Discussion
Yes, I know this is a common question, and I have searched the forum, but I've got some questions that I've not seen concrete answers for 
I've currently got a 996 C2, and I'm thinking about partex-ing it for a V8V this autumn, but I have some boring practical questions.
I'm not bothered about the performance loss, I live in central London, and don't do track days or anything like that. I am a bit worried about the heaviness of the clutch though, a few reviews I've seen have said it's hard work in traffic. I don't commute by car, but I sometimes have to drive to meetings, or to the shops or whatever.
Also, how's the luggage space? I enjoy driving to the continent with my mrs. for two week long trips. I can stuff quite a lot of luggage in the 911, using the rear seat space (the "boot" is tiny), but I've not seen much discussion of the boot space in the Aston.
Are there any decent service places in London? For Porsches the main dealers are a bit of a nightmare, but there are loads of independents. It seems like Aston main dealers aren't so bad, but I don't know which ones they are. Any recommendations?
Lastly, I think I'm going to go for a Approved Used 4.3, my budget will be in the 40-50k range. I don't really know enough about the mechanicals to spot a dud, but from what I've seen it doesn't seem like they often suffer from catastrophic problems anyway.
I've not risked a test drive yet, because from past experience I'll just fall in love and buy the first one I see Plus, there's some risk my mrs. might actually kill me.
Thanks in advance.
- Steve
I've currently got a 996 C2, and I'm thinking about partex-ing it for a V8V this autumn, but I have some boring practical questions.
I'm not bothered about the performance loss, I live in central London, and don't do track days or anything like that. I am a bit worried about the heaviness of the clutch though, a few reviews I've seen have said it's hard work in traffic. I don't commute by car, but I sometimes have to drive to meetings, or to the shops or whatever.
Also, how's the luggage space? I enjoy driving to the continent with my mrs. for two week long trips. I can stuff quite a lot of luggage in the 911, using the rear seat space (the "boot" is tiny), but I've not seen much discussion of the boot space in the Aston.
Are there any decent service places in London? For Porsches the main dealers are a bit of a nightmare, but there are loads of independents. It seems like Aston main dealers aren't so bad, but I don't know which ones they are. Any recommendations?
Lastly, I think I'm going to go for a Approved Used 4.3, my budget will be in the 40-50k range. I don't really know enough about the mechanicals to spot a dud, but from what I've seen it doesn't seem like they often suffer from catastrophic problems anyway.
I've not risked a test drive yet, because from past experience I'll just fall in love and buy the first one I see
Plus, there's some risk my mrs. might actually kill me.Thanks in advance.
- Steve
I have had a 996 C4S. The clutch in the 4.3 is definitely firmer, can be a pain in stop start traffic. My wife regularly drove the 911 but wouldn't drive the 4.3 Aston specifically because she hated the heavy clutch (every cloud has a silver lining 
).
I presume you are comparing coupe to coupe - I find the Aston coupe storage space much more useable than the porker. If it's a roadster you're looking at, it's slightly worse as you lose half the boot and most of the space behind the seats to the folding roof space.
You won't regret it by the way, the Vantage ownership proposition is way ahead of the Porsche. You'll get a lot less abuse
).I presume you are comparing coupe to coupe - I find the Aston coupe storage space much more useable than the porker. If it's a roadster you're looking at, it's slightly worse as you lose half the boot and most of the space behind the seats to the folding roof space.
You won't regret it by the way, the Vantage ownership proposition is way ahead of the Porsche. You'll get a lot less abuse
theno23 said:
Also, how's the luggage space? I enjoy driving to the continent with my mrs. for two week long trips. I can stuff quite a lot of luggage in the 911, using the rear seat space (the "boot" is tiny), but I've not seen much discussion of the boot space in the Aston.
I too swapped out of 991 to a V8V, but I mine were 997 C2S's - two of them on the trot in fact. I can only assume the 996 bootpsace is similar to on a 997 but I can say the boot space is much better on the V8V and much more usable.theno23 said:
Are there any decent service places in London? For Porsches the main dealers are a bit of a nightmare, but there are loads of independents. It seems like Aston main dealers aren't so bad, but I don't know which ones they are. Any recommendations?
I would recommend HWM in the London area... Very nice chaps to deal with.theno23 said:
I've not risked a test drive yet, because from past experience I'll just fall in love and buy the first one I see Plus, there's some risk my mrs. might actually kill me.
Yup, once you have seen one up close and heard that V8 burble you wont look back at the 996! Plus, there's some risk my mrs. might actually kill me.I wouldnt worry about "peformance loss" either from a 996C2 as there wont be any, if anything the Vantage is better ...and you dont need a bag of cement up front to stop the arse end trying to overtake the front every time you lift off LOL
seriously, the clutch isnt *that* bad, I have a bad foot/leg from a previous accident and I manage just fine with it, it was great physio in fact !
boot space, is more than any 911 derivative ive seen, some owners on here get 2 sets of clubs in easy enough or even a road bicycle and associated weekends camping gear
so no worries all around really, just get the best approved used you can within budget and enjoy
seriously, the clutch isnt *that* bad, I have a bad foot/leg from a previous accident and I manage just fine with it, it was great physio in fact !
boot space, is more than any 911 derivative ive seen, some owners on here get 2 sets of clubs in easy enough or even a road bicycle and associated weekends camping gear
so no worries all around really, just get the best approved used you can within budget and enjoy
bogie said:
boot space, is more than any 911 derivative ive seen, some owners on here get 2 sets of clubs in easy enough or even a road bicycle and associated weekends camping gear
Just reminded me..http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I went from a 996 c2 to a V8 Vantage and the V8 is quicker down any road or any track. Back to back with a 997 C2S they are even (I have 2 mates with one of those and we have had many long trips together, and not once has the Aston lost out). The clutch is firmer but still fine for around town. The Aston likes a drink, but when driven round town or very hard then it is about the same as the pork (although the pork is much better when driven normally). The driving position in the pork is much better (infact the best I have found). The Aston is better on tyres, and better on luggage space (but not if you need to take little people in the back). The pork feels very 'right' once you get used to how to drive one, the Aston is much easier to drive hard from the get-go (a bit like a big caterham, as you sit on the back wheels). Pulling out of blind junctions is a bit tough as you sit very far back. But do it you'll never regret it, (even when the big bills come in!)
1) Clutch. Meaty but fine. Unless you're the guy off the Mr Muscle advert, or Douglas Bader's less able twin, you'll be OK. There are girls on this forum who drive them, and my Mrs drives mine (5'4" little lass). So if you do have a problem with it, never ever admit to it. Ever. Go to the gym instead.
2) Luggage - fine. Loads of room including the "parcel shelf" behind the seats. Mrs and I cruised Portugal and Spain for 3 weeks and it was great.
Anyway, you'll own an Aston. If you really get stuck, empty the car of everything but a pair of pants each and your wallet and buy new clothes at each stop.
3) Servicing. HWM (Surrey) are actually very good generally. More expensive than indies, but a good place. Alternatively, there's currently only one indie thus far that gets rave reviews consistently. Rick in Derby (DMS).
Treat your Mrs to a weekend up in Derbyshire when getting the car serviced. Derby's not the best place in the world (sorry Rick), but there are plenty of places nearby to keep her amused. You could drive the car up, hire a car to go somewhere near, stay over, eat, drink and still come out quids in versus a main dealer.
2) Luggage - fine. Loads of room including the "parcel shelf" behind the seats. Mrs and I cruised Portugal and Spain for 3 weeks and it was great.
Anyway, you'll own an Aston. If you really get stuck, empty the car of everything but a pair of pants each and your wallet and buy new clothes at each stop.
3) Servicing. HWM (Surrey) are actually very good generally. More expensive than indies, but a good place. Alternatively, there's currently only one indie thus far that gets rave reviews consistently. Rick in Derby (DMS).
Treat your Mrs to a weekend up in Derbyshire when getting the car serviced. Derby's not the best place in the world (sorry Rick), but there are plenty of places nearby to keep her amused. You could drive the car up, hire a car to go somewhere near, stay over, eat, drink and still come out quids in versus a main dealer.
Thanks for the responses everyone, that's really helpful.
Yes, I'm looking for a coupe.
