Maserati QP Sport GT

Could this possibly be one of the best-looking cars that $146,000 money can currently buy? If just for admiring from 10 paces, the 2007 Sport GT is worth every cent.

These cars are still hand-built in Modena, so the niggles that I have about low-rent plastic
fixtures and tainted attention to detail should be ignored. Maserati claim that 16 Quattroportes are built per day, so to expect Japanese-level quality control is a waste of your time.

Yet the Italian manufacturer has recently invested more than $60m in the plant to address these imperfections. Each car is now meant to receive an extensive visual inspection and a few hours of drive time under their belt before they set sail.

Or so they say. There must be a few stragglers that fall to the wayside, avoiding their multimillion-point test check, and an afternoon's jaunt around the Italian countryside.

Poor build quality

Living proof is this gloss red Italian GT. The grab handle fell off, the glove compartment wouldn't close and the air conditioning unit stopped working for a clear 35 minutes. Hell, even the boot opened while we were driving down the road!

Although the Quattroporte name has been around for some time, the Sport GT is a new model that fits neatly in between the base Italian four-door V8 offers drifting to the dignitary version and the all singing all dancing Executive GT. As its name implies, the Sport GT is the ripper of the three. The glossy weave of carbon for the interior and paddles for the gears a clear indication.

Maserati says the trim level is further reflection, which you could view as a tuning option over the entry-level Quattroporte, enhancing the cars high-performance rear-drive characteristics more so. The Sport GT certainly looks the part too. Far more meaningful, thanks to whopping wheels, low profile tyres, black chrome grille and wing vents. A Sport GT badge also resides on each B-pillar which sadly reinforces the less coach built and more kitcar quality.

The key slot in the door is another ugly oversight, as is the rubber surround for the rear quarter glass. But luckily those gorgeous 20-inch alloy wheels will go some way to make up for this.

Inside there is enough carbon-fibre to make a complete F50, replacing the wood trim of previous models, while the charming dashmounted analogue Maserati clock remains. The drilled-aluminium pedals wouldn't look out of place in an F50 either. But then mechanically, this is a family man's Ferrari; the double overhead cam 4.3-litre V8 being supplied by Ferrari themselves, a few doorsteps down from Maserati.

In the Quattroporte the Maranello motor is rated at 393bhp with 333lb foot of torque, and a redline of 7500rpm. Despite this long rev range, the V8 still has enough low-end get up and go to keep you entertained. It revs quickly too, so you soon find yourself darting around roundabouts just on the boil.

Comfortable cruiser

The fully automatic transmission (a first for this car) defaults to 'D', which means the sequential manual operates in auto mode. Like it or lump it the auto box will shuffle up and down the ratios as it deems appropriate. Though smoother and quicker-witted than early Quattroportes the latest offering makes for a far more comfortable cruiser, unlike before with the F1-style gearbox.

Flipping the paddles is hardly taxing, and you're rewarded with more satisfying progress.
Still, every known luxury is handed to the QP owner on a silver plate, as standard: Dual-zone climate controls, cup warmer, window blinds and six airbags just for starters. But I would sacrifice the majority of these just for a day in a decent sports seat. They maybe long-distance comfortable, but they don't hold you and won't adjust low enough to floor.

Possibly they wanted a more bump-absorb form of cushioning to soak up the jarring from those big alloys. The adjustable suspension feels firm yet comfortable, if not a little too wishy-washy. But there is a Sport function, at the touch of a button, which will tighten up the chassis. Activated, you can carry great speed through the corners.

This really is a beautiful handling car for something of its size, with massive amounts of grip. Steering is quick and nicely weighted too. Turn off all the driver aids - which will take a day and the user manual - and the Sport GT easily becomes the ultimate hooligans car for the financially endowed.

+ Great V8 wail, wheels and paddles!
- Build quality still not up to scratch