Thinking of getting a V12V

[Craig]

My first post in the AM section...

I am a long time Lambo owner and have had on/ off decisions over the past year or so of selling my Diablo 6.0. It's a lovely car with unequalled road presence IMO and a great drive. Trouble is I hardly get the use out of it as I don't enjoy driving it in winter or in the wet and I can't really leave it anywhere. Hence I think I've done about 800 miles in it in the last year!

It's only done 9000 miles in total and I only changed the original tyres recently due to age.

I am lucky enough to also own a Countach and will likely keep it so I have at least one Lambo to treasure.

The one thing I like about both cars is that they are not depreciating. I know this should not be a primary reason for keeping them but makes it easier to justify to the other half..

So - to the crux of the matter - what to replace the Diablo with?

Up until now I have not come across anything else that really interests me. However, upon looking into the V12V and reading lots of reviews on here I think I may have found the right car. I love the looks, the performance and the fact they are limited build (although i did hear they are now launching them in the US?).

Am I mad? Or is this the right move for me?

Thoughts/ opinions welcome

Craig

[clorenzen]

Well comming from a Lambo to a V12 Vantage is probably from one extreme to another. One of the reasons why I like the V12 Vantage is that it is relatively understated. Also, the drive is very natural in the sense that you don't have any flappy gearboxes and other computer aids like magnettino etc. It is a raw sportscar which is happy getting its tail out and I can guarrantee you that you will not be able to put 9000 miles on the Pirtelli P Cosa Zeros as they will have become sliks by then. It is also very practical with a large boot and you can pretty much take it anywhere. Whilst never having driven a Diablo and have driven the entire Gallardo / LP560 / Superleggera range on track and whilst they are fun to drive and very capeable I am not a great fan of the flappy gearbox as I think the changes are crude and not as involving as with the V12 manual box. Also the V12 Vantage offers a bit more headroom.

[Craig]

clorenzen said:

Well comming from a Lambo to a V12 Vantage is probably from one extreme to another. One of the reasons why I like the V12 Vantage is that it is relatively understated. Also, the drive is very natural in the sense that you don't have any flappy gearboxes and other computer aids like magnettino etc. It is a raw sportscar which is happy getting its tail out and I can guarrantee you that you will not be able to put 9000 miles on the Pirtelli P Cosa Zeros as they will have become sliks by then. It is also very practical with a large boot and you can pretty much take it anywhere. Whilst never having driven a Diablo and have driven the entire Gallardo / LP560 / Superleggera range on track and whilst they are fun to drive and very capeable I am not a great fan of the flappy gearbox as I think the changes are crude and not as involving as with the V12 manual box. Also the V12 Vantage offers a bit more headroom.

thanks - agree on the flappy paddles - that's why I like the Diablo as it's manual with no traction aids

[GlynMo]

Craig said:

Am I mad? Or is this the right move for me?

There's only one person who can answer that question, and that's YOU! And the only way you can find out the answer is to drive one, for a few hours if possible, not just the normal "I'll drive from the showroom for half an hour, you can drive back" test drive. I don't know how amenable to that the dealers might be with a V12, but I got an extended drive of a V8V before I bought.

I'd say 'lucky man' even to be considering it - if they ever produce a V12 Roadster........

[Craig]

GlynMo said:

There's only one person who can answer that question, and that's YOU!

fair point - I suppose I was looking to find out if anyone had done something similar

I'm always wary of making a mistake but I think in this case it wouldn't be

I will try and get a test drive although doubtful it will be an extended one

thanks

[GlynMo]

If you can't find a dealer who will facilitate an extended test drive, does one of the supercar hire companies have a V12 on their fleet? It would probably be worth the cost of a weekend's hire to avoid the mistake you fear?

[WantanewV12V]

I am absolutely delighted with mine but you need to drive one. I agree with Clorenzen in terms of its (relatively) understated presence compared to the Lambo but mine still draws comments wherever I go (all hugely positive by the way). It combines the role of beauty and the beast in a way that few other cars can.

[Guycord]

Craig said:

Up until now I have not come across anything else that really interests me. However, upon looking into the V12V and reading lots of reviews on here I think I may have found the right car. I love the looks, the performance and the fact they are limited build (although i did hear they are now launching them in the US?).

Am I mad? Or is this the right move for me?

Just a comment on aspects of numbers to be built……

I bought an AM Press V12V which was first registered late October 2009. 900mi on the clock. The chassis number is No.192.

Therefore, I reckon that some 8 months hence, a recession, people worried by sovereign debt etc…, AM selling V12V’s for £140k a pop, I am going to be surprised if they have sold anything more than a handful. The press cars have on the whole been snapped-up but a few remain, demonstrators trickle-down now and again on to the market with a £10-15k discount – but that is it.

I think the V12V is AM’s best car by a mile but it is not selling in numbers and 1 year into a 4 year planned production run, I’d bet we will not see more than 500 to 600 examples ever made to Euro or US spec.

