Ireland launch of New Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale at IFS 2011

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Admin
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Charles Hurst Maserati Belfast proudly introduced to Ireland –  the first street legal Maserati race car!

The GT MC Stradale is a car of ‘firsts’. It is inspired by the podium-topping performance of the GranTurismo MC Trofeo Motorsport programmes. It is the first road going Maserati to have a dedicated Race mode to add its upgraded Automatic and Sport modes. More…

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My Maserati’s – Part 2

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Richard
4200GT 2002-2007

2002 – 2004 Maserati 4200GT

Cambiocorsa, Blue Nettuno, Tan leather.

Aston Martin wrote the book ‘Quality Assurance in the Wild’  and looking back I have no doubt that Maserati’s new owners Ferrari studied that book intently and so the 3200 went about its life with a grin on is face and a hernia under its shirt.

My ‘Check Engine’ light number 10 in 2 years came on as I passed a car doing 70mph. Now any Italian worth his salt will tell you that the most important thing in any Italian made car is the beautiful engine (Enzo Ferrari used to remark – ‘the engine you pay for, the other stuff we give you for free’) and so when the 3200’s many sensors found a problem the engine and throttle went into ‘limp home mode’ – i.e idle speed and no power! Now the teeny flaw in this engineering philosophy is that the driver (yours truly) nearly crashed for want of power and maneuverability. In essence Maserati protected the engine and the driver could figure out any near death experiences himself.  I gently asked the foreman to convey this view to Modena and I like to think I had some part in the removal of the ‘Check Engine’ light in subsequent cars.

And so, with some urgency I traded up to the new flappy paddle 4200 GT. The Cambiocorsa was introduced along with a new Ferrrari sourced 4.2 V8 engine. Researchers found that the US would not care for the distinctive boomerang led taillights and alas they were replaced by a squarer type.  (Ironic now that all new cars universally carry leds as standard) The 4200 was more refined and the semi-automatic gearbox was an acquired taste but one that I was more than happy to savour every day. Other than that the Stereo was different and instead of 10 problems I only had 2 minor ones. I saw the car again lately and it looks as good as ever. A great and missed friend!

Richard O’Donnell – Aug.2010

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My Maserati’s – Part 1

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Richard
2000 - 3200GT
2000 – 2002  Maserati 3200
(Automatic, Blue Nettuno and Tan Leather)

In 1999 I was invited by auto journalist Ferdia O’Dowd to Charles Hurst Belfast for a test day with the new Ferrari 360 and the newer Maserati 3200 – my first time driving either mark.  Now 10 years later and 4 Maseratis on, the memory still gives me goosebumps!  I remember remarking on the trip back to Dublin that if I ever had the money I would without question buy the Maserati. It had everything that only a Maserati dreamer can understand – the awe of meeting your favorite hero for the first time, that smell of leather, the sporting comfort, the low shiver inducing gurgle of that Maserati engine and of course the distinctive, unique and lovely ‘boomerang’ tail lights.
A year later in June 2000 Charles Hurst delivered my first Maserati on the back of a truck. The night before I slept oh maybe 1 hour, the night after delivery, not at all!  As a kid an Alistair McClean character I remember had a Maserati – the first time I had ever heard of one. To start it the hero never turned the key but ‘gunned the engine’ – I suspect McClean must have owned one to have been able to pen that phrase and for me no other better describes the moment when that engine coughs to life.. As my kids would say ‘yum!’
Richard O’Donnell – Aug.2010
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