Coupe options, circa £35-£40k

[delta0]

RobM77 said:

It completely depends on your priorities. For that budget I'd go for an Evora S, but most would probably find a nice 997 C2S, or a newer Cayman S, although I realise that you don't want to own "a Porsche" Those are probably the driver's choices.

I'd worry that the Maserati Granturismo might be a bit GT like, but they're beautiful things, as are the AMG SL Mercs, which is another heavier weight option for this money.

I've heard some dissapointing things about the Aston V8V that would put me off one, but are DB9s available this low? (the internet at work is too slow for me to check).

HTH

DB9 are around £35k for low mileage ones.
AMV8 are £32k.

The DB name is attractive as is the V12. The V8 is a much more hardcore car and would be a more involving drive. The DB is softer and more of a cruiser.

[Quickmoose]

Interesting thread this as it's clearly a very subjective issue for the OP as to how the brands make him 'feel'

For me you just have to read out aloud the names in the frame and a few rise to the top so in no particular order, read these out....

Ferrari
Ford
Porsche
Nissan
Audi
Mercedes
Aston Martin
Jaguar
Maserati
BMW
Chevrolet
Lotus

Each of them above make something that fits the written description.
For me Ferrari, Lotus, Porsche, Aston and Maserati sound the nicest
Out of them Porsche are more common place (and already discounted by OP)
Ferrari within budget may prove more costly to keep?
Lotus not quite on par
Leaving Aston or Maserati

Can you go wrong between these two?
Choose a DB9 and be upset when you see a Gran Turismo
Choose a Gran Turismo and be upset when you see a DB9

Masser for me please

[CaptainSensib1e]

How about an RS5?

[The Surveyor]

Quickmoose said:

Interesting thread this as it's clearly a very subjective issue for the OP as to how the brands make him 'feel'

For me you just have to read out aloud the names in the frame and a few rise to the top so in no particular order, read these out....

Ferrari
Ford
Porsche
Nissan
Audi
Mercedes
Aston Martin
Jaguar
Maserati
BMW
Chevrolet
Lotus

Each of them above make something that fits the written description.
For me Ferrari, Lotus, Porsche, Aston and Maserati sound the nicest
Out of them Porsche are more common place (and already discounted by OP)
Ferrari within budget may prove more costly to keep?
Lotus not quite on par
Leaving Aston or Maserati

Can you go wrong between these two?
Choose a DB9 and be upset when you see a Gran Turismo
Choose a Gran Turismo and be upset when you see a DB9

Masser for me please

I'm liking this logic...

[The Surveyor]

CaptainSensib1e said:

How about an RS5?

Same reason why a C63 or M3 doesn't float my boat, they are very fast versions of something much more mundane. Great for a daily driver, but I just can't see one making my pulse quicken when I pull the dust cover off it if that makes any sense!

[justin220]

What will you be using the car for?

I've had an Evora and now a V8 Vantage.

[The Surveyor]

The cars going to be weekend / evening zipping about and also long runs / trips abroad. The Tuscan was perfect for that as its comfortable but scary swift at times, and it had a huge boot so it was the perfect Le Mans camping trip car. No track use but something that's going to be fun around the Northumberland back roads. So far, the Vantage is heading the list.

[TREMAiNE]

My money would go on the Maserati...

That glorious sound and those stunning looks!

[Quickmoose]

TREMAiNE said:

My money would go on the Maserati...

That glorious sound and those stunning looks!

mine too, but are you suggesting the Vantage doesn't have glorious sound and stunning looks in spades??

Deciding between these two would be a personal nightmare if I were ever fortunate to be in that position. It would be SO hard I might well be persuaded by seing how many of each on the road or have been sold...I'd prefer the rarer car....I think...

[delta0]

TREMAiNE said:

My money would go on the Maserati...

That glorious sound and those stunning looks!

Must be the 4.7 Maser.

[DonnyMac]

Save yourself £10-15,000 and go for the Maserati GranSport as others have mentioned -

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

Lots of car for the money and have yet to see the asset appreciation that similar cars have had over the last year or so.

[TREMAiNE]

Quickmoose said:

are you suggesting the Vantage doesn't have glorious sound and stunning looks in spades??

Astons just don't do it for me! My dad had a DB9 which we both found disappointing which didn't exactly change my views! Having said that, the current Vanquish is gorgeous!

[DonnyMac]

TREMAiNE said:

Quickmoose said:

are you suggesting the Vantage doesn't have glorious sound and stunning looks in spades??

Astons just don't do it for me! My dad had a DB9 which we both found disappointing which didn't exactly change my views! Having said that, the current Vanquish is gorgeous!

Me too, I know they're lovely looking things but I've never felt the urge to own one, odd.

[ewenm]

I'd be so tempted to order a new Mustang...

But the Maser or Aston is probably a better idea and you don't need to wait a year or more

[smithyithy]

XKR

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

DB9 size/style but with a more powerful V8 than the Vantage?

[Kaelic]

The Surveyor said:

CaptainSensib1e said:

How about an RS5?

Same reason why a C63 or M3 doesn't float my boat, they are very fast versions of something much more mundane. Great for a daily driver, but I just can't see one making my pulse quicken when I pull the dust cover off it if that makes any sense!

I kind of agree and I have an RS5, its a lovely car day to day but when you put it into dynamic mode it is a very different beast and for the better I think it's looks are spot on but not something which would stir your loins if it was a weekend car, in comparison to something like a GT500

My suggestion get a GT500 hehe

[Quickmoose]

The American muscle car idea is a good one I think, GT500 or a ZR1. A niche, an event, rare, special. Is the American romance bigger or better than the European version though?
Should be a question each of us could answer quite quickly I think...you either [i]love[/] American muscle, more or you don't...
I don't. But thats just me.

You can see a GT500 and it will make you neck muscle's snap to get a second look.
You can also get lesser versions of the Mustang, which don't

I can't think of any Gran Turismo Maserati that wouldn't get my attention.

I think from the OPs requiremt he wants something properly special...something not linked to the mundane in any obvious way.

Aston and Maserati are yet to be tarnished with VW branded jokes that Porsche/bentley/Lambo and Audi get.
They don't get the image based issues Ferrari get
They're a step up from Jag/Lotus/TVR/MB/BMW

Aston and Maserati have their own much higher class subset of issues