Moving from a TVR T350t to either a DB9 or V8 Vantage
Discussion
With the current issues with TVR at the moment i am planning to buy either a DB9 or V8 Vantage - second hand. I'd say my budget would be between £70k & £80k.
I am planning to organize a test drive in both vehicles this weekend from a dealer but i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which is the best all round car?
Heres a few quick questions:-
1) Best every day and reliable car
2) I'd prefer a paddle box "DB9" as i've never had one - how long does the clutch last until it needs to be changed and how much?
3) The best drivers car?
4) Best value for money and which should hold its second hand value better?
5) Will dealerships drop the price and do deals?
6) Is the performance and fuel consumption very similar?
If anyone could answer these questions it would be a great help
I am planning to organize a test drive in both vehicles this weekend from a dealer but i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which is the best all round car?
Heres a few quick questions:-
1) Best every day and reliable car
2) I'd prefer a paddle box "DB9" as i've never had one - how long does the clutch last until it needs to be changed and how much?
3) The best drivers car?
4) Best value for money and which should hold its second hand value better?
5) Will dealerships drop the price and do deals?
6) Is the performance and fuel consumption very similar?
If anyone could answer these questions it would be a great help
TvrT350t said:
With the current issues with TVR at the moment i am planning to buy either a DB9 or V8 Vantage - second hand. I'd say my budget would be between £70k & £80k.
I am planning to organize a test drive in both vehicles this weekend from a dealer but i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which is the best all round car?
Heres a few quick questions:-
1) Best every day and reliable car
2) I'd prefer a paddle box "DB9" as i've never had one - how long does the clutch last until it needs to be changed and how much?
3) The best drivers car?
4) Best value for money and which should hold its second hand value better?
5) Will dealerships drop the price and do deals?
6) Is the performance and fuel consumption very similar?
If anyone could answer these questions it would be a great help
1) probably about the same. Issues on early examples on both of themI am planning to organize a test drive in both vehicles this weekend from a dealer but i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which is the best all round car?
Heres a few quick questions:-
1) Best every day and reliable car
2) I'd prefer a paddle box "DB9" as i've never had one - how long does the clutch last until it needs to be changed and how much?
3) The best drivers car?
4) Best value for money and which should hold its second hand value better?
5) Will dealerships drop the price and do deals?
6) Is the performance and fuel consumption very similar?
If anyone could answer these questions it would be a great help
2) The DB9 has an auto box- the Vanquish as the manual- so no clutch to worry about
3) Usually thought of as the V8 vantage, but the DB9 does now have options to make it a bit racier...right up to the DBRS9 and DBR9
4) The best value for money is your best preference of car. Only you can answer this. better second hand value? Who knows...
5) Possibly
6) Yes, but in different ways. the DB9 is more of a GT car then the V8 Vantage, which is more of a sports car
How about a Vanquish??? Dont say no until you've tried one...
Answers: (!!!)
1) the most reliable car is the youngest car, as AML has a habbit of using it's customers as model development drivers (!!), i guess that you will be able to afford a later model V8V, so thats the best car (06.5MY and later cars are much, much better in all respects than early cars)
2) "Paddlebox" on DB9 is just manual overide on a std torque converter automatic transmission, i.e not an "automated manual" a-la BMW SMG or Vanquish with Marrelli E-gear etc
(latest V8V does has an automated manual (or Sportshift in AML speak) but i personnaly dont rate it, unless you drive a LOT in town)
3) V8V is best drivers car by about 3 times!
4) Tricky, i think DB9 will hold its value better due to rarity as compared to V8V, best value at the moment however is probably the V8V, i.e. buy cheap, sell cheap or Buy expensive, sell expensive.
5) Depends on the dealership, with the run up to christmas, and iminent revised V8V, er, possibly lol
6) both cars are about the same maximum performance, but DB9 will be faster in everyday use as it has much more low range torque. around a track V8V is significantly quicker due to more sporting suspension set-up and weight / weight distribution etc
If your coming from an old-school TVR (i.e. grif or tuscan) then you might preffer the DB9 (more a powerful cruiser, if your coming from a new-age TVR (i.e. Sagaris etc) then the V8V will the one to go for.
Hope that is some help!
1) the most reliable car is the youngest car, as AML has a habbit of using it's customers as model development drivers (!!), i guess that you will be able to afford a later model V8V, so thats the best car (06.5MY and later cars are much, much better in all respects than early cars)
2) "Paddlebox" on DB9 is just manual overide on a std torque converter automatic transmission, i.e not an "automated manual" a-la BMW SMG or Vanquish with Marrelli E-gear etc
(latest V8V does has an automated manual (or Sportshift in AML speak) but i personnaly dont rate it, unless you drive a LOT in town)
3) V8V is best drivers car by about 3 times!
