2004 Maserati Spyder vs. 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster - Suspension, Transmission & Engine - Sport Convertibles Comparison

Despite the dramatically different price points, this is an intriguing matchup all the same, not the least because both cars are two-seat, front-engine V-8 roadsters that offer remarkably similar performance. Both will rush to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, with the Corvette nosing ahead over the quarter mile to stop the clock at 13.1seconds, just a tenth quicker than the Maserati. Turn the steering wheel, however, and it's the Maserati that sneaks in front, beating the Corvette through the slalom by 1.4 mph.

The Corvette's slalom numbers are illuminating because they show the value of the Z51 suspension upgrades, which include stiffer springs and shocks, plus beefier stabilizer bars: The convertible was more than three mph slower through the cones than the Z51-equipped C6 coupe we tested in our January issue. What's more, it felt worse doing it, with road-test editor Chris Walton complaining of excessive roll and a tendency to snap into oversteer at the limit, even with the shocks set in sport mode.

Track-testing merely sketches the outline of the performance envelope, however. What's more important with these cars is how they work on the road. How much do drivers trade off just to look cool catching a few rays as they cruise through Newport Beach?

What's obvious with the Spyder Corsa is how hard Maserati has been working to refine the 4200. The original version used to feel nervous and floaty when pushed along a so-so piece of blacktop, dancing on the balls of its feet as you chased the front end. The current Spyder Corsa feels a lot more planted on the road; there's more grip from the front tires, although there's too much artificial weighting to the steering. The Cambiocorsa transmission is improved, but it's still sluggish swapping ratios when left in full auto mode. Select sport mode, however, and use the paddles manually, and it shifts quickly and cleanly with none of the thumping and clunking from the rear-mounted transaxle (an unwelcome feature of the original versions).

Maserati's 385-horsepower, all-aluminum 4.2-liter V-8 is one of the world's great engines, delivering searing performance all the way to its 7500-rpm redline, accompanied by an elegant V-8 howl like a NASCAR stocker that's been to charm school. Fan the downshift paddle, and it instantly reacts to the computer-controlled throttle, ripping up the rev band between ratios like a Ferrari. And it's as glorious to look at as it is to listen to, with a crackle finished aluminum intake manifold--complete with cast-in Maserati trident--arcing gracefully between the red-finished cam covers. It's how you always imagined a Maserati engine would be.