Preserved by the elite and coveted by the rest of us, the Maserati Ghibli and the Ferrari 365GTB Daytona are two superstars that saluted the old-school tech they embodied - but which one is the true hero?
Just like fashion and sex-crazed Governmental leaders, the best Supercars come from Italy. The prancing stallion and spiked prongs of Ferrari and Maserati have crafted various masterpieces throughout the decades, but when it boils down to the finest front-engined GT offerings, two masterpieces immediately spring to mind.
They may have been ten times the price of lesser steeds direct from Detroit, but the Ferrari 365GTB/4 and the Maserati Ghibli not only passed the magic 1000-sold mark, but also offered grace, dignity, style and speed in one big package. Today, these cars command premium prices but you don’t need to be Donald Trump’s kept mistress to afford one. You will need around £260k, however, for a less desirable example. So, for your life savings, which stallion deserves that currently unoccupied garage space?
The Looks
Some journalists say the Daytona is too brutal to be beautiful, but we disagree. Prominent and impressive, the Daytona haunts your thoughts with its dominating wheel arches and muscular body. The pop-up headlamps offer child-like ‘ooohhh’ value and, with that protruding bonnet and truncated tail, deal a balanced shape that is almost perfect in its svelte dimensions.
However, while the Ferrari is impressive, the Maserati is utterly drop-dead gorgeous. With Giugiaro styling and seamlessly flowing lines from nose to tail, the Maserati Ghibli trumps even The Birth of Venus in terms of awe-inspiring artwork. It too has pop-up headlamps, which seals the deal.
The Power
The Ghibli’s V8 may be two carburettors down when compared to the Daytona, but power is still abundant. 335 ponies are at your disposal when cresting 5500rpm, that means a top speed of 165mph. Impressive as this sounds however, the Ferrari takes the power round.
Line these two up for a 0-60mph drag race and the Ferrari will cross the line a full second before the Ghibli. 352bhp of thrust helps the Daytona to 174mph at the top end. The Ferrari was so quick for its day, it wasn’t until a decade later that the Porsche 911 Turbo could finally pip these performance figures.
The Handling
The Ghibli makes use of a supple chassis that provides added excitement the faster you go, with a creamy smoothness and instant feedback that permits you a maniacal grin. Placing a Ghibli on narrow, everyday streets can be undertaken without much fuss and ultimately remains undeterred when speeds rise on main roads. There is a slight yacht-like amount of body roll when entering a tight corner in a spirited manner, but the Ghibli remains communicative and almost forgiving of hooligan-esque driving.
The Ferrari employs a fine all-independent suspension system, but the ride is strangely firm and inflexible. The Daytona also seems to wander on uneven roads and this can lead to nervous dispositions upon venturing off on a long journey - not to mention considerable pressure when taking on narrower roads. As with the Maserati, improvements in handling and ride comfort come with higher speeds, but the composure of the Ghibli has this round licked.
Living With Them
The Ghibli has a more conventional cabin than the Daytona, but where the Maserati offers frank usability, the Ferrari presents a truly special place to sit - with an exuberant interior reeking of driving enthusiasm. As everyday cars, both of these Italian assets can provide ample comfort over any commute, but the fuel consumption will seriously damage your wallet. Expect 12mpg - at a push.
Parts will be expensive, servicing will be expensive, extreme care will need to be taken when trying D.I.Y tasks and you can kiss goodbye to any extra spending money, but it’s actually a small price to pay for having one of these on your driveway.
Verdict
Picking a winner isn’t as tough as we originally thought. You can never fully relax in a Daytona like you can a Ghibli and the Maserati has the comfort war easily won. It might not be as fast as the Ferrari, but it handles in a far superior manner and steals your heart through its charismatic aesthetics.
The Ferrari is in no way a bad car, but for a good time, the trident beats the horse this time around.