4) Tricky, i think DB9 will hold its value better due to rarity as compared to V8V, best value at the moment however is probably the V8V, i.e. buy cheap, sell cheap or Buy expensive, sell expensive.
5) Depends on the dealership, with the run up to christmas, and iminent revised V8V, er, possibly lol
6) both cars are about the same maximum performance, but DB9 will be faster in everyday use as it has much more low range torque. around a track V8V is significantly quicker due to more sporting suspension set-up and weight / weight distribution etc
If your coming from an old-school TVR (i.e. grif or tuscan) then you might preffer the DB9 (more a powerful cruiser, if your coming from a new-age TVR (i.e. Sagaris etc) then the V8V will the one to go for.
Hope that is some help!
Many thanks for your answers, very helpful. I'm coming from a T350t which the Sagaris is based on so by those comments I'm edging towards the V8 Vantage which means I'll be ending up with a newer car.
I will be leaving the test drive until the weather clears up so i can have a decent drive.
Few options now:-
V8 Vantage probably manual but will try the new Sportshift anyway
DB9 - thought this had an e-gear like the Lambo's, glad i asked now!
Vanquish - probably out my price range but will check
Has anyone dealt with the dealerships in South Wales - Cardiff and the other in Cheltenham/Gloucester - Midlands?
Many thanks again
Jon
I will be leaving the test drive until the weather clears up so i can have a decent drive.
Few options now:-
V8 Vantage probably manual but will try the new Sportshift anyway
DB9 - thought this had an e-gear like the Lambo's, glad i asked now!
Vanquish - probably out my price range but will check
Has anyone dealt with the dealerships in South Wales - Cardiff and the other in Cheltenham/Gloucester - Midlands?
Many thanks again
Jon
coming out of a TVR & with your budget I'd go AMV8, you will get a newer one & it is much more of a drivers car, both will loose cash & do only 16-17 mpg but you will love the experience SO DO IT!
Edited to add...... spooky you posted just as I did with the same conclusions.. AMV8, wise man, forget the flappy paddles....
P.S. Lancaster Cambridge... brilliant dealership... ask for Martyn.
Edited to add...... spooky you posted just as I did with the same conclusions.. AMV8, wise man, forget the flappy paddles....
P.S. Lancaster Cambridge... brilliant dealership... ask for Martyn.
Edited by Grant3 on Tuesday 20th November 23:04
I effectively moved from T350C to V8V (now Roadster) and initially missed the raw power and responsiveness of the TVR. However, 9000+ miles later, I love the ability of the V8V to mile-munch quietly (sub 4000rpm!) and comfortably, then change character to become a proper sports car in the lower gears and at higher revs. A 2500 mile trip to Italy and back sealed my love for the car.
Do it! I doubt you'll regret it.
Do it! I doubt you'll regret it.
I asked a similar(ish) question a couple of months ago; some of the replies might be of interest.
I'm almost certainly going for a V8 myself, though I haven't started looking seriously yet.
I'm almost certainly going for a V8 myself, though I haven't started looking seriously yet.
Thanks for the replys. I've been reading so much info regarding the car off the internet i just cant make my mind up. All of the articles say that the car just doesnt supply enough power and that Porsche's are one step ahead. I agree that the power wont be as good as a TVR but the every day use of it should be much easier and reliable. Only way forward now is a test drive and hopefully just the sound of the V8 past 4,000 rpm will sell it to me
TvrT350t said:
Is it just me or are there more V8 Vantages for sale every day!? The prices seam to be dropping rapidly as well! Maybe a V8 Vantage isnt a good idea then
What car does keep its value unless you buy the current "it car" & keep it just 6-12 months with very little miles added, or go old with the depreciation gone, but higher running costs! Depreciation is a sad fact of car ownership! Grant3 said:
TvrT350t said:
Is it just me or are there more V8 Vantages for sale every day!? The prices seam to be dropping rapidly as well! Maybe a V8 Vantage isnt a good idea then
What car does keep its value unless you buy the current "it car" & keep it just 6-12 months with very little miles added, or go old with the depreciation gone, but higher running costs! Depreciation is a sad fact of car ownership! 
Edited by Pugsey on Monday 26th November 09:21
TvrT350t said:
Is it just me or are there more V8 Vantages for sale every day!? The prices seam to be dropping rapidly as well! Maybe a V8 Vantage isnt a good idea then
what do you call rapidly ? the earliest cars have lost 25% at 2 years....better than most cars out there ! - the avg is about 35-40% after 3 years - any more than that is a bonus ...we have a Sagaris - £53K in Mar 06, changing hands for £30K now 19months later...hows that take you for depreciation ? the more expensive the car the bigger the percentage is that drops off it - buy a £180K Aston and it will be worth £90K in 3 years, its just part of the ownership expense im afraid, but to most people that buy £100K + cars its relevant (myself not included!)
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