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 
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!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 😥
wickhamaj said:
I don't know the SLS but I do know the 6.2 V8 in the old C63 507, and having owned a 12C for two years, the two could not really be more different in terms of that kind of 'fun' on the road. The 12C will break mechanical grip if you turn everything off BUT it is always fighting you to get it back and is not that progressive or controllable. At speed you also have a lot of downforce, and if on a track and going fast enough to overcome both, you'll be going seriously fast. Compare with the C63 where you can put the back out with a dab of right foot and even an amateur like me can control it, and it's all at manageable speeds for the road. No idea if you can get to test drive the 12C in the way that you will want to use it (seems doubtful!) but your original description doesn't really match my experience of the car. Best of luck!
Funnily enough, I also own a C63. The SLS is similar but much more extreme, the SLS party trick was lighting up its tyres at 110mph! I think that there is no doubt I would enjoy the drive more in the SLS, but I have owned one before and much prefer the looks of the 12c....CTE said:
I think it can depend upon what tyres you run. As has been said before, on the road the car is ridiculously fast and you wont be able to go fast enough to go power sliding around...plus the stability control will interfere too much.
On a track with standard P Zeros and set to race it slips and slides and drift all you like if you push it...it is a fantastic thing and supremely fast. If you really want to go drifting though, buy something Japanese!
I agree that tyres make a huge difference - I have owned two Z3Ms, the first, fitted with legal but old Pirellis was the best drift car I have ever driven...just like a Mk2 Escort but with triple the power. I then bought another, fitted with cheap new tyres and it ruined it for me by gripping like poo to a blanket! I wouldn't drive the SLS or 12c on track - I have another beastie for that, so I am purely looking for a road car...On a track with standard P Zeros and set to race it slips and slides and drift all you like if you push it...it is a fantastic thing and supremely fast. If you really want to go drifting though, buy something Japanese!
Well, I'm pleased to let you know that I will soon be the proud owner of the more expensive of the two Volcano red 12c Spiders that Alastair Bols is selling. I went to meet both Alastair and the car today and was suitably impressed by both! It is some time since I last drove a 12c and it was good to be able to stretch its legs a little. It is certainly a very different experience to my other cars... and completely different to the SLS roadster I came very, very close to buying for a second time. Without a doubt, the SLS is the more challenging drive and although 0.5 secs behind the 12c to 60, the added drama disguises this. In the SLS I feel my life was more at risk (giving my enthusiastic driving style) whereas in the 12c my licence will be!
The 12c appearance has really grown on me over time and I'm looking forward to learning the car's traits. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I do like to feel cars moving around, changing attitude and sliding where appropriate and whereas the SLS did all this to the extreme, I need to see if it is possible to make the 12c dance at half sensible speeds. Having seen Tiff and Jason's attempts at drifting an early 12c coupe on Fifth Gear I realise that I may lack the necessary talent and space on the road, but I'm hoping the later cars have a more forgiving set up. Alastair mentioned that he had heard that the basic concept with the set up is that 'normal' equals understeer, 'sport' to neutral handling and 'track' to a tendency to oversteer. Any thoughts or experience appreciated...
The 12c appearance has really grown on me over time and I'm looking forward to learning the car's traits. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I do like to feel cars moving around, changing attitude and sliding where appropriate and whereas the SLS did all this to the extreme, I need to see if it is possible to make the 12c dance at half sensible speeds. Having seen Tiff and Jason's attempts at drifting an early 12c coupe on Fifth Gear I realise that I may lack the necessary talent and space on the road, but I'm hoping the later cars have a more forgiving set up. Alastair mentioned that he had heard that the basic concept with the set up is that 'normal' equals understeer, 'sport' to neutral handling and 'track' to a tendency to oversteer. Any thoughts or experience appreciated...
baronbennyt said:
johnwilliams77 said:
Did you manage to get track insurance ?
Nope. I'll be taking it pretty easy and hope others around me don't drive like berks. At most private track day events at the Ring they don't. barchetta_boy said:
I will be at that track day although not in my 12C, I'll almost certainly be in my E46 M3. Bit easier to keep your foot in when the car cost £10k rather than £150k!
I will come and say hi and it would be great to get a pax lap in your 12C
Joel
I used to have an E46 M3, brilliant fun on track 😎 Enjoy!I will come and say hi and it would be great to get a pax lap in your 12C
Joel
Very nice! Happy to post pics on Sunday weather permitting - I collect the i8 tomorrow and the 12c from Alastair Bols on Saturday. Is there an easy way to post photos from an iPhone? I'm hopeless with technology, which is one reason why big engines, simple cars have always appealed - but now I'm going for a more futuristic combo I should learn how to post pics of them!
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