2006 Maserati Gransport

Description

For those of you with extroverted personalities but who think a Ferrari is just too flashy and a Mercedes SL is just plain boring, there's this 2006 Maserati GranSport. With a Ferrari-based V8, impeccable interior, and Italian flair that just can't be faked, this is the exotic that you can drive every day.

With an original sticker price just over $100k, you'd better believe this sportscar is beautifully finished. Buyers at that price level don't put up with the niggles that plague lesser cars and the Italians seem to excel at creating paint that's so smooth and glossy that it still looks wet enough to smear. The Italians call it "Nero Carbonio," something we ordinary mortals might refer to as "Black Metallic" but it sure is pretty. With just 62,502 miles on the clock, it is in fantastic condition with very few signs of use, because cars like this always see above-average levels of care. There might be a small chip or nick in the usual places, which only comes from using it as intended, but there is nothing that keeps this car from stopping onlookers dead in their tracks. Yes, it's really that pretty but it's only fully evident when you see it in person. All the chrome trim is metal, not plastic, and it has a cool, heavy feeling that suggests quality, and while the Italians have long been the butt of jokes in the quality department, this 15-year-old Maserati seems to be defying the passage of time.

Finding one of these with a tan leather interior is none too easy (or Cuoio as the Italians call it), as it is one of the rarer color combinations offered. In the usual Italian fashion, the stitchwork is exquisite and the hides are almost sinfully soft. Plush black carpets, real carbon fiber trim, and a sensible control layout are all plusses for the GranSport, which by virtue of its name, was designed to be a sporty yet comfortable at the same time. Big, simple gauges are easy to read ahead of the grippy steering wheel, while the center stack and console contain controls akin to the switches in a fighter jet center, and the floppy paddle shifters behind the steering wheel make the automatic transmission that much more lively. Yes, there are plenty of buttons and tech to satisfy the guy who loves gadgets, and it all works properly, and for entertainment a newer Sony AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit was added in the factory slot. A few nods to the car's ancestry can be found in the Trident emblem on the center of the wheel, the classic-looking timepiece in the center of the dash, the aluminum foot pedals, and even the back seat area with twin buckets is just drop-dead gorgeous. It also includes a good-sized trunk that shows no signs of wear and tear, and there's plenty of room back there to account for most tours.

There's some Ferrari DNA in the F136R 4.2 liter DOHC V8, which is rated at a lofty 395 horsepower. It loves to rev, but there's plenty of torque available at any speed, which helps with the GranSport's easy-going nature. The paddle-shifter Cambiocorsa 6-speed automated manual transmission is a bit more civilized than a regular manual, and it was recalibrated in the GranSport, making it very easy to be smooth and fast in this car. The re-tuned, light alloy SkyHook active suspension is an absolute joy to drive, handling the sports car in-and-out of the corners with ease, and with a lower ride height and wonderful grumble from the dual exhaust, the car sounds positively heroic. Weight distribution is just about ideal, with almost equal mass between the front and rear wheels, so despite being a luxury coupe that's loaded down with options, this car doesn't mind hustling through the corners. It is obviously beautifully maintained and has never seen harsh winter weather, so no worries there. And the 19-inch alloy wheels with giant cross-drilled Brembos behind them are simply gorgeous!

Beautifully maintained, exceptional to look at, and a joy to drive, this is a great opportunity to own an A-list supercar for a fraction of the price of a new one. Why do it any other way? Call today!