New N420 - good 40th birthday present?

[997GT3]

Is this the answer i've been looking for?? I'm 40 next April - should i make a visit to the factory for a bespoke build to my own spec for delivery around April 2011? It's not a V12V but will that matter!?

[whoami]

No. It's a cynical marketing gimmick.

Edit - I missed the bit about the V12V. Are you being serious?

Come on.

Edited by whoami on Tuesday 6th July 22:20

[mikey k]

^^
I agree

The N420 does not offer any real performance gain over a 4.7 with sports pack.
Most the "extras" are cosmetics tweaks plus a "new" exhuast
Most the rest of it are on the option list on V8V or standard on V12V

I'd rather have a used V12V than an N420

[997GT3]

Awww you guys know how to burst my bubble

Will the N420 really be that unpopular?

The V12V is utterly fantastic but a new one is probably beyond me. I cannot read/predict the pre-owned market for these at the moment to know if they are an achievable target (based on having to be right spec/colour/mileage)!

[Aston Fan]

THe N420 will be a great version of the V8, there will be a number on the final inspection plaque an upgraded sports exhaust, various carbon parts, the V12 is a great car but i personally would only use at the weekend, the V8 is a more user friendly model alongside this i would jump at the chance of having a bespoke build i.e go to the factory to choose trim/body colours, and i would also think about having one of the race collection colour scheme's, some of these look very cool.
At the end of the day you are only 40 once, have what you want and don't worry about anybody else

[michael gould]

I think by the time next April comes round V12V will be changing hands at below 90k.....a new N420 will drop 15k the day you collect it and 25k after 12 months......does that help

[Aston Fan]

Dear Michel

How do you know that this value drop will happen, N420 this is a numbered model,V12V is not a numbered model, i think if you look at N400 these are still holding there value purely because these are a special edition and are numbered

[whoami]

michael gould said:

I think by the time next April comes round V12V will be changing hands at below 90k

They already are.

[lady topaz]

Hey. As they say, if thats what you want, get one. I would imagine that although it is pretty well specced, there are still some goodies you will want taking it over £100,000 which is 2nd hand V12V territory.
There is the option of roof off driving which is currently unavailable for the V12V if thats desirable to you. Slightly off topic, I know there is talk of a roadster V12V coming out, but anyone know why it wasnt made available from the start?
Anyhow good luck.

Di

Edited cos for some reason the original took up half a page

Edited by lady topaz on Wednesday 7th July 09:51

[michael gould]

Aston Fan said:

Dear Michel

How do you know that this value drop will happen, N420 this is a numbered model,V12V is not a numbered model, i think if you look at N400 these are still holding there value purely because these are a special edition and are numbered

all "special editions" loose more money pro-rata to standard models.......dosn't matter if its an Aston or a Nissan.......its simply a method of gaining more profit from the same product........buy a V12V which includes probably the finest engine (on a 100k ish) super car available.

[Adam2S]

I would agree that in general special ed cars rarely hold their value better than a standard car however....

has anybody worked out the RRP of a std V8 specced up with all the extras that are on the N420 for free?? At £97k it seems to me on face value that it is about right. With the carbon fibre seats, sports pack, front and rear carbon splitters, N400 sills and rear lights it must be reasonable value for money (providing you want all this options of course!)

Edited by Adam2S on Wednesday 7th July 11:10

[ariel]

michael gould said:

Aston Fan said:

Dear Michel

How do you know that this value drop will happen, N420 this is a numbered model,V12V is not a numbered model, i think if you look at N400 these are still holding there value purely because these are a special edition and are numbered

all "special editions" loose more money pro-rata to standard models.......dosn't matter if its an Aston or a Nissan.......its simply a method of gaining more profit from the same product........buy a V12V which includes probably the finest engine (on a 100k ish) super car available.

I'd say go for it as long as you want the options anyway esp the sportpack.
btw my dealer tell me that the N400 has a £10,000 premiem over the standard 4.3 fwiw.
(N400 owner )

[mikey k]

Aston Fan - I'm not convinced it will fare any better than other "parts bin" special editions, though I do agree a V8 is pelnt fast enough and "interesting" enough for regular use

997GT3 - replied to your email. Have a think whether you are happy to take the initial big hit in depreciation on a new car vs the "feeling" of specing and collecting a new car built just for you

Lady Topaz - now a V12VR would be great!

Adam2S - hard to get hold of published price lists

BTW any one seen the "Special Edition Vantage" that has been on the AM web site for a few months now
http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecars/v8vantage/v...
Surprisingly similar to the N420

Also interestingly according to the AM web site on the N420 the lightweight seats, sat nav, tracker and upgraded 700W stereo are options

[GPM3D]

Phil
The V12 is amazing to drive, probably more akin to your GT3, but in the NW with damp mornings (plus day, evenings etc) It would be a handful! I test drove one last year in the wet and it was ......... Scary!
Come along to our impromptu PH/AM meeting at the Whipping Stocks on 4 Aug and have a look at my Special Edition / showcase car - that has all the bits plus a QS exhaust.
Graham

[nite_narc]

mikey k said:

Aston Fan - I'm not convinced it will fare any better than other "parts bin" special editions, though I do agree a V8 is pelnt fast enough and "interesting" enough for regular use

997GT3 - replied to your email. Have a think whether you are happy to take the initial big hit in depreciation on a new car vs the "feeling" of specing and collecting a new car built just for you

Lady Topaz - now a V12VR would be great!

Adam2S - hard to get hold of published price lists

BTW any one seen the "Special Edition Vantage" that has been on the AM web site for a few months now
http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecars/v8vantage/v...
Surprisingly similar to the N420


Also interestingly according to the AM web site on the N420 the lightweight seats, sat nav, tracker and upgraded 700W stereo are options

Interesting points. One of the things that does set this car apart is the race car styling available - AMR Green on yellow for example (my preference is the Black with silver mouth!!) I think any of the 420's with the race styling will do very well and as Aston fan said this is a numbered limited edition unlike the V12, or even the V12 Carbon so I think it will hold its value much better. As for the options they aren't always popular with everyone. If Aston had made the lightweight seats standard someone else would have come along saying they're too 'boy racer' or 'too uncomfortable' keeping things like that as an option keeps the majority of customers happy most of the time!

The N400 did have a power upgrade from the 370bhp 4.3 and the fact that this doesn't probably means that the spy shots we have seen of the V12 lookalike but not V12 roadster thingy may be a power upgraded V8.....

Edited by nite_narc on Wednesday 7th July 12:09

[GlynMo]

997GT3 said:

Is this the answer i've been looking for?? I'm 40 next April - should i make a visit to the factory for a bespoke build to my own spec for delivery around April 2011? It's not a V12V but will that matter!?

If you fancy it, go for it! Only the type of person that always looks at what they might have got would regret it. There is something to be said for the pleasure of spec'ing your own car and seeing it in build at the factory, as I did with my first 2 V8Vs. Having said that, my current car was not new, but just happened to be spec'd as I would have done.

[Adam2S]

Indeed I would agree with that - if you want it over a normal V8V then go for it! None of these cars are actually finaincally great investments. Although I agree some might be slightly better than others the fact remains you will still loose lots of money buying suh high value cars, so make sure its the one you want.

Dont choose the wrong car just to try to loose a few grand less.

[michael gould]

Adam2S said:

Indeed I would agree with that - if you want it over a normal V8V then go for it! None of these cars are actually finaincally great investments. Although I agree some might be slightly better than others the fact remains you will still loose lots of money buying suh high value cars, so make sure its the one you want.

Dont choose the wrong car just to try to loose a few grand less.

sorry Adam i dont agree with the comments that you will loose lots of money buying an Aston.....my 2 previous Astons I made a small profit on both of them......my present DB9 i expect to loose 3-5k per year or about the same as buying a new BMW 318i......If you buy new then yes you will loose buckets of money but if you buy a 3-5 year old Aston there is no reason why you should loose out in the way you have suggested

As me old mate in the trade told me "new cars are purchased by rich people or fools"

[silverspeed]

As me old mate in the trade told me "new cars are purchased by rich people or fools"
[/quote]

Or people who want a new car so that they know it hasn't been tracked , raced , smashed up etc etc.

[JohnG1]

whoami said:

michael gould said:

I think by the time next April comes round V12V will be changing hands at below 90k

They already are.

Really? Where? I'd like to see that. Please note - I'm not being stroppy - I am a genuine buyer at that sort of level and yet I see most about £110k apart from the odd abberation - like wrong colour/wrong seats/wrong stereo....