Thoughts & Opinions Please
Discussion
I have my current VH Vantage for sale and it has generated a little interest. I did have my eye on a very nice AMR Vantage 2018 registered but of course built in 2017. Something else has now popped up with a proposal from the seller of a 2019 Gen 2 Vantage that could be of interest.
Basically, I'm torn. I will be going to view the 2019 car this coming Saturday and it looks on paper to be a great car and the deal on the table seems fair. Until I had a phone conversation with the seller of the Gen 2 car my heart was set on obtaining an AMR VH car. Now I'm torn.
Neither car should a deal be struck, will be used daily but I welcome thoughts as to which would be the better car to go for and why please?
For me, the VH cars are better looking but are most likely not as well built, the Gen 2 cars are good looking certainly from the A pillar back but came with the Mercedes infotainment package and no Apple Car play whereas the 2018 VH car does come as standard from factory with this option.
Basically, I'm torn. I will be going to view the 2019 car this coming Saturday and it looks on paper to be a great car and the deal on the table seems fair. Until I had a phone conversation with the seller of the Gen 2 car my heart was set on obtaining an AMR VH car. Now I'm torn.
Neither car should a deal be struck, will be used daily but I welcome thoughts as to which would be the better car to go for and why please?
For me, the VH cars are better looking but are most likely not as well built, the Gen 2 cars are good looking certainly from the A pillar back but came with the Mercedes infotainment package and no Apple Car play whereas the 2018 VH car does come as standard from factory with this option.
Caslad said:
Drive both, buy the one you like the best.
Sorry to state the bleedin’ obvious but it’s only your opinion which counts.
This is true I guess and it had crossed my mind. I've driven the AMR, different to my 2009 4.3 of course however, I am looking to gauge views on all aspects of ownership. Sorry to state the bleedin’ obvious but it’s only your opinion which counts.
How much of an improvement was the gen 2 over the last of the VH cars etc.
I’ve had 3 VH vantages and one gen 2.
Niggles on all and tbh never thought the gen 2 was better built although I suspect you’re right possibly.
My gen 2 was a daily and it did everything well but I can’t say it ever stirred me.
I’m not comparing it to my GT8 which I will probably never sell but compared to my previous SP10 and then my V12S the previous VH versions were in my eyes far superior looking.
I like the side and rear profile of the gen 2.
As for apple play etc , not bothered - I’m fine with the memory stick in my GT8 for any music ,not that you can hear it over the exhaust
Niggles on all and tbh never thought the gen 2 was better built although I suspect you’re right possibly.
My gen 2 was a daily and it did everything well but I can’t say it ever stirred me.
I’m not comparing it to my GT8 which I will probably never sell but compared to my previous SP10 and then my V12S the previous VH versions were in my eyes far superior looking.
I like the side and rear profile of the gen 2.
As for apple play etc , not bothered - I’m fine with the memory stick in my GT8 for any music ,not that you can hear it over the exhaust
I would drive them both as stated previously.
I sold my Vanquish back to an AM dealer in March 2021, moved to a Z4 as always wanted to have one and because I never test drove the car sold it some 8 months later lesson learnt.
Missed AM so test drove the latest Vantage and just seemed too wide and massively too quick (will not go into the aesthetics of the car as covered many times before), now I have a 2017 V12 AMR Vantage roadster which probably is a keeper unless the cats disintegrate (covered elsewhere).
Not sure if the AMR you are looking at is auto or manual so this may change your decision.
Edited to add:- Never used Apple car play even though car has it, USB stick does the job
I sold my Vanquish back to an AM dealer in March 2021, moved to a Z4 as always wanted to have one and because I never test drove the car sold it some 8 months later lesson learnt.
Missed AM so test drove the latest Vantage and just seemed too wide and massively too quick (will not go into the aesthetics of the car as covered many times before), now I have a 2017 V12 AMR Vantage roadster which probably is a keeper unless the cats disintegrate (covered elsewhere).
Not sure if the AMR you are looking at is auto or manual so this may change your decision.
Edited to add:- Never used Apple car play even though car has it, USB stick does the job
Edited by SHIFTY on Wednesday 13th March 15:53
Not sure if this will help, Jon, but last year I went looking for a late VH Vantage and had a moment where the man maths indicated that “for not THAT much more” I could get a new shape Vantage. My previous Vantage experience stretched back to 2009-2011 when I had a 4.7 Coupe, so I knew what VH’s were like to live with.
In the end I bought a 2017 4.7 S (model year 2017.5). Why? Well, I knew it would be weekend only car, I liked the appeal that being a bit more ‘analogue’ (steering, dials, normally aspirated, exhaust sound etc.) modern enough in technology terms (I’ve previous run two XKRs, so I know what old fashioned was like) and that if I wanted a newer model there would be more available down the line. Size wise, it was more compact so garage parking was easier for me. Also, I just preferred the looks.
