996 C4 Cab Vs. 2004 Maserati Spyder

I'm getting ready to go purchase my first Porsche tomorrow. The dealer is 3 hours away and on the way there is another Porsche/Maserati dealer. The dealer about an hour closer has a 2004 Spyder with 7,000 miles for about the same price as the Porsche I'm looking at. Has anyone on this forum driven the Spyder to be able to compare it to a 996 C4 cab? I think I may just have to swing by for a test drive first if I get feedback that it handles well and has a nice interior finish. Also, can anyone who owns one comment on service and relability? I realize this is a Porshce forum, but any objective comments are appreciated. Thanks.

Check out this thread. Maser thread on 6speed

The Maserati easily has the best interior I've ever seen. Leather headliner and everything. The most customizing I've ever seen, literally no two cars will be alike, there are dozens of no charge interior color choices. With a Tubi exhaust it has the best sound this side of Ferrari. Very fun to drive, very exclusive and distinctive. Now the bad parts: 1. The dealer repair network is very sparse and inexperienced 2. There are few/no independant repair shops 3. Depreciates like a stone....ouch 4. There are major known problems with the F1 transmission 5. Repairs outside of warranty are closer to Ferrari $ than Porsche 6. The recent shakeup in Fiat transferred Maserati ownership from Ferrari to Alfa.....not good news for future support or marketability I loved the car, I won't take the downside risk

Not sure on Maserati looks. Chick car with awkward interior and the body styling is stuck somewhere between luxury and sport. Awkward. I saw an article where the magazine even gave the Vette convertible the thumbs up over the Maser spider. A bit embarrasing if you are an Italian sports car with basically a Ferrari engine and F1 paddle shifters. What about their future. Are they not going to be aligned with the Fiat division and no more Ferrai engines as Ferrari may build an entry level Dino type of car that would be in direct competition with the Maserati. May be difficult to get serviced and resale will liekly be horrid in a few years.

Worst part of an F car is maint and repair cost. Maserati inherits the worse part of F car with a package that is half lux and half sport.

A good friend of mine purchased the Maserati Spyder and I had a chance to drive it at length. The car has that Modena engine but that's where the similarities end. First I'll give my opinion about the looks. I think the car looks overwhelming ordinary, you could drive right past it and not notice it. For a $90,000 car I think it should stand out in a crowd. Second, the visibility from the car is terrible at best. Maybe I'm used to the fantastic sight lines of the 911 but either way I didn't feel comfortable behind the wheel at speed. The F1 shifter took some getting used to, not sure I really cared for it but I don't have enough experience driving F1 style trannys to really give it the thumbs up or down. I just know I didn't feel connected to the driving experience as I do with my 6 speed. The interior is nice, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the nicest interior I've ever seen. The top opens and closes twice as slow as my C4s Cab and the windscreen requires a degree in engineering to put together and install. OK I'm exaggerating slightly but it does require assembly which is really annoying. The car was fast but I didn't feel connected to the road AT ALL. It was scary driving the car hard and I didn't push it. Overall I was really unimpressed with the experience, and would rather own any year 911 than the Spyder. YMMV, Rob

Yea what riad said!

Thanks for the input. This is kind of what I thought. It sounds more like a roadster and either you like the looks or you find them bland. I guess I would be better off comparing this to an SL500 for price/function/style/etc. and that is not what I am looking for. I hope to post pics of my first P-car tomorrow. Damn it's going to be hard to sleep tonight after I drive it home!! Thanks again to everyone on this forum who has read and responded to all of my newbie questions!!

The Maserati looks like crap and drives like a bad GT car. Nuff said.

There is one new Maserati Spyder and one new Ferrari on the hill where I live. There are 4 Porsches on the 20 house loop that I live on. People stare at the Maser and the Ferrari when I follow them down the hill with their great V8 growl. No stares with the 996. Heck, I think the pizza delivery guys even use one. I retired early so I am more careful with my money. I think the 996 is a bargain. Enjoy your Maserati, Doc, I'm sure you'll have a good time with it. Besides you will avoid the jokes about Porsche drivers being "-r-c-s" on the inside. Post pictures at your convenience, please.

I just saw a Spyder in Downtown DC a few minutes ago that thing is very good looking to me. It seems like a car that one would wonder should he get that or an SL500 instead of a 996 vs a Spyder.

Can't help but recall the episode on Top Gear featuring the Maserati. They absolutely thought the car was "rubbish". Hated it. Had all kinds of issues regarding its handling. Too bad, I love the front end of the car, but the rear looks like they didn't know how to end the car so, just cut of the end and call it a day.

Well I bought my C4 cab yesterday so there is no going back now, nor would I want to. I couldn't sleep last night and I took the long way to work today. I will post pics tonight after I take my wife and kid for a ride. Thanks again for the comments. I really worried about service with the only Maserati service department being 3 hours away. My new car is a daily driver.

Congrats, I'm taking the ole girl out today, though I have no idea where I'm going, it's such a perfect day for toplessness.