Other than that, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy the V12V immensely and find it a thoroughly exciting car.

G

[Craig]

thanks for all the comments so far guys

what I love about Aston's is the image - everyone seems to like and respect them

with Ferrari's and Lambos most people seem to think you are a t*sser which is unfortunate..!

I prefer the more subtle looks of the Vantage and its a much smaller car and therefore more drivable on UK roads

[don4l]

Craig said:

thanks for all the comments so far guys

what I love about Aston's is the image - everyone seems to like and respect them

This is the reason that I chose an Aston. Wherever you go, people smile.
Yesterday evening, a school mini bus went past while I was waiting at a roundabout. The kids went mental, all shouting and waving, some arms out of windows, and all of them with huge grins.


I'm afraid to take a test drive in the V12V, because I think that I would be instantly hooked.

Don
--

[AMArchie]

[quote=don4


I'm afraid to take a test drive in the V12V, because I think that I would be instantly hooked.

Don
--

[/quote]

I test drove one last autumn, and experienced the same really positive response during the drive. I was immediately hooked. Happy to say I have a V12V on order, and should get it around the end of June. For me the V12V is the perfect combination.

Archie

[997GT3]

Guycord said:

......AM selling V12V’s for £140k a pop.......demonstrators trickle-down now and again on to the market with a £10-15k discount – but that is it.
G

I visited AM Chichester last Saturday and they'd one in with 100 miles on it, pre-registered for £120k. Was seriously tempted as it was in Lightening Silver but lacked the alcantara s/wheel and lightweight bucket seats.

It's frustrating though to know that if i walked in and ordered a new one it would cost £135k + options and would cost nearer £144k.

So the 100 mile or so a demo has on it "depreciates" the car the best part of £25000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can someone please explain this crazy crazy situation.......surely for the sake of an option here or there, you could forego them for £25k???

Edited by 997GT3 on Friday 28th May 23:48

[mpbcs]

I had a similar experience... V12V was the only car around at the moment that ticked all the boxes. Front engine, rear wheel drive with a manual gearbox, amazing brakes and you could turn all the electronics off! I was going to spec a new one but saw a dealer with exactly the car I wanted (quantum silver, carbon seats, alcantara, 700Watt and piano black facia) and managed to get it 300 miles old at a £30k discount. No brainer. I don't think this will last once the dealers have sold the 2 they each have to take from Aston though....

[WantanewV12V]

Does anyone know the actual number built so far and how many of those reside in the UK ?

[AMArchie]

When I visited Gaydon a month or so ago, I asked that very question. If I recall, the indication I got was around 200 - 300 built so far, with perhaps 1/3 of those for the UK market. He was suitably vague about the numbers though.....

[JohnG1]

997GT3 said:

I visited AM Chichester last Saturday and they'd one in with 100 miles on it, pre-registered for £120k. Was seriously tempted as it was in Lightening Silver but lacked the alcantara s/wheel and lightweight bucket seats.

It's frustrating though to know that if i walked in and ordered a new one it would cost £135k + options and would cost nearer £144k.

So the 100 mile or so a demo has on it "depreciates" the car the best part of £25000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can someone please explain this crazy crazy situation.......surely for the sake of an option here or there, you could forego them for £25k???

Edited by 997GT3 on Friday 28th May 23:48

I think each dealer had to take 2 V12V as demo cars. So these demo cars are selling as secondhand had when 100 miles is simply "delivery" mileage.

I think you can retro-fit the lightweight seats for £4k and a new wheel is £750. So it's still worth buying even if you have to get the dealer to make some changes.

And then - you can take the existing seats and make them into a very cool seat for your study - I remember a top gear episode when Clarkson did something similar and sold the seats for more than he paid for the car....

[polar8]

I reckon around 450 built so far - based on me asking for the chassis no of a very recently built/delivered car.

Lightweight seats cannot be retrofitted - I checked twice with the factory, something to do with airbag monitors and something else. They were adamant its a no go. I guess it could be done by a indy but surely it'd invalidate the warranty?

A theory... They build around 500 regular coupes, launch the roadster in a month or two and build 300-400, then 100 hardcore versions (lighter, wings etc) then call it a day at 1,000 as promised. A theory.

[Guycord]

I would be suprised it is that many so soon. However, I think the best way to check is someone pop-along to their local dealer, give a look-over of the new V12V's in the showroom and report back on the VIN number in the windscreen.

That will give us approx. numbers I would have thought.

G

[997GT3]

AM Leeds indicated that it'd take up to 2 years before they're all built.

[polar8]

Guycord said:

I would be suprised it is that many so soon. However, I think the best way to check is someone pop-along to their local dealer, give a look-over of the new V12V's in the showroom and report back on the VIN number in the windscreen.

That will give us approx. numbers I would have thought.

G

That's exactly what I did - it was 450 or thereabouts...