I confess I’ve not used Apple Play in almost a year; the Sat Nav is fine for my use so no urge to use Waze though incidentally the newer car had it retro fitted. I stream music via Bluetooth on the rare occasion the stereo is on as I mostly listen to the engine noise - all part of the car experience for me.
You owe it to yourself to try both - looking is part of the fun!
Looking forward to hearing more on the new purchase, whatever you choose.
In the end I bought a 2017 4.7 S (model year 2017.5). Why? Well, I knew it would be weekend only car, I liked the appeal that being a bit more ‘analogue’ (steering, dials, normally aspirated, exhaust sound etc.) modern enough in technology terms (I’ve previous run two XKRs, so I know what old fashioned was like) and that if I wanted a newer model there would be more available down the line. Size wise, it was more compact so garage parking was easier for me. Also, I just preferred the looks.
I confess I’ve not used Apple Play in almost a year; the Sat Nav is fine for my use so no urge to use Waze though incidentally the newer car had it retro fitted. I stream music via Bluetooth on the rare occasion the stereo is on as I mostly listen to the engine noise - all part of the car experience for me.
You owe it to yourself to try both - looking is part of the fun!
Looking forward to hearing more on the new purchase, whatever you choose.
OK Thoughts and opinions, as requested. (Disclaimer: I own a V8V, I've driven DB9's and DB11's and I've sat in but never driven a 2C Vantage)
VH Cars:
VH Cars:
- Looks
- Small and easily driven/parked on narrow UK roads. (They are about the same size as a Ford Focus)
- Peaky power delivery
- Looks
- Sound (mainly the 4.3's, though)
- Did I say looks?
- Enough power for UK roads
- They look pretty good
- Not the fastest thing on 4 wheels - but who the hell cares? (Want to lose your licence? V12VS or an Audi S3)
- Wide - definitely not as wieldy
- Later tech (but it's MB, and old gen at that)
- Adjustable suspension
- More than enough power for UK roads, and then some
- Torque from low down
- 8-speed ZF gearbox (generally regarded as a gem. Would probably suit my wife more too)
- MB "hot-V" V8T (generally regarded as a gem - but it's not Aston)
- Seats will have shorter cushion and longer forward travel (done to enable shorter ladies to drive the cars more easily. This could entice my wife to drive it more))
- Parts (should be) more readily available
- A seriously rapid car (this would not suit my wife as much)
- Better safety (just through later regs and engineering)
Thanks for all comments so far.
For the record, I'm not basing a buying decision on Apple car-play/Android Auto owever, it is important to me, I merely wanted to point out the older car comes with this as standard from factory yet the newer car doesn't due to an info pack being from 2015 Merc's. I had the AI system retro-fitted to my present car and find the Google maps/Waze sat nav to be streets ahead of anything I've used and invaluable on runs where up to date and extremely accurate guidance around traffic issues and up to date speed cameras etc. I use it all the time even if I know where I'm going, so many times I have avoided jams even on roads I use regularly.
The AMR I'm looking at is manual but with stock clutch. I'm so used to mine having the lighter clutch pedal feel of the twin plate unit that when I drove the AMR it felt like a brake pedal. You soon forget what a difference there is between the two.
I will be looking at and driving the 2019 Vantage this coming weekend, I've already spoken with James at AI to ask about costs for fitting car play functionality to the gen 2 and it apparently works through the Merc based system so pretty much plug and play.
Thanks to Alscar, SHIFTY, ZT260E & LTP for the sort of replies I wanted to see
.... no offence to the others though of course
For the record, I'm not basing a buying decision on Apple car-play/Android Auto owever, it is important to me, I merely wanted to point out the older car comes with this as standard from factory yet the newer car doesn't due to an info pack being from 2015 Merc's. I had the AI system retro-fitted to my present car and find the Google maps/Waze sat nav to be streets ahead of anything I've used and invaluable on runs where up to date and extremely accurate guidance around traffic issues and up to date speed cameras etc. I use it all the time even if I know where I'm going, so many times I have avoided jams even on roads I use regularly.
The AMR I'm looking at is manual but with stock clutch. I'm so used to mine having the lighter clutch pedal feel of the twin plate unit that when I drove the AMR it felt like a brake pedal. You soon forget what a difference there is between the two.
I will be looking at and driving the 2019 Vantage this coming weekend, I've already spoken with James at AI to ask about costs for fitting car play functionality to the gen 2 and it apparently works through the Merc based system so pretty much plug and play.
Thanks to Alscar, SHIFTY, ZT260E & LTP for the sort of replies I wanted to see
.... no offence to the others though of course Edited by BiggaJ on Wednesday 13th March 17:16
If it is a weekend/special occasion car then the AMR all day every day. It’s the last of the last and therefore quite special, especially with the manual. Bugs are sorted out. The interior is way way higher spec than the 2019 with much nicer materials and as you say integrated CarPlay. Much more of an “event” to drive too if you like driving engagement.
