Like most folks who have any interest in cars, lusting after an exotic, Italian model is nothing out of the ordinary for me. Many of us grew up gazing longingly at Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and even Maseratis while we hoped that one day, somehow, we'd be able to afford one. It was easy to dream like that as a kid because life hadn't taught you the hard lesson of just how money works in the real world.

Nostalgic reminiscing aside, it doesn't have to be like that, at least not completely. Of course, many Ferraris and Lamborghinis still fetch quite a high price, even in the used bracket. If you're able to find something like an older Ferrari 355 for a low cost, it's best to run far away from that deal, or else be ready to deal with lots of expensive maintenance. However, if a well-appointed, used Ferrari-powered sedan is something you can settle for, then the 2014-2017 Maserati Quattroporte is definitely worth a detailed look-over, especially if you're considering a brand-new BMW 3 Series.

• Boasts more amenities, as well as space, than a base 2025 BMW 3 Series

The Maserati Quattroporte was one of the longest-running sedan nameplates from a European automaker, dating back to 1963 and spanning 60 years. The term "Quattroporte" literally translates to "four doors", so while the moniker sounds upscale and fancy in English, it's actually quite a utilitarian namesake, as the word denotes the number of doors. However, the hum-drum branding doesn't mean the Quattroporte is without a healthy dose of cool, especially when considering the sixth generation.

The sixth-gen Quattroporte, also known as the "VI", debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and went on sale at the beginning of 2013. In order to streamline production and decrease overall cost, the Quattroporte shared many of its underpinnings with the smaller Maserati Ghibli, including some drivetrain and suspension elements. The pair even had the same front doors. Because of Maserati and Ferrari's long-standing working relationship, the sixth-gen sedan came armed with a choice between two engines from the Prancing Horse: a V6 and a V8.

Maserati made minor changes to the Quattroporte between 2014 and 2017. In 2015, there were minor aesthetic upgrades to the GTS trim. The next update in 2017 focused on tech by making a mild upgrade to the infotainment system. The automaker also added Adaptive Cruise Control and a 360-degree camera system.

We've already learned that the Quattroporte VI's first four model years carry an overall average used price of approximately $19,651. However, it's vital to flesh out exactly how much each of those four model years costs on the current secondhand market. Being a used luxury car, the this Maserati suffers from a large amount of depreciation. This circumstance is bad news for the original owners, but folks with an interest in one now can take full advantage of this lower price.

The table below lists the average pricing for the Quattroporte VI's first four model years. In addition, there's a cell showing the MSRP for the 2025 BMW 3 Series for an easier comparison between these used and new sedans.

*Pricing courtesy of CarGurus.com

The nexus of the Quattroporte's mechanical prowess came from its Ferrari-bred powerplants. Two were available for the Quattroporte VI, beginning with an entry-level Ferrari V6. With the internal designation of F160, the 3.0-liter V6 had a design by Maserati, and Ferrari handled part of the manufacturing. The aluminum block's casting happened at the Chrysler factory in Kokomo, Indiana, and then went to Italy, according to a 2014 report from The Detroit Free Press. Despite its Prancing Horse pedigree, the Italian automaker never installed the engine in its own models.

The Quattroporte VI's V8 engine has a bit more Ferrari clout behind it. The 3.8L engine, with the designation F154, debuted in 2013 for use in both Maserati and Ferrari models, including the Ferrari 488 and the Ferrari SF90. The F154 as a whole based some of its construction on the previous Ferrari F136 V8. The new F154 boasted a 90-degree bank angle, all-aluminum construction, and twin-turbocharging. A race-ready dry-dump oiling system and a 32-valve, dual-overhead camshaft valvetrain were also present in the powerplant.

We'll lay out the Quattroporte VI's detailed specs in a table down below, utilizing the 2017 model year:

*Specs courtesy of Maserati and Supercars.net

At launch, the Quattroporte VI was available in two trim levels: a base trim and the GTS. Both of them came standard with rear-wheel drive. A mid-level, all-wheel-drive S Q4 grade arrived for the 2014 model year. The S GranLusso version joined the fold in 2017 and was available with Q4 all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. A modified version of Chrysler's UConnect infotainment software was standard on all Quattroporte models.

Virtually everything we buy throughout our lives is subject to an unfortunate phenomenon: depreciation. Basically, new consumer goods generally begin to lose their value immediately upon their purchase. In the automotive world, depreciation is an ever-present fact of life, with no way around it, unless you own a rare, extremely sought-after, or otherwise particularly valuable vehicle.

As mentioned before, depreciation is bad for new car buyers. Sure, buying a brand-new car feels great, and there are many upsides to the decision, such as a full warranty. Plus, you can specify the model exactly how you want it and exercise your own preferences for driving and maintaining the vehicle. However, the depreciation off of the lot can be quite steep, especially when it comes to luxury sedans.

However, depreciation can also be a good thing, so long as you're not one to buy cars new. If you opt to go used, depreciation means your new-to-you vehicle costs less than it did new. The situation means you can get a relatively new luxury model, such as a 2014 to 2017 Maserati Quattroporte, for a fraction of its original cost. There's nothing better than driving about looking like a big shot, when, in reality, you've spent about half of what a base BMW 3 Series costs.

Maserati, CarGurus.com, Kelley Blue Book, Supercars.net