Where Do You Position Maserati ?
Discussion
For a Number of years, Maserati IMO have lagged behind the "Status" Car Makers due to Inferior Build Quality, Reliablilty etc and all of a Sudden they are releasing cars with a Serious Attention to Detail, Handling and Presence. Not to mention Performance.
The cars of the 80's and 90's quite frankly took a nose dive for a number of reasons and now the Marque is a Serious Alternative to Ferrari.
Maserati are catching up fast on the "Kudos" Stakes with good reason.
So...
My Question is to to current owners and those in the market for such an exotica?
What are your opinions of the Current Range of Maserati cars from 1989 to the Current Crop and what would you go for in this price range (e.g from 3200 Gt to GranSport ?)
I Personally wanted Ferrari for 16 years and I am now in a Position to buy a New Ferrari but have opted for a Second Maserati in 3 months (waiting list approx 3 to 6 months ref : Maserati) rather than wait 3 years plus for the New Ferrari 430 (and no Sales Brochure (which Pisse dme off big time !)- This to Me was a Challenge Mentally as all I have grown up on were the Prancing Horse but after Poor Customer Service from Ferrari and a real loss in Direction.
I feel after the 355 the Maserati is a Real Serious Choice hence my Second Purchase in 3 months.
What do you guys think about the upcomming designs and Performance of Maserati ?
This Post is not to offend current Ferrari Owners but to find out true opinions of what the Public think of the Maserati Brand ?
I Feel the Brand is Now A Superb Balance of Price, Kudos, Performance and Design over other Rivals.
The cars of the 80's and 90's quite frankly took a nose dive for a number of reasons and now the Marque is a Serious Alternative to Ferrari.
Maserati are catching up fast on the "Kudos" Stakes with good reason.
So...
My Question is to to current owners and those in the market for such an exotica?
What are your opinions of the Current Range of Maserati cars from 1989 to the Current Crop and what would you go for in this price range (e.g from 3200 Gt to GranSport ?)
I Personally wanted Ferrari for 16 years and I am now in a Position to buy a New Ferrari but have opted for a Second Maserati in 3 months (waiting list approx 3 to 6 months ref : Maserati) rather than wait 3 years plus for the New Ferrari 430 (and no Sales Brochure (which Pisse dme off big time !)- This to Me was a Challenge Mentally as all I have grown up on were the Prancing Horse but after Poor Customer Service from Ferrari and a real loss in Direction.
I feel after the 355 the Maserati is a Real Serious Choice hence my Second Purchase in 3 months.
What do you guys think about the upcomming designs and Performance of Maserati ?
This Post is not to offend current Ferrari Owners but to find out true opinions of what the Public think of the Maserati Brand ?
I Feel the Brand is Now A Superb Balance of Price, Kudos, Performance and Design over other Rivals.
I think that's a question Luca di Montezemolo has been struggling with for some time now!
Perhaps his answer will be to turn Maserati into the 'softer' less expensive version of Ferrari with the accent on GT rather than out-and-out performance. A better QP plus a Coupe/Spyder sharing a similar floor pan.
Right now (Italian only) Ferrari 1st, Lambo 2nd, Maserati 3rd and catching up fast. Purely my own personal impression.
Perhaps his answer will be to turn Maserati into the 'softer' less expensive version of Ferrari with the accent on GT rather than out-and-out performance. A better QP plus a Coupe/Spyder sharing a similar floor pan.
Right now (Italian only) Ferrari 1st, Lambo 2nd, Maserati 3rd and catching up fast. Purely my own personal impression.
Maserati catching up fast with Lamborghini or Ferrari? Last time I looked, Maserati didn't have a competitor product for ANY Lambo or Ferrari. I'm willing to accept they are gaining on some non-Italian brands - if you tell me so - but they are running a different race to Ferrari and Lamborghini surely.
Those at Ferrari with whom I've spoken position Maserati as the future volume brand of Ferrari. Put simply, a Maserati is what the Ferrari owner uses during the week. In terms of market positioning and price point, it's intended to sit above BMW, Mercedes etc. with the closest base price competitor being Porsche 911. Porsche is not direct competition though, since the core Maserati models are genuine 4 seaters. I'd position Maserati as the luxury sporting brand.
Financially, I'd say Maserati is more important to Ferrari than is Ferrari.. There's a limit to how much revenue you can draw down when your production volume is capped, even with the continual creep up in that cap. They need no such cap for Maserati, and the more of these they sell, the more efficiently they monetarise their R&D (ie cost spread over a greater number of units).
Maserati does need to get a move on though, since other manfacturers can creep up or down to the £70K price point. For example, if Porsche introduce a 928-like variant(and I would if I were them), they will have serious competition.
Financially, I'd say Maserati is more important to Ferrari than is Ferrari.. There's a limit to how much revenue you can draw down when your production volume is capped, even with the continual creep up in that cap. They need no such cap for Maserati, and the more of these they sell, the more efficiently they monetarise their R&D (ie cost spread over a greater number of units).
Maserati does need to get a move on though, since other manfacturers can creep up or down to the £70K price point. For example, if Porsche introduce a 928-like variant(and I would if I were them), they will have serious competition.
Since 1998 Maserati has come from a Joke to a respected manufacturer of GT cars.
I expect the aim of the company is to position it against Porsche at the top of Division 2
(With Ferrari, Lambo and Aston the Div 1 manufacturers)
It will never compete with Ferrari because it makes no marketing or commercial sense to do so, however it will make Ferrari more profitable due to shared parts and R&D
With the Quatroportte acknowledged as the best in class, if the O6 "5000 GT" is also a cracker than the Masser resurection will be complete (IMHO)
I expect the aim of the company is to position it against Porsche at the top of Division 2
(With Ferrari, Lambo and Aston the Div 1 manufacturers)
It will never compete with Ferrari because it makes no marketing or commercial sense to do so, however it will make Ferrari more profitable due to shared parts and R&D
With the Quatroportte acknowledged as the best in class, if the O6 "5000 GT" is also a cracker than the Masser resurection will be complete (IMHO)
mhh said:I did not "tell you so" and I did make the point that Maserati won't aspire to compete in the Ferrari/Lamborghini market segment.
- if you tell me so - but they are running a different race to Ferrari and Lamborghini surely.
That aside, Maserati are catching up on merit, as explained by exint2.
Maserati are very similar to Aston Martin. They were both well known brands which had struggled for years due to lack of support and investment but are now really starting to get it together with beautiful, exciting and well built cars.
Maserati are not and never will be in the same sector as Ferrari. They are more executive / GT cars than sports cars. A more sporting alternative to a Merc CL or 6 series BMW.
Dynamically I dont think they can challenge the Germans but what they lack in overall quality and reliability they more than make up for with style.
I followed a Quatroportte from Cardiff to Bristol yesterday and it just looks so good.It got the sort of attention that you would never get in a Merc or BMW.
Maserati are not and never will be in the same sector as Ferrari. They are more executive / GT cars than sports cars. A more sporting alternative to a Merc CL or 6 series BMW.
Dynamically I dont think they can challenge the Germans but what they lack in overall quality and reliability they more than make up for with style.
I followed a Quatroportte from Cardiff to Bristol yesterday and it just looks so good.It got the sort of attention that you would never get in a Merc or BMW.
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