Maserati GranTurismo with Ferrari V8 now costs Dacia SUV money - with a catch

An Italian luxury coupé with a Ferrari V8 is currently priced not much higher than a well-specced compact SUV - but there’s a substantial catch.

Right now, one listing is causing plenty of double-takes on the used market: a Maserati GranTurismo with Pininfarina styling, a Ferrari-derived V8, and a former list price comfortably north of €100,000 - yet it’s being offered for roughly the sort of money you’d spend on a brand-new Dacia SUV. It sounds like winning at car roulette, but as ever, the details matter.

Italian dream car with Pininfarina lines

Among 2000s-era coupés, the Maserati GranTurismo is widely regarded as one of the most graceful. Its bodywork was penned by Pininfarina - the studio responsible for countless iconic sports cars - and it carries all the classic grand tourer cues: a long bonnet, short overhangs and a wide, planted rear.

The particular car in question is a 2009 example, advertised at €24,990. That’s broadly the same outlay as a new, sensibly equipped Dacia Duster. If you remember the GranTurismo sitting in showrooms when it launched, the figure looks almost unreal: back then, it was firmly a six-figure purchase.

"An exotic car that once sat at luxury price levels has slipped into everyday-SUV territory - that’s what makes this offer so fascinating."

Visually, the GranTurismo still comes across as remarkably fresh nearly 20 years after its debut. The familiar Maserati nose with its prominent grille, the muscular arches and the low roofline continue to deliver serious presence - whether it’s parked outside an ice-cream café or pulling into a motorway service area.

One more point adds to the appeal: this example appears to have remained largely original. Plenty of GranTurismos were later “customised” with loud, non-approved exhausts or questionable bolt-on tuning parts. According to the description, this one stays close to factory spec, which is exactly what collectors and purists tend to prefer.

Ferrari V8 under the bonnet: sound, performance, emotion

The centrepiece sits up front beneath that long bonnet: a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 developed in Maranello. It’s based on Ferrari hardware, with Maserati tailoring it for grand touring duty.

Even today, the numbers still sound strong:

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

Later, a 4.7-litre variant arrived with additional output. Still, the 4.2-litre V8 has a reputation for durability. Many cars cover well beyond 100,000 km without drama, and some push towards 200,000 km without the engine becoming the weak link - provided servicing has been regular and carried out properly.

Early GranTurismo models did have a known sore spot: the sequential automated manual gearbox. It was considered temperamental, expensive to run and not always smooth in day-to-day use. This is exactly where the 2009 model year brings a meaningful benefit.

"From 2009, Maserati switched to a six-speed ZF automatic - far more reliable and much nicer to live with."

The car being advertised has that ZF automatic fitted. For many buyers, that matters almost as much as engine condition. The seller states that both engine and gearbox operate flawlessly, and the odometer shows 99,000 km.

Rare colour combination instead of the usual grey crowd

In appearance, this GranTurismo also breaks away from the common formula. Most examples you see in town tend to be black, dark grey or silver. This one wears a dark red paint finish, paired with a beige and dark red interior.

It’s a bolder choice, but it looks suitably upmarket and suits the GranTurismo brief: a touring coupé intended to impress not only on fast roads, but also when arriving somewhere formal.

Luxury price gone, running costs still here

Given the asking price, the Dacia Duster comparison is tempting - but focusing only on purchase cost is a mistake. A Maserati GranTurismo remains an Italian high-performance car, and the bills that come with that don’t disappear just because depreciation has done its work.

Common areas that drive costs include:

• Insurance: sports car premiums, sometimes with high insurance groupings
• Maintenance: specialist servicing rather than bargain workshops
• Wear items: large brakes and model-specific suspension components
• Tyres: wide, performance sizes, often from expensive premium brands
• Fuel: a naturally aspirated V8 with real-world consumption well above compact-car levels

So, if you read “Dacia price” and assume “Dacia costs”, reality will bite quickly. The bargain is in the sticker price only, not in the overall ownership package.

Why this offer looks so cheap

This GranTurismo comes with an important complication: it was originally delivered to Dubai and later imported into Germany. The import process - including taxes - appears to have been completed, but one crucial item is missing: a valid German roadworthiness inspection certificate and local registration.

"The car is offered without a roadworthiness certificate and without German registration - and that alone pushes the price down by an estimated €5,000 to €7,000."

For the dealer, that’s the hook: if you organise the inspection and approval yourself, you get a markedly lower entry price. The downside is obvious - you also shoulder the risk of what the inspection may uncover.

At least there are a couple of practical positives. A set of four new tyres is included, and the seller even mentions delivery as an option. From a logistics standpoint, it’s manageable - assuming you have a workshop or inspector who knows their way around imported vehicles.

Risks to check when importing a sports car

If you’re considering a purchase like this, a few items deserve especially close scrutiny:

• Complete history: service records, invoices and the service book from the country of origin.
• Corrosion and climate: cars from hot regions rarely suffer rust, but heat can accelerate wear on rubber seals and plastics.
• European compliance: lighting, speedometer and potentially emissions standards must be correct.
• Inspection risk: any retrofits needed for emissions, lighting or brakes can quickly become expensive.

If you can control those factors - and arrange an independent inspection before committing - the odds of unpleasant surprises drop significantly.

Who the “Dacia-priced” Maserati is actually for

The audience for a deal like this is fairly narrow. A Maserati GranTurismo with a Ferrari engine is not a sensible first car for a commuter on a tight budget. It suits people who:

• already have a dependable daily car
• can set aside real money for servicing and repairs
• deliberately want an emotional hobby vehicle
• are comfortable with value fluctuations

In that scenario, the purchase can become something far beyond spreadsheets. A high-revving naturally aspirated V8 that sounds like you’re sitting in an opera box right by the orchestra offers an experience modern turbocharged four-cylinders with particulate filters struggle to replicate.

It’s also worth weighing up alternatives. Dealers often ask similar money for older Porsche 911s, Jaguar XKs or BMW M6s. All bring big engines and a premium badge, but they differ significantly in running costs, dependability and the kind of attention they attract.

What prospective buyers should clarify before a test drive

Before you go for that first drive, a few practical checks help prevent later shocks:

• What budget is genuinely available for annual running costs?
• Is there a Maserati-experienced workshop within a reasonable distance?
• What does the insurance actually cost - including third-party and comprehensive cover?
• Can the car be taken off the road in winter and stored somewhere dry?

If you answer those honestly and still can’t help smiling when the V8 fires, you’re probably the kind of person this listing is aimed at.

One final point that’s often overlooked: emotional cars can change relationships - for better or worse. A Maserati parked outside a typical terraced house will definitely spark neighbourly conversation. If you can take that in good humour and treat the car as a rolling hobby rather than a status symbol, you’ll usually enjoy life with an exotic like this far more.