The1st Maserati Quattroporte 4 in the US!! Tim imported a 1997 QP4 -Tim's Enthusiast Garage S4 E3

I found my dream Gandini designed sedan in Japan. Low miles and high grade Japanese auction sale. What could go wrong ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Some surprises await. This isn't my usual car review with sexy footage. This is down and dirty , me seeing the car for the first time after it was carted to Ohio from the Baltimore dock!
Live the adventure with me!

[@Mykomeda]

Happy to see this car in US. Enjoy driving a very rare car with 90’s emotion. The V8 version is gorgeous , same engine with the shamal.

[@standesignca]

Actually the V* evo 3.2 has the 3200 engine...

[@automotiveaffairsshorts]

The beeping sounded like Morse code… perhaps the car was trying to tell you something 😉

[@sainta2667]

Like the wheels you put on it. This is the first gen QP 4. Like the fact you 'feel' the car and it's esthetics. P.S. the AC on those cars is amazing! and the temp gauge is always wrong, on all cars ;-) By the way you can see the car on the last James Bond movie, it's getting it's much deserved love in Europe.

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

I continue to be impressed with this car. Currently doing some preseason service on it to enjoy it this summer !

[@LuisSanchez-hn1iq]

Love it !! Congratulations on your new beauty

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Things are progressing. I’m stoked about it

[@sierrasautosalon]

Such a beautiful car! Congrats on the add!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

I’m so stoked about it

[@harald.370]

Long live the old cars import exemption rule; great to see these cars across the pond now too 😎👍 Enjoy the Maser!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

It’s getting better by the day. I have a couple more videos queued with it. Cheers !

[@bondjames7867]

Still the best looking maserati

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

It looks even better in person than in pics. Once I get her properly cleaned up I’ll get some real lenses on her. I literally had no warning the car was coming the day it arrived so I shot with my phone and gopro. Thanks for watching

[@notoriousepn6318]

Looks great! Small fixes and fit those wheels and it will be spectacular!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Thanks for watching and for your moral support ! I ordered a new timing belt kit as well as, even though it looks good and has a sticker saying it was done, better safe than sorry! Cheers!

[@TheScudabear1]

The wheels and a little tlc will transform it for sure. I've never seen one in the metal...a few biturbos over the years, and once in the late 90's I got annihilated by a shamal while driving a golf gti 😂

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

This is a funny it somewhat sad story. As a boy I was pretty poor. Single mum. No chance I could conceptualize of actually owning one of these cars I dreamed of. I therefore did think “maybe one day I’ll get hit my a hooligan in a 512M or a Venturi”. A boy can dream 🤣. My friend just imported a shamal. It was a bit of a wreck for the money. Perhaps it’s the very same car that accosted your GTI! Cheers and thanks for watching

[@frozencarguy6274]

Very unique.

[@pereldh5741]

I love the Gandini Quattroporte.. But yes this needs a little bigger rims and lowering!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Those things are in the works ! Test fit the wheels today! They fit !

[@sainta2667]

It's not the first one buddy. I almost bought one in Miami 8 years ago , it was a V8 Evo. What a beauty!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

It was the first “legal import” no others were registered when this one came in. But hey, who’s counting. It’s truly meaningless. Thanks for watching !

[@sainta2667]

@@TimsEnthusiastGarage Correct. It was a grey Import from the Bahamas. Still have yours? Where do you service it ?

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

@@sainta2667 thus far myself . I have a close friend with several odd ball Maserati who is a bit of a servant mechanic so if anything big goes he will get a call.

[@sainta2667]

@@TimsEnthusiastGarage You're lucky. Even here in Europe it's starts to be hard to find a decent mechanic for classic Maserati's.

[@emixmim]

Actually it's not the first. There was a silver one for sale in Florida about 7-8 years ago. Was surprised to see it, as I know you guys never got this generation.

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Interesting, still as I write this it is the first road registered, titled and insured. There are two newer ones here that are illegal. One owned by a family that is here on diplomatic papers and the other I assume is here under our show and display as it is still 3 years from being legal. Cheers though!

[@sandyallsopp6778]

It shouldn't have much turbo lag due to the twin turbos. Best check that.

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

It’s pretty similar to the Ghibli I drove. Boost doesn’t pick up until 2,500-2,800 or so

[@Gotster]

soo, how´s it going with the Lotus?

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Many new parts of just arrived but really not much has happened. I need to start a campaign on Lucore’s page where people ask this question there. Supposedly they are working on the chassis

[@DavidBerglund]

My dad passed away and left a '97 Quattroporte. It's been hooked up to a device that is supposed to keep the battery juiced up/healthy. Thing is, nothing happens when I turn the ignition? No lights no nothing. I know it's been working fine and it's in seemingly great condition. Any ideas? Do you have to do anything more than just turn the ignition? There's some kind of remote on the same key ring as the key that has an on and off button. Tried pushing ON obviously but I don't know what it does. Thanks 🙏

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

So interestingly, I have had a very similar issue. Mine managed to kill its battery while on the tender. I didn’t drive it for 8 months. Replaced the battery, fired right up HOWEVER, I now have a misfire and a dead climate control unit (I suspect the latter was already failing) so I have a bit of work today. These are from the cantankerous Maserati era but they are pretty straight forward to work on

[@DavidBerglund]

@@TimsEnthusiastGarage it was a very stupid thing. Main power was off (wasn't aware of that lol) and I found the little remote for turning off the theft alarm. Then it started up fine :) On a nice drive now. Fun car

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

@@DavidBerglund excellent

[@DavidBerglund]

@@TimsEnthusiastGarage excellent until I found out at the gas station that the lid wouldn't open and that the button for opening the lid would get stuck inside the panel. Damn, gotta figure this out :P but, yeah, fun car

[@Joey4420]

Funny how the gas gauge moved with A/C on and the alternator reads under 13 volts.

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Lol. We will see how funny it is . I’m swapping out the battery and cleaning up some connections . Italian quirks a plenty 🤣

[@AlexRuark]

Don't kill me, but it gives me Chrysler TC by Maserati vibes! At least style wise... Thankfully not mechanically!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

Dang son that’s crazy words. Thankfully rwd, lsd, twin turbo and slightly more exciting dynamics are on offer. I’ll roll it but one day so you can bathe in the ludicrous Italian extravagance 🤣👍

[@AlexRuark]

@@TimsEnthusiastGarage a better driving experience than the gussied up Lebaron I have no doubt!

[@TimsEnthusiastGarage]

@@AlexRuark dear lord it has to be. You know, as a side note, I always liked the Lebaron regular convertible to the TC. It’s weird what a bad mash up that was. I look forward to seeing you next week with my exotic Toyota !