There are a certain number of cars that exist in the troposphere of ownership, where the buyer's priorities are all topsy-turvy and money doesn't matter. Badge is everything, though, which is why people will shell out over £100,000 for a Maserati and not more than £20K on a Vauxhall.
The GranCabrio does pretty much what it says on the tin, a sister car to the GranTurismo it's a mildly sporty convertible version of that hard-topped coupe. Perfect for the driver who has a bit of money and wants to feel the wind in their thinning hair.
The GranCabrio sure does look good, as you would naturally expect from a Maserati. It has a pleasing mix of elegant lines and a racing car snout that not so gently reminds you the car is in heritage descended from the 250F F1 car that Juan Manuel Fangio won a world championship in.
Inside, it's a proper four-seater, which makes it rare among cabriolets generally. Most offer two seats and some vestigial perches suitable for babies or weekend bags, but few allow you to carry three people and certainly not in this kind of style. Drive any kind of Maserati though and you'd always have more friends than you can fit inside even if it was a bus.
The GranCabrio seems to specialise in a sort of speedy luxury - the rorty 4.7-litre V8 engine, five second 0-62mph time and outrageous running costs put it firmly in exotic supercar territory, but the enveloping ride and plush interior blunt its sporting edge and provide its unique character.
Certainly the steering isn't as sharp and as precise as it should be if it were a hardcore sports car, so if that's what you're after you should probably look elsewhere. It's all just as well though really - if it were a sensational drive your passengers might consider it anti-social to tear up the tarmac through every bend. They might be unhappy at having to carry their luggage on their laps, too - the Maserati might have generous space in the cabin, but that doesn't extend to the boot.
This is an entirely shallow car, however, and it succeeds in its purpose of making you feel great. You'll be putting the roof down just to hear the delicious sound of the engine - and when it sounds that good it is even better that you get to share it with friends.