Head says 911 CS2, heart says AMV8, Make me follow my heart!
Discussion
It's the age-old battle. I've tried both. I like both. They're very different cars IMO. In every rational way the Porsche comes out ahead: feels quicker, nimbler, closer, much better running costs (while I don't care so much about the cost of Aston consumption, I *do* care about the inconvenience of having to fill up every 300 miles), even has some mini seats for the young spawn.
To be honest, I was really disappointed in the attitude of the AM dealership. I don't think I was taken seriously and when I asked if there were any drivers days that I could go on to really get a feel for the car (not much of a driving experience available in the locality of Walton on Thames), the guy said yes they do do drivers days and yet he didn't offer to get me on one, let me know when the next one came, etc.
And I'm sorry but the satnav on the AM, a very expensive mandatory option, is about 5 years out of date. Leave it in the Volvo they borrowed it from and why tf didn't they install a proper device. The most stunning satnav system I've seen is on a Toyota Prius; how can a £700 option on a £17K car open it's flies and show the £1750 system on a £90,000 AM which way the wind is blowing?
But the AM, the AM...it just looks so much better, feels like more of an event and I wouldn't own up to owning a Porsche yet I'd tell the world I had an AM.
So, I need to push the button. Every rational thought is telling me to go for the 911, apart from my gut, which says AM. Oh, and the wife, who hates the porker but loves the AM.
Go on, convince me that the snobbery of the dealer, the running costs and poxy satnav system are a price worth paying for the Aston Martin experience. For if you can't, I fear my hardly-earned is going to Zuffenhausen...
Philbo
To be honest, I was really disappointed in the attitude of the AM dealership. I don't think I was taken seriously and when I asked if there were any drivers days that I could go on to really get a feel for the car (not much of a driving experience available in the locality of Walton on Thames), the guy said yes they do do drivers days and yet he didn't offer to get me on one, let me know when the next one came, etc.
And I'm sorry but the satnav on the AM, a very expensive mandatory option, is about 5 years out of date. Leave it in the Volvo they borrowed it from and why tf didn't they install a proper device. The most stunning satnav system I've seen is on a Toyota Prius; how can a £700 option on a £17K car open it's flies and show the £1750 system on a £90,000 AM which way the wind is blowing?
But the AM, the AM...it just looks so much better, feels like more of an event and I wouldn't own up to owning a Porsche yet I'd tell the world I had an AM.
So, I need to push the button. Every rational thought is telling me to go for the 911, apart from my gut, which says AM. Oh, and the wife, who hates the porker but loves the AM.
Go on, convince me that the snobbery of the dealer, the running costs and poxy satnav system are a price worth paying for the Aston Martin experience. For if you can't, I fear my hardly-earned is going to Zuffenhausen...
Philbo
Surely any petrolhead yearns to own an Aston Martin at some stage in their life. You are in the lucky position to do so now, so why not try it? 
Oh, and if you think that the sat nav is bad then I'd suggest that you don't specify it. Surely it is only a dealer-created demand if it really isn't much use.
Oh, and if you think that the sat nav is bad then I'd suggest that you don't specify it.
Surely it is only a dealer-created demand if it really isn't much use. Its not as if there aren't going to be 911s you can buy in the future if you find that you don't like the AM
jeremyc said:
Oh, and if you think that the sat nav is bad then I'd suggest that you don't specify it.
It's more down to the resale difficulty of not having it. In other threads there's quotes along the lines of "who'd buy [a second hand AMV8] without sat-nav?". It seems to be the general sentiment. And of course, it is useful - just a shame that it's a rubbish old one which they only put in because they decided to use it back when the DB9 was new...
bobfrance said:
PhilboSE said:
...open it's flies and show the £1750 system on a £90,000 AM which way the wind is blowing?Philbo
Do you occupy a management position?
How did you guess? It's just a little operation, but it's all mine.
bobfrance said:
Nice decision to have to make, but going forward, I can't even begin to imagineer a win-win scenario. 
It might involve a GT3RS as a track car...no, wait, that's why I got the Radical...
I think the Aston looks stunning, but its not as good to drive as the 911 and you could buy a GT3 or GT3RS for similar money to a real spec Aston
Its dort of a posh GT but with only 2 seats, in which case I would buy a late F360 or GT3 ahead of it anyday.
