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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  Worst Quality EVER - 2005 Maserati Quattroporte
  By forspam - October 15 - 2:43 pm

  Bought with 9,000 miles and 12 months left on warranty. More time with Ferrari/Maserati Houston than driving. Throw-out bearing/seals warranty replaced but clutch plate not covered ($1000 part). Software problems=failed plugs ($1000). Failure both fuel pumps ($3,500). Door mechanism failure, plus numerous trips to get transmission software upgrades. Car has total 15,000 miles on odometer. Even the most trivial parts are special order from Italy. I will NEVER buy an Italian car again.

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  Better than adrenalin - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By GTC - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a very exciting car, whether you drive it or just look at it. The acceleration, cornering, braking, and overall handling characteristics are outstanding. It gets looks even from people who are not "car people."

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  Two cars in One - 2013 Maserati GranTurismo
  By tekman69 - August 13 - 8:07 pm

  I have driven sports cars in the 60-100K range before, and have enjoyed the speed yet didnt always enjoy the stiff suspension driving on the pot hole filled streets and highways in and around New York City. I just upped the ante and purchased a new 2013 Maserati Granturismo Sport about 1000 miles ago and it is worth every last penny and then some. This is two cars in one. A sports car with plenty of power, great handling and a sound that you never get tired of (sport on). This car is beautiful and will not get old. But the absolute best thing about this car is a push button on the dash that turns this car into the most comfortable long distance luxury tourer for the entire family of 4

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  if youre tall - 2009 Maserati Quattroporte
  By anthony - August 4 - 12:26 am

  we all know the pros- stylish, great sound, exotic, head turner etc... however, im 63 230 and its too tight in the driver seat. my legs feel like they are held too close together and i need the seat to extend further back. cant keep it, but the grand turismo fits much better.

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  good - 2004 Maserati Spyder
  By road lover - July 15 - 2:00 am

  awsome to drive. there is a big rush. the best!

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  excelent car - 2004 Maserati Spyder
  By spyderrob - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I previously owned 3 mercedes bens 500 sl I was very surprised hte first time I drove the Masserati Spyder. It is a great car and very fun to drive. The SL felt like a car for older people. The maseratti spyder feels like a car for all sorts of people as u can drive it in various mods.

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  Creating a buzz - 2004 Maserati Coupe
  By mjkmd - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Maserati coup 2 months ago and I have loved every minute driving this powerful yet elegant machine. This head turning vehicle has been the talk of the community. It is fast, has highly responsive tight handling, and an incredibly sticky braking system. The sound system is awesome and the seats are the most comfortable Ive ever experienced. The leather work and interior details are magnificent. My father in law drove the car last week and was regretting the fact that he just bought a Porshe 911.

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  Just One Problem - 2002 Maserati Spyder
  By joseph Herman - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Everything about the car has been up to, or exceeded my expectations. I have been very surprised by how many people recognize this rare and unfamiliar car, and by the number of unsolicited compliments I have been getting from total strangers. The most frequent remark is about how elegant the car looks on the street, compared to photographs.

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  Most Excellent - 2008 Maserati GranTurismo
  By Palo Alto - July 4 - 12:20 pm

  You must see this car in person. Photos do not due it justice. Rarely does a day go by when someone doesnt stare or yell out the window about my car. This is the ultimate executive car. Comfortable, luxurious and fun. Back seat can fit 2 full size adults but, the car does not look large from the outside. Interior is so Italian. No German car can match. The best part, no one else has one.

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  Bad news - 2007 Maserati Quattroporte
  By philr43 - June 11 - 5:53 pm

  It is with great disappointment that I have to report that a car I have enjoyed greatly for two and a half years was shown upon its 62500 mile service to be suffering from very severe chassis corrosion. The Masarati Quatroporte 2007 is a brilliantly engineered and great looking car but sadly of inferior build quality. Having been so impressed prior to this service inspection I was ready to put in an order for the new Ghibli Maserati however now some assurance that build quality has improved is necessary, also I expect other owners to cars of similar age to mine to be advised to have a inspection done. This may catch corrosion in time and preclude the great expense of chassis replacement.