Fancy a little Italian? Belfast dealer Charles Hurst fed our appetite, or rather whetted it, last Monday with a collection of cars to tempt southern tastebuds, writes Michael McAleer.
Alongside two fine examples from the prancing horse marque - a 575M and a 360 Modena, both in Ferrari's famous red - were a collection of gleaming Maseratis. While a Ferrari will always catch the eye, the highlight of the event was its stablemates - Maserati Coupé GTs and Coupé Cambiocorsa.
It was also more than the tyre-kicking static launch, where you get to sit behind the wheel, the keys snugly stuffed into the inner pockets of the distributor or dealer.
The men and women of Charles Hurst, keen to expand in the South, had invited members of the public to the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin for a chance to experience the Ferrari and Maserati legend. With the invite came the chance for us to go for a drive.
Motor fans can expect to see a greater focus from Maranello on the Maserati marque in the coming months. There are plans to expand range and sales worldwide.Of keen interest will be the arrival next spring of the new Quattroporte and the likely production of the Kabang, the Italians' answer to the Porsche Cayenne and probably the nearest you will get to a Ferrari SUV.
We tested the Coupé Cambiocorsa. which differs from the regular coupé (if the word regular and Maserati can be used in the same sentence) in its Formula One-style transmission, with gear changes controlled by means of paddles behind the steering wheel. With no clutch required, the paddle shift takes a little time to get used to, but, with every twitch of the right hand, a new higher gear offers yet more punch from Maserati's ubiquitous 4.2-litre 390 bhp eight-cylinder engine. This is a sweet sounding unit crowned on top with a brass-coloured block and pipes criss-crossed like two hands clasped together in prayer.
It does take some time to acclimatise to having this much power under your right foot. As we grappled with the pedal system, we were becoming entranced by its ease and yet its potency. Into second, then third and before long you are developing a rhythm.
It's a rhythm that has been mastered by the likes of Michael Schumacher so it's a pretty nice club to be in. While we may not have mastered it, we would certainly love the chance to try.
Ownership brings membership of a rather elite group: Maserati owners are a close-knit breed, according to Richard Stinson, franchise director at Charles Hurst. Among the events organised for owners are track driving courses at Kirkstown and, on occasion, trips to Maranello.
Overall, sales for Maserati on this island are about 20 a year, with hopes for 25 in the coming years. Ferrari sales are 15 a year, limited not only by price but also by allocation. Potential Ferrari owners are currently on waiting lists for cars due in 2005. The delay is less significant for Maseratis.
Ownership of either of these Italian stars is not confined to young tanned swarthy males, says Stinson. All ages, shapes and sizes are attracted, with some owners doing only about 100 miles a year. The list of current owners does include an 18-year-old after all.
So for the chance to joing the Maserati owner's club, in Britain you have to come up with £61,000 (€85,465). Here, thanks to VAT and VRT, it's €124,846 for the Coupé with the six-speed manual, and €130,999 for the Cambiocorsa.