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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  How to buy a Maserati - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By roman615 - July 8 - 7:50 am

  Just bought a 2005 Maserati. One of the best cars ever! Styling is amazing! Drives like a dream. So many people say bad things about this car and they may very well be true. However, buy a low mileage older car where the kinks are already worked out and you get a Ferrari for the price of a Ford. Will it cost more to maintain? Sure. But the driving experience is worth every penny! Mine has 38K miles and there are a few idiosyncrasies but I wouldnt trade it for anything. Say what you will but I will be smiling from ear to ear as I pass your BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or whatever. If you are wanting a true enthusiasts car that looks as good as it drives, this is it!

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  Poor Quality - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By voomvoom1977 - June 13 - 4:58 pm

  Im having the hardest time figuring out why I $113k car is worst than my 92 chevy cavalier. This car has been in the shop more than I can remember. TOO many problems for a luxury car. Computer sensors/transmission failures/alarm malfunctions/clutch/battery/engine failure systems problems just to name a few. I will NEVER buy another.

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  Beauty and sophistication - 2003 Maserati Spyder
  By T.A. Summerlin - January 3 - 5:10 am

  I bought this car after owning two Ferraris. The warranty did the trick along with the understated elegance with extraordinary sound, performance, and beauty.

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  For a Hobby Only - 2005 Maserati Coupe
  By sklein - August 9 - 12:13 pm

  This car is not all that great. The tires are 90 days backlogged (so buy a new set of four if one goes). It has software problems that cause stalling and no real answer. For $80,000 or there abouts, it is a bit rough (and I am just referring to the time it takes on the phone). The check engine light has been on since I purchased it and when it was "fixed" it lasted two minutes.

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  Perfect lease car - 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  By johnfsteph - July 30 - 4:08 pm

  Ive had my car since mid October 2014 and so far no major problems. The car drives really nice and the exhaust is fantastic. My only complaint are the small rattles in the car. Nothing too big, just a little annoying. I am confident the dealer will resolve when I bring it in for service...

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  Maserati... Not Ready for Prime Time! - 2007 Maserati Quattroporte
  By jdt - November 5 - 10:30 am

  I bought my car in May and its been in the shop for a total of 3 out of the 4 months Ive had it. Computer problems, leak in interior (that Maserati cant reproduce but is reproduced every time it rains), bad CD player. The quality of the car is poor and Maserati does not have the maintenance supply set-up to handle mass produced cars. (Theyre used to Ferrari owners whose cars arent needed on a daily basis.) For example, it took 2 weeks just to get the window leak fixed. While the engine and the handling of the car are excellent, Maserati is 5 years behind in terms of electronics and gadgetry that is common on most other mid and high end vehicles. I do not recommend this car!

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  Maserati Quattroporte Dream - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By jimmy - September 28 - 2:30 pm

  I have put 3,500 miles on my Maserati Quattroporte so far. This car is of lots of fun. It gives you a sense of power, security, elegance, and speed when you desire.

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  Maseratis Pros & Cons - 2004 Maserati Spyder
  By }{ {} }{ - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Pros: High qaulity engine, great interior, and comfort was exellent. Cons: Handling is not perfect, fuel economy wasnt good, and the exterior design is not the best.

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  Prop shaft defect - 2008 Maserati GranTurismo
  By Kevin Dorgan - May 2 - 4:30 am

  Stunning looking vehicle and quite rare to have 4 usable seats in this style of car. Gear box is excellent in manual sport mode, brakes only average, perhaps a little under powered, but no doubt S model will resolve these issues. It really is a joy to drive long and short distances. Engine has an enjoyable sound and in most areas it does what it was designed to do, and really quite well. However I have experienced unacceptable problems with the prop shaft. The vehicle is presently having its fifth shaft fitted. The rear tires are also wearing unevenly and at an unacceptable rate. Maserati has not been able so far to identify the cause or solution to the problem.

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  Race Car Performance / Luxurious 4 Door - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By Paolo Cristoferro - April 14 - 4:23 pm

  This most recent iteration of the Maserati Quattroporte is in a class by itself. The 8 cyl 4.2l dry-sump Maserati engine makes 400 bhp with no turbo or supercharger, far surpassing anything from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. With the engine tucked low and behind the front axle, and the tranny on the rear axel, this 4200 lb luxury sedan handles like an F-16. Its big sticky Bridgestone runflats keep it glued to the road, encouraging you to accelate through ridiculously tight turns. The faster you go, the more stable the ride gets! The sensuous curves of the Pininfarina body put the Quattroporte in sharp contrast to the edgy, techno-bods on the German competitors. Everywhere I go, heads turn, thumbs go up, and tongues hang out. Outstanding car.