599 v DBS with 100 -120k to spend

[Wattyboy]

Hi - 1st post on here so treat me gently. Just turning 50 and want to fulfil a lifetime ambition and buy a super car. Have c 100 - 120k to spend. Not really looking to lose loads of cash so looking at options near bottom of depreciation curve.

I seem to be down to a Aston DBS(can get a low mileage Volante for c100k) or a Ferrari 599 which looks great.

Any views - only planning on c 2000 miles a year so will use sparingly in good weather. Views on depreciation, maintenance and quality of car much appreciated. Will be 1st time in anything approaching a super car so happy to do lots of research b4 buying as want to get right

Help appreciated

[anonymous-user]

Wattyboy said:

Hi - 1st post on here so treat me gently. Just turning 50 and want to fulfil a lifetime ambition and buy a super car. Have c 100 - 120k to spend. Not really looking to lose loads of cash so looking at options near bottom of depreciation curve.

I seem to be down to a Aston DBS(can get a low mileage Volante for c100k) or a Ferrari 599 which looks great.

Any views - only planning on c 2000 miles a year so will use sparingly in good weather. Views on depreciation, maintenance and quality of car much appreciated. Will be 1st time in anything approaching a super car so happy to do lots of research b4 buying as want to get right

Help appreciated

Supercar = 599. 600+ hp / 200+ mph GT. Looks and sounds incredible. One of my all time favourite cars. Buy an AM when you are old and bald.

[johnnyreggae]

Drive both to see which of the above descriptions (!) suits you best - the cars won't necessarily be as reliable as your current Eurobox or whatever so don't buy the cheapest and do not rule out an expensive full-franchise car with warranty to make the experience the easiest possible

There may be have been dedicated buyers guides for both produced already here

[marky1]

599 all the way. If it was me I am pretty sure once I'd bought the AM I would have wished I bought the 599. You have to own a V12 Ferrari at least once in your life!

[Ferruccio]

Drive each one, and you’ll know.

[Taffy66]

MAC 720S said:

Supercar = 599. 600+ hp / 200+ mph GT. Looks and sounds incredible. One of my all time favourite cars. Buy an AM when you are old and bald.

Nice decision to have to make at 50..I like both cars however given a choice between the two i'd always pick a nice 599..The Carbon fibre seats which are heated and electrically adjustable are without doubt the most comfortable seats i've ever sat in..The seats alone would swing it for me..Best colour in a 599 is Grigio Silverstone with Nero metallic a second albeit more difficult to maintain colour..
There is a stunning 599 HGTE in GS for sale at DL Swindon although higher than the figure OP mentioned..

[Wattyboy]

Thanks all. That 599 in Swindon Dick Lovett is beautiful.

I think you are all confirming what I thought - the 599 is probably the better option v the DBS.

Any thoughts on the depreciation curve on the 599. I am amazed there are examples around for 80 - 90k but happy to spend more on a low mileage hgte model from a dealer who will give a warranty. The 124k example is Swindon is spot on tbh

Cheers

[Trev450]

Worth mentioning that DL Swindon are not adverse to negotiating on price. How much they would be prepared to reduce it by is another matter though.

[WCZ]

Driven all, 599 every time.

[Cheib]

That Dick Lovett car is stunning !

[Bo_apex]

MAC 720S said:

Supercar = 599. 600+ hp / 200+ mph GT. Looks and sounds incredible. One of my all time favourite cars. Buy an AM when you are old and bald.

What, like James Bond ?

[Taffy66]

Cheib said:

That Dick Lovett car is stunning !

Its a really nice car..I took a good look at it in November whilst my 458 was being serviced..For a moment i briefly considered changing my car for it.Still prefer mine although very little in it..The seats in the 599 shame all Porsche Buckets imo as they are both supportable and extremely comfortable..Best seats i've ever sat in by a long shot..

[Cheib]

Taffy66 said:

Cheib said:

That Dick Lovett car is stunning !

Its a really nice car..I took a good look at it in November whilst my 458 was being serviced..For a moment i briefly considered changing my car for it.Still prefer mine although very little in it..The seats in the 599 shame all Porsche Buckets imo as they are both supportable and extremely comfortable..Best seats i've ever sat in by a long shot..

