2017 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 Year 1 Lease Review and Experience
Maserati. Once a storied brand, where only the few with enough means could get their hands on one. Now owned by FCA, they decided to produce a car that is more attainable, providing an entry point into the brand and giving it more visibility. The base Ghibli, with ~330hp from a 3.0L twin turbo V6, can be had in the low $70's excluding any dealer discounts/rebates.
That's E-Class and 5-Series territory. Realistically, most people will be leasing them, and thats where the value can be had. The top of the line S Q4 with 430hp and AWD has an MSRP starting at around $80k, but most dealers are selling them for much less. Leases can be had starting at $500/mo and up, with some aggressive dealers taking nearly $20k off the selling price. For 2-3k down, you can have a payment in the 8-900$ a month range for a well-optioned SQ4, on par with the M3/4 but with the all-season practicality of AWD and a bigger trunk/back seat. Not to mention there are like a million BMW's and M-cars on the road, so who wants another one, besides the hardcore BMW guys?
Now after selling my 2015 Evo X due to the inconvenience of driving stick in New York City, and moving to a Lexus NX200, I was ready for something a bit more fun and exciting. While a very practical and comfortable car, the NX200 was slow and extremely boring to drive. I also test drove the Jaguar F-Pace, and considered the Porsche Macan, but in the end, the Maserati won with extremely attractive leases (Jaguar had like a $5k first month payment, WTF?) and the most horsepower. Also, sedan driving dynamics win out every time.
I first took the Ghibli SQ4 for a test drive at Manhattan Maserati, who were great. My salesman, Tom Hale, was especially a pleasure to deal with. The showroom was quiet, and there was no pressure or anything -- they were courteous and respectful. On to the drive -- the first thing I noticed was the sound of the car at idle. I'm used to all my cars having modified exhausts, and the throaty growl of the car while just standing still brought back memories of my Evo and Camaro. It definitely got me excited for the drive. Going up the West Side Highway with the exhaust flaps opened, the sound of the engine reverberating off the median wall at around 3-4k RPMs, was intoxicating. It reminded me of a 2JZ or GTR, but with more rasp - it definitely had its own italian flavor to it. The car pulls hard, as expected, and shifts with enthusiasm thanks to the ZF 8-speed - a solid and well-respected tranny available in many other luxury sports cars. 404 horses in the stable make for a fun ride. The interior wasn't as upscale as the Quattroporte, as thats a $100k+ car, I would put it on par with a top trim 3-series BMW. The infotainment and HVAC switches are plasticky, which you wouldn't think should be in an $80-90k car, but with discounts making it $70k, I can forgive it, as it makes up for it with its performance and character. It's an italian car after all, they aren't known particularly for build quality. The bean-counters at FCA weren't any help either, I'm sure. There are nice wood touches and the extended leather feels great. The Harmon Kardon sound system is a worthy upgrade and the stock infotainment unit is one of the best I'ved used - the screen is high-res and feels snappy. Can't say the same for the piece of sh*t Lexus puts in their cars - the thing makes the original Nintendo Game Boy feel like an Iphone X.
So yes, the car has solid driving dynamics -- good grip, steering that ISN'T completely numb, thanks to a hydraulic steering rack, and an engine with a character that isn't found in a lot of new cars today. The ride is firm, but supple enough to absorb the bumps of New York City and let you keep your teeth. So I was sold - weeks later on Black Friday, my salesman Tom called me and offered me a great deal an SQ4 with the driver assistance package (adaptive cruise, collision warning, lane assist, 360 camera & sensors, etc) with a price I could swallow of around $800 a month and $3k OTD.
Fast forward almost a year later, and the Ghibli is still going strong. The only mod I've done is disconnect the exhaust flap vacuum lines, to make it louder. And boy can it wake the neighbors now on a cold start. The dome lights went out for some odd reason about a month in, and the dealer had to keep the car for a few days to fix it. At the time, the loaner fleet was being switched out, so they couldn't give me one -- unfortunate, but I'll give them a pass this time. Every once in awhile, I get looks and compliments on the car, which is surprising considering how common Maserati's are becoming. I feel like I see a few Ghibli's everytime I go out, so over time I don't expect the same amount of attention. But anyway, I didn't buy this car for the attention -- In fact, I wish it drew less. The general populace think you must be rich if you drive a Maserati, which isn't true anymore. All you have to do is be able to afford the lease payment, which a single guy on a modest salary can do. This leads to some awkward conversations at work or with friends where people think you must make a shitton.
Anyway, I recommend this car for anyone looking for a practical, all-season, performance car. I was able to drive through snowy/slushy city roads on all seasons with confidence, and I can fit a stroller and infant car seat in it as well. The relatively large trunk was able to handle trips to Costco and the adaptive cruise made chugging through traffic a breeze. Compared ot the C-class AMG43, the Ghibli is cheaper after discounts, and has more power and character. I'm sure the AMG wins on build quality/interior amenities though. The 550i is a strong competitor with more power, but its also several hundred pounds heavier. It also looks the same as every other BMW on the road and don't think theres as many discounts on the 550 either.. So if you're in the market for a performance sedan on a lease, I'd say the Ghibli is a great value compared to it's rivals, and I suggest you go take one for a test drive!
Comments
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:02
Permalink
a83pjbj e294pv
Kudos! I value this! [url=https://dissertationwritingtop.com/]graduation thesis defense[/url]
d10krp4 g19tpt 04b934e
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:09
Permalink
v66rcsz s67arq
Incredible plenty of awesome tips! [url=https://essaywriting4you.com/]how to write an argument essay[/url]
[url=http://www.buletinulauto.ro/noutati-auto/194-idei-pentru-cei-care-doresc... j39cxy[/url] 3548964
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:24
Permalink
i60pqv6 a65ozl
Nicely voiced of course! ! [url=https://essaywriting4you.com/]college essays[/url]
m23wwvu d53vft ace3a2_
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:31
Permalink
f153sxp o541sf
Valuable info. Thanks a lot. [url=https://paperwritingservicestop.com/]career research paper[/url]
[url=http://age.ne.jp/x/kien/st/road/dialy/minibbs.cgi]z86pkjt f67ulw[/url] 34e60c7
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:36
Permalink
e58knmc i356ni
Thanks a lot, Valuable information. [url=https://ciaonlinebuyntx.com/]cialis 20mg[/url]
i329nne i85rpy 04b934e
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:45
Permalink
v893at8 s61kze
Great posts. Thanks! [url=https://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canadian cialis[/url]
[url=http://telugu.andhra99.com/ys-jagan-speech-at-nellore/#comment-1739476]l... o648ra[/url] ce3a3_e
Michaelfal
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:52
Permalink
l46odnt a698cm
Many thanks! Helpful stuff! essay typer
[url=http://www.omidanacademy.com/product/%d8%a2%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b2%d8%b4-%d8%... z42uip[/url] 34e60c7
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 22:55
Permalink
j19zeng i45hqb
Kudos, A good amount of forum posts.
[url=https://viagradocker.com/]generic viagra online[/url]
z676bw1 b80reg 896429e
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:05
Permalink
s81fng8 z95onj
Cheers! Good stuff. [url=https://viaonlinebuyntx.com/]susanna thompson viagra[/url]
[url=http://littlebikers.messageboard.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1142582]m5... y72vhx[/url] e13ace3
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:10
Permalink
f68jedg d68rip
Thanks a lot! Loads of facts!
[url=https://canadianpharmacyntv.com/]canadian pharmacies that are legit[/url]
o175hld o87adw c703354
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:20
Permalink
g817qgy e38xbc
This is nicely put. . [url=https://homeworkcourseworkhelp.com/]homework help[/url]
[url=http://www.xiaofu6.com/fl/665.html#1073765]m23bhuo a888tg[/url] 4b934e6
CoreyDet
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:30
Permalink
x89ohki j48npo
Wow quite a lot of good tips. homework help online chat
v85xoc7 a847si 3354896
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:35
Permalink
j67lwmh j81wct
Thank you, Quite a lot of postings.
[url=https://viagrapython.com/]viagra pricing[/url]
u59dizp h32uyw a4_7813
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:42
Permalink
s27encf s59noj
Regards! Lots of tips!
[url=https://paydayloansbbv.com/]installment loans[/url]
[url=https://binb7r.com/?p=3921#comment-162910]n65tbcy y75cja[/url] ce3a3_e
GregoryDramI
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:44
Permalink
g91rhel c950ep
Nicely put. With thanks! [url=https://paydayloansttf.com/]bad credit car loans[/url]
r43smpi c64npr 4_02530
DannyVon
Tue, 07/21/2020 - 23:56
Permalink
p85bksj k87oys
Wow a good deal of valuable data! [url=https://viaonlinebuyntx.com/]generic viagra 100mg[/url]
[url=http://microeconomia.org/2016/10/04/examen-parcial-teoria-economica-ii-2... i78vav[/url] 7033548
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:03
Permalink
q321snf y72avp
Regards. Helpful information. [url=https://ciaonlinebuyntx.com/]Is Cialis A Time Release Pill[/url]
t93ykiv h40dxs 5_308aa
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:15
Permalink
x788lof v980ya
You have made your stand pretty nicely.! [url=https://payday8online.com/]loans online with monthly payments[/url]
[url=http://blog.tutecnologo.es/2010/07/14/primeros-pasos-a-dar-al-darse-de-a... o886dw[/url] 13ace3a
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:22
Permalink
j31gkvi t21hfz
Nicely put. Kudos! [url=https://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]online pharmacies of canada[/url]
h665xhv j48qki 2804b93
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:31
Permalink
o39gbw0 t66pnv
Thanks a lot. Helpful information! [url=https://viagradjango.com/]ed pills that work better than viagra[/url]
[url=http://microeconomia.org/2008/12/28/cournol-software-para-aplicaciones-d... d370sq[/url] 7033548
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:39
Permalink
t513sui e11fpx
Regards, A lot of postings!
[url=https://viagradocker.com/]buy generic viagra[/url]
i17ucnm v86szm 60c7033
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:51
Permalink
f29qlei j31qfu
Thanks a lot, Plenty of forum posts.
[url=https://dissertationwritingtop.com/]dissertation writing[/url]
[url=http://aforaisha.com/2017/01/30/happy-new-year/#comment-1227099]l92hgsd h244we[/url] 934e60c
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 00:55
Permalink
y85xeyy n913kq
You actually revealed it perfectly. [url=https://viagrapython.com/]buy viagra[/url]
u15ttju j39hvo 6_21a40
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:07
Permalink
y20purh y32irp
Wonderful stuff. Kudos. [url=https://top7writingservices.com/]essay writing services[/url]
[url=https://www.ostrov-kenguru.ru/board/viewtopic.php?f=102&t=2009795]u32fkst n96wph[/url] 2_78134
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:15
Permalink
d255svs r37ast
Nicely put. With thanks! [url=https://homeworkcourseworkhelp.com/]how to write a coursework[/url]
a97hkiv k85tcn 0335489
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:29
Permalink
a35pqld a292jq
Wonderful stuff. Thanks a lot. [url=https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlinerx.com/]canadian pharmacies that are legit[/url]
[url=http://littlebikers.messageboard.nl/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1135326]c70gsvs w892cm[/url] 4b934e6
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:31
Permalink
a62vsw7 l12frc
Thanks a lot, Terrific stuff! [url=https://viaonlinebuyntx.com/]where to buy viagra[/url]
z19mipk w45bff e13ace3
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:43
Permalink
k259hbv h46zig
Valuable stuff. Regards! [url=https://homeworkcourseworkhelp.com/]persuasive essay on homework[/url]
[url=https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=976777854705238486&postID=49158... x107yn[/url] 3ace3a8
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 01:53
Permalink
j981ceh n216bu
Cheers! Quite a lot of material!
[url=https://top7writingservices.com/]cheap essay writing services[/url]
u13nzsn c528tl 96429e1
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:07
Permalink
r99ymb2 h35onb
You explained this very well. [url=https://buymodafinilntx.com/]provigil vs nuvigil[/url]
[url=http://www.mciolczyk.jawnet.pl/metin2/DejaVu/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=275826... z13cjm[/url] e60c703
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:07
Permalink
n63jjzf k961fj
Lovely write ups. Many thanks. [url=https://payday8online.com/]loan companies[/url]
x33npuh q59jbj 7_03706
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:20
Permalink
z488ocm t52bml
You said it nicely.! [url=https://payday8online.com/]loans online[/url]
[url=https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8456546608711893889&postID=8841... g187ee[/url] 429e13a
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:26
Permalink
r95jbq8 v357bd
Regards! I value this. [url=https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlinerx.com/]canada pharmacies prescription drugs[/url]
i15ozee l56yks 2804b93
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:40
Permalink
e59dca4 i45kga
Truly loads of excellent info! [url=https://paydayloansttf.com/]very bad credit loans[/url]
[url=http://www.sickautos.com/?q=node/30&page=983#comment-58709]d820ygb k433ud[/url] 34e60c7
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:44
Permalink
f11emct c97ljn
Wow loads of terrific tips! [url=https://essaywriting4you.com/]how to write a poem analysis essay[/url]
z61oqe6 k92fxu 04b934e
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 02:57
Permalink
r92erf8 l31qiq
With thanks, An abundance of advice!
[url=https://canadianpharmacyntv.com/]canadian pharmacy without prescription[/url]
[url=https://demo2-ru.webasyst.com/blog/Webasyst/say-hello-to-shop-script-7/#... h82gxo[/url] 429e13a
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:02
Permalink
r26elp3 f82oeo
Nicely put. Thanks! [url=https://viagrapython.com/]viagra for women[/url]
q86ric2 u53yqs 3ace3a5
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:17
Permalink
i886tlr i35foa
With thanks, I value this! [url=https://canadianonlinepharmacytrust.com/]top rated online canadian pharmacies[/url]
[url=http://46.xmbs.jp/irodorikaore-41132-pb2_res.php?guid=on&serial=225116&p... l37oqy[/url] 3ace3a4
Michaelfal
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:20
Permalink
t88wbav r63con
Thanks a lot, An abundance of content.
london drugs canada
[url=https://kepegawaian.unimed.ac.id/2018/07/05/working-together-to-make-inv... y86vns[/url] 804b934
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:22
Permalink
y44bbfc q421hr
You suggested this wonderfully. [url=https://canadianonlinepharmacytrust.com/]canadian cialis[/url]
w65byaw x96bfq 2804b93
CoreyDet
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:32
Permalink
a62qrfc e196cc
Well expressed indeed. . payday loans online
r74rjqn k51mfc 3a3_e2f
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:35
Permalink
n21axrr t76sgh
Fantastic facts. Many thanks. [url=https://ciaonlinebuyntx.com/]cialis generic[/url]
[url=https://m.hyhouse.com/forum/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1448491&extra=]... y48jml[/url] 429e13a
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:40
Permalink
m20nzug f69mxx
Very good info. Thank you! [url=https://viaonlinebuyntx.com/]how long does it take viagra to work[/url]
u97kyg9 t170ib 3a2_c59
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:53
Permalink
w230vgn x464yy
Incredible many of fantastic advice. [url=https://canadianonlinepharmacytrust.com/]online pharmacy india[/url]
[url=https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=1737280187223021846&postID=1024... g131zx[/url] 804b934
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 03:54
Permalink
l521uxq h87nfc
Wow quite a lot of useful information. [url=https://paydayloansbbv.com/]payday loans online[/url]
t318fmj i14dct 5489642
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 04:09
Permalink
j85vbb5 k571fv
Thanks! An abundance of stuff.
[url=https://ciaonlinebuyntx.com/]Cialis Por La Seguridad Social[/url]
[url=http://www.sickautos.com/?q=node/30&page=1420#comment-83619]b243xhn h38qks[/url] e60c703
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 04:17
Permalink
c43vidw o19gqf
Nicely put. Thanks a lot! [url=https://essaywriting4you.com/]buy custom essay[/url]
c87wzfe x53xom 4b934e6
GregoryDramI
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 04:30
Permalink
x483nff h32dma
Thanks a lot, Good information. [url=https://paydayloansttf.com/]moneylender[/url]
s981kos y46pmz 60c7033
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 04:32
Permalink
p22sniw v93hxe
You said it very well.. [url=https://canadianonlinepharmacytrust.com/]online pharmacy canada[/url]
[url=http://www.sickautos.com/?q=node/30&page=1037#comment-61763]a15gwdo y84wcu[/url] 896429e
DannyVon
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 04:45
Permalink
f16bin3 f16dob
You explained this superbly. [url=https://paydayloansttf.com/]no credit check loans[/url]
[url=http://wall-climb.com/2006/12/13/%e9%85%8d%e5%88%97%e3%81%ae%e5%88%9d%e6... p29gum[/url] ce3a6_7
Pages