Overview & Reviews

Italian sports-car excitement doesn't have to come at super-steep prices. Maserati has made a name for itself as a maker of lust-worthy exotics that, though costly, are bargains relative to their stratospherically priced competition. Maserati cars currently come in a number of configurations that range from an open sports car to a spacious luxury sport sedan.

The company was founded in 1914 by six Maserati brothers: Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto. Based in Bologna, Italy, the brothers were racing enthusiasts and planned to craft racecars for private use. Mario, an artist, was believed to have based the company's trident emblem on a statue of the mythological god Neptune found in a Bologna square.

Throughout the '20s and '30s, the Maserati brothers scored many wins around the globe in their custom-built racecars. In 1937, the surviving brothers sold their stake in the company to the Orsi family, who moved the company's headquarters to Modena. A couple of years later, one of the automaker's cars won the prestigious Indianapolis 500.

Postwar, Maserati continued to rack up impressive racing victories with cars like the famous Tipo 60 and 61 "Birdcage" models. The company didn't start building road cars until the A6 coupe, which was made from 1947-'57. With only 138 cars produced in that long span, most of Maserati's money came from its other products: spark plugs and car batteries. The Maserati 3500 GT, fitted with a double-overhead-cam inline six, debuted in the mid-1950s.

By the 1960s, the automaker had shifted its focus from racecars to road cars. The company rolled out sexy models like the Mistral Coupe and the Sebring. But it wasn't until 1966, with the introduction of the sleek Giugiaro-styled Ghibli, that Maserati fielded a truly powerful (330-horsepower V8) and sexy Italian sports car. In 1968, the marque was purchased by Citroën.

Throughout the 1970s, Maserati made the most of its partnership with Citroën, using some of that company's suspension and steering components in Maserati cars such as the V8 Bora and V6 Merak models. The decade's fuel crisis took its toll, though, wreaking havoc and killing demand for the sort of gas-guzzling sports cars that were Maserati's specialty. Citroën was driven into bankruptcy and Maserati was placed in liquidation. In 1975, the company was purchased by Alejandro de Tomaso, an Argentinean who had a previous life as a successful racecar driver. He quickly rolled out a new model, the Quattroporte III, a four-door luxury sedan.

The 1980s were an especially dark time for Maserati. Its main model for the U.S. market, the Biturbo, was bland and notoriously unreliable. In 1991, the company stopped importing cars into the U.S. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 and variants of the Biturbo continued to be produced until the factory closed in 1997 for a total refurbishing. During this time, Ferrari bought 50 percent of Maserati and went on to acquire full control of the marque.

After the factory's rebirth, Maserati started production of a pair of world-class cars, the two-seat Spyder roadster and the four-seat Coupe. With powerful V8 engines, the availability of an F1-style gearbox, styling by Giugiaro and vastly improved build quality, the new Maserati cars were introduced to the U.S. market for 2002 and restored prestige to the Italian sports car company.

In 2005, Maserati was split from Ferrari but remained within the Fiat fold. That year also saw the reintroduction of the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan, which was followed a few years later by the voluptuous GranTurismo coupe and convertible. Today's Maseratis may lack the ultimate brand recognition of the marque's main rivals, but they hold the advantage of being considerably more affordable while still offering sexy Italian styling and impressive performance.

User Reviews:

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  Great Car - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By JBerto - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Last car I droe was a 996 cabriolet, and it doesnt compare to this. Ive been a Porsche fan for my whole life, and have owned 3 overall, but would rather have my Maserati. My wife says its too aggressive, so Im the only one in he house who gets to drive it.I hop that the Quattroporte, the new sedan, is just as good; Id buy one fo my wife in a heartbeat.

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  Bravissimo! Bella! Bella! - 2008 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Maser Lover - September 5 - 8:30 am

  This a big car (4,000 lbs.) but can really get out of its own way, lovely growl (!!!), fast, gorgeous, well appointed, superb road feel...and I love the paddle shifters (its got that amazing Ferrari transmission). Did not expect to be so impressed by this car but am still raving to all my friends about it. Good experience at the dealership too!

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  My Maserati - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By Voila - July 31 - 10:36 am

  Ive had my Maserati for a year now and I had an Aston Martin DB7 before this CambioCorsa. When you buy this car, make sure you buy it with the paddle shifting. Its a blast to drive and so far is the most reliable exotic Ive owned. The performance is great and the back seats are perfect for adults. The service department in Atlanta is a pleasure to work with. I give this car an "A" as an every day driving car.

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  A real review. - 2009 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Jacob Marks - May 14 - 3:16 am

  This is the first car I have owned that had cost over $100,000. The 3 other cars I have owned were less than $30,000. This is the first car I have not thought twice about getting. I knew I wanted one. So, back to the QP. The car is a dream to drive. Seriously. A head-turner and a rubber-burner. The car is fast, but I never can really "open er up" on the freeway. Which really stinks. In any case, the car is great looking and sounding, inside and out. But with all great things, there are a few kinks Maserati should iron out.

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  A return of a classic - 2002 Maserati Coupe
  By adam tool - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Plain and simple, fast as hell and you wont see a hundred of them driving around in LA. I love the return of this classic and with Ferrari engineering behind it...what a car.

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  Best Valued Exotic Around - 2003 Maserati Coupe
  By greggp2 - February 24 - 9:56 pm

  Where else can you drive a new, hand built, Italian Exotic with a V8 source Ferrari engine and F1 shifting technology for under $90,000? If you want exhilarating performance, Italian head turning styling and exclusivity, then you owe it to yourself to check out this car. You wont be disappointed. Ive owned Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs and this car is by far the most fun to drive and turns more heads than anything else Ive ever driven.

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  Great Replacement for MB SL500 - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By Alexpapas - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for my wife to replace a 1998 MB SL500. The two could not be more different. This car has soul! It also drives beautifully,My wife mostly uses the auto mode which works great around town. The interior is as beautiful as a Ferrari and the performance is outstanding. It has a softer ride than Ferraris 360 but has almost as much power and much more

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  My Gransport LE - 2006 Maserati Gransport
  By Tom - January 13 - 8:40 am

  The Maserati GranSport is a great riding car. It has great acceleration and incredible handling at high speeds.

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  maserati - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By bh - January 4 - 2:00 am

  excellent performance comfort and style,very pleasing road performer