Maserati For The Price of an Innova? » MotorOctane

Who doesn’t love a Maserati? Once owned by Ferrari itself, Maserati is the epitome of Italian sports cars. While it may not be the same brand it once was, it has produced some brilliant vehicles over the years. One of these cars is the iconic Quattraporte, and now you can get it for the price of a new Innova Hycross.

Here is all the information you need to know about the Quattraporte, and we will inform you of all the joys and niggles that you may face if you desire to own one.

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Looks

The Quattraporte looks absolutely breathtaking. It might be one of the most beautiful sedans produced to this day. By no means is this an exaggeration. You get the iconic Maserati grille and a long engine hood up front, which makes you wonder about the engine it houses. 18″ multi-spoke alloys made out of brushed aluminium, and the quad exhaust pipes remind you that it is not an ordinary luxury sedan.

The long rear overhang and intricate taillights are a chef’s kiss on this Quattraporte. Moreover, this model has a unique number plate ending in “0009”. It may not have a high ground clearance, but it still demands road presence like no other. The Quattraporte was designed by none other than Pinnafarina, and that is enough of a testament to its beauty.

Interiors

You step inside a gaudy, bright red cabin. The plethora of physical buttons on the dashboard and a carbon-fibre steering wheel greet you after stepping inside. You won’t find the modern amenities like ADAS, 360-degree parking camera, etc. But you do get enough facilities to get you through a day in 2011. These features are automatic climate control, sunroof, TPMS, rear parking camera, Bluetooth connectivity and a Bose sound system.

The cabin is quite spacious and can seat 4 people in utmost luxury. It will be challenging to fit a 5th person in the back, due to the massive transmission hump. Moreover, the cabin is very Italian, per se. It is quite infamous for being unintuitive for the driver, but that is the price to pay for older Italian cars.

You won’t care for all the other gizmos once you take a look at the Sport button. Press this button to stiffen the suspension and make the exhaust sound more vocal.

Engine

This is the tempting part of the quattraporte. You get a 4.2L V8 that churns out more than 400 horsepower, mated to a 6-speed automatic. Mind you, this isn’t just any other V8, but a Ferrari one. Thanks to the V8, the quattraporte can go from 0-100 kmph in less than 6 seconds, and top out at 168 kmph. To enhance your driving performance, the engine produces a sweet, loud sound that can be heard in neighbouring cities.

Expectedly, the Quattraporte is a gas-guzzler. You would be lucky to get 5 kmpl in the city and 7 kmpl on the highway. Luckily, you get an 80L fuel tank, which will reduce the number of fuel trips.

What’s The Catch?

A 4.2L Ferrari V8, gorgeous exterior, plus interiors and a glorious exhaust note, what more can you want? When buying a car in India, these factors do not align with a regular person’s criteria. An ordinary customer desires practicality, fuel efficiency, and reliability, and the Quattraporte offers neither. The Quattraporte may have a spacious cabin and an adequate boot, but the car is more than 5m long, making it over 250mm longer than a Toyota Fortuner. These proportions are extremely impractical in Mumbai, especially when navigating through tight streets.

Furthermore, Maserati’s cars are notorious for their unreliability. A Ferrari engine may sound like heaven at first. But when it comes to its maintenance, it can set you back by tens of thousands after every trip to the shop. By the late 2000s and early 2010s, cars became more complex due to the excess of electronics. You get better performance, but that increases the risk of something going wrong.

Another issue is the ride. Maserati designed it to be a sporty sedan, and owners pay that price in ride quality. The ride is harsh and particularly unforgiving on Indian roads. The low ride also means that the underside will scrape every other speedbreaker.

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Should You Buy It?

With the Quattraporte, you can brag to your friends that you have a Ferrari engine. We found one such unique Quattraporte on sale for 38 lakh rupees, and with proper negotiation, you could get it down to 35-36 lakh rupees. This is no small amount, but that is the price to pay for a Maserati in India. You could get a high-end Innova Hycross or an Innova Crysta for this price.

This unit seems to be well-maintained and has relatively low kilometres on the odometer. If you are interested in getting one for yourself, you should tag along with an expert who can identify any niggles or glaring issues in the model. The Quattraporte is a gamble, but the reward of a V8 is pretty sweet, too. If you do plan to take this risk, be prepared to empty your wallet. You could get lucky and get a spotless ownership experience, but that is the risk one takes when owning an Italian exotic.

Owning a Quattraportte could be a unique experience. It may be a massive red flag for the general public, but car enthusiasts may recognise its beauty.

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