What’s wrong with the Maserati GranTurismo?

I have recently noticed that relatively recent Maseratis seem to have depreciated far more than similar contemporaries.  I've seen various Maserati GranTurismo convertible models that originally retailed for more than $130K advertised for less than $30K.  I'm not the biggest fan of the styling, but these don't look bad.  The specs look decent on paper too (433 hp from the 4.7). How bad are these really?  Anyone have experience owning one?  

Full disclosure, I mentioned an ad I saw for a 2011 and showed a pic to my wife, who has been casually mentioning she would like a "fast car".  She said I should go buy it.  😳

So, I am considering actually shopping one of these, but there is a real risk I could buy one.  Danger!  Please tell my why I should look at something else!  Or not?

I'm sure there are people here who are more knowledgeable than me, but–correct me if I'm wrong–it's my understanding that the Maseratis aren't impossible to live with, it's just that most don't really want to put in the extra effort of keeping one on the road.

This is from an issue of Classic Motorsports from 2015, but there's still some useful advice: Depreciation Station: Maserati GranTurismo

The only thing wrong with the Maserati is the Maserati parts.  

In my opinion they were never worth the $130k and as a result, used they are not worth the $30k

Are these the ones with the Ferrari sourced engine?

I've loved the GranTurismo for years and almost bought a 2013 last year. I got to the dealership, LOVED the exterior, sat down on the inside and was disappointed. Everything felt cheap, the buttons were all sticky, lots of creaks and rattles. 

Driving it felt alright but I wasn't impressed. Ended up walking away and I haven't looked at them since. 

Even if they were good cars (they almost definitely aren't as indicated by resale values) I wouldn't want to own one out of embarrassment to be associated with their typical owners. 

Ferrari-level maintenance needs for a car that drives like a BMW with a Chrysler interior.

If you have to make this mistake at least get one with the ZF slush box and not the semiauto that requires a $10k service every other oil change.

I do think they have a great look that is aging very well, and apparently have a rear seat that's actually functional, so in that regard have thought about them before too. But it seems to me that they were substantially let down by Maserati's platform development planning. It was introduced on a platform whose basis (Quattroporte V) was already at mid-cycle refresh, and continued on relatively unchanged for another decade after the platform was otherwise retired. They never even bothered upgrading to the (far superior) ZF 8-speed that the QP (VI) got in 2013. So it was largely outdated for the majority of its production life, basically just getting by on its name and looks.

In reply to maschinenbau :

I didn't think they sold enough of them to have a 'typical owner' to be associated with. I rarely see them, and when I have there has been nothing memorable about the owners.

Who would buy one? And that isn't meant as a put down, it is just looking for the buyer. You get better performance, let alone performance per dollar, out of any number of alternatives from... well, just about everyone has something. And all of them will be more reliable. And most will have better interiors at this point. 
 

It's exotic, but it isn't good at much and it especially isn't good at being a car. And still too recent to be considered a classic. 

mtn said:

Who would buy one?

That's an even better question for the people who buy them new.  Maserasti seems to be in an unenviable situation where they are asking new car buyers to spend really big bucks on new cars that look very, very similar to low mileage used cars that can be had for $25K.  That's crazy.  But, is the $25K used car an exotic bargain for the cheapskate?  Maybe, which is why I'm here.  

Honestly, the more I read, the more red flags pop up.  Stories of electrical gremlins and expensive check engine lights seem to abound.  Then there are the obviously crappy interior bits.  It's a little bit crazy how gross some of the touch points get in these cars with so little use, especially considering the MSRP.

So, mostly talking myself out of these.

mtn said:

Who would buy one?

I don't know who, but I can think of a few reasons that might pursuade them. The name, the looks, the sound, the relative rarity, an unusually usable rear seat for a 2+2 GT, and most importantly 'worse' from a technical standpoint is often better from an emotional connection standpoint. After all, this is a group that loves to love the unloved.

In reply to Driven5 :

Re: the typical owners, around here you pretty much only see modern Maseratis in the hood over on the Oakland side of the Bay. I think they are eligible for the insane Chrysler 120-month financing schemes, there are often a ton on Facebook Marketplace that have clearly been beaten on and have some serious mechanical problems.

As mentioned, Exotic maintenance prices.......I think the V8 is basically a Ferrari unit. 

To be clear, this what we are talking about? Needs an LS and more box flares. 

2018 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Sport

I rented a Maserati Levante when I was on a work trip a few weeks ago.

There is zero % chance I would ever want to own one.

Looks were OK.

Engine sounded real nice.

Drove like a RAV4.

Interior is basically a gussied up Town and Country.

Infotainment is from somewhere in the mid to late 90s.

Check engine light came on on day 3 of my rental.

Hard hard HARD pass.