Reply To: Grancabrio Advice Please

[profchristopher-green]

My next door neighbour had a 2011 GC for 3-4 years and loved it apart from the the ride under certain conditions. He was a pretty “aggressive driver” and the roads round where I live are not the best kept  in the universe ! I would reckon driven normally to” abit of fun” level  now again you wouldn’t notice it much if at all. You would know already the engine is pretty bullet proof .

The article below sums  up  ride problem I reckon. Importantly he had no trouble with the GC all the time he owned it and did about 30,ooo miles.

“It’s still a clever roof. Three layers of fabric make sure that when it’s closed it does a decent job of mimicking the sound deadening properties of a fixed head, only succumbing to wind whistle at motorway speeds. What it can’t do, though, is fully emulate a proper roof’s strength – and there lies the GranCabrio’s big, gaping problem.

The chassis strengthening, which includes strut braces in the engine bay, and bolstering beneath the door skins and floor, undoubtedly smothers some of the scuttle shake, but never all of it. The Italian roads we drove the car on – mostly urban – were in awful condition, and the GranCabrio at times couldn’t cope properly. You always expect a convertible’s chassis weaknesses to be exposed on the worst extremes of road surfaces, but the Maser capitulates regularly, with an underlying rumble and persistently fidgety ride.

Firm springs, fast dampers and super thin rubber don’t help, seeing the Maser smack into divots in a suspension-troubling way. There is some give in the chassis, so it’s far from unbearable, but there’s an uncomfortable blend of stiffness, chassis lard and structural compromise to deal with.

The thing is, it’s not enough of a problem to put off those who adore its looks, and who hear its sensationally vociferous engine. As ever, the Maser’s annoyances are forgivable  it has a unique personality and a few brilliant tricks up its sleeve.