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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  Love my Mazzio - 2006 Maserati Quattroporte
  By jhuffdoc - October 23 - 3:14 am

  This is a manual transmission car which was not available in the list. All 2006 QPs were. I bought this with 1200 miles and have driven it daily. I still love to look at it and drive it! I was surprized at my first clutch and rear brakes having lasted only 12,000 miles, but chalk that up to showing friends the new car performance, its been much better since. Its rear brake biased and those brakes and tires wear twice as fast as fronts, which was not expected. There have been some irritations such as window regulators going out, a short in the wiring to the trunk lid, and valets breaking the reverse switch. Regular maintenance is important and pays off in the long run.

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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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  Spyder vs SL 500 - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By . Noyes - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I ordered both the SL 500 and Spyder. They arrived at the same time and I test drove them back to back. The plastic interior, cheap feeling switchgear and contrived exterior design of the SL compared poorly with the Maserati (and with the previous SL). The real difference was in the driving. The SL was subdued and perfect-- the Maseati was alive and fun!

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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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  True Exotic Sports Car - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By RMK - May 24 - 5:23 pm

  WOW! Get behind the wheel of a Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa and you will understand the hype and accolades. I turned in a Porsche 911 C4S to buy one. I have driven a BMW M3, BMW M5, and the Porsche, and the Maserati is definetely the most fun of them all to drive. The M5 felt more refined and had more spontaneous raw power (6 speed), and the Porsche was all around more precise and smooth, but the Maserati is a true sports car! It has great power and handling with the most appealing looks. It has a great exhaust and engine sound even without the tubi exhaust. The F1 paddles gives the driver a formula track feel. Everyone stares at this Italian beauty. If you can, indulge. As Ferris Bueller would say, I would highly recommend one for anyone who can afford to buy one!

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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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  Looks Good But Hunk Of Junk - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By dane17 - February 21 - 7:24 am

  This car is strictly "looks only", it is not reliable or even close to it. I have already sank $13,760 in repairs at only 23K miles. This is totally unacceptable for a $140K car when new. I am taking it to the auction next week to "unload" before it can empty my wallet again. But if you want a sharp car that sits good in the driveway - this is it! Just dont drive it anywhere!!

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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