Well, I drove the 2006 Maserati Gransport today. I've driven the 05 Gransport, Coupe, and Quattroporte in the past but having driven the Aston Martin V8 Vantage recently I wanted to drive the Gransport again for comparison.
First off I just want to say that Italian cars have character and soul that's just missing from all other cars. You really have to experience it for yourself to fully understand.
There is nice roar when the Start button is pressed and the car idles surprisingly stable for a strung out 4.2 liter dry sump V8 with 400hp. The only transmission option is Cambiocorsa, which is a derivative of the Ferrari F1 paddle shift system. The system works amazing well with fast shifting, especially in Sport mode. The Sport mode opens up butterfly valves in the exhaust to make the car louder and it also quickens the shifting and the throttle response.
The Gransport had surprisingly supple suspension and slight roll. The AM V8 had stiffer suspension and better body control than the Gransport. The Maserati has been around much longer than the AM V8 and it's starting to show its age. As far as the driving experience the Maserati wins hands down.
The steering is very direct on the Gransport but again not as direct as the AM V8. The brakes pedal is very stiff and the response is excellent, definitely one of the best brakes i've used.
The Cambiocorsa transmission is fully adaptive to your driving style. If you floor the throttle and let go of the gas the system stays in the same gear. Also, it doesn't allow downshifts on very tight and fast turns so that the car doesn't upset its balance. Each upshift in Sport mode and full throttle is met by a loud thunk from the transmission and a powerful shove forcing you into the seat. I really can't say enough about the Cambiocorsa system and it's easily the best sequential/paddle shift system that i've tried.
The Cambiocorsa system, just like other sequential manual systems has its drawbacks. The main problem is the frequent replacement of the clutch due to the constant engaging and disengaging of the clutch by the ecu. After a few hard launches the clutch on the my test car started to slip and overheat and the pungent smell of the clutch permeated the interior.
Needless to say, I took it easy all the way back to the dealership.
After years of production the Maserati Gransport still delivers an amazing driving experience. The AM V8 feels like a much newer and refined car but at the same time it has a raw side that becomes apparent when driven hard.
