911, Aston Martin, or M4 Which Really Wins on UK Roads?
Discussion
Hi all,
I wanted to start a discussion comparing some of the best performance cars out there, from the perspective of someone who has been lucky enough — and worked hard enough — to own several of them.
For context, aside from a Porsche Cayenne and Macan (which my wife drives — and I firmly believe the Macan is the best all-round SUV on the market), my personal journey has included two 911s (997 and 992.1), three Aston Martins (DB9, DB11 and 2018 Vantage), and most recently a 2022 BMW M4 Competition RWD.
Here's my verdict — and the first thing I'll say is that there's no universal answer. Personal preference, driving style, and crucially where you actually drive all matter enormously.
Porsche 911 In my opinion, the finest car for precision, handling and cornering. If I lived in Germany or France, it would be my default choice without hesitation. However, on UK roads — particularly if you have any degree of OCD about ride quality as I do
— it's a difficult daily reality. I'd also add that having dealt with Porsche dealers in the UK for over 20 years, the customer experience has been consistently disappointing. The stories I could tell...
Aston Martin Genuinely great cars, with an exhaust note that never gets old. More reliable than their reputation suggests, and the customer service has been absolutely faultless in my experience. The DB11 was my personal favourite of the three — the 2018 Vantage is arguably the most stunning looking car I've owned, but it didn't quite deliver on performance in the way I'd hoped.
BMW M4 Competition And here's my perhaps surprising conclusion — for UK roads, I actually prefer the M4 over both the 911 and the Astons. It's still an enormously powerful and capable machine, but it's more civilised and forgiving over our notoriously poor road surfaces. It feels like a car engineered for real-world driving, not just perfect tarmac.
Would love to hear from others who have owned or driven across these — particularly anyone who has made similar comparisons.
I wanted to start a discussion comparing some of the best performance cars out there, from the perspective of someone who has been lucky enough — and worked hard enough — to own several of them.
For context, aside from a Porsche Cayenne and Macan (which my wife drives — and I firmly believe the Macan is the best all-round SUV on the market), my personal journey has included two 911s (997 and 992.1), three Aston Martins (DB9, DB11 and 2018 Vantage), and most recently a 2022 BMW M4 Competition RWD.
Here's my verdict — and the first thing I'll say is that there's no universal answer. Personal preference, driving style, and crucially where you actually drive all matter enormously.
Porsche 911 In my opinion, the finest car for precision, handling and cornering. If I lived in Germany or France, it would be my default choice without hesitation. However, on UK roads — particularly if you have any degree of OCD about ride quality as I do
— it's a difficult daily reality. I'd also add that having dealt with Porsche dealers in the UK for over 20 years, the customer experience has been consistently disappointing. The stories I could tell...Aston Martin Genuinely great cars, with an exhaust note that never gets old. More reliable than their reputation suggests, and the customer service has been absolutely faultless in my experience. The DB11 was my personal favourite of the three — the 2018 Vantage is arguably the most stunning looking car I've owned, but it didn't quite deliver on performance in the way I'd hoped.
BMW M4 Competition And here's my perhaps surprising conclusion — for UK roads, I actually prefer the M4 over both the 911 and the Astons. It's still an enormously powerful and capable machine, but it's more civilised and forgiving over our notoriously poor road surfaces. It feels like a car engineered for real-world driving, not just perfect tarmac.
Would love to hear from others who have owned or driven across these — particularly anyone who has made similar comparisons.
Interesting real-world conclusions. I’ve read similar things about the F90 M5, which rides remarkably well.
I feel ride quality and damping is a much under appreciated aspect of performance cars, something Jaguar used to excel at.
I was surprised to be fair how good the ride and refinement was on a friends DBS, a fabulous long-haul car.
I feel ride quality and damping is a much under appreciated aspect of performance cars, something Jaguar used to excel at.
I was surprised to be fair how good the ride and refinement was on a friends DBS, a fabulous long-haul car.
I’ve owned 4 911’s ( 997.1 C2S , 997.2 C2S , GTS 4S and a GT3 ) , 2 Cayennes ( V8 and V8 GTS ) , and 4 Astons ( V8S , V12S , “ new “ V8 - all Vantages , plus a GT8 which I will never sell )
Never owned a M4 but did have the E46 M3.
Agree that Astons are generally more reliable than made out sometimes but they do have niggles and on a daily this can be irritating.
Dealer experience with Aston has been far more pleasant than with Porsche.
Never owned a M4 but did have the E46 M3.
Agree that Astons are generally more reliable than made out sometimes but they do have niggles and on a daily this can be irritating.
Dealer experience with Aston has been far more pleasant than with Porsche.
I own an M4 (F82) and have previously owned a Boxster but no experience of Aston Martin. I do think the M4 as a daily car is a phenomenal car, I often ponder changing it as i'm coming up to three years ownership which is as long as I have ever owned a car but I struggle to come up with any reasonable alternative whilst setting myself a budget of £40k, I always end up thinking I'll just keep what I've got because it's never let me down and still puts a smile on my face every time.
I do think in many ways driving an M car as a daily is overkill in many ways and something like a 340i, 540i etc would be more than enough but having owned a M240i previously I would miss the "extra" that driving a proper M car brings.
I would like to own a 911 in the future but at the moment the extra practicality of rear seats in the M4 is a necessity.
I do think in many ways driving an M car as a daily is overkill in many ways and something like a 340i, 540i etc would be more than enough but having owned a M240i previously I would miss the "extra" that driving a proper M car brings.
I would like to own a 911 in the future but at the moment the extra practicality of rear seats in the M4 is a necessity.
alscar said:
I ve owned 4 911 s ( 997.1 C2S , 997.2 C2S , GTS 4S and a GT3 ) , 2 Cayennes ( V8 and V8 GTS ) , and 4 Astons ( V8S , V12S , new V8 - all Vantages , plus a GT8 which I will never sell )
Never owned a M4 but did have the E46 M3.
Agree that Astons are generally more reliable than made out sometimes but they do have niggles and on a daily this can be irritating.
Dealer experience with Aston has been far more pleasant than with Porsche.
Yes the Astons do have these niggles sometimes but the dealer service I think compensates for that. Never owned a M4 but did have the E46 M3.
Agree that Astons are generally more reliable than made out sometimes but they do have niggles and on a daily this can be irritating.
Dealer experience with Aston has been far more pleasant than with Porsche.
alscar said:
Not quite sure the service compensates enough for having to get low loaders to recover the car though !
But the ownership and driving of the Aston certainly does.
Yes I completely get what you are saying. My broader point was: the UK has serioulsy disappointed me in the last five years or so on so many respects and Porsche dealers have been a strong case in point. Despite me owning an M4 now, I am in "love" with AM dealers....the level of service is ansolutely superb (e.g. emailed my contact at Walton on Thames AM at 10:00 am for a test drive of a Vantage - when I was looking for one - and received a reply by 10:19am to come and drive the car shortly after lunch time. This is in sharp contrast to the level of customer service one is getting from other high-end brands). This is all I wanted to highlight to give credit where credit is due, but can appreciate the inconvenience when things go wrong with a car.But the ownership and driving of the Aston certainly does.
vgkion said:
alscar said:
Not quite sure the service compensates enough for having to get low loaders to recover the car though !
But the ownership and driving of the Aston certainly does.
Yes I completely get what you are saying. My broader point was: the UK has serioulsy disappointed me in the last five years or so on so many respects and Porsche dealers have been a strong case in point. Despite me owning an M4 now, I am in "love" with AM dealers....the level of service is ansolutely superb (e.g. emailed my contact at Walton on Thames AM at 10:00 am for a test drive of a Vantage - when I was looking for one - and received a reply by 10:19am to come and drive the car shortly after lunch time. This is in sharp contrast to the level of customer service one is getting from other high-end brands). This is all I wanted to highlight to give credit where credit is due, but can appreciate the inconvenience when things go wrong with a car.But the ownership and driving of the Aston certainly does.
I'd rather judge them one how they act after you've bought the car
That aside, interesting thread with people's experiences and observations,
TheJimi said:
In fairness, most dealers will have great comms and service in the lead-up because they want you to buy a car.
I'd rather judge them one how they act after you've bought the car
That aside, interesting thread with people's experiences and observations,
Very true and it is very likely the case with most dealers but not the AM ones. They have always provided exceptional service, including repairs and last minute courtesy cars (try getting a courtesy car from a Porsche dealer - unless you book 4 months in advance). And this is coming from someone who is hard to satisfy and has been in many "battles" with Porsche Cars Great Britain about the quality of dealer service.I'd rather judge them one how they act after you've bought the car
That aside, interesting thread with people's experiences and observations,
vgkion said:
Very true and it is very likely the case with most dealers but not the AM ones. They have always provided exceptional service, including repairs and last minute courtesy cars (try getting a courtesy car from a Porsche dealer - unless you book 4 months in advance). And this is coming from someone who is hard to satisfy and has been in many "battles" with Porsche Cars Great Britain about the quality of dealer service.
AM ( depending on the dealer ) often don’t have courtesy vehicles available but to compensate some can offer both delivery and collection and even with one dealer in particular a mobile at home service. The reason Porsche GB seem not to care too much about their customers goes back years to when certain DP’s allowed certain customers the pick of their halo cars in return for either brown envelopes or other treats - allegedly obviously.
It’s becoming much easier to buy a halo car today but the customers who feel wronged aren’t necessarily prepared to be forgiving as they have moved on to other marques.
Porsche build fabulous cars with generally fabulous build quality but it’s isn’t just about this.
911Spanker said:
Depends how you like to drive and what you value. I need great steering feel and a car I can thrash as hard as possible. An older 911 does me fine though arguably even that's a bit too quick for UK roads.
My thoughts exactly. UK roads? All of these cars are too wide and too fast for my liking.interesting observations.
My experience- Love my DB11 but its not a daily and only suitable for wider roads or not too busy times. The V12 sounds amazing.
Never had an M4 but have x 2 F90 M5 and its the perfect daily/ fun car when needed only a Panamera would come close.
2 x 997 911's and although road handling is exceptional they are too stiff for the rubbish UK roads.
Lexus LC500 what an amazing engine and Lexus reliability/ service one of my all time favourites until it got stolen.
Merc Cl600 amazingly comfortable and quick. great tech but ruinous running costs. still miss it though!
My experience- Love my DB11 but its not a daily and only suitable for wider roads or not too busy times. The V12 sounds amazing.
Never had an M4 but have x 2 F90 M5 and its the perfect daily/ fun car when needed only a Panamera would come close.
2 x 997 911's and although road handling is exceptional they are too stiff for the rubbish UK roads.
Lexus LC500 what an amazing engine and Lexus reliability/ service one of my all time favourites until it got stolen.
Merc Cl600 amazingly comfortable and quick. great tech but ruinous running costs. still miss it though!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff