Posted by Piers Ward at 3:00PM on Thursday 27 March, 2008 6 Comments
I'm not massively keen on jumping on bandwagons, but this Maserati GranTurismo really rammed home how utterly pointless four-wheel drives are in this country, purely because the Maser doesn't have it.
I drove up to Scotland in it over Easter and not once did a lack of traction from the snow/wind/rain/ice become a problem. Partly because the highways agency lot pulled their collective finger out and actually salted the roads, but also, if you're careful, four-wheel drive is just not necessary.
The Maser swallowed three people and all our luggage for the seven-hour trip - every time
I go to Scotland it seems to get further away - and not even the person in the back complained. That's where this car's strength lies. Conversely, for example, the Jaguar XK is a lovely bit of kit, but there's no way we'd have managed that trip with three adults. Even three kids would struggle for room in the Jag.
But the GT was just that - a great GT car. The ride was surprisingly compliant, road noise was good, the red leather interior kept you cheery even on the M6, and the auto gearbox was smooth.
I know you could accuse it of not handling with quite the sparkle of other sports cars, but it's still perfectly enjoyable to punt around. Granted, you go carefully in slippery conditions, but there's enough feel from the chassis and steering to make it secure. Plus, in reality there's far more grip than you think there is.
And it's this that I reckon drives the majority of the SUV market. Fear. A fear of crashing, a fear of getting stuck, a fear of driving through a puddle, a fear of not being able to see over absolutely every other car on sale. We should embrace fear. We should embrace the GT.
6 Comments for "Maserati GranTurismo"
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Actually, with stronger brakes, 40bhp more and a few nice aesthetic touches, we should embrace the GT S.
Let's get one thing clear from a person who have been driving 4x4s and SUVs for the past 12 years... THEY ARE BETTER IN INCLEMENT WEATHER!
I have just bought the GranTurismo and I have had a 911 (4X4) turbo for the past 2 years. In a blizzard, the Land Rover, in the mud the Land Rover.... and the fools who would normally cut me off when I am driving the GT don't because they see my behemoth looming in the rearview mirror.
The GranTurismo is an excellent car, the writer has a dumb opinion on the SUV's. sounds like sour grapes to me...
Fully agree that there is generally no need for SUVs, even in typical winter weather.
Karla Z is perhaps missing a Y chromosome and thus has issues with controlling a car properly.
Each to its own environment I say.
The SUV/Land Cruiser or generic Rover-type vehicle is good for those trips up Ben Nevis in the snow, and you can get loads of shopping in them, and they are great for taking Timmy and his mates to school, if only because you feel like an all-powerful, non corporeal entity driving one.
I know... I have tried it, but personally I would prefer the GT any day, if only they would do a two-wheel drive option that is. But yes, fear is the spice of life.
I do not have anything against 4x4s. But I surely do not feel any safer driving or being in one. I love the Range Rover, but I would buy the Maser GT any given day over the Rangey.
As for handling, unless you go off road, I really don't see the point of 4x4s being any better.
"We should embrace fear. We should embrace the GT."
We should embrace a wall in low-traction conditions if we're not careful !