V12 or V8, the great debate .....
Discussion
Fortunately, we all have our own reasons for our choices. Even more fortunately those choices are there for us to have, enjoy and envy. Just made the transition from an 8 to a 12. Can guess what my opinion is, but that does not make the 8 any less of a car, just different and both stunning. First time in my life I have stuck with the marque when changing car. It is going to be a long winter before I can get my full pleasure from the purchase though.
When I had an Esprit, everyone with a 4-cylinder said the 4-cylinder was the best for reasons x, y and z. And everyone with a V8 argued that a V8 was the one to have for a different set of x, y and z reasons.
Everyone will argue that the best car to have is "the one the own" - I wonder why that might be ?
Everyone will argue that the best car to have is "the one the own" - I wonder why that might be ?
v8woollie said:
Well stated. I would venture that for me the V8V exhaust sound is nicer than the V12V .
Interesting as that's what a lot of people has also written/thought so when I changed from v8 to v12 I was very pleasantly surprised as my expectations were that I'd lose some of the aural delight. Instead I find I thing the v12 sounds 'better'. Very subjective in that it's certainly different but even my wife said 'this one sounds noisier than the last one' - I took that as a compliment about the car 
steveatesh said:
I don't think you'll get any argument from us V8 owners - if I could afford a V12 Vantage then I'd have one.
You will get an argument from me
....In all honesty, much as I like the V12V...... If I were in the market, I'd go for a 4.7 V8S....
Even if they were the same price... I'd chose the V8 over the V12 any day, and have no regrets whatsoever
jonby said:
You finish off by appearing to suggest that V12s actually don't offer any justifiable advantage, despite having listed them as powering the great cars of our time, suggesting you only buy them for x factor
Seriously ??????
Hello Jonby, Yes Seriously.........Seriously ??????
I do stand by my statement that V12 offer no justifiable advantage over a V8, in fact a V8 I believe IS better, in almost all ways, lighter, smaller, cheaper to produce, cheaper to run, less to go wrong, can be turbo charged to produce more power, indeed twin and now quad turbos on V8's (one big and small turbo each side). Might even have less inertial to overcome (might be a slim point).
About the only point I can think a V12 wins on, is that it sounds louder and that's a objective point not a measurable one, and saying that - current tech can, "tune", an exhaust, so even that point is lost.
What I am saying is that a V12 is purely objective, I, "choose", to have one because I, "want", one. I believe that the V12 is the engine of a Supercar.
It's my opinion and choice.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
MaverickV12 said:
Hello All, V12 or V8, the great debate ….
V8’s are clearly better, they are lighter (I’m guessing full 200kg),
Not remotely close...V8’s are clearly better, they are lighter (I’m guessing full 200kg),
A V12V is only 70 Kg more than a V8S. A very small price (weight wise) to pay for a lot more oomph and undeniable cachet.
So in the current AMs, that much lighter V8 engine is mounted farther back (fully behind the front axle, unlike the V12). It's mounted lower; 1) it's a 90 degree V rather than a 60 degree V, so the engine itself is shorter top to bottom, and 2) it's dry-sumped, so it's mounted lower. Obviously, all of this is good for balance. The dry sump system is a better oiling system. Necessary-for-a-road-car debate notwithstanding, there haven't been any oiling issues on the V8, unlike the V12. And a dry-sump is cool. Plus, that dry-sump tank is a thing of true beuaty. The V8 engine was also development-tested even more extensively than the V12. IMO, they both sound epic.
I am completely happy with my 4.7 V8V, and I've driven the absolutely awesome V12V (and other V12 Astons and owned a V12 E-Type). Yet, a V12 engine is unquestionably more exotic, and there is something unmistakably special about a V12.
Speedraser said:
DB9VolanteDriver said:
MaverickV12 said:
Hello All, V12 or V8, the great debate ….
V8’s are clearly better, they are lighter (I’m guessing full 200kg),
Not remotely close...V8’s are clearly better, they are lighter (I’m guessing full 200kg),
A V12V is only 70 Kg more than a V8S. A very small price (weight wise) to pay for a lot more oomph and undeniable cachet.
At the risk of going off topic... a historical view of prewar Lagonda's may be of interest. Certainly the final version of WO Bentley's design V12 was very expensive and hugely regarded, almost winning the 1939 Le Mans, - half-this engine provided the basis for the early DB cars and the reason for AM acquiring Lagonda in 1949. The straight six cars (M45/LG45/LG6), meadows engined were then seen as the poor relation. Eighty years on most owners would think twice, even three times, before acquiring a V12 Lagonda; cost of ownership and reliability being the main issues. While the once "poor" meadows engined cars are now more numerous, arguably more valuable and certainly more highly regarded and just as powerful. The V12s, with one or two exceptions due to the outstanding body shapes, can be viewed as a car now out of touch with the ethos of the marque. I am not suggesting there is any read across to the V12 or V8 debate but the only issue is the enjoyment and pleasure we get from our cars - it is a personal choice. For me the V8 S presses all my buttons, I tried a Vantage V12 and loved it but for me it was an S.
