Drive It! - 2008 Maserati Quattroporte

The Basics
Ferrari-sourced 400 HP V-8
0-60 MPH: 5.5 sec
MSRP: $115-138K
http://www.maseratiquattroporte.com/

The Drive
I don't normally need a special invitation to test-drive a six-figure Italian sportscar with Ferrari lineage. But when I received a rather expensive-looking mailer from Maserati offering me a free case of Omaha Steaks if I drove the 2008 Quattroporte or Gran Turismo Sport, it seemed like the time was finally right to test the Modena masterpiece. I accepted the invitation at Maserati.com and called my local Ferrari/Maserati dealer to set it up.

Fernando Sustaeta, the sales manager at Ferrari and Maserati of San Diego (located in scenic La Jolla), is a pleasant guy with the enviable task of selling a product that sells itself. Let's face it -- you don't walk into a Ferrari/Maserati dealership needing to be convinced that you're in the presence of gorgeous pieces of automotive art. Whatever the state of the national economy these days, Ferrari dealers don't seem to be feeling it. That said, Maseratis do require a bit more salesmanship because there is plenty of competition in the premium sports grand tourer market (Maz doesn't like to use the word "sedan"). Think BMW M5, Mercedes CL550, and the upcoming Porsche Panamera.

The Quattroporte Executive GT we drove was exquisitely appointed with supple Italian leather everywhere, maybe more than I would actually want. The Sport GT and Sport GT S are more my style but the Executive GT was all set to go and it would have required a team of Cal Tech engineers to get the Sport GT model out of the dealership's rear door without moving the half-dozen Ferraris that stood in its way.

If you've ever been to the seaside hamlet of La Jolla, you are likely aware that it is not the ideal spot for test-driving a car with a 400-horsepower V-8. Compound that fact with my shortsighted decision to take it out on a Friday afternoon and it quickly became clear that we wouldn't be pushing this car anywhere near its limits. However, some conclusions were easy to reach.

1. Maserati, taking cues from Ferrari, makes very usable paddle shifters. Many automakers have jumped on the paddle-shifting bandwagon to spice up automatic trannies but the Italian F1-inspired version on the Quattroporte was extremely fun to use. A manual gearbox is generally my preference but sitting in Southern California traffic makes paddle-shifting a very attractive alternative. Ferrari's paddle-shifters are so perfectly engineered that they shift gears quicker than a human being physically could with a stick. I'm not sure if the same is true for the Maserati but I would bet it is.

2. The Quattroporte is a deceptively quick car. Cars with four doors typically don't look like they should be beasts off the line and this one is no exception, particularly when sitting in the driver's seat. There is so much luxurious Italian design in the interior that it's easy to forget that this is actually a legitimate sportscar. 0-60 in five and a half seconds puts this 400 HP Maserati behind the M5 in a straight line but on par with the two-door CL550.

3. This car oozes style. Much like a fine Canali suit, the Maserati Quattroporte is beautiful without being flashy; not a look-at-me car but rather one that attracts knowing nods from people who appreciate good design. This car is right at home next to the Bentleys and Ferraris that are constantly parked front of La Jolla's famous La Valencia hotel and is even the featured automobile on the current season of "The Bachelor."

Bottom Line
There are some faster cars, and plenty of less-expensive ones, but if you have the cash, need four doors and want something besides the ubiquitous black BMW 5-series and silver Mercedes sedans that call SoCal home, the Maserati Quattroporte merits serious consideration.