V12 Vantage or Nissan GTR
Discussion
Have been thinking of getting a Vantage V12 for the past 12 months.
However recently thought of changing my daily driver BMW530i instead of changing the V8 Vantage.
Been test driving various cars including BMW M5, M6 and Porsche 997 C2S & C4S.
However last week drove a Nissan GTR, previously driven a couple on track but none on the road.
Totally blown away by the cars performance (0-60MPH in 2.8secs), handing, ride and brakes.
Increadable package. Now thinking of changing the V8 Vantage for a GTR instead of a V12 Vantage!!!
However recently thought of changing my daily driver BMW530i instead of changing the V8 Vantage.
Been test driving various cars including BMW M5, M6 and Porsche 997 C2S & C4S.
However last week drove a Nissan GTR, previously driven a couple on track but none on the road.
Totally blown away by the cars performance (0-60MPH in 2.8secs), handing, ride and brakes.
Increadable package. Now thinking of changing the V8 Vantage for a GTR instead of a V12 Vantage!!!
Putting the brand snobbery aside, it would come down to the head and heart decision. The head will tell you that there is pretty much nothing faster than the GTR on the roads and the gen 2 car is awesome. The launch control is very cool and you will be able to drive it much faster than any aston.
However. The GTR has no drama and no passion. It goes bastar* fast, but you wont know you are doing it, because its too quiet. The v12 is a lovely car to drive and sounds awesome too. Plus, it looks better. I love the GTR and think its one of the best value cars in the world and nothing will touch it, but i would still have the v12. I have a client with a c63 and a gtr and he says the same thing. The merc is fun and the GTR is fast. He said nothing handles like it, but should you have an accident, you will be going very very fast when you do.
However. The GTR has no drama and no passion. It goes bastar* fast, but you wont know you are doing it, because its too quiet. The v12 is a lovely car to drive and sounds awesome too. Plus, it looks better. I love the GTR and think its one of the best value cars in the world and nothing will touch it, but i would still have the v12. I have a client with a c63 and a gtr and he says the same thing. The merc is fun and the GTR is fast. He said nothing handles like it, but should you have an accident, you will be going very very fast when you do.
going fast is a one trick pony ...buy a superbike for £10K if you really want to scare yourself just going fast on a Sunday morning
the thing for me would be: whats it like to be in, look at, listen to, talk about, own, smell... in fact everything other than "going fast"
..because you can only go so fast on public roads....and you need deep pockets to track a GTR regularly, even more so than a Vantage I would say
the other alternative is get a few more focussed cars instead of just one expensive one ...a £20K Caterham can feel just as fast at 100mph as a GTR does at 150mph plus ..learn how to drive real well on track rather than let the computers in the Jap technical masterpiece do it for you
...nothing "wrong" with a GTR, I like em and they are awesome performance wise...but would only have one to experience it occasionally as part of a fleet, rather than an "only" car...
the thing for me would be: whats it like to be in, look at, listen to, talk about, own, smell... in fact everything other than "going fast"
..because you can only go so fast on public roads....and you need deep pockets to track a GTR regularly, even more so than a Vantage I would say
the other alternative is get a few more focussed cars instead of just one expensive one ...a £20K Caterham can feel just as fast at 100mph as a GTR does at 150mph plus ..learn how to drive real well on track rather than let the computers in the Jap technical masterpiece do it for you
...nothing "wrong" with a GTR, I like em and they are awesome performance wise...but would only have one to experience it occasionally as part of a fleet, rather than an "only" car...
I agree with bogie. What is most important about a car is the driver experience, how it makes you feel. While speed is part of the driver experience, it's not everything, even for a sports car. For me, driving the V12V is like an event, a special occasion. While it'd be fun to play with the GTR, I don't believe it would feel that way.
I've seen these threads on many other forums before....GTR vs. XXX. Always the same comments about "no character", "Very fast, but it's only a Nissan". etc.
Since I drive both a V12V and a GTR, I can tell you the GTR gets the most attention. Have DD'd the GTR for a year now and it is a great car for everyday driving. You can always turn off the nannies and swing the tail all over the place.
I do see plenty of bug eyed drivers when they see the V12V, but I see more drivers practically killing themselves to weave through traffic so they can come along side the GTR.
Both great cars and very happy to drive them both. Not a bad choice to have. Have fun with and and good luck!
Since I drive both a V12V and a GTR, I can tell you the GTR gets the most attention. Have DD'd the GTR for a year now and it is a great car for everyday driving. You can always turn off the nannies and swing the tail all over the place.
I do see plenty of bug eyed drivers when they see the V12V, but I see more drivers practically killing themselves to weave through traffic so they can come along side the GTR.
Both great cars and very happy to drive them both. Not a bad choice to have. Have fun with and and good luck!
Edited by CPBRI on Tuesday 7th February 12:11
A Desmosedici RR 
franki68 said:
The Nissan is a pornstar ,the vantage is a supermodel with a high sex drive.
You can't go wrong with either tbh,the Nissan is superb to drive,and mind numbingly fast ,the Aston will have you sneaking into the garage just to look at it before going to bed.
Probably one of my favourite statements ever. You can't go wrong with either tbh,the Nissan is superb to drive,and mind numbingly fast ,the Aston will have you sneaking into the garage just to look at it before going to bed.
It's also quite apt, anytime I've climbed out of a V12V I've felt a sinking feeling only for it to subside into excitement with the realisation that I'll be getting back in it later. As one contributor mentioned it's a heart and head argument but TBH if you're driving a supercar on British roads you should only really follow your heart.
Two very different cars, both with their own charms I think, you'd need to drive both and decide which one ticks the boxes.
Speaking for myself - the Aston was never a "this is a sensible purchase" decision, you buy one because you 1) can and 2) really want one. I do admire the Nissan - if you needed 2+2, all weather performance and have a big enough driveway - the GTR is a great choice.
Speaking for myself - the Aston was never a "this is a sensible purchase" decision, you buy one because you 1) can and 2) really want one. I do admire the Nissan - if you needed 2+2, all weather performance and have a big enough driveway - the GTR is a great choice.
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