Lunablack said:
You will get an argument from me....
In all honesty, much as I like the V12V...... If I were in the market, I'd go for a 4.7 V8S....
Even if they were the same price... I'd chose the V8 over the V12 any day, and have no regrets whatsoever
Really? I thought you would love all that chavvy carbon fibre everywhere on the V12V ....In all honesty, much as I like the V12V...... If I were in the market, I'd go for a 4.7 V8S....
Even if they were the same price... I'd chose the V8 over the V12 any day, and have no regrets whatsoever
Time to stop this one I think. We all like our Astons be they V8's or V12's. There is little to be achieved by squabbling over points and features. I suggest an Aston Martin coalition party where V8's live happily amongst V12's. May I cite Cameron and Clegg who have a similar relationship, look how well that works!
robgt said:
Time to stop this one I think. We all like our Astons be they V8's or V12's. There is little to be achieved by squabbling over points and features. I suggest an Aston Martin coalition party where V8's live happily amongst V12's. May I cite Cameron and Clegg who have a similar relationship, look how well that works!
So is Vince (I'm a socialist) Cable the equivalent of the Cygnet in this new world order?robgt said:
Time to stop this one I think. We all like our Astons be they V8's or V12's. There is little to be achieved by squabbling over points and features. I suggest an Aston Martin coalition party where V8's live happily amongst V12's. May I cite Cameron and Clegg who have a similar relationship, look how well that works!
PS Do you mean in the same way that Cameron thinks Clegg is a knob and Clegg thinks Cameron is a knob
PPS Thats odd... knob normally gets censored. Wonder wtf is going on - Is this the 'free speech' that Leverson is talking about
robgt said:
Time to stop this one I think. We all like our Astons be they V8's or V12's. There is little to be achieved by squabbling over points and features. I suggest an Aston Martin coalition party where V8's live happily amongst V12's. May I cite Cameron and Clegg who have a similar relationship, look how well that works!
I agree with Rob here, we all have Aston Martin's regardless of engine size. Rob is happy with his little V8 and I am happy with my proper V12 
........ Obviously having been a BMW dealer in a previous life, he would not have a clue about what makes a good car anyway Joking aside, it is an irrelevant debate as Aston have just given people a choice. I applaud them for that and for developing the original 4.3 into a 4.7, then the 'S' with a better 7 speed gearbox and ultimately wedging a V12 into the Vantage. What a choice we have in the Vantage range.
Vantage certainly does have the choice of variety for sure. Also in terms of budget for the consumer.
I have a 4.3 V8V having sold my V12 DB7 in 2007 to acquire it.
I love the little V8 but still prefer the V12. For me it's very "Aston Martin" to have a V12 at the front.
Eventually I will move up 4 more cylinders again, but not until the grin drops from my face every time I start up (for the past 5 years!)
Interesting that AM haven't delved into V10's though...
Maybe the new2014 Vantage may be a V10V or a supercharged 5.0 V8?
But they wouldn't really would they, as it would out perform the current V12V...
Put a V12 in the cygnet.
Make it a proper Aston.
I have a 4.3 V8V having sold my V12 DB7 in 2007 to acquire it.
I love the little V8 but still prefer the V12. For me it's very "Aston Martin" to have a V12 at the front.
Eventually I will move up 4 more cylinders again, but not until the grin drops from my face every time I start up (for the past 5 years!)
Interesting that AM haven't delved into V10's though...
Maybe the new2014 Vantage may be a V10V or a supercharged 5.0 V8?
But they wouldn't really would they, as it would out perform the current V12V...
Put a V12 in the cygnet.
Make it a proper Aston.
Umm, if Ta Ta buy out the Middle East owners, I have a feeling that there will be a surge of investment. Will they make a V16 like Rolls Royce? Will it make the V12 look little? Or will they develop the V8, it would mean that Landrover/Jaguar engines will available to AM, it might also mean that AM engines would be available to Range Rover. Image a V12 6.0 (not 5.9) Range Rover with 570plus BHP ........
Does anyone know who is buying AM?
If so what V8 / V12 engines will be developed?
We might be surprised, we might end up with a Diesel Aston Martin, the, "V8 Vantage TD"
, I wonder how many V8 customers will move to V12's then .....?
Having said that, how many new Diesel drivers would AM get?
We won't have to worry about the great V12 / V8 debate, there wil be the great Petrol/Diesel debate .........
Does anyone know who is buying AM?
If so what V8 / V12 engines will be developed?
We might be surprised, we might end up with a Diesel Aston Martin, the, "V8 Vantage TD"
, I wonder how many V8 customers will move to V12's then .....?Having said that, how many new Diesel drivers would AM get?
We won't have to worry about the great V12 / V8 debate, there wil be the great Petrol/Diesel debate .........
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff