Maserati Spyder (02-05) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
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

Safety

With no Euro NCAP results available to prove how well the Spyder would stand up in a collision it's difficult to rate accurately. It does at least come with both front and side airbags and an alphabet soup's worth of electronic safety acronyms including stability control (from 2004) and some impressively powerful Brembo brakes to keep you out of trouble. There are also two fixed roll hoops located behind the seats designed to give occupants protection from crushing in the event of the car landing upside down, although the soft roof obviously won’t be as strong as the solid folding top on a Mercedes SL.

NCAP Test

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2.5 out of 5

Reliability

The Spyder appears to be well constructed but it was designed and built in an era when Maserati wasn't known for its attention to quality and you can expect to have more trouble than you might with a more mass produced alternative. Maserati's current cars are much improved in this area.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

No problems reported.