It may not be exactly new, after being in production in its current form since 2010, but the Maserati GranCabrio still seems like a good choice.
Of course, it has to be within budget, and at a starting price of £99,850 ($126,493) in UK, €133,240 ($148,714) in Germany, or $145,740 in the USA, where it’s known as the GranTurismo Convertible, it’s not exactly a bargain to start with.
And that’s before choosing a few options, such as the pearlescent paint will set you back for another £5,288 ($6,699) in Europe’s largest right-hand drive market, an iPod connector that comes with a Maserati sticker and costs £254 ($322), and the wind-stop between the front and rear seats is another £588 ($745).
What you get in return is a proper grand tourer, according to Fifth Gear’s Vicki Butler-Henderson, who took it on a 600-mile trip from Paris to Monaco.
During her journey, the racing driver and TV host found a few flaws, such a whistle that’s constantly coming into the cabin at 70mph (113km/h), on the motorway, and the two individual rear seats, which are a bit narrower than the front ones. Driving it fast with the roof down, and passengers sitting in the rear, is almost impossible, for obvious reasons.
Drivers should enjoy the Ferrari-made 4.7-liter V8 engine that powers the Maserati GranCabrio, making 440hp, although putting your right foot down constantly will eventually result into an average fuel economy of just 20 UK mpg (17 US mpg / 14 l/100 km).
Taking it through the famous Monaco F1 tunnel in ‘Sport’ mode was the cherry on the top of this review’s cake, as this is where the Italian sports car started feeling alive.