Okay, those on this forum already know about the S Q4's pros and cons, but here is an article that pretty much lists them. Just for fun, I have summarized them below. My take is that this article will reinforce the enthusiast but will deter any posers
Or, as colleyt quoted from Top Gear: "Having a Maserati is like having a 2 year old; its annoying a lot of the time but if someone tried to take it from you, you'd kill em"
Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte wear Chrysler parts - chicagotribune.com
"Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte wear Chrysler parts -- long on style and performance but short on interior refinement."
Bottom Line -- buyers will take home something sexy and powerful with poor attention to detail. Isn't that what owning an Italian car is all about?
Competition
Ghibli -- it's aimed at high-end versions of BMW's 5 and 6 Series sedans, Mercedes' E-Class and CLS, and Audi's A6/A7 siblings
Quattroporte -- competitors include sedans such as the Audi S8, Porsche Panamera GTS and Mercedes S63 AMG
Cons
1. Third-rate plastic pieces that Maserati grabbed out of Chrysler's corporate parts bin
2. Cheapo bits come from Chrysler by way of Fiat
3. Controlled by a finicky shifter or huge paddles mounted to the steering column
4. The lightweight AWD system in the S Q4 mostly leaves the front wheels out of the equation (HQ1 - all the better to steer you with my dear)
5. The cars' steering system ... feels oddly numb and rubbery.
6. Disappointing interiors, surprisingly devoid of charm or sophistication
7. Excessive use of cheap plastic throughout the cabin
8. The touch-screen infotainment system is fine in a Dodge but not worthy of an Italian sports sedan
9. Features such as radar-based cruise control, lane departure warning and collision-mitigation braking aren't even offered
10. Willing to trade a bit of (performance) for a more complete, luxurious car that doesn't make us wish for a shot of grappa every time we go to use the blinkers
11.Maserati has some work to do, and here's hoping it resolves these issues soon
Pros
1.The car is an ample seductress that should have no trouble luring in mid-size luxury car buyers looking to make a statement about their individuality.
2. No (competior is) as visceral on the road as the Maserati, and that's where its advantage lies.
3. Like the best of the full-size performance sedans on the market, this car feels much smaller than it is.
4. All the lusty performance and high style expected from a brand with a loose connection to Ferrari
5. This is a lively yet confident car that does its sporting heritage proud.
6. The Ghibli generally handles like a raucous, rear-wheel-drive sedan with a conspicuously bigger appetite for thrills than many of its staid competitors
7. The exhaust note heightens the experience -- in Sport modeit unleashes a devilishly louche roar that puts a wicked grin on your face
8. The transmission also wakes up in the Sport setting, eliminating all traces of turbo lag and hesitating shifts
Or, as colleyt quoted from Top Gear: "Having a Maserati is like having a 2 year old; its annoying a lot of the time but if someone tried to take it from you, you'd kill em"
Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte wear Chrysler parts - chicagotribune.com
"Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte wear Chrysler parts -- long on style and performance but short on interior refinement."
Bottom Line -- buyers will take home something sexy and powerful with poor attention to detail. Isn't that what owning an Italian car is all about?
Competition
Ghibli -- it's aimed at high-end versions of BMW's 5 and 6 Series sedans, Mercedes' E-Class and CLS, and Audi's A6/A7 siblings
Quattroporte -- competitors include sedans such as the Audi S8, Porsche Panamera GTS and Mercedes S63 AMG
Cons
1. Third-rate plastic pieces that Maserati grabbed out of Chrysler's corporate parts bin
2. Cheapo bits come from Chrysler by way of Fiat
3. Controlled by a finicky shifter or huge paddles mounted to the steering column
4. The lightweight AWD system in the S Q4 mostly leaves the front wheels out of the equation (HQ1 - all the better to steer you with my dear)
5. The cars' steering system ... feels oddly numb and rubbery.
6. Disappointing interiors, surprisingly devoid of charm or sophistication
7. Excessive use of cheap plastic throughout the cabin
8. The touch-screen infotainment system is fine in a Dodge but not worthy of an Italian sports sedan
9. Features such as radar-based cruise control, lane departure warning and collision-mitigation braking aren't even offered
10. Willing to trade a bit of (performance) for a more complete, luxurious car that doesn't make us wish for a shot of grappa every time we go to use the blinkers
11.Maserati has some work to do, and here's hoping it resolves these issues soon
Pros
1.The car is an ample seductress that should have no trouble luring in mid-size luxury car buyers looking to make a statement about their individuality.
2. No (competior is) as visceral on the road as the Maserati, and that's where its advantage lies.
3. Like the best of the full-size performance sedans on the market, this car feels much smaller than it is.
4. All the lusty performance and high style expected from a brand with a loose connection to Ferrari
5. This is a lively yet confident car that does its sporting heritage proud.
6. The Ghibli generally handles like a raucous, rear-wheel-drive sedan with a conspicuously bigger appetite for thrills than many of its staid competitors
7. The exhaust note heightens the experience -- in Sport modeit unleashes a devilishly louche roar that puts a wicked grin on your face
8. The transmission also wakes up in the Sport setting, eliminating all traces of turbo lag and hesitating shifts