I've driven the gen 2 car and I think it's an excellent modern sports car. I've had my 2009 4.7 manual Coupe from new. Without question, I'd go for the 2017 AMR. For me, the question stops at the engine. The AMG V8 in the gen 2 car is a great engine, but it's an absolute deal breaker -- for me, an Aston must have an Aston engine. To each his own, of course, and I assume it's not a deal breaker for you. There are other reasons...
I don't think the gen 2 car is better-built. I've looked very closely at them, and I think the VH-gen car is better built. Moreover, IMO, the VH gen car looks and feels -- and was -- much more expensive to build. The craftsmanship is on a different level. I can point to many things to illustrate this, but the best example is the convertible hood and tonneau on the Roadster. On the VH Roadsters, when the hood is folded it resides completely out of sight under a beautifully made and leather-upholstered hard tonneau with integrated fairings behind the headrests. The rollover bars are always hidden from sight, retracted under that tonneau, automatically deploying only if they are actually needed. This is all beautifully, and expensively, designed and built -- and it shows. In contrast, the gen 2 Roadster has none of these things. The hood remains visible even when it's folded, acting as its own sort-of tonneau. There is no leather-covered actual hard tonneau. The rollover bars do not retract, but rather are fixed in position and always visible -- obviously vastly cheaper to build. This is the same basic design used in a Mazda MX-5. Another example is the interior -- look at the gauges and the switchgear. One more is that the gen 2 car has a nose cone rather than the expensively designed and engineered VH car's bonnet that extends all the way to the front of the car. The VH car is simply a more special thing, IMO.
I don't think the gen 2 car is better-built. I've looked very closely at them, and I think the VH-gen car is better built. Moreover, IMO, the VH gen car looks and feels -- and was -- much more expensive to build. The craftsmanship is on a different level. I can point to many things to illustrate this, but the best example is the convertible hood and tonneau on the Roadster. On the VH Roadsters, when the hood is folded it resides completely out of sight under a beautifully made and leather-upholstered hard tonneau with integrated fairings behind the headrests. The rollover bars are always hidden from sight, retracted under that tonneau, automatically deploying only if they are actually needed. This is all beautifully, and expensively, designed and built -- and it shows. In contrast, the gen 2 Roadster has none of these things. The hood remains visible even when it's folded, acting as its own sort-of tonneau. There is no leather-covered actual hard tonneau. The rollover bars do not retract, but rather are fixed in position and always visible -- obviously vastly cheaper to build. This is the same basic design used in a Mazda MX-5. Another example is the interior -- look at the gauges and the switchgear. One more is that the gen 2 car has a nose cone rather than the expensively designed and engineered VH car's bonnet that extends all the way to the front of the car. The VH car is simply a more special thing, IMO.
BiggaJ said:
For the record, I'm not basing a buying decision on Apple car-play/Android Auto owever, it is important to me, I merely wanted to point out the older car comes with this as standard from factory yet the newer car doesn't due to an info pack being from 2015 Merc's. I had the AI system retro-fitted to my present car and find the Google maps/Waze sat nav to be streets ahead of anything I've used and invaluable on runs where up to date and extremely accurate guidance around traffic issues and up to date speed cameras etc. I use it all the time even if I know where I'm going, so many times I have avoided jams even on roads I use regularly.
There is a very simple solution to this and you probably already have the necessary tech.
Pop your smartphone onto a magnet on the dashboard.
You will have all the 'up to date and extremely accurate guidance around traffic' that you need.
If you want a keeper, then another vote for the AMR VH car.
Just following out of interest, currently taking the first steps to change my 2006 VH 4.3 Vantage and I think I've decided on a 2018/19 Gen2 Car as the replacement, I'm just not sure a newer VH car is different enough for me, I know there is a huge difference between a 2006 and a 2016 V8 Vantage but visually it was so right to begin with so it's not enough of a change for me.
Currently waiting on trying a Gen 2 car through my garage door before looking too hard for a replacement, I'm just postponing the inevitable job of changing my 2 single doors to one large door as cars are just getting wider and wider in general but if it fits I can at least start shopping.
Currently waiting on trying a Gen 2 car through my garage door before looking too hard for a replacement, I'm just postponing the inevitable job of changing my 2 single doors to one large door as cars are just getting wider and wider in general but if it fits I can at least start shopping.
I was in your exact position, between buying a VH AMR, and a gen 2 vantage. Certainly the gen 2 vantage was the newer car, but I actually found the interior of the AMR to be far more special and almost more modern than the ridiculously button heavy gen 2. I chose the AMR as it is much more of an "event" car, and I preferred the analogue driving experience to the Gen 2. Both great cars though, one more useable than the other, but the AMR is more of an event.
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