Well, was out this weeked driving around; opening her up a bit on some secluded open highways and came across these 2 beautiful cars at seperate occasions.

First was the Maserati Quad, which was coming after me to play, unexpectingly. Had a few 2nd, 3rd gear runs and my lag hurt as he hit it and would get about 1 length instantly, but would real him in once things got going. Also, lag was an issue as both times he just mashed hit and then I did a second or so later. Even so, still stayed even and would start pulling out but speeds were getting up there and he would pull out. In a safe/track situation I don't think he would be anywhere near me, especially coming in at 4,200lbs.

Now, the SL600, I was ready for and was reved/spooled and I could stay with him somewhat but he would keep pulling away. Of course, now your talking about 100 more hp/tq than the Maserati. Not sure of the curb weight of it.
I was expecting to get left bad, but didn't happen. And yes he was actually trying and gave the thumbs up after. I assume he is used to leaving all other cars in the dust and was impressed I could give him a good run.

 

MASERATI:

The technical package is stunning, too, with a 4.2-liter, dual-overhead-cam V-8 engine that's good for 394 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. Mounted far enough back in the engine bay for an equitable 47/53 percent front/rear weight distribution, it's mated to a six-speed sequential manual gearbox that has an automatic mode. On a good day, the 199-inch-long five-seater will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and top 170 mph.

SL600:

SL range is the new, twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter twelve-cylinder engine borrowed from the Maybach sedans (albeit mildly detuned). In the 4500-pound SL600, acceleration is fierce; neck and abdominal muscles flex to resist the surge of 493 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.

 

Glad you had fun with those toys. My family owns a 2006 Executive GT Masaretti Quattroporte. It has the same exact engine in it as the F430 and gearbox too. They come off the same production line as the Ferraris. I've seen it now twice off the lines in Maranello! The car is absolutely stunning to look at, and not seen everyday on the road like the Porsches, BMWs, Audis etc. The car has multiple options for shifting, and Ferrari just came out with a software upgrade that speeds up a lot the shifting. I was "very" dissapointed with the intervals between shifting. While I don't expect F1 speed, where it shifts within 1/1000s of a second, I did expect better. Customers complained about it and changes were made. The car in full sport mode handles (for a full 4 door sudan) like a SOB! It is amazing.

We have the burgundy exterior and cream interior. Stunning car in person.

http://www.maserati.com/jsp/newModel...ceegdgimdfmf.0

 

Sweet!!!

So the comfort of the 4 door Maserati, but the F430 engine???? NICE!!!

So that would put it in the class with the M5/M6 ???

 

Yes, same exact F430 engine. Anyone who tells you differently doesnt know jack about the car. Same gearbox too. Just initially had shifting delays as I said. Remember, it is the same engine, but it is "detuned" on purpose. It is a bit tight in the back seats for people. And yes, it can handle!! I was really, really, impressed. Has a sweet sound too! I dont know off of the top of my head what class in would go against. Im at work, sorry.

Man you love playing against those excotic toys dont you? Maybe it's a Florida thing?

 

"Man you love playing against those excotic toys dont you? Maybe it's a Florida thing?"

YOU KNOW IT!!!!!

 

That is sooo kick ***. I love Maseratis, I have owned 3 Series III Quattroportes and a bad *** Biturbo Si over the years. The new QP is an extraordinary car. My QPIIIs had the V8 out of the Bora, they were amazing cars.

I also love knowing that your 951 kept up with a SL600, those cars are torque-zillas! Well done mate!

 

They are awesome and not commonly seen cars. But Todd has this hard-on for always looking for exotic cars in FL. He is like always on the hunt to kill them or monitor them; kind of like your avatar a Shark looking to eat its prey!

 

LOL!!!!

Well, in FL we have TONS or rice, fast & furious wanna bes, so when I see some expectional cars out, they draw me in like a magnet

Since they are both pretty heavy, in the 4,200-4,500 range, that levels the playing field alot.

Power to weight:

SL600: 9.0

Masarati: 10.6

ME: last dyno- 18psi 318whp Mustang = appx. 375 crank

3,200/375 = 8.53

Which explains why I was still able to stay kinda close to the SL600. Of course the tq number on the SL600 is the bigger issue with close to 600tq.

Check this out:

'04 SL600 RennTech-675hp / 910lb/ft 11.25@125 World's fastest SL600

http://forum.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159395

 

Todd: You are a colomunist for Road N Track with car stats! I've never seen someone so obsessed with all the different performance times! Don't get me wrong it's kool, but I did that when I was 18 dude? J/K. Then again I can't talk about being obsessed, I am like that with having my entire car, moslty engine bay, being nothing but a drving "bling" mobile!

 

Just some quick numbers to show the power to weight and how that always puts things in more perspective....and I am a numbers guy

As soon as I have as much $$$$$ in my car as you do in yours, then we can compare who is obsessed, LOL!!

 

that's cool.

there's a red Maser around here (i think it's a Cambiocorsa, or something like that). he's always going the opposite way, but i dont think it'd turn out in my favor if i did race the guy..........

i did race an SL500 once.

dealer tags, and all.

probably sent the poor guy running back to the dealer.


good thing none of the AMG's or other large-bill luxo barges ever want to race, cuz i'd probably lose......



anyway, cool stories.......

 

I love the numbers,too! I think about power-to-weight ratios all the time as I'm driving. I also think how weird that is.

Yeah, I'm an engineer.

When I was a teen, my girlfriend worked in the library and I used to kill time waiting for her by reading the big blue Chiltons Motor Manuals. I studied HP and torque numbers for every make and model by year, plus drawings of the front and side views of the car so you I could identify each model year by sight. How cool! One thing I learned was that 1970 was the last year of the true muscle car. After that all the engines were just normal passenger car engines with stickers.

Yeah, I had some time on my hands back then (1975, legal at 18 ).

 

I was born in 1975

 

Well, I guess you being an engineer I can ask this; I always break down a car's performance to power to weight, but what other factors can really make a difference to that?

Gearing and aerodynamics are the first 2 that come too mind.