Serious postings about a Vanq...

[DJC]

OK, as plenty know Ive mused quite a bit about the relative merits of a proper Vantage v Vanquish.

Such musings have always been more long term plans than anything immediate. I generally always give myself long lead times on expensive purchases anyway and I knew I had short term financial committments coming up that took precedence over cars. The Sagaris was sold for that very reason.

Now the good news! Recent business events look like they have somewhat forshortened my lead times and that funds will be available this yr (with a bit of luck).

So I acually have to think long and hard now. I know most of you probably consider Feb - end of yrish to be quite far in the future, but Im a bit more anal than most!

Ive kinda written off the 8C in my head. It looks stunning and Ive had an option/position on one from when Alfa would first take serious interest off ppl. I have to say though that I think the car is £20k over-priced and more than that Alfa's customer service has pissed me off. I have encountered nothing but incompetence from them.

The 599GTB almost screams *buy me*. It is the first Ferrari in 20yrs I have wanted to own. The trouble is Ferrari wise, my mind is set on an f40 at some indeterminate point in the future.

Which leaves the field down to 3.

1. I held a position on a 997tt for a long time. June just gone I semi cancelled the order. I knew money would become more important elsewhere, but also because no report about it stirred anything inside me. That bothered me a great deal. Porsche asking for £10k in May/June and not being able to tell me when my car might be ready but possible "before the end of the yr Sir" annoyed the tits off me also. I knew I was 1st or 2nd on the bloody dealer list and I know production and process engineering, so I know Porsche knew exactly what cars would be made when and delivered where, when and to whom several months in advance. I didnt mind 6 months waiting, but I did at least expect some semblance of a date. The pt being though, they pissed me off. I didnt cancel the order completely though, but transfered my position to a GT2. Heard nothing about a GT2 in the last 6 months though.
Still, it is an option.

2. Invicta. I know many dont like it, I love it, esp the 600horses version. Ive met Michael Bristow a cpl of times now and spent a while talking to him. I like the car, I like his reasons behind it. What I dont like are the huge price increases and a feeling I cant quite shake that everything is just a little too mickey mouse about his operation.

3. Aston. Vanquish S, Vantage V600 ?
Ive falled in love with the S. What an awesome motor. It has lousy luggage room though for a biggish GT car. No room is no good for me. The Vantage has room.


If I do this, Ive already more or less decided to go with an Aston. Just what do I do? Do I also put my name down for a DBS?

There is of course the option that I f**k everything up and end up a bankrupt pauper and can just about afford 2nd hand pedal bike.

[gfb]

Get the Vanq S it is the real deal , modern yest still very Aston. If the lugggage space is an issue just get the 2 seater rather than the 2+2. V600 is a brute but very old now and by the VanqS standards pretty rubbish to drive. Vanq S best looking car on the planet also IMHO.

good luck

[AMPilot]

I'd get one before folk get to understand that the Aston they've been knocking for some time is actually one of the last true sportcars that are not entirely controlled by EDC and assorted safeguards.

[obiwonkeyblokey]

PLus most if not all of the DBS allocation will have gone by now.

[jimbo2792]

HI
Go to www.amoc.org they have a lot of Aston Martins for sale even a DBR9 but it is £730,000. They have quite a few 96-00 v8s even one le mans edition and a load of Vanquish s'.

[Jappo]

You can't go wrong either way but, in time, it will matter to you that craftsmen, not machines, fashioned every body panel from a flat sheet of aluminium, that one man assembled and then bench ran your engine, oh, and there's more space in the V600. Oh, and you're unlikely to have to flash your lights to acknowledge another one approaching you from the oppositive direction.

[kenel]

I owned a Vanquish with S pack, same car, just better economy. I now have a 997 4S so maybe that qualifies me to answer your question. I took the Vanquish on the Hoon last year and had a ball with the gear box but I would say that the 997 is the better car. Yes I know the Vanquish may give you better pride of ownership but with that comes some very big bills which include 6 month servicing against 20k and tyres every 7K if you are a carefull driver. The Vanquish is not a car for everyday use and although I never had a problem with the gearbox I know those that have, usually in town traffic going up a hill. The clutch will have to be replaced around 18000 miles as a matter of course and that will set you back close to 3k. So by all means have the experience of ownership providing you have another car for normal daily use and big pockets to keep it right. To avoid the boardom of the 997 get a GT body kit and it looks the DB,s but you can't park in multi story car parks cos the front spoiler won't let you. Finally I always though the Vanquish was a little in charge and demanded respect whereas the 997 is always doing my bidding and I hate to say this being an Aston man but I love it.