When you hear the name "Maserati", you typically think of high-dollar restaurants, trips to Monaco, and expensive, bespoke cars. If you're thinking of a new Maserati, you're probably right. However, you don't necessarily need to be an oil mogul or a successful Silicon Valley resident to own one. Instead, you could be of a much more common financial background and still enjoy the fruits of Maserati style and engineering.In short, if you can afford a Lexus, you can afford a Maserati. This year, the Lexus LC 500 enters its final stretch. It's going away after this year, leaving behind a gap in the ever-shrinking luxury coupe segment. However, for a similar amount of money, depending on if it's new or used, you can also have yourself a Maserati GranTurismo without breaking the bank. So, how does a used Maserati stack up to the LC 500? What Lexus Has To Offer LexusAt its core, the LC 500 is one of Lexus' most elegant offerings currently on the market. It can be had as either a coupe or convertible, and carries a base MSRP of $107,750 before any destination fees or taxes are factored in. The model hasn't been around for very long, having been introduced just eight years ago. Regardless, Lexus decided enough was enough, and poor sales caused the LC 500 to meet the chopping block. However, that doesn't mean it's without a good bit of luxury.Lexus Under the hood lives a 5.0-liter Toyota 2UR-GSE V8. It boasts both D-4S direct fuel injection and port fuel injection, along with an all-aluminum construction. In the bowels of the mill sits a forged crankshaft along with forged connecting rods. Titanium valves are also found, along with a variable valve timing system that Toyota called VVT-iE. It's worth noting that Yamaha helped develop the engine's high-flow cylinder heads.Lexus Two sport packages are offered with the LC 500, those being the aptly named Sport Package and the Dynamic Handling Package. Both upgrades are only available on coupe models. Sport Package recipients are granted the use of bigger brakes and a Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD). The Dynamic Handling Package ups the ante with even more go-faster stuff like active rear steering, an active rear wing, and a variable gear-ratio steering setup. Current Pricing LexusAs it stands, a used example of a Lexs LC 500 boasts pricing similar to its original MSRP, a unique trait of all Lexus models. This is great news for those who already own one, as that means you'll get a large chunk of your money back when it comes time to sell. However, if you're in the market for one, your price of entry will, definitely, be higher than most other luxury coupes in its class. But, again, you'll be able to recoup most of your losses at the other end.Here's some current pricing data for a used Lexus LC 500 over the last six years: How To Get Yourself A Maserati For LC 500 Money MaseratiNow that we know a bit more about the LC 500, we're going to figure out just how much money it would cost to swap out the hum-drum-ness of an LC 500 with something soulful and exciting, in other words, a Maserati GranTurismo.At base level, a 2026 Maserati GranTurismo costs roughly $145,000 before any options, fees, or taxes are factored in. Being a bespoke brand, you can easily spend loads of money outfitting a GranTurismo with upgrades, with some examples selling brand-new for over $200k, again before taxes or fees. It's probably fair to suggest that some of you reading this didn't even spend that much on your house, let alone your car.However, Maseratis tend to suffer from some of the worst depreciation on the open market. On average, a Maserati GranTurismo loses 46 percent of its value over the first five years of its life, according to CarEdge.com. That means those who are patient and resist the temptation to buy new can save a boatload of cash. Hence, this is where the Lexus LC 500's $107,750 sticker price starts to sound a bit silly. What You Can Get Instead Maserati New for new, the Lexus LC 500 beats out the Maserati. However, if we look for a slightly used Maserati GranTurismo, we can start to rationalize the decision to buy Italian.For a GranTurismo's used price to average out to roughly the Lexus LC 500's, you only need to go back a couple of years. At present, numerous 2024 examples are for sale on the used market for around $80k to $100k. You don't even have to settle for high mileage options, either, thanks to the magic – or scourge, depending on how you look at it – of luxury car depreciation.Here are some GranTurismos currently on the market, along with their prices, odometer mileages, and locations: 2024 model with 11,480 miles for $86,411 in Illinois 2024 model with 11,445 miles for $86,410 in Illinois 2024 model with 18,110 miles for $86,989 in Florida 2024 model with 2,094 miles for $96,885 in California How The Lexus & Maserati Compare 2025 Lexus LC 500 Coupe Black Front AngleApart from being from different continents, both models are quite similar when it comes down to it.Under the Maserati's hood lives a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. So, if you prefer a V8, the Lexus already wins out. However, the six-pot Maserati still packs a good amount of punch. With its 3.0-liter Nettuno engine, the GranTurismo chucks out 483 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in its base, Modena trim level.The mid-range GranTurismo, the Trofeo, ups the power output to 547 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The top-spec Foglore model adds three electric motors to the mix, tipping horsepower output up to 752. An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting, and standard all-wheel drive applies the Nettuno power to the road surface.When it comes to amenities, the GranTurismo Modena seems to eke out a lead over the Lexus. For starters, its front seats boast 18-way adjustment, along with heating. No ventilation comes standard, though. A leather-wrapped steering wheel sits in front of the driver, along with dual-zone climate control for both front row passengers.A 12.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system are found up front, too. A secondary, 8.8-inch screen that handles climate settings is nestled underneath the infotainment system. Verdict MaseratiWhen it comes to buying an expensive luxury cruiser, how it looks and how it makes you feel matter, and sometimes, those things can be highly subjective. Although, if we're strictly speaking in terms of immediate value for money, the Maserati is the way to go. More power, more amenities, much better looks, and an Italian pedigree are all exciting aspects that make owning a GranTurismo much more attractive than a new Lexus LC 500. At least, in this writer's opinion.However, there's a caveat with the Maserati. You're much more likely to lose a great deal of value, even over just a couple of years. With the Lexus, you're in a much better position to come out on the other end smiling. LC production is coming to an end, and it's one of the last NA V8 coupes in existence. It will increase in value. Choosing between the two really boils down to whether or not you care about getting your money back at the end.
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