Maserati Spyder (02-05) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on 25 April 2008

The Spyder was the first Maserati to be engineered under the watch of new owners Ferrari, arriving in Britain in 2002. It shares its chassis and V8 engine with the Coupé model introduced later that year but the Spyder's wheelbase is 220mm shorter, giving it a sportier stance and minimising the weight added to substitute the strength lost by chopping off the top. The downside is that shorter structure left no room for the Coupé's useful rear seats. A slightly more performance-focused Gran Sport version of the Coupé appeared in 2004 and a Gran Sport Spyder followed a year later when the regular Spyder was deleted from the range. Benefits included an extra 10bhp and sportier suspension. In 2007 Maserati phased out the Coupé, Gran Sport and Spyder, replacing them with the larger, more refined Granturismo.

3.5 out of 5

Other Maserati reviews

3.5 out of 5

Equipment

At first glance the Spyder appears to be packed with everything you'd expect of a £70,000 car. Electrically adjustable leather seats and a 5.8inch colour screen from where you can command the standard climate control and stereo came as standard. But desirable pieces of equipment including satellite navigation, cruise control, heated seats, xenon lights and a CD changer were actually options and might not be fitted to all cars. More confusingly Maserati constantly tweaked the specification so a glass rear window only arrived a couple of years into production and the Skyhook dampers and Maserati’s stability control system became standard in 2004.

See 1 used Maserati Spyders for sale, starting at £17,990

Get a Maserati Spyder valuation