v8 vantages, talk to me...
Discussion
first time poster in this section so be gentle!
i'm sure my predicament is fairly common & has been answered before but here goes- basically i'm a porsche guy through & through but after a long summer of having no car i'm starting to look a little further afield. i love my old pork but the new stuff (apart from gt3's) leave me cold. my budget won't stretch to a 997 gt3, just the 996 & as good as a 996 gt3 is they just don't really do it for me looks wise.
ferrari's (360) are another option but the terror of a huge bill plus the fact that reasonable mileage manuals are pretty hard to come by mean another blank in the search.
so (bare with me here)......
an aston martin v8 vantage, very acheivable for my £35k budget, warrenty from a main dealer, looks great etc etc.
ok it's not (i'm led to beleive) the sharp tool on track that i may be used to, & yes i will track it-a few ring trips/spa uk track days each year etc but i'm sure it more than makes up for it on the road side of things.
anyone one out there with the pro's & con's of what i'd like to use it for? budget really only covers the 4.3 say 2005 model year, though people say the 07 cars are an improvement, what's the deal there?
i'm just after a few pointers really, i've got a car to go & view when i get the spare time but it would be great to have some info to hand before i walk in unprepared.
thanks in advance guys
i'm sure my predicament is fairly common & has been answered before but here goes- basically i'm a porsche guy through & through but after a long summer of having no car i'm starting to look a little further afield. i love my old pork but the new stuff (apart from gt3's) leave me cold. my budget won't stretch to a 997 gt3, just the 996 & as good as a 996 gt3 is they just don't really do it for me looks wise.
ferrari's (360) are another option but the terror of a huge bill plus the fact that reasonable mileage manuals are pretty hard to come by mean another blank in the search.
so (bare with me here)......
an aston martin v8 vantage, very acheivable for my £35k budget, warrenty from a main dealer, looks great etc etc.
ok it's not (i'm led to beleive) the sharp tool on track that i may be used to, & yes i will track it-a few ring trips/spa uk track days each year etc but i'm sure it more than makes up for it on the road side of things.
anyone one out there with the pro's & con's of what i'd like to use it for? budget really only covers the 4.3 say 2005 model year, though people say the 07 cars are an improvement, what's the deal there?
i'm just after a few pointers really, i've got a car to go & view when i get the spare time but it would be great to have some info to hand before i walk in unprepared.
thanks in advance guys
If anyone knows what they're doing on the track, then the Aston won't be a slug. 911s are incredible, but they have had over 45 years to get it right. You can't really compare a GT3 to a V8V, one is a racer and the other a sports coupe. Take a V8V for a test drive and see what you think.
cragswinter said:
cheers jockman,
interesting to hear that some people think the performance of the vantage is below the 911, are they especially heavy or something? this may of course have quite an impact on the enjoyment of track driving.
It's not about performance. It's about the joy of opening the garage door and seeing "that".interesting to hear that some people think the performance of the vantage is below the 911, are they especially heavy or something? this may of course have quite an impact on the enjoyment of track driving.
It's not about performance. It's about everyone around you loving what the vantage is. You'll never get so many complimentry remarks in a 911 (in fact I understand quite the reverse)
It's not about the heaviness. How often do you <really> drive a road and <know> that was what made it better.
It's about the ownership experience. The Vantage (and I'm sure other AMs) exude a certain something that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy when you look at it, get into it, drive it and walk away from it.
We breifly considered a Cayman before we bought the V8V. In 5 years I've not had a single day of regret. I'm certain the Cayman would've been long gone and we'd be on to the next thing!
If you're buying the Vantage as a track car then from our experience at the PDC at Millbook I would suspect that it would be wonderful. However you will probably be eclipsed by caterhams, radicals, porches, a raft of tricked up Hondas etc. But I'm prepared to bet but the Vantage will be a willing partner on the track and will also be equally joyful when you leave the confines of the track and head for home.
It's not a track day wonder. It's more than that.
Hi,
I've had my V8V since may when I traded my 997 C2S in for it.
They are both great cars
The Aston (I even like writing it ) is not as flat out fast as the 997 but a lot steadier on the road and easier to drive at 80%
It is a lot comfier inside and much more solidly built
It sounds like a proper car rather than a beetle
It is drop dead gorgeous
There is much more of a sense of occasion every time IF drive it, the Porsche had little soul although it has the heritage.
So to sum up...
Spitfire or Messerschmitt?
Simon
I've had my V8V since may when I traded my 997 C2S in for it.
They are both great cars
The Aston (I even like writing it ) is not as flat out fast as the 997 but a lot steadier on the road and easier to drive at 80%
It is a lot comfier inside and much more solidly built
It sounds like a proper car rather than a beetle
It is drop dead gorgeous
There is much more of a sense of occasion every time IF drive it, the Porsche had little soul although it has the heritage.
So to sum up...
Spitfire or Messerschmitt?
Simon
thanks peter,
that's exactly the reason i've purchased all of my cars (including the 911-my all time dream car) whether they be track specials like the megane r26.r or exige, boulavard crusers like the 350z or 993 or something inbetween like the m3 csl.
to be honest like i say the natural progression would be either a 996 gt3 or a 997 carrera but a 997 has just too many mechanical issues & the 996 has those bloody headlamps!
being out & out fastest on track isn't of upmost importance as long as a car is fun, not too hard on the consumables & not too fragile.
that's exactly the reason i've purchased all of my cars (including the 911-my all time dream car) whether they be track specials like the megane r26.r or exige, boulavard crusers like the 350z or 993 or something inbetween like the m3 csl.
to be honest like i say the natural progression would be either a 996 gt3 or a 997 carrera but a 997 has just too many mechanical issues & the 996 has those bloody headlamps!
being out & out fastest on track isn't of upmost importance as long as a car is fun, not too hard on the consumables & not too fragile.
oh i intend to rob, with a bit of luck & forward planning it might just happen on sunday
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
I came from a string of Porsches to my V8V (944, 968, 996, 997 with a TVR and RS4 in between). Loved the 996 but that was when they were still current. Got bored with the 997 very quickly - for some reason it just didn't "do it" for me. The Vantage is better in just about every way, apart from outright pace (and I still like the extreme compactness of the 911 even though the Aston's not that much bigger). The Aston's so much more of an "experience" than a Porsche.
I'm not a track guy, though, and if that's what you're after I'm not sure whether you'd think it "chuckable" enough. For that reason you may prefer a car with the Sportpack option, although not sure they're available on the age you're looking at.
I'm not a track guy, though, and if that's what you're after I'm not sure whether you'd think it "chuckable" enough. For that reason you may prefer a car with the Sportpack option, although not sure they're available on the age you're looking at.
Edited by drcarrera on Thursday 22 September 19:06
I've driven the V8 Vantage and the 997.2 on track, in my mind the 911 was the sharper track weapon - if you wanted to set a time, sure - the 911 will get you there faster, but the handling and "feel" of the Vantage isn't far off, and of course you approach the corners a little differently.
In reality surely you'll spend most of your time on the queens highway? How about a slightly older V8V AND an S1 Elise for the track days? All bases covered
Sorry - probably not helping at all!
Cheers
Kris
In reality surely you'll spend most of your time on the queens highway? How about a slightly older V8V AND an S1 Elise for the track days? All bases covered
Sorry - probably not helping at all!
Cheers
Kris
drcarrera said:
I came from a string of Porsches to my V8V (944, 968, 996, 997 with a TVR and RS4 in between). Loved the 996 but that was when they were still current. Got bored with the 997 very quickly - for some reason it just didn't "do it" for me. The Vantage is better in just about every way, apart from outright pace (and I still like the extreme compactness of the 911 even though the Aston's not that much bigger). The Aston's so much more of an "experience" than a Porsche.
I'm not a track guy, though, and if that's what you're after I'm not sure whether you'd think it "chuckable" enough. For that reason you may prefer a car with the Sportpack option, although not sure they're available on the age you're looking at.
Hmmm.I'm not a track guy, though, and if that's what you're after I'm not sure whether you'd think it "chuckable" enough. For that reason you may prefer a car with the Sportpack option, although not sure they're available on the age you're looking at.
Edited by drcarrera on Thursday 22 September 19:06
911C2S = 4427x1808x1300
911turbo = 4450x1852x1300
V8V = 4380x1865x1255
==>V8 is shorter, lower but two inches wider than a C2S and half an inch wider than a turbo.
911 compactness is more psychological.
This whole subject was something I spent a lot of time looking at as I have a small garage.
peterr96 said:
cragswinter said:
cheers jockman,
interesting to hear that some people think the performance of the vantage is below the 911, are they especially heavy or something? this may of course have quite an impact on the enjoyment of track driving.
It's not about performance. It's about the joy of opening the garage door and seeing "that".interesting to hear that some people think the performance of the vantage is below the 911, are they especially heavy or something? this may of course have quite an impact on the enjoyment of track driving.
It's not about performance. It's about everyone around you loving what the vantage is. You'll never get so many complimentry remarks in a 911 (in fact I understand quite the reverse)
It's not about the heaviness. How often do you <really> drive a road and <know> that was what made it better.
It's about the ownership experience. The Vantage (and I'm sure other AMs) exude a certain something that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy when you look at it, get into it, drive it and walk away from it.
We breifly considered a Cayman before we bought the V8V. In 5 years I've not had a single day of regret. I'm certain the Cayman would've been long gone and we'd be on to the next thing!
If you're buying the Vantage as a track car then from our experience at the PDC at Millbook I would suspect that it would be wonderful. However you will probably be eclipsed by caterhams, radicals, porches, a raft of tricked up Hondas etc. But I'm prepared to bet but the Vantage will be a willing partner on the track and will also be equally joyful when you leave the confines of the track and head for home.
It's not a track day wonder. It's more than that.
wise words......peoples attitudes change towards you driving an Aston......most people just think your a bit of a knob driving a Porker....unfair but true
cragswinter said:
oh i intend to rob, with a bit of luck & forward planning it might just happen on sunday
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
looking at that car, it's only averaged about 4.5 thousand miles a year and i'm sure if it's a wilmslow car it has been meticulously maintained.i can't comment on pre-2007 cars as mine was an '07.i sold mine earlier this year with similar mileage to the one you are looking at and in case you are wondering it was driving better than it had since new.i never had any issues with the car in 3 and a half years of ownership from new.the car got looser and better as i put the miles on.the only problem i had was the titanic depreciation.you will catch it on the shallow part of the curve as i don't think they are going to go much lower than they are now.so take advantage of the fact that there are saps like me out there who have done 50 odd grand in on depreciation and bag yourself an absolute bargain!!you won't regret it.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
cragswinter said:
oh i intend to rob, with a bit of luck & forward planning it might just happen on sunday
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
Nice looking car, you should be able to do a decent deal as the Market is softening by the day. Happy viewing!http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3196467.htm
this is the one i'm going to view, i would have idealy have had a darker exterior colour & slightly lower miles (i'll probably put at least 20k on it) but i personally love the interior & it looks to be fairly well specced
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