Anyone cross shopping Maserati Ghibili against M3

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

BMW is playing with ultra luxury manufacturers selling this M3 for over 2x what a 320i costs. Most people don't buy an M3 to take it to the track. They do it to look great rolling around in traffic and cities. The Maserati fits the bill - it looks and sounds exotic. It will be possible to get a Maserati for less than an M3.

Ask yourself what would pass the valet test - if a Maserati and an Austin Yellow M3 show up at a high end restaurant or ultra luxury hotel and they can only park one car in front, which would they put on display? It's the Maserati every time.

Do we know that it sounds more exotic? It's also a turbo 6-cyl engine in the Ghibli...

[Randy M]

The long rumored new 'Cuda is purportedly using the Ghibli platform. I'd be far more interested in a new 'Cuda than the Ghibli.

[gee-m-w]

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

My Audi was the base model S4, not the prestige. Came with leather, heated seats, Sirius, homelink, xenons, LED tails, etc. All I had to do was pick wheels, paint and LSD.

The Maserati is also loaded - even has the 6 piston brakes. 75 is your out the door price, same an executive package M3.

Thank you for making my point for me. You didn't get the Prestige, which meant you left options on the table.

Loaded is a relative term. Loaded for some is a stripper for another. And Audi is one of the best values on the market for including base features.

[gee-m-w]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Thank you for making my point for me. You didn't get the Prestige, which meant you left options on the table.

Loaded is a relative term. Loaded for some is a stripper for another. And Audi is one of the best values on the market for including base features.

I can live without the power sunshade and the self closing trunk. It's just pathetic to get in an E90 M3 that doesn't have sirius or heated seats or some other critical things. It cheapens the whole fleet.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

Not much "better" than a M135i with Performance exhaust or a 335i with Akrapovic etc. IMHO

[aajami]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I agree with these points, although I would not have brought the M4 into the discussion and instead just referred to the M3.

I see the Ghibli targeting buyers of those cars much more naturally than the C63, Lexus IS-F, ATS-V for example, which are the clear competiton for the M3.

I was only replying to someone else who brought the M4 into the conversation

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

Ask yourself what would pass the valet test - if a Maserati and an Austin Yellow M3 show up at a high end restaurant or ultra luxury hotel and they can only park one car in front, which would they put on display? It's the Maserati every time.

If you choose your car based on the "valet test", then there surely is better cars than both the Ghibli and M4. But why on earth would you buy a car like the M3/M4 based on such a stupid criteria

If you are in the market for a Bentley Continental GT, a Ferrari California etc, then yes, they are poser cars that scores high on the coveted "valet test" scale... A Ghibli is a heavy (over 1800kg) car that surely is more aimed at luxurious touring than a pure driving experience and tail out track and Nurburgring action!


I would instead ask myself, which car would pass the Nurburgring test?
It would be the M3/M4 every time

[gee-m-w]

Originally Posted by Boss330

If you choose your car based on the "valet test", then there surely is better cars than both the Ghibli and M4. But why on earth would you buy a car like the M3/M4 based on such a stupid criteria

If you are in the market for a Bentley Continental GT, a Ferrari California etc, then yes, they are poser cars that scores high on the coveted "valet test" scale... A Ghibli is a heavy (over 1800kg) car that surely is more aimed at luxurious touring than a pure driving experience and tail out track and Nurburgring action!


I would instead ask myself, which car would pass the Nurburgring test?
It would be the M3/M4 every time

The base Corvette is going to beat the M4 in the ring test. If that doesn't fit your image, get a BMW or a Maserati.

The M5 gets cross shopped with the Quattroporte.

[Chill72]

Originally Posted by aajami

I was only replying to someone else who brought the M4 into the conversation

Oh yea M4 is such a different car than M3...let me guess, apples to oranges.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Chill72

Oh yea M4 is such a different car than M3...

Well the point is that the M3 is sedan like the Ghibli. The OP was specifically drawing on the M3 for comparison, surely due to that same reason.

And for what it's worth, I think most people do consider them to be very different cars otherwise BMW would not even bother with the 4 Series and M4.

[Chill72]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Well the point is that the M3 is sedan like the Ghibli. The OP was specifically drawing on the M3 for comparison, surely due to that same reason.

And for what it's worth, I think most people do consider them to be very different cars otherwise BMW would not even bother with the 4 Series and M4.

I understand that, I simply said M4 to illustrate that I'm referring to F8X. We all know performance wise M3 and 4 are nearly identical. The only real difference is number of doors and the trunk.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Chill72

I understand that, I simply said M4 to illustrate that I'm referring to F8X. We all know performance wise M3 and 4 are nearly identical. The only real difference is number of doors and the trunk.

I'm not sure if you are having a bad day or what with all the slaps and sighs, but rest assured that nothing untoward was meant by adding some clarification.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

YAWWWWNNNN

i am sleepy.

[Chill72]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I'm not sure if you are having a bad day or what with all the slaps and sighs, but rest assured that nothing untoward was meant by adding some clarification.

No problem, I never took your comments in derogatory way. You are right, you can never be too clear.

[darkalley]

Originally Posted by Ezio

YAWWWWNNNN

i am sleepy.

It sounds much better in person. Has a 4 year warranty and the residual has yet to be determined as it's a new car My personal opinion is it will have a higher residual than a comparably equipped 550 as it will appeal to a wider group. It's selling very well from what I have read and having been in the car the fit and finish is great. It's not a M3 fighter but a 550 fighter (it's not a small car).

[Johndong888]

I have taken a good look at this car in real life. It is one of the ugliest luxury vehicle I have seen in some time. Of course this is just my opinion but honestly, the exterior proportion is all wrong on this car. Interior-wise, it lost out big compared to the Quattroporte which I have also had immense behind-the-wheel time. I also think the Quattroporte is lacking in interior-wise. It's probably just not a vehicle/brand for me.

[gee-m-w]

The Audi people would lol @ BMW people not being impressed by Italian Masterati interiors.

[Kadema]

I, for one, didn't (and don't) feel the faintest desire to cross shop a maserati ghibli. And I'd rather go by bike than take an audi as a gift, whatever its interior might look like. Come on, you could just as well ask Obi Wan if he might consider the dark side because of the color of the light sabers they have.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

The base Corvette is going to beat the M4 in the ring test.

We have yet to see ring times for either. So, I'd reserve comment on this until we actually know the times. It may turn out different than you think.


Cheers.

[pkimM3r]

Looks like infiniti.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

My Audi was the base model S4, not the prestige. Came with leather, heated seats, Sirius, homelink, xenons, LED tails, etc. All I had to do was pick wheels, paint and LSD.

The Maserati is also loaded - even has the 6 piston brakes. 75 is your out the door price, same an executive package M3.

$75k is the BASE price for an S. I just loaded one up over $90 without checking all the boxes.