Dr Bruce Levin, Philadelphia GranSport Owner
“The Cure for the Common Car”

Bruce Levin, a specialist in interventional pain medicine in Philadelphia, has long been an admirer of Maserati; for several years his daily driver was a Coupe. So when it came time to replace it, his choice was simple: a Maserati GranSport, the more sporting iteration of the Coupe he so enjoyed.

Describing the most sporting version of the Coupe as ‘relaxing’ may seem odd, but Bruce has some very specific reasons for liking the car. “I have some injuries that affect my choice of car – I have a wrist injury that means I can’t really do a manual transmission,” he explained. “Obviously I love the Cambiocorsa transmission, but another important factor is that ergonomically it’s very comfortable; my back was injured in an accident, and I find the GranSport is really good for that. In fact, I find that the entire car is comfortable, it’s very pleasant – the only thing I would change about it is the way that it goes through tires, although that may be my fault!” Having had an all-too-brief ride with Bruce later the same day, in our opinion the car’s appetite for rubber may indeed be linked to his, shall we say, enthusiastic driving style.

In fact, Bruce may well qualify as the most voluble and articulately passionate owner we have ever met. Our conversation rambled over many topics, all of them interesting – but what shone through was his passion for Maserati, specifically his GranSport. “I’ve tried the Quattroporte, and it makes a fine family car; it seats five people in comfort, it’s smooth and extremely elegant, even the Automatic is very responsive,” he told us. “For me, the GranSport is very much a guy’s car – it’s got aggressive handling, very sporty transmission, whereas the Quattroporte Automatic is very smooth, almost buttery. It still has a lot of power... and I think the GranTurismo looks a little ‘softer’ than the GranSport; but then, one of the things I like about my car is that it’s edgy, in a way you wouldn’t suspect just from looking at it. It’s elegance with an edge, fun with a rough undertone.”

We get the impression that despite being a devoted family man and being committed to alleviate the suffering of those with chronic pain, Bruce turns into a rather different animal when behind the wheel. Or maybe it’s because of those things – as he mentioned earlier, the GranSport makes a wonderful release from the everyday stresses and strains. “I just love the way the engine sounds – much better than a Ferrari, in my opinion,” he enthused. “I put Tubi exhausts on my Coupe, and when I got the GranSport I had the exhaust tips moved to the new car – the GranSport has a sort of Tubi exhaust system anyway, so I didn’t need to do more than that. It sounds great; it’s a very pleasant growl, and it means you don’t need to listen to the radio – or anyone else in the car!”

“I would love to take it to Italy one day; touring through Europe in my GranSport would be great,” he continued. “But really, I enjoy driving it just about anywhere – there are times when all you need is a Maserati and a full tank of gas. It’s not a ‘prefab’ driving experience; it’s one you can make your own, you can drive it very well up to your own limits. Some cars seem to drive themselves, it seems dull when you drive them, but the GranSport is an artist’s car, one that you can really enjoy. It enhances your own abilities, but I think it has a lot more potential than most people can bring out of it.”

At this point it is worth reflecting on Bruce, a man who thinks enough about his car and his driving to refer to the combination as artistic.  It should be noted that he is also emblematic of Philadelphia – the City of Brotherly Love – which is ironic because he is originally from New York.  He has a quick wit, a wicked grin, a broad sense of fun and an infectious enthusiasm, but with all that he is supremely grounded and unfailingly caring. We began the interview in an urban garden he created as a retreat for his wife. During our drive with him Bruce stopped at one point to leap out of his car and attend to the needs of an elderly lady who had fallen while crossing the road.  He does it all with equal enthusiasm and authenticity.  When Bruce talked with us about everything from medicine to archaeology, life in central Philly and his Maserati, it was clear that he deeply felt everything he said, no matter how emphatic it seemed

And with this in mind, we asked: what of the notorious reputation of Italian car companies for building cars with a disregard for quality control, or which quickly fall apart? Bruce would hear nothing of it. “I covered 40,000 miles in the Coupe, and so far I’ve done 20,000 miles in my GranSport, and I’ve had one problem,” he told us. “In the early days, the Coupe had a tendency to stall, but the dealership soon fixed that, and I’ve done significant mileage with the two cars. They’re finely made cars, which can last for hundreds of thousands of miles – that’s my prediction, anyway. I’d like it to last forever – or maybe forever minus a day or two. I’ve got no reason to think that it won’t last. And my dealership, Algar, are fabulous – they’re very responsive, they really take an interest, they’re enthusiasts, and they love the cars. Plus, they’re fun to be around. I feel I can trust them entirely.”

Given his enthusiasm for the way the car sounds, and the way it handles, it’s no surprise that performance tops the list when we ask Bruce about his favorite attributes. And the styling got a mention, too. “People have told me that the car looks good on me, the way a jacket would look good on someone, so that’s nice to know,” he mused. “The style is really good; for me the exclusivity is nice to have, but it’s not essential – think of going out to buy a really nice suit, you wouldn’t want it to look really way-out just to be exclusive. For example, the Porsche 911 handles really well, but I don’t like them – I think they look ugly, they look like frogs. For me, Maserati is the cure for the common car. The styling is timeless, it’s really pretty and elegant.”

Had he come out with any more one-liners, we might have suspected that Bruce had spoken to a scriptwriter about our interview – but the freewheeling conversation made that rather unlikely. And his reaction when we asked for his best Maserati story dispelled any lingering doubts. “Oh, I can’t tell you that! Okay, well, I was taking my mom, somewhere, and we were running late; let’s just say that we had a chat with a very nice guy in uniform, who wasn’t too impressed with my efforts to make up time, but he did tell me that the car handled very well,” he said. “And then… oh no, you REALLY can’t use that. Okay, my best Maserati story is that, for Hanukkah, I put a big Menorah on top of the car, and I drove it. So I had the fastest Menorah in Philadelphia – I’ve got a photo here, somewhere…” and he headed off into his wonderful Philadelphia townhouse to find it. When he returned, we were truly surprised – the Menorah was about as wide as the car!

Bruce was plainly very busy, fielding several phone calls during our chat; it came as no surprise (although a definite disappointment) when he had to call an end to the conversation because he needed to head off to the hospital. He still took the time to give us a short (and distinctly quick!) trip around the neighborhood, pointing out some of the sights. In the car, he continued to speak enthusiastically about his Maserati. “I wasn’t joking, what I said earlier about needing a Maserati and a tank of gas - the roads around here are lovely in the spring and fall; the GranSport makes a great touring car,” he told us. “For me, it’s like going to Disneyworld every day, it really does beat the rides you take in an amusement park. The ergonomics are nice, the handling is superb, the acceleration is great, the driving experience is phenomenal. I have fun taking it to my parents’ place in upstate New York.”

Performance, handling, style, ergonomics, exclusivity – the Maserati GranSport is a true ‘modern classic’, one that Bruce described as “the purest form of the Maserati”. Contact your local authorized Maserati dealer to find out how you too could enjoy ‘Disneyworld every day’.

Favorite drink, wine or spirit: Single malt whisky – Laphroaig cask-strength
Favorite meal:  Rack of lamb with shiitake mushroom and brandy sauce
Favorite movie: Modigliani, Flags of our Fathers, the Wind that Shakes the Barley.
Last movie you saw: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Favorite book: The Torah
Favorite genre of music: It depends on the mood.
Favorite hobby: Spending time with my wife and children.
Favorite vacation spot: Safed, Israel.
What place would you most like to visit for the first time: I’d like to go to Italy, and tour around in a Maserati.
Favorite man-made wonder: The temple in Jerusalem.
Favorite natural wonder: I couldn’t pick one – nature is so beautiful, from Grand Cayman, scuba spots, forests – I couldn’t pick just one.
If you had to change professions, what would it be: I would starve! I’d like to be an artist – except I lack all forms of talent!
What do you still intend to accomplish: I’m working on different ways to treat cluster headaches, back and neck pain – I don’t think we treat those very well. And I also want to be a good father and husband.