So they’ve had it a while then. Was it up for the same money then ?

I’ve not driven one....the thing that concerns me about 599’s is that the common comment is that they’re bloody massive and I suppose what the gearbox is like 15 years on.

[marky1]

Wattyboy said:

Thanks all. That 599 in Swindon Dick Lovett is beautiful.

I think you are all confirming what I thought - the 599 is probably the better option v the DBS.

Any thoughts on the depreciation curve on the 599. I am amazed there are examples around for 80 - 90k but happy to spend more on a low mileage hgte model from a dealer who will give a warranty. The 124k example is Swindon is spot on tbh

Cheers

My personal view depreciation won't be too bad if you can pick a nice one up for circ 100k. Just can't see them dropping much over the years to come but who knows at the end of the day.

[av185]

MAC 720S said:

Buy an AM when you are old and bald.

Quite.

Or when you buy some raspberry chinos and join the golf club.

[cayman-black]

599 ugly with an awful gearbox, DBS Manual beautiful with a great gearbox. DBS.

[cgt2]

I'm going to express a contrary opinion to most above. I'm a diehard Ferrari guy and have owned multiple V12's but the 599 is the one that didn't quite hit the spot for me. The engine as expected is a jewel but the gearbox and transaxle left something out for me. The best way to quantify this is to drive an F12 and you'll see what I mean (the successor to the 599 got it absolutely right). The 599 is also massive in width (much bigger to drive than a 575 or F12/812) and on most roads this limits you pushing too much. I did actually place a deposit on a 599 at one point intending to replace a 575 with it but when I drove the car it just didn't appeal to me. Again, when the F12 came along later, it was a revelation how good it was in comparison.

In contrast I had a friends' manual DBS for a weekend a few years back and I thought it was great. I was expecting it to be heavy and slow but there is a lot of carbon and aluminium in the construction and it was a very nice car, great poise and balance, it actually reminded me of a more modern 550 which is a very good thing in my book. The interior was beautifully made and it really did feel special, also sounded great. The price they are now I think it's a bargain.

[LooneyTunes]

Wattyboy said:

I seem to be down to a Aston DBS(can get a low mileage Volante for c100k) or a Ferrari 599 which looks great.

To throw in another idea if you're considering the DBS, 100k would also get you in to a the most recent generation Vanquish, even a Volante, these days. I'd certainly have a look at one of those too if you haven't already done so. Find an 8-speed one and you have 3.6 to 60 and a claimed top speed over 200 mph, even if you are still below 600bhp.

Without wanting to start the "what's a supercar" debate there seems to be a view on PH, reinforced by the forum structure, that Aston's aren't supercars so don't be too surprised when most people seeing this thread err on the side of the Ferrari when you say the dream is to own a supercar.

FWIW, if I were you I'd drive both Aston and Ferrari (or even both Astons and the Ferrari) and see which you get on with. There isn't a bad car amongst them so the choice should come down to which makes you feel best rather than what everyone else thinks.

[DeejRC]

I drove the DL 599 last month and it's a nice car. Truth be told though they have another in that's the special Monza red which looks amazing! It's Alfa Competizione red so of course it looks awesome.

[21ATS]

cgt2 said:

In contrast I had a friends' manual DBS for a weekend a few years back and I thought it was great. I was expecting it to be heavy and slow but there is a lot of carbon and aluminium in the construction and it was a very nice car, great poise and balance, it actually reminded me of a more modern 550 which is a very good thing in my book. The interior was beautifully made and it really did feel special, also sounded great. The price they are now I think it's a bargain.

I'm in a similar position to the OP - 50 last year and I've narrowed down my list to two cars - the 550 or the manual DBS so it's really interesting to see your comparison above.

I had been looking for 575's but having driven 3 F1's I just couldn't gel with the gearbox. I then drove a manual 575 and it was a revelation. However the asking prices for these is still in cloud cuckoo land despite the manual bubble having deflated somewhat. It's then I really looked at 550's and have actually come to prefer them over the 575 aesthitically.