For the price of '05/06 Maserati Quattroporte, I can get a new '09 Jaguar XF Supercharged and for the price '09 QP, I can get a new XF Supercharged. I have checked out few QPs at local dealerships. My first prefernce is to get the Mesarati for its engine, name and most importantly (to me), the exhaust note, but I really like the look of XFs. Maseratis are known for the random electrical issues and it would make more sense to get an almost new XF under factory warranty. Is there way I modify the exshaust on XF to make it sound close to QP? I'm in Toronto. I did some research on this and didn't find any useful info.

 

Yup, there are exhaust systems available. There is a group buy for the Mina system going on now for $675 shipped. Search down a few threads for sound clips.

 

No contest. The XFR will not just blow the doors off the Maser it will rip them off.

The Maser is better looking and has a fabulous interior but otherwise is no faster than the normally aspirated XF. it doesn't handle any better nor brake any better. The Ferrari based 4.7 is just a bent crank V8 like the Jaguar but slightly smaller with a higher redline. The automatic is best.

Jaguar will be much cheaper to run (less expensive).

I mean my heart would say Maser every time, it is a stunning car. But my head would go Jaguar every time, it's a no brainer.

Oh, and BTW that exhaust sound may be appealing for short periods but nothing beats a nice quiet car with neck snapping performance, that would be the XFR then?

Noise bylaws are becoming an issue largely due to these noisy exhausts. They don't produce any more power you know, the factory boys already have that figured out. Most top end cars have electrically operated butterfly bypass valves in their rear mufflers which open but only at full throttle when the small advantage is there to be had.

Top Gear compared the QP to the XJ of that era, the previous model to the current stunning XJ. They also felt the Jag to be a more useable car. Mind you that was before Maserati switched out their cambiocorsa manumatic transaxle for the proper ZF auto.

 

I just instaled the Mina exhaust on my '09 S/C and what a difference. I came from a CTS-V and had the Magnaflo exhaust and missed the V8 sound... until now... couldn't be happier.

 

Go for the XF.

I am a big Maserati fan, but i don't like old cars. The 05 Maserati was being driven in 04, so you buying a 8 year old car. That' when things start to go on a car. Plus, it won't ride as nice, because it's 8 year old.

XF once more.

 

Having a friend who's worked on both. He said jaguar all day....borla/magnaflow rear mufflers sound nasty and dont drone or make noise on the freeway that wears on you. This comes from 2 customers i have with xfr's in theirs 60's. Both sound great and yes theyre quiet on the freeway at 70. Till oyuopen them up, then its just agreat V8 exhaust note and not overly noisy. just right to say. "ill rip your head off"

 

I literally just traded in my 2005 Maserati Quattroporte for a 2010 Jaguar XF Premium about a week ago. I loved my Maserati, it sounds great, looks great and is rare and unique. I get tons of looks and compliments where ever I go. I thinking of trading it in because I wanted something a bit newer and less expensive to maintain. On top of the annual service, which runs between $2500 to $4000, the clutch has to replaced every 2 to 3 years. my last clutch replacement cost me $6500. but when you are driving a Maserati, the cost of upkeep is expected. I was still on the fence about trading the Maserati but after my last annual service, I decided it was time. My last service was May of this year. After i paid $2200 for basically an oil change, topping off the fluids, new wipers, and a detail, the service advisor suggested the following services: new engine mounts @$3200, replace one window regulator@$850, and also that my clutch was at 25% which basically meant that i had about 5000 miles to go before my clutch needs to be replaced. Facing a $10,000 service bill let me know that it was time to let go of my Maserati. I headed down to BMC in SF and worked out a deal for a certified XF Premium and am very happy with my decision. Do I miss the Maserati??? Sure I do, but I would have missed $10 grand even more. If you have any other questions or concerns about the Maserati, let me know, and if you decide to get a Quattroporte, good luck and be sure to get a pre purchase inspection and expect to spend between $2500 to $5000 annually for upkeep. I hope this helps you out a bit in your decision making process. I'm actually at work now so I have no pics of the QP, but I'll upload some when I get the chance. Cheers. TC

 

Definitely helpful advice. I narrowed my decision to the '09 QP. I looked at one XFR at the same showroom. Honestly, both XF and QP are stunning to look at, however, while XF interior looks plain but QP's interior is appealing. Like jagular said, my heart is on the Maserati but my brain says XFR.

tc1728, are '09 cheaper to maintain? They don't have the F1 trans, so no clutch issues.

 

I think they stopped offering the F1 transmission in 2008, they now use a ZF auto just like some Jaguars. For the 2008+ Maserati's service and upkeep is still about the same minus the new clutch and/or F1 relay pump every 15k to 25k miles. I do agree with you that the Jaguar interior does not even compare with any Maserati, but then again, you can definitely spruce up the XF interior any way you wish with the money you will save on annual service and out of warranty repairs. When I was looking at the XF's, I was torn between the 2009 XF SC and the 2010 XF Premium, I ultimately decided on the 2010, because even though it was about $6k more, it has 15k less miles, extra year's warranty and had the updated 5.0 engine. Bottom line, get what you want and don't look back, you only live once, drive what makes you happy. TC

 

IMHO, I would NOT buy the QP. I can name a huge list of reasons why not to get a QP pre- 2009. A grand turismo is a different story.

 

I can think of 2 marriages that I should have followed my brain instead of my heart......damn listening to the heart can be expensive

 

All current Jaguars use ZF automatics, 6 spd for the V8 gas engines and 8 spds for the diesels.

 

Go for the XF , QP is ugly only good thing I like on QP is it sounds nicer because of V8 . It should have been tuned different

 

Personally I love Masers but I'd go for the XF and have a classic Maser on the side. Choose e.g. a good Indy which are too expensive and which will hold it's value as long as it is pampered.

 

You must be one of the very few people who thinks Julia Roberts' mouth is too big.....!

 

The XF is just way better looking than the old QP. The new QP however with the Turismo front end is gorgeous. Oh! and yes Julia Roberts mouth is way to big but surely with a purpose.

 

^ lol

 

I guess the "mystique" of owning a Maserati counts for something, and I have to admit I like the looks of the 2-door Maserati (although it really looks somewhat derivative of an XK8). However, whenever I see a Quattroporte there is something just "Buick-y" looking about it (I guess mostly the "port-holes"). It just doesn't quite make it styling-wise but, then again, there are hardly any 2-door based 4-door designs that look right, the most egregious example being the Panamera.

Doug

 

A friend of mine actually bought an '09 QP, which I test drove for him as he bought it from a dealer near me. According to the sales guy (which mirrors what many have said already), he said do NOT buy an '08 or older QP because of the transmission. He said the ZF is way, way more reliable and cheaper to maintain.
As far as comparing the QP to the XFR I think the QP is more of a GT car, one that would start to bore me pretty quickly. It was a fun car to test drive but it didn't blow me away like the Audi RS4 blew me away when i drove one of those. However as you said the interior is fantastic so it is a toss up about what is more important to you. Looks versus performance and I am definitely not saying choosing looks is wrong. Just personal preference.
Also, now that my friend has had the car for few years he said every time he goes to the dealer it is at least $1500. That may not matter to you but it does back up what others have said about maintenance cost.
If it were me I would go with the XFR but I don't see how you can go wrong either way. Both are great cars in their own right and I look forward to hearing which way you go.

 

OH my the Panamera is truly one Fugly looking car. I don't know why Porsche did not do as with the 928 and build a different good looking car. Sorry for the Hijack