nothing in that price range that is 4 doors make those noises. Besides the v10 m5's, but I know better than that!
Holy E36 M3, i think I need a cigarette.. 
Anyone else check car-part.com for engine prices? $3-5k for various older years.
2008, $8,000 starting bid
The space between the grill and the headlights make it look like a kit car, or one of those motor homes from the 90s that used GM passenger car front lights. YUCK.
Carfax on 12/30/17 search in the mid-atlantic where I see them fairly regularly just showed a few under $20k actually one or maybe two under $19k if my short term memory is right. Tempting for sure especially for a one or two year fling then move on. But where is the floor then? Two years of gentle driving would your resell value be horribly lower or at about the same. If the latter for those with the means I'd say go for it. Those examples were all '05 and auto but hey... 
I always wondered if you could grab one with a broken transmission and put something more reliable in there. For the maintenance costs, I think you could do a pretty good swap to any number of manual or clutchless manuals.
The automatics are actually reasonably reliable.
But and I mean this the only modern cars I have ever seen catch fire on the side of the freeway are these things. At least two in the last couple years alone.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Really? I thought I remembered hearing that the robo manual (this is what I meant, not the of auto) had really short, really expensive life cycle. These are so far outside of my wheelhouse though that anything I say is hearsay.
kinda sketchy ad but 2005 for $14000
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