I suspect residual values will slide as they are being pumped out as fast as they can make them, plus if it does get sold by Ford then uncertain times may be ahead.
Bennno
bennno said:
I think the Aston looks stunning, but its not as good to drive as the 911 and you could buy a GT3 or GT3RS for similar money to a real spec Aston
Its dort of a posh GT but with only 2 seats, in which case I would buy a late F360 or GT3 ahead of it anyday.
I suspect residual values will slide as they are being pumped out as fast as they can make them, plus if it does get sold by Ford then uncertain times may be ahead.
Bennno
I agree about the drive, but this is for a road/everyday (I don't rack up BIG miles) car not track so it's the 911 CS2 I'm putting up against the AMV8, not a GT3 or RS. Of course, there's the no small matter of £15,000 difference between the cars...
I don't think the F360/GT3 and AMV8 are in the same niche; the 360 & GT3 are much more of a hard-edged all-out sports car and the Aston is a sporty GT.
I don`t agree about the drive, earlier today I took the tt out for what would be an hour long journey, I went about 5 miles headed back and changed to the Vantage.This is a car that gets right under your skin the harder you push it such is the communication of the chassis. I`ll agree the damping isn`t as "good" as the Porsche nor is it as quick but it`s just so comfortable and cuddly !!! 
If your heart is faint, you'll go for the Porsche. You know there are solid reasons to justify it. You want the Aston though, don't you? Your wife wants the Aston. When you're in the Aston, will you ever think "I wish I was driving the Porker?" The Aston has class, it has style, it has presence. The Roadster will be stunning, IMHO.
Go to another dealership or talk directly to the sales manager. No reason for the staff to fob you off.
Go to another dealership or talk directly to the sales manager. No reason for the staff to fob you off.
Do you see that many less V8 Vantages than 997's? For sure you see a lot of 996's but the situation would be similar if the V8 had been made for the last 8 years in a similar form.
On a similar note you see fewer Jaguar X Types than you do BMW 3 series - but there is a good reason for this.
bennno
I was told by a friend about a company advertising in the Sunday Times -- they are a leasing company.
They are doing some deal along the lines of 1k per month for 2 years, 15k miles limit.
Which, given the depreciation on the car, could work out to be a very attractive offer.
(I am not an accountant or car dealer, so dont shout at me if its actually a duff deal!)
They are doing some deal along the lines of 1k per month for 2 years, 15k miles limit.
Which, given the depreciation on the car, could work out to be a very attractive offer.
(I am not an accountant or car dealer, so dont shout at me if its actually a duff deal!)
bennno said:
Do you see that many less V8 Vantages than 997's? For sure you see a lot of 996's but the situation would be similar if the V8 had been made for the last 8 years in a similar form.
On a similar note you see fewer Jaguar X Types than you do BMW 3 series - but there is a good reason for this.
bennno
Hmmmmm, lets do the math here. Porsche is slated to build some 30,000 997's in 2006. Compared to the less than 2,000 total Vantages that Aston will build this year. Yup, pretty much assured to see some 10x as many 997's in their various iterations as a V8. Also, just to clarify, Porsche has ONLY been making these types of numbers since 1999 when the 996 was introduced. Prior to that the 993 and 964 were actually built in numbers much closer to the AM V8.
Having owned at least one Porker since 1988 until last spring I can tell you that owning the Aston is NOTHING like owning a Porsche.
Please consider the following. While the 997 C2s may be a faster car in 0-60 and on the track, if you are a non-professional driver you will be extremely hard pressed to tell the differnces anywhere but a track.
Now lets compare the fit and finish. Since the mass production of the 911 started, the materials, fit and finish of the Porsche have been a subject of significant debate. Whether it is the flimsy plastic switchgear, or the very bland dash and dials set up.
Conversly step into the Aston, and you will be amazed at the level of the fit and finish of the Vantage. The jewel like dials the metal finish and heft of everything from the fuel filler cap to the knurled CNC oil filter canister. There is nothing not real in this car.
As it has been stated here, getting behind the wheel of the Aston is like a holiday, every day. There is no way to be disappointed.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff