0gfdWhen Maserati revived the Quattroporte name in 2004, any thoughts of the previous generations' gawky looks were immediately banished. Here was a sleek. four-door saloon capable of taking on the best from Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes, and latterly the Porsche Panamera too.
This sixth-generation of Quattroporte was a success straight out of the traps, helped by a 400hp 4.2-litre V8 engine borrowed directly from the 4200 Coupe. This engine was muscular enough to see the 1,990kg Maserati from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and on to 170mph.
With an emphasis on performance, we can forgive the QP for only really being a four-seater. A fifth passenger can travel in the middle rear seat, but it's a tight fit. We can also forgive the scattergun switch layout, but the sat-nav is just too slow-witted, even by the standards of when the car launched.
Still, there are all the other luxury accoutrements you'd expect, including a chilled cubby under the front armrest. As for all that leather upholstery, it's wearing well as the Quattroporte gets longer in the tooth, but beware an electric parking brake that can take on a mind of its own.
The Executive GT and Sport GT models pitched up in late 2005, with the former offering the usual wood'n'hide combo plus a comfort pack for rear seat passengers.
The Sport GT came with 20-inch alloy wheels in place of the usual 18-inch or optional 19-inch items, as well as Maserati's variable-rate Skyhook damping that adjusts to how the car is driven. It also gained a sports steering wheel, more vocal exhaust and, perhaps most importantly, improved software for the DuoSelect automated manual gearbox. This update quickened shifts by 35 per cent to answer the one constant criticism of the Quattroporte, namely the jerky nature of the transmission.
A year later, Maserati finally capitulated on this issue and supplemented the DuoSelect 'box with a six-speed ZF auto. Unsurprisingly, all but the most dedicated chose the new automatic, and this it's worth seeking this out if you want a relaxed drive. This isn't to say the DuoSelect is impossible to live with, but it demands more driver input to smooth changes than many will expect in luxury saloon.
A 2008 facelift did very little to change the style of the Quattroporte, but Maserati had still saved the best to last in the shape of the 4.7-litre Sport GT S. With lower, firmer suspension, it was not to all tastes but it made the most of the QP's superb handling balance. With 430hp from the larger engine, the S covered 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and carried on to 174mph.
Bodywork and interior
Ignore the sat-nav: it was dated when the car was launched and is an antique now
Make sure all of the electrics work, especially the electronic parking brake
Plenty of leather means a neglected Quattroporte will be very expensive to refurbish; some wear on the driver's seat bolsters is to be expected
Only bonnet and boot are made from aluminium, so most parking dings are cheaper and easier to repair than on some of the Maserati's alloy-bodied rivals
Check for stone chips across the whole front end
Folding door mirrors and rear parking sensors can fail, especially on cars left standing where the battery has been allowed to go flat
Engine and transmission
DuoSelect gearbox is a manual with automated clutch control; it can be sluggish to select reverse and changes are often jerky, though this depends on driving style
DuoSelect clutch can wear out in less than 25,000 miles, particularly if the car is used mostly in town; new clutch is around £1,500
Hydraulic gear selectors in DuoSelect transmission fail and are £2,500 from Maserati plus fitting; listen for any noises from the gearbox as a tell-tale
DuoSelect cars have red cam covers and those with the ZF auto 'box have blue cam covers
Service intervals are every 6,000 miles; engine is reliable but can leak a little oil from the cam covers and crankshaft seal
Poor engine idling is most likely the air flow meter failing
Suspension and steering
GT S sits 10mm lower at the front and 25mm closer to the ground at the rear; it has a firm ride, so be sure you can live with this
2005-on have a repositioned steering rack that gives better feel, especially in the straight ahead
Bushes wear out and make themselves known though squeaks and creaks; new bushes are cheap, but labour to replace them will be pricey
Make sure Skyhook system where fitted works and swaps between Normal and Sport settings - new dampers are expensive.
Wheels, tyres and brakes
Accurate suspension geometry and alignment is essential to ensure even tyre wear and handling balance
Brakes are considered a weak link in the Quattroporte's driving armour - they can fade during hard driving, but generally they last well
GT S model has dual-cast discs of iron and aluminium for better heat dissipation; they also come with Brembo six-pot calipers for improved stopping power
Maserati Quattroporte
Engine: 4,244cc/4,691cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power (hp): 400@7,000rpm/430@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 331@4,500rpm/361@4,750rpm
MPG: 19.2/18.0*
CO2: 370/365g/km*
Price new: £77,330/£87,430*
Yours for: £15,000 upwards
*Figures for official UK
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