I'm not anti auto boxes, but there aren't many sportshifts on the market, and there's a bit of a premium on the prices. If there was a full auto I'd be tempted by that, I'm more after a GT car than an out and out sportscar. A DB9 won't fit on my drive, before someone suggests it!
The photos of loading a bike into the boot are encouraging, my OH does tend to pack a phenomenal amount of clothes, so I guess we'll just have to stick to warm places I've done the "pack light a take a credit card" thing in the past, but it looks like there's plenty of space.
Re. servicing. I was hoping there would be somewhere good in zone 1 or 2, but my office is in Richmond, so Surrey is OK. Though it's tedious to get there by car unless you leave at 7 AM. I'm happy to pay a bit of a premium for main dealer services, as long as the engineers are good.
Cheers,
Steve
Yes, I'm looking for a coupe.
I'm not anti auto boxes, but there aren't many sportshifts on the market, and there's a bit of a premium on the prices. If there was a full auto I'd be tempted by that, I'm more after a GT car than an out and out sportscar. A DB9 won't fit on my drive, before someone suggests it!
The photos of loading a bike into the boot are encouraging, my OH does tend to pack a phenomenal amount of clothes, so I guess we'll just have to stick to warm places
I've done the "pack light a take a credit card" thing in the past, but it looks like there's plenty of space.Re. servicing. I was hoping there would be somewhere good in zone 1 or 2, but my office is in Richmond, so Surrey is OK. Though it's tedious to get there by car unless you leave at 7 AM. I'm happy to pay a bit of a premium for main dealer services, as long as the engineers are good.
Cheers,
Steve
I have recently changed from a 996 C4S. Like the others have said, I found the clutch a little heavy in comparison to the Porsche for the first few days of driving, now it feels easy. Maybe I have built up some muscles in the right places, maybe it has loosened up a bit, either way I wouldn't let the feel of the clutch put you off during a short test drive, it does get easier.
The glaring contrast I noticed was the way in which the gearbox itself felt. My Porsche wasn't particularly regimented, whereas the Aston gives a really positive, well constructed feel to the way in which gears are selected.
Plenty of space in the boot, the small shelf behind the front seats gives an additional bit of room for bags, etc. Possibly slightly less space than the Porsche but I wouldn't have said there was much between the two.
Overall the feel of the Aston is a much better build quality. Power delivery feels different which is to be expected given the different engine configurations, the Aston can feel progressive at times from low revs. The Porsche was fitted with the sports exhaust which made it seem as if you were doing 100000mph everywhere; the Aston is refined, which doesn't mean boring, but it is quiet, smooth and stable until the exhaust valve opens when the quiet bit goes out of the window.
Buy one, you won't regret it!
The glaring contrast I noticed was the way in which the gearbox itself felt. My Porsche wasn't particularly regimented, whereas the Aston gives a really positive, well constructed feel to the way in which gears are selected.
Plenty of space in the boot, the small shelf behind the front seats gives an additional bit of room for bags, etc. Possibly slightly less space than the Porsche but I wouldn't have said there was much between the two.
Overall the feel of the Aston is a much better build quality. Power delivery feels different which is to be expected given the different engine configurations, the Aston can feel progressive at times from low revs. The Porsche was fitted with the sports exhaust which made it seem as if you were doing 100000mph everywhere; the Aston is refined, which doesn't mean boring, but it is quiet, smooth and stable until the exhaust valve opens when the quiet bit goes out of the window.
Buy one, you won't regret it!
theno23 said:
The Fuse 22 thing does seem rather convenient. I wonder if AM made the valve fail open deliberately? Seems more natural that it would fail closed.
It would certainly appear that way, but I'm sure it's to prevent you from driving with a fully restricted exhaust in the event of a failure of the fuse or vacuum pump.KarlFranz said:
It would certainly appear that way, but I'm sure it's to prevent you from driving with a fully restricted exhaust in the event of a failure of the fuse or vacuum pump.
Ah, interesting, so the exhaust valve does actually have some engineering advantage? I guessed it was purely for audible effect, while getting round noise regulations at low revs, like the Porsche one.I know absolutely nothing about the V8V exhaust system, so I was just guessing that closed would be the natural position.
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