Maserati GranTurismo with Ferrari V8 for Dacia SUV money – but there is a major catch

An Italian luxury coupé powered by a Ferrari V8 currently costs little more than a well-equipped compact SUV – but there is a major catch.

A Maserati GranTurismo currently listed on the used-car market is raising eyebrows. It has Pininfarina styling, a Ferrari V8 and an original list price once comfortably above €100,000 – yet it is now advertised for the price of a new Dacia SUV. It sounds like winning the motoring lottery, but, as ever, the details matter.

An Italian dream car with Pininfarina styling

The Maserati GranTurismo is regarded as one of the most graceful coupés of the 2000s. Its body was penned by Pininfarina, the design house responsible for countless iconic sports cars. A long bonnet, short overhangs and a broad rear end give it the archetypal grand tourer stance.

This particular 2009 example is now being offered for €24,990. That is roughly what a new, reasonably well-specified Dacia Duster costs. Anyone who remembers the GranTurismo sitting in showrooms when new may need to look twice: at launch, its price was firmly in six-figure territory.

An exotic car that once occupied the luxury-price bracket has fallen into everyday SUV territory – that is what makes this listing so appealing.

Nearly 20 years after its debut, the GranTurismo has scarcely aged visually. The distinctive Maserati nose and prominent grille, muscular wheel arches and low roofline still create a strong impression, whether outside an ice-cream café or at a motorway service station.

More intriguingly, the car for sale has remained largely in original condition. Many GranTurismos were later “personalised” with loud, non-approved exhausts or questionable tuning parts. According to the description, this one remains close to factory specification, which will please collectors and purists alike.

Ferrari V8 power: sound, performance and emotion

The GranTurismo’s centrepiece sits beneath its long front bonnet: a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 developed in Maranello. Its foundations came from Ferrari, before Maserati adapted the engine for grand touring use.

Its figures remain impressive even now:

• Engine capacity: 4.2 litres, naturally aspirated V8
• Power: 405 PS
• Torque: 460 Nm
• Top speed: well over 250 km/h

A more powerful 4.7-litre version arrived later. However, the 4.2-litre V8 is also considered highly robust. Many examples cover well beyond 100,000 kilometres without trouble, while some approach 200,000 kilometres without the engine becoming a concern – provided servicing has been regular and carried out properly.

Early GranTurismo models did have one weak point: the sequential gearbox. It had a reputation for being temperamental, expensive to maintain and not always smooth in everyday driving. This is precisely where a 2009 model year offers a significant advantage.

From 2009, Maserati fitted a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox – considerably more dependable and more pleasant for daily use.

The advertised car has this ZF automatic transmission. For many potential buyers, that matters almost as much as the engine’s condition. The seller states that both engine and gearbox are operating perfectly, and the mileage is 99,000 kilometres.

An unusual colour combination instead of the usual grey sports car

Visually, this GranTurismo also differs from the familiar formula. Most of these coupés appear in city centres in black, dark grey or silver. This example wears dark red paintwork, paired with a beige and dark red interior.

This more daring combination still looks particularly elegant and suits the GranTurismo character of a touring coupé designed to make an impression not just at a race circuit, but outside an opera house as well.

The luxury price has gone, but the running costs remain

At first glance, comparing its purchase price with a Dacia Duster is understandable. But focusing only on the initial outlay would be a mistake. A Maserati GranTurismo remains a high-performance Italian sports car, with all the costs that entails.

Typical major expenses include:

• Insurance: sports-car premiums and sometimes high insurance groups
• Servicing: inspections by specialists rather than low-cost garages
• Wear items: large brakes and specialist suspension components
• Tyres: wide, sports-car-sized tyres that often require expensive premium brands
• Fuel: a naturally aspirated V8 with real-world consumption far above compact-car levels

Anyone who reads “Dacia price” and assumes “Dacia costs” will receive a sharp wake-up call. The bargain element applies only to the purchase price, not to the overall ownership package.

Why this Maserati GranTurismo appears so inexpensive

This GranTurismo has one notable detail: it was originally delivered in Dubai and later imported into Germany. Import procedures and taxes appear to have been completed, but one crucial item is missing: a valid German MOT inspection certificate and local registration.

The car is offered without an MOT and without German registration – and that is exactly what lowers the price by an estimated €5,000 to €7,000.

For the dealer, this is a selling point: anyone willing to arrange the inspection themselves receives a considerably lower entry price in return. However, the buyer also takes on the risk of whatever the inspection might uncover.

At least four new tyres are already included, and the seller even offers delivery. From a logistical perspective, it is therefore manageable, provided the buyer has access to a garage or inspector familiar with imported vehicles.

Sports-car import risks at a glance

Anyone considering a car like this should examine several matters particularly carefully:

• Complete history: maintenance records, invoices and the service book from the country of origin.
• Corrosion and climate: vehicles from hot regions rarely suffer from rust, but heat can wear rubber components and plastics.
• European compliance: the lighting, speedometer and potentially emissions standards must be suitable.
• MOT risk: any required upgrades to emissions equipment, lighting or brakes can become costly.

Buyers who have these points under control and arrange an independent inspection before purchase substantially reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises.

Who the Maserati at “Dacia money” really suits

The target audience for such an offer is clearly limited. A Ferrari-engined Maserati GranTurismo is not suitable as a sole car for a commuter on a tight budget. It is better suited to people who:

• already own a dependable everyday car
• specifically budget for servicing and repairs
• deliberately want an emotional hobby vehicle
• can live with fluctuations in value

For them, the purchase can become an experience that goes far beyond rational figures. A high-revving naturally aspirated V8 that sounds as if its driver is seated in an opera box directly in front of the orchestra offers something modern turbocharged four-cylinder engines with particulate filters struggle to provide.

It is also worth considering alternatives. Dealers ask similar sums for older Porsche 911s, Jaguar XKs or BMW M6s, for example. All offer strong engines and a premium image, but they differ substantially in running costs, reliability and public perception.

What prospective buyers should establish before a test drive

Before taking the first drive, a few practical considerations can help to avoid unwelcome surprises later:

• What annual budget is realistically available for running costs?
• Is there a garage with Maserati experience within a practical distance?
• What will the insurance premium actually be, including third-party cover and comprehensive insurance?
• Can the car be taken off the road for winter and stored somewhere dry?

Anyone who answers these questions honestly and still smiles when the V8 starts is probably exactly the person this kind of offer was made for.

One final point is often underestimated: emotional cars can alter relationships, for better or worse. A Maserati parked outside a suburban terraced house is guaranteed to prompt conversations among the neighbours. Those who take that with humour and see the sports car not as a status symbol but as a rolling hobby will usually have the most relaxed experience with an exotic car like this.