I like feisty cars, will I enjoy a 12c...?
Discussion
I am looking at selling my virtually brand new (700 miles!) Aston Vantage V12S roadster and am intending to swap it for either another SLS roadster (I had one before the Aston which I loved, it was a real brute, quite a handful and reminded me of an old school TVR - in a good way- but with approaching 600bhp) The alternative is to go for a 12C spider. I was initially put off the 12C as my first test drive of one was stuck in traffic around Ascot and that car didn't have a sports exhaust. I more recently tried one where I was able to stretch its legs and it has a sports exhaust which really transformed the experience. I loved the torque of the SLS and the noise and the fact it was a handful and a real drift monster. Would an 12C be as much fun? I'm not really into outright speed and like the occasional slide... Any thoughts appreciated 
I would not describe the 12C as feisty. It is a great car - don't get me wrong - but it is quite understated unless you are giving it the beans. But the sheer speed of the thing means that giving it the beans on the public road is a very brief affair... you really need a track to get it in feisty mode for more than 3 seconds. Try to do another test drive or find somewhere that will rent you one for the day.
The 12C is very different to the NA Aston's. Its a pure speed machine and is engineered to just be fast. And it is, faster than anything I have ever driven or been driven in by quite some way. The trade off is you lose some noise and a manual box (if that's your thing). However when its going the 12C is unbeatable and has plenty of character. In addition it has an alter ego as a great touring car and if you take it easy it will easily better 30mpg on long trips and is very quiet and comfy. That is the 12C's USP, brutally fast when you want it to be and also a refined touring car at the twist of a knob. If you want noise and all hell to break loose at the expense of speed and ride comfort then perhaps look elsewhere?
PS if you turn of the ESP then the 12C will be all the handful you could ever desire, you better have quick reactions!!! If you want to slide buy an old MX5 and put remoulds on it and keep your sliding and licence within the legal limit :-)
PS if you turn of the ESP then the 12C will be all the handful you could ever desire, you better have quick reactions!!! If you want to slide buy an old MX5 and put remoulds on it and keep your sliding and licence within the legal limit :-)
Edited by Bispal on Thursday 2nd March 16:07
Thanks for the replies. I am quite happy with flappy paddles (as in the SLS) so that wouldn't be an issue for me. In fact one thing I liked about the 12C is that you can change up and down on the same paddle, as I do in my rally car. I like my supercars to be topless so that's the 599 out for me.
I have always liked over engined RWD cars with an unruly character, so the SLS was right up my street. I do wonder whether I should make a change and hiring a 12C may be a good idea. It is ironic - when the 12C came out I thought it was a bit of a pig, but as time has gone on I now really think they look stunning. Shows the designers know far more than I do! I should really be focussing on the driving side (in which case the SLS is best suited to me) but the look of the 12C has grown on me so much that I'm very torn. I have two specific cars in mind, one an SLS roadster, the other a 12c Spider and there is really nothing to choose between them in price, age or mileage. Both should be reliable and both have a good chance of appreciating in my view. I guess the choice is a nice problem to have!
Have any of you swapped a V12V or similar for a 12C? What are your thoughts?
I have always liked over engined RWD cars with an unruly character, so the SLS was right up my street. I do wonder whether I should make a change and hiring a 12C may be a good idea. It is ironic - when the 12C came out I thought it was a bit of a pig, but as time has gone on I now really think they look stunning. Shows the designers know far more than I do! I should really be focussing on the driving side (in which case the SLS is best suited to me) but the look of the 12C has grown on me so much that I'm very torn. I have two specific cars in mind, one an SLS roadster, the other a 12c Spider and there is really nothing to choose between them in price, age or mileage. Both should be reliable and both have a good chance of appreciating in my view. I guess the choice is a nice problem to have!
Have any of you swapped a V12V or similar for a 12C? What are your thoughts?
Oh god that's gorgeous. Funnily enough I had been looking for one of these ages ago. Obviously not a convertible, but totally stunning and roof apart, totally my type of car. Thanks for the link 
I've also always promised myself I'd buy an orange Lamborghini at some stage, but always gone for something else so far!
I've also always promised myself I'd buy an orange Lamborghini at some stage, but always gone for something else so far!Read the thread ""Joined the club" in the gallardo section. 
I too like feisty cars
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I too like feisty cars
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I had a balboni and regret selling it, it was a beautiful car with loads of personality in corsa it was alive. It doesn't have the power of a 599, 12 c or others but it feels fast enough. I had e gear which I liked despite other people's reviews it felt brutal in corsa when you push it hard.
Yipper said:
2010 2 wd Gallardo 25k miles incomplete history e-gear ????? for ONLY £160k 
I would pass on that if I was you
Edited by RamboLambo on Thursday 2nd March 18:07
Wouldn't describe the 12C as Feisty but its an amazing all round car.
In spider format with sports exhaust it will be more involving and exciting than a standard coupe but still not like a SLS or Lambo.
If your thing is all show and no go and you like your women to show you her knickers on the first date the McLaren is probably not for you.
To appreciate how accomplished the 12C is you need an extended test drive min 48 hrs not just an hours blast down the road.
The cars are growers and long term keepers rather than a 1 night stand and most people won't get it in a short test drive.
Its the bargain supercar of the moment for sure
In spider format with sports exhaust it will be more involving and exciting than a standard coupe but still not like a SLS or Lambo.
If your thing is all show and no go and you like your women to show you her knickers on the first date the McLaren is probably not for you.
To appreciate how accomplished the 12C is you need an extended test drive min 48 hrs not just an hours blast down the road.
The cars are growers and long term keepers rather than a 1 night stand and most people won't get it in a short test drive.
Its the bargain supercar of the moment for sure
RamboLambo said:
Yipper said:
2010 2 wd Gallardo 25k miles incomplete history e-gear ????? for ONLY £160k I would pass on that if I was you
Edited by RamboLambo on Thursday 2nd March 18:07
Yipper said:
Gallardo prices have moved a lot in recent months. A 2004 manual is up to ~£100k, a Superleggera up to ~£140k, a Balboni up to the £150-175k range, an STS up to ~£200k, and 550-2 limited edition up to ~£300k.
On the back of what though ?Its only advertised asking prices and not necessarily transaction prices. Personally I think you would be crazy to pay that sort of money for an old Gallardo but its the same with f430 prices.
This is why the 12C is such a bargain in comparison. They seem so undervalued in the current market that there is potentially still an upside whereas the Italian stuff seems way too high and can only fall IMHO
The comments about the 12C on this thread have been absolutely spot on. I sold my Aston Martin Vantage V12S (below) for an early 12C (also below) and couldn't be happier with the change. The Aston had a wonderfully strong and characterful engine and hugely powerful brakes but the 12 just leaves it for dead in every other area, with the exception of the infotainment where both are equally shocking! I'm a big track day fan and expect the 12C will be far better suited to this in its free time than the Aston ever was.
By the sounds of it you are looking for something a bit "dirty" (in a good way), i.e. bold looks, big torquey engine and little traction, in which case I think the AMG SLS is the car for you
By the sounds of it you are looking for something a bit "dirty" (in a good way), i.e. bold looks, big torquey engine and little traction, in which case I think the AMG SLS is the car for you
notax said:
Oh god that's gorgeous. Funnily enough I had been looking for one of these ages ago. Obviously not a convertible, but totally stunning and roof apart, totally my type of car. Thanks for the link I've also always promised myself I'd buy an orange Lamborghini at some stage, but always gone for something else so far!
Spyder version LP570-4 I've also always promised myself I'd buy an orange Lamborghini at some stage, but always gone for something else so far!
Thanks, the SLS certainly suited my driving style, but I am lusting after a 12c. I can see that the 12c could be a grower and having just got the finance quote on the SLS I'm hoping the projected future value of the 12c will be stronger - although I think the far rarer (in the U.K.) SLS may be the better real world long term investment. If anyone is after a mega spec Aston Vantage S roadster 2016 with the carbon Vanquish dash, please get in touch asap. The RRP in July was around £176k and it has more options on top including factory decat with quiet button. Sadly the 700 miles I've covered will have cost me rather a lot 😥
I know someone who is selling the 12C ex. Geneva show car in Volcano Red with mega carbon.
Its a coupe 1st Reg in Sept 13 on a 63 plate, ex Geneva Show Car, carbon everywhere, splitter, diffuser, seats, interior, engine bay & covers, vanes, sills, wheel arches,mirrors, plus Iris2, sports exhaust,11400 miles, serviced in September, just out of Manchester after a couple of bits sorted and health check. Brand new 12 month warranty on it, so a straight forward transfer to the new owner. 2 owners in total.
Appreciation wise you won't do better than that!
Its a coupe 1st Reg in Sept 13 on a 63 plate, ex Geneva Show Car, carbon everywhere, splitter, diffuser, seats, interior, engine bay & covers, vanes, sills, wheel arches,mirrors, plus Iris2, sports exhaust,11400 miles, serviced in September, just out of Manchester after a couple of bits sorted and health check. Brand new 12 month warranty on it, so a straight forward transfer to the new owner. 2 owners in total.
Appreciation wise you won't do better than that!
RamboLambo said:
Yipper said:
Gallardo prices have moved a lot in recent months. A 2004 manual is up to ~£100k, a Superleggera up to ~£140k, a Balboni up to the £150-175k range, an STS up to ~£200k, and 550-2 limited edition up to ~£300k.
On the back of what though ?Its only advertised asking prices and not necessarily transaction prices. Personally I think you would be crazy to pay that sort of money for an old Gallardo but its the same with f430 prices.
This is why the 12C is such a bargain in comparison. They seem so undervalued in the current market that there is potentially still an upside whereas the Italian stuff seems way too high and can only fall IMHO
Yipper said:
The Gallardo is a work of art on wheels. The F430 is the last of the prancing analogs. The early models are rising because of their rawness. The later models are rising because of the "last of their type" rarity. For example, only a handful of Balbonis and STSs have come on the market in recent years. Just go to any mixed-model supercar show in the UK. Crowds don't crowd round the McLarens, they still head for the Lambo and Ferrari stands.
You are so wrong, that's just not the case. I love looking at Ferrari's & Lambo's and I go to many, many car events and organise them too. From what I see people go totally nuts over McLarens, more than any other marque only Pagani & Koenigsegg get more attention.Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff