Advice Please! R8/V8 Vantage/M6/997 C2S etc
Discussion
Hi all,
I suspect this is a long running debate on the forums but your advice would be appreciated nonetheless!
I'm in the market for one of the following as a daily driver:
R8 V8
Aston V8 Vantage
M6
997 C2S
996 Turbo
Curveball is Z4M
Budget up to 40k. If I go for either of the BMW's I'd be looking around the 20k mark.
I live in jersey so would be over to france a few times a year for a long blast. Probably won't bother with track days as I have a caterham replica (mnr vortx r1 inboard rt+) that I'm slowly building.
My car history is patchy - the only decent cars I've owned are the current rx8 230 and a cerbera speed 6 (always broken!). I've done a bit of club racing on bikes in the past so I'm not afraid of reasonable HP.
I've got test drives booked in for all the above bar the z4m in the next week.
So, given the above info what would you PH'ers recommend? Any horror stories/things to look for with the above cars?
I'm swaying towards the M6 if i'm honest. For the following reasons:
Cheaper, V10 engine sounds amazing IMHO, 'decent' rear seats, BMW extended warranty available.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Thanks in advance,
Matt
I suspect this is a long running debate on the forums but your advice would be appreciated nonetheless!
I'm in the market for one of the following as a daily driver:
R8 V8
Aston V8 Vantage
M6
997 C2S
996 Turbo
Curveball is Z4M
Budget up to 40k. If I go for either of the BMW's I'd be looking around the 20k mark.
I live in jersey so would be over to france a few times a year for a long blast. Probably won't bother with track days as I have a caterham replica (mnr vortx r1 inboard rt+) that I'm slowly building.
My car history is patchy - the only decent cars I've owned are the current rx8 230 and a cerbera speed 6 (always broken!). I've done a bit of club racing on bikes in the past so I'm not afraid of reasonable HP.
I've got test drives booked in for all the above bar the z4m in the next week.
So, given the above info what would you PH'ers recommend? Any horror stories/things to look for with the above cars?
I'm swaying towards the M6 if i'm honest. For the following reasons:
Cheaper, V10 engine sounds amazing IMHO, 'decent' rear seats, BMW extended warranty available.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Thanks in advance,
Matt
That's a board choice......
I also set myself a 40k budget last year when looking for a weekend fun car. I was swapping out of a Z4M, which as you point out is a much cheaper entry point.
I've driven an M6 which makes an epic noise, but does like to drink.....
40k might not be enough for a good R8, but they do look awesome......
Aston also briefly entered my shopping list, but I was put off by potential running costs, so as a DD you might need deep pockets.
Hard to argue against Porsche, I drove a 997 C4S a few years back and loved it..... but at 40k it will be a few years old with a few miles.....
I nearly bought an Evora, but ended up with a 1M coupe, which I absolutely love......
Enjoy your shopping......
Out of interest, why no M3 or 1M on your list?
I also set myself a 40k budget last year when looking for a weekend fun car. I was swapping out of a Z4M, which as you point out is a much cheaper entry point.
I've driven an M6 which makes an epic noise, but does like to drink.....
40k might not be enough for a good R8, but they do look awesome......
Aston also briefly entered my shopping list, but I was put off by potential running costs, so as a DD you might need deep pockets.
Hard to argue against Porsche, I drove a 997 C4S a few years back and loved it..... but at 40k it will be a few years old with a few miles.....
I nearly bought an Evora, but ended up with a 1M coupe, which I absolutely love......
Enjoy your shopping......
Out of interest, why no M3 or 1M on your list?
Edited by PKZ4M on Sunday 17th March 15:30
I tried an m6 and m5 after my e92 335 ideally the m6 as I wanted a bigger coupe for family needs. Seriously quick, amazing noise but a gearbox I couldn't live with. Also wanted a change from the BMW ride.
I bought an XFR and whilst its a saloon for my needs I would buy an XKR any day of the week (if i didnt need usable rear seats/big boot) its superb and well within your budget. Seriously quick and like the xfr brilliant suspension/dampers/diff setup.
Nicer interior and active exhaust as standard and superb stock locks IMO.
Failing that out of the list 997 for me after the xkr
P.s my xfr has a 3 year service pack which makes it £232 a year on servicing including mot! Tyres £300 each for pilot sports. 15 mpg blast - 21-25mpg on a run, will hit 30mpg on m-way but only on gentle cruise. Brakes aren't like the c63 which are 1.2k they are more like £250 per axle. So good running costs. Made sense for me.
I bought an XFR and whilst its a saloon for my needs I would buy an XKR any day of the week (if i didnt need usable rear seats/big boot) its superb and well within your budget. Seriously quick and like the xfr brilliant suspension/dampers/diff setup.
Nicer interior and active exhaust as standard and superb stock locks IMO.
Failing that out of the list 997 for me after the xkr
P.s my xfr has a 3 year service pack which makes it £232 a year on servicing including mot! Tyres £300 each for pilot sports. 15 mpg blast - 21-25mpg on a run, will hit 30mpg on m-way but only on gentle cruise. Brakes aren't like the c63 which are 1.2k they are more like £250 per axle. So good running costs. Made sense for me.
Edited by bp1000 on Sunday 17th March 16:41
@ Diderot - Interesting point about the ride. I think, like you, that as a DD the lack of rear seats with the z4m is the killer... The Jag has an image problem for me. That said, I'm an openminded guy so will take one out for a spin. It is a LOT of car for the money! Funnily enough, the dealer with the aston also has an xkr 
@ mackie1 - great car but not for me!
@ bp1000 - I'm worried i might not like the gearbox too! Also, I hear the majority of issues with the m6/m5 seem to be around the smg 'box. Therefore a bmw warranty would be essential i reckon. Am i right in saying they're about 900 quid/36 months? I've tried to find out exactly what kind of SMG is fitted - various forums say smg 1, others smg 3. Think the 3 has dual-clutch?? On a different note, the m6 vs the xkr - assuming you drove both - which was the more 'sporty'. I'm not really after a dedicated GT car!
Thanks for all your replies and advice/info - much appreciated...
@ mackie1 - great car but not for me!
@ bp1000 - I'm worried i might not like the gearbox too! Also, I hear the majority of issues with the m6/m5 seem to be around the smg 'box. Therefore a bmw warranty would be essential i reckon. Am i right in saying they're about 900 quid/36 months? I've tried to find out exactly what kind of SMG is fitted - various forums say smg 1, others smg 3. Think the 3 has dual-clutch?? On a different note, the m6 vs the xkr - assuming you drove both - which was the more 'sporty'. I'm not really after a dedicated GT car!
Thanks for all your replies and advice/info - much appreciated...
Jag certainly does have an image problem (historically). There is no doubting the new modern jags are way way better and very good cars. But you can also apply the same concept to skoda. History can't be forgotten.
I actually agonised on the image and I'm not even that image conscious. At the end of the day I just couldn't ignore how extremely well they drove and performed on the road. The xfr had vastly superior suspension setup and dampers compared to the m5/6.
You have to try and forget the typical jag idea of gt cruiser, waft mobile. To stay true it does do waft extremely well but the reason why I loved it so much was when you poke it everything changes. The suspension stiffens and the gearbox speeds up on the changes, it automatically adjusts depending on driver input.
With the m6 you need to get it into race, set up the suspension, gear change settings, traction control and extra bhp output. It needs setting up and your chosen settings aren't nessecarily the best.
The xfr or xkr can go from comfy around town waft, soft suspension setup to hardcore animal with some simple right foot input. The only thing you need to control or press is the chequered flag button and this sharpens throttle, gives some slip and changes the diff, 60% throttle travel is full throttle so you can balance in the corners and it doesn't change up at red line which is great in the corners.
I can't deny the m6 is a stupidly good and special car for the money. I just found the jaguar offerings much nicer to live with and the drove just as well when hammering it but were way nicer to drive when you weren't driving like a lunatic.
Sporty, I think the 997 pips them all, it is way lighter than an m6 and totally hooked up. The m6 is a heavy beast, more top end screamer but it was very rewarding. The xkr is inbetween the 2 on weight, clever diff, suspension and massively quick. Daily driver it would certainly be looking at 911 or xkr.
I simply can't see why anyone wouldn't feel special hustling the xkr. I drive the saloon that is 100-150kg heavier but massive smiles and can't stop driving it on the back roads.
At least try it and see what you think - I personally needed a big saloon for family and bought it over the c63. Mine is fully loaded so tonnes of options. Saloons in my eyes look even worse old mans cars. But the xk I personally think it looks stunning in e flesh, jag or no jag. Plus they sound glorious.
I actually agonised on the image and I'm not even that image conscious. At the end of the day I just couldn't ignore how extremely well they drove and performed on the road. The xfr had vastly superior suspension setup and dampers compared to the m5/6.
You have to try and forget the typical jag idea of gt cruiser, waft mobile. To stay true it does do waft extremely well but the reason why I loved it so much was when you poke it everything changes. The suspension stiffens and the gearbox speeds up on the changes, it automatically adjusts depending on driver input.
With the m6 you need to get it into race, set up the suspension, gear change settings, traction control and extra bhp output. It needs setting up and your chosen settings aren't nessecarily the best.
The xfr or xkr can go from comfy around town waft, soft suspension setup to hardcore animal with some simple right foot input. The only thing you need to control or press is the chequered flag button and this sharpens throttle, gives some slip and changes the diff, 60% throttle travel is full throttle so you can balance in the corners and it doesn't change up at red line which is great in the corners.
I can't deny the m6 is a stupidly good and special car for the money. I just found the jaguar offerings much nicer to live with and the drove just as well when hammering it but were way nicer to drive when you weren't driving like a lunatic.
Sporty, I think the 997 pips them all, it is way lighter than an m6 and totally hooked up. The m6 is a heavy beast, more top end screamer but it was very rewarding. The xkr is inbetween the 2 on weight, clever diff, suspension and massively quick. Daily driver it would certainly be looking at 911 or xkr.
I simply can't see why anyone wouldn't feel special hustling the xkr. I drive the saloon that is 100-150kg heavier but massive smiles and can't stop driving it on the back roads.
At least try it and see what you think - I personally needed a big saloon for family and bought it over the c63. Mine is fully loaded so tonnes of options. Saloons in my eyes look even worse old mans cars. But the xk I personally think it looks stunning in e flesh, jag or no jag. Plus they sound glorious.
Edited by bp1000 on Sunday 17th March 20:56
@ bp1000 - Thanks for your honest, detailed and thorough response!
You've certainly whet my appetite to try the beastI'm still not 100% sold on the image issue, buuut if i love the car then I won't care!
I'm hoping to fit in a test drive back to back with the vantage. It's going to be a busy day - I'm over in the uk (from jersey) next saturday - r8, 997 c2s, vantage, xkr and finally m6...
I'll pm you my thoughts if you're interested?
Incidentally, what running costs would you expect on a 40,000 mile car ('09)?
Also, anyone out there able to scare me/reassure me re: aston v8 vantage running costs?
Cheers,
Matt
You've certainly whet my appetite to try the beast
I'm still not 100% sold on the image issue, buuut if i love the car then I won't care! I'm hoping to fit in a test drive back to back with the vantage. It's going to be a busy day - I'm over in the uk (from jersey) next saturday - r8, 997 c2s, vantage, xkr and finally m6...
I'll pm you my thoughts if you're interested?
Incidentally, what running costs would you expect on a 40,000 mile car ('09)?
Also, anyone out there able to scare me/reassure me re: aston v8 vantage running costs?
Cheers,
Matt
I've owned a Vantage Roadster, 911 C4S and a couple of Z4m's from your list and if you are worried about running costs then I would stay away from the M6 and Vantage.
The R8 or 996 Turbo would probably offer the best balance of reliability & running costs.
I would also add the Evora to your list as that can offer you thrills and precision driving at a lower speed especially where you live as you will struggle to exploit the power of the turbo blunting the experience for you possibly.
Nice position to be in & I'm sure you will be very happy whatever you purchase.
The R8 or 996 Turbo would probably offer the best balance of reliability & running costs.
I would also add the Evora to your list as that can offer you thrills and precision driving at a lower speed especially where you live as you will struggle to exploit the power of the turbo blunting the experience for you possibly.
Nice position to be in & I'm sure you will be very happy whatever you purchase.
Nice dilemma to have. You can't really lose with any of your short list. Aston will provide the biggest sense of occasion, the R8 is sublimely supercaresque, the M6 would be out for me, the 997 Carrera the practical all season proposition. I would go for the Porker, or as somebody has already mentioned a BMW E46 M3 CSL, they are depreciation proof and a stonking drive by all accounts. £30k gets an immaculate example. Rarer than any car you have mentioned too
Or some 90s class, with Porker 993 Turbo or Fezza F355 would be tempting at that money. Similar to the CSL, depreciation won't be an enemy
Or some 90s class, with Porker 993 Turbo or Fezza F355 would be tempting at that money. Similar to the CSL, depreciation won't be an enemy
@ Herbs - cheers for the reply.
By running costs i'm assuming you don't just mean fuel? my mileage won't be massive so i'm not really concerned about mpg. After all my little rx8 does 17mpg and the trevor used to do about 13mpg
If i got the m6 I'd go for the extended warranty to cover the 'box and anything nasty.
Do you know if there's anything similar for the aston?
Forgive my ignorance
By running costs i'm assuming you don't just mean fuel? my mileage won't be massive so i'm not really concerned about mpg. After all my little rx8 does 17mpg and the trevor used to do about 13mpg
If i got the m6 I'd go for the extended warranty to cover the 'box and anything nasty.
Do you know if there's anything similar for the aston?
Forgive my ignorance
@ JDMDrifter - thanks for taking the time to reply.
GTR - amazing amazing car but just doesn't excite me. It'd have a place in my dream garage though
997 turbo - for 40k?? possibly but massive mileage?!!? i've got to consider depreciation sadly....
355 - for some reason, i've always thought i wanted a ferrari... but when i'm in a position to buy one, i'm kinda turned off by them. strange but true.
c6 z06 - nice but the interior is a bit drab for my liking
m3 - nahhhh.
1m - possibly. i know of one MAYBE for sale locally. will make some calls!!
cheers again
GTR - amazing amazing car but just doesn't excite me. It'd have a place in my dream garage though
997 turbo - for 40k?? possibly but massive mileage?!!? i've got to consider depreciation sadly....
355 - for some reason, i've always thought i wanted a ferrari... but when i'm in a position to buy one, i'm kinda turned off by them. strange but true.
c6 z06 - nice but the interior is a bit drab for my liking
m3 - nahhhh.
1m - possibly. i know of one MAYBE for sale locally. will make some calls!!
cheers again
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