Gran turismo vs CLS 63 AMG vs Panamera Turbo vs Jag XFR
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I am brand new to pistonheads and I wanted a bit of advice. I have a budget of 35 to 45k and we want a nice powerful car but also we are probably going to look for a car with a bit of space. We used to have an XKR which we loved but the back seats were a joke.
We may well decide to have a kid at some point so hence all the cars above fall into that category.
I have been reading and quite a few people manage to use the GTS with kids and that for me if the most amazing car, the sound, looks etc. However I am worried about reliability as they have a bad reputation. Not fussed re fuel economy. Also would like some advice re MC shift vs auto. From reading a few things it looks as if the Auto is preferred if you live in a city, we live in London.
Jag XFR might not be special enough. Panamera reckon will drive well but not sure re looks. CLS performance wise is amazing and might be more practical but not as beautiful as the GTS.
Any help or advice appreciated!
Cheers
I am brand new to pistonheads and I wanted a bit of advice. I have a budget of 35 to 45k and we want a nice powerful car but also we are probably going to look for a car with a bit of space. We used to have an XKR which we loved but the back seats were a joke.
We may well decide to have a kid at some point so hence all the cars above fall into that category.
I have been reading and quite a few people manage to use the GTS with kids and that for me if the most amazing car, the sound, looks etc. However I am worried about reliability as they have a bad reputation. Not fussed re fuel economy. Also would like some advice re MC shift vs auto. From reading a few things it looks as if the Auto is preferred if you live in a city, we live in London.
Jag XFR might not be special enough. Panamera reckon will drive well but not sure re looks. CLS performance wise is amazing and might be more practical but not as beautiful as the GTS.
Any help or advice appreciated!
Cheers
Steve cobb said:
Hi everyone,
I am brand new to pistonheads and I wanted a bit of advice. I have a budget of 35 to 45k and we want a nice powerful car but also we are probably going to look for a car with a bit of space. We used to have an XKR which we loved but the back seats were a joke.
We may well decide to have a kid at some point so hence all the cars above fall into that category.
I have been reading and quite a few people manage to use the GTS with kids and that for me if the most amazing car, the sound, looks etc. However I am worried about reliability as they have a bad reputation. Not fussed re fuel economy. Also would like some advice re MC shift vs auto. From reading a few things it looks as if the Auto is preferred if you live in a city, we live in London.
Jag XFR might not be special enough. Panamera reckon will drive well but not sure re looks. CLS performance wise is amazing and might be more practical but not as beautiful as the GTS.
Any help or advice appreciated!
Cheers
Hello Steve, and welcome. I am brand new to pistonheads and I wanted a bit of advice. I have a budget of 35 to 45k and we want a nice powerful car but also we are probably going to look for a car with a bit of space. We used to have an XKR which we loved but the back seats were a joke.
We may well decide to have a kid at some point so hence all the cars above fall into that category.
I have been reading and quite a few people manage to use the GTS with kids and that for me if the most amazing car, the sound, looks etc. However I am worried about reliability as they have a bad reputation. Not fussed re fuel economy. Also would like some advice re MC shift vs auto. From reading a few things it looks as if the Auto is preferred if you live in a city, we live in London.
Jag XFR might not be special enough. Panamera reckon will drive well but not sure re looks. CLS performance wise is amazing and might be more practical but not as beautiful as the GTS.
Any help or advice appreciated!
Cheers
The go-to website for Maserati owners is sportsmaserati.co.uk and there you will find all the information you could ever wish for!
I have a Granturismo 4.7S Auto. The rear seats are big enough for me to use and I have taken 4 people on quite lengthy journeys with no issues. OK, so none of us were built like Geoff Capes, but it was 4 adults nonetheless.
The car comes in two engines, 4.2 and 4.7, and two transmissions - MC (a robotised manual, used in a model called the MC Stradale) and Automatic (6 speed)
There is a teeny complication that some Automatics are also branded MC Shift (a faster software set up is used)
The 4.2 is a nice engine, but the GT is a big car, so for real "go" you need the 4.7.
In general everyday use, the Automatic is the one to go for, with or without the MC software. The full MC Stradale (with the other box) is wonderful, but inner city clutch life might challenge the wallet.
Reliability wise I have covered 60k+ miles in mine so far and its been great. I had one worn suspension bush (front) at the last MOT, and my only other issue is that the rear parking sensors go on strike periodically. Other than that it's been a paragon of reliability. Main dealers fleece you, but find one of the well known decent independents and you're laughing.
It's the last of the naturally aspirated V8 Maseratis. It looks sublime, sounds like Thor on a night out with the Hammer crew, and offers the driver a massive feel-good factor. All with 4 seats and a usable boot.
Desirable options - Bose sound and comfort seats, (heated).
The sat nav is a bit clunky (but works OK) and the media system is a bit slow. Treat it all as character, which is easy to do as soon as you twist the key.
Thanks so much for giving such a detailed reply, that really helps. I think I will test drive the MC shift and the auto, but yep think the auto is probably better suited to London driving. It is between the cls 63 amg and GT. I think we are being persuaded to go with GT as it is the best looking car ever and good to hear reliability isn't too much of an issue. Thanks again for the detailed reply!
It's not really a car to use with a new baby though. Just buy one that's a few years old, they don't depreciate much and the back seat is spacious but no way can you use it as your only car with a baby. Why not you ask?
1) It's a complete faff putting a baby seat (age up to about 12 months) in and out. The child seat for older kids aged 1+ isn't as bad. If you mark the interior you'll hurt the value as buyers expect these cars to be 100% pristine
2) Even still it's a pain what with being a coupe, you put the seat forward and it takes about 15 seconds to electrically slide forward. If you interrupt this by putting the seat back or closing the door, that becomes the new position of the seat, infuriating
3) No space for a modern buggy / pram in the back, boot isn't useless but nowhere near big enough for the gubbins you need with a baby like carry cot etc
4) It isn't a great day to day car as it is so low and wide, parking at supermarkets is hopeless unless you get the parent child space as the doors are so wide, also going up / down any ramp and the car grounds
Having looked at my car's service history it has cost between £500 and £2000 a year to maintain so far. It does seem reliable but parts are expensive
1) It's a complete faff putting a baby seat (age up to about 12 months) in and out. The child seat for older kids aged 1+ isn't as bad. If you mark the interior you'll hurt the value as buyers expect these cars to be 100% pristine
2) Even still it's a pain what with being a coupe, you put the seat forward and it takes about 15 seconds to electrically slide forward. If you interrupt this by putting the seat back or closing the door, that becomes the new position of the seat, infuriating
3) No space for a modern buggy / pram in the back, boot isn't useless but nowhere near big enough for the gubbins you need with a baby like carry cot etc
4) It isn't a great day to day car as it is so low and wide, parking at supermarkets is hopeless unless you get the parent child space as the doors are so wide, also going up / down any ramp and the car grounds
Having looked at my car's service history it has cost between £500 and £2000 a year to maintain so far. It does seem reliable but parts are expensive
I have a 58 plate 4.7 MC Shift GranTurismo S. 4 people is no problem at all.
I live outside London but work in London. Having driven in a few times, I'd steer you towards the auto box if most of your driving will be London. I love the MC Shift in mine but I live in a smallish town and most of my driving is country roads or motorways. In traffic the 599-derived MC box is a bit tiresome.
Buy one !!
I live outside London but work in London. Having driven in a few times, I'd steer you towards the auto box if most of your driving will be London. I love the MC Shift in mine but I live in a smallish town and most of my driving is country roads or motorways. In traffic the 599-derived MC box is a bit tiresome.
Buy one !!
Nice one thanks for the reply, yep steering towards the auto rather than MC shift as there will be a fair amount of driving in London and that seems a better choice if there is a fair amount of traffic. Thanks for the note though, really keen on getting one so going for test drives soon!
Great thanks for the post, going for a test drive soon and whilst the mc shift might sound a bit better, we never used the paddles on our xkr, so not fussed if we go for the full auto. Seems like a better shout in traffic which we will have in London! Best looking car around I think...and some people still say all maseratis are unreliable but this doesn't seem true of the GTS..thanks again.
Hi Steve. I moved from an XKR to a GT S Auto. I wanted four usable seats and something a bit better.
I didn't like the looks of the Panamera and fancied a change from a Jag so didn't consider the XFR. My father in law has an XFR but I felt it wasn't special enough at the price point at the time. Mainly wanted to move away from Jag altogether - dealer issues etc - they have since closed down anyway!
GT Auto is a great car. I'd happily buy another one and price wise I don't think they've gone down much since I sold mine a few years ago. The rear seats are very well sized (I'm 6'2" and fit in the back easily when I tried) and you could get away with a week's worth of luggage without a doubt in the boot.
The engine noise is great, the looks are lovely in my opinion and the car was pretty reliable. The sat nav was useless and the bluetooth and iPhone docking were temperamental - all minor issues at the time. Petrol station visits were also frequent!
I'd definitely recommend one over the other options you're considering but go drive a few and see what you like.... Best of luck!
I didn't like the looks of the Panamera and fancied a change from a Jag so didn't consider the XFR. My father in law has an XFR but I felt it wasn't special enough at the price point at the time. Mainly wanted to move away from Jag altogether - dealer issues etc - they have since closed down anyway!
GT Auto is a great car. I'd happily buy another one and price wise I don't think they've gone down much since I sold mine a few years ago. The rear seats are very well sized (I'm 6'2" and fit in the back easily when I tried) and you could get away with a week's worth of luggage without a doubt in the boot.
The engine noise is great, the looks are lovely in my opinion and the car was pretty reliable. The sat nav was useless and the bluetooth and iPhone docking were temperamental - all minor issues at the time. Petrol station visits were also frequent!
I'd definitely recommend one over the other options you're considering but go drive a few and see what you like.... Best of luck!
This is really helpful, thanks for taking the time to reply. I agree, I think for the money there isn't really another choice. Pani turbo am going to test drive but looks wise nowhere near the Mas! Cls 63 again a special car but everyone has a merc so feel I need a Mas in my life. You only live once...and thanks for the other person who replied. Will go for a test drive at nuvola shortly. Cheers guys!
I moved from a CLK55 to a 996 Turbo to a GT MC and can only agree with comments above.....
Likes/loves
- looks, nothing like it
- noise, my god the noise.....it haunts you
- people love it
- can fit 4 easily, boot smallish though
- rare
- not bad handling, good in the dry
- quick enough, but not 996 TT quick
- 2 year servicing
- reliable
Negatives
- skittish in the wet
- heavy
- very big (but doesn't look it)
- MC crap when cold
- expensive when consumables go
- infotainment behind the curve
Overall it's an amazing ownership experience in general: an event getting into the car, driving it at 20 mph or hammering it at more serious speeds.
Use it / view it for what it's intended rather than comparing it to out and out sports cars or limo barges and it has almost crafted a unique niche (sub £100k at least)?
Likes/loves
- looks, nothing like it
- noise, my god the noise.....it haunts you
- people love it
- can fit 4 easily, boot smallish though
- rare
- not bad handling, good in the dry
- quick enough, but not 996 TT quick
- 2 year servicing
- reliable
Negatives
- skittish in the wet
- heavy
- very big (but doesn't look it)
- MC crap when cold
- expensive when consumables go
- infotainment behind the curve
Overall it's an amazing ownership experience in general: an event getting into the car, driving it at 20 mph or hammering it at more serious speeds.
Use it / view it for what it's intended rather than comparing it to out and out sports cars or limo barges and it has almost crafted a unique niche (sub £100k at least)?
Many thanks for the reply. Think we have ruled out pani turbo so comes down to cls 63 amg and mas. Think we will go for mas as it is such an incredible car and I was worried about the reliability but seems to be decent enough whichbti be honest was my only worry. Looking at getting one in the next month or so I can't wait!
vanman1936 said:
- infotainment behind the curve
Go speak to Greg at AutoAudio in park Royal. I soent 3.5k on a new head unit with adapter box so no dash errors, 4 new morel speakers, 2 amplifiers, and a reversing camera. the audio quality is now on a par with the exhaust sound and i can use google maps on the Android auto head unitGassing Station | Maserati | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff