996 911 Turbo vs AMV8 vs Ferrari 360 vs 997 911 Turbo vs ???
Discussion
Hi folks,
I have a bit of a first world problem. About 18 months ago I was looking to buy a new car but, life and business got in the way. Originally I was looking at a M6, SL55 or a 996 911 Turbo at the top end of the budget. However I am now in a better position and I feel once you get over £20k you can get a better car for not that much more and then again you see something else that isn't that much more and so on.
996 911 Turbo
Pros - Cheapest of my choices, an excellent everyday car
Cons - Quite old, not that powerful
Aston Martin 4.3 V8 Vantage
Pros - Looks amazing, probably has the best interior
Cons - Reliability? Not the best to drive? Not that powerful, the V12 or at the very least the 4.7 is the one to get but, my budget doesn't stretch that far.
Ferrari 360
Pros - It's a Ferrari, it's a Ferrari and did I mention it's a Ferrari?
Cons - It's a Ferrari. It's quite old. Are the running costs really that bad? Reliability? The 430 is the one I really want but, can't stretch to that.
997 911 Turbo
Pros - Probably the best point to point car money can buy?
Cons - Cost twice as much as a 996 911 Turbo. Is it really twice the car?
Something else?
Ideally I would be looking for something that is an event to drive but, is easy to live with in traffic. I don't mind high running costs as long as it is not taking the piss. I have stopped smoking so, my man maths has worked out the first £5475 per year won't actually cost me anything.
Has anyone owned or driven all of these?
Thanks in advance
I have a bit of a first world problem. About 18 months ago I was looking to buy a new car but, life and business got in the way. Originally I was looking at a M6, SL55 or a 996 911 Turbo at the top end of the budget. However I am now in a better position and I feel once you get over £20k you can get a better car for not that much more and then again you see something else that isn't that much more and so on.
996 911 Turbo
Pros - Cheapest of my choices, an excellent everyday car
Cons - Quite old, not that powerful
Aston Martin 4.3 V8 Vantage
Pros - Looks amazing, probably has the best interior
Cons - Reliability? Not the best to drive? Not that powerful, the V12 or at the very least the 4.7 is the one to get but, my budget doesn't stretch that far.
Ferrari 360
Pros - It's a Ferrari, it's a Ferrari and did I mention it's a Ferrari?
Cons - It's a Ferrari. It's quite old. Are the running costs really that bad? Reliability? The 430 is the one I really want but, can't stretch to that.
997 911 Turbo
Pros - Probably the best point to point car money can buy?
Cons - Cost twice as much as a 996 911 Turbo. Is it really twice the car?
Something else?
Ideally I would be looking for something that is an event to drive but, is easy to live with in traffic. I don't mind high running costs as long as it is not taking the piss. I have stopped smoking so, my man maths has worked out the first £5475 per year won't actually cost me anything.
Has anyone owned or driven all of these?
Thanks in advance
Chris Stott said:
996 Turbo 'not that powerful' 
I think you need to drive one.
Is there a big difference between a 400bhp E39 M5 and a 420bhp 996 Turbo? I still think my M5 is great and probably will never sell it due to there not being another car in that price bracket that can do everything that it can do while always being totally reliable over the 20k miles I have owned it. However, I don't love it anymore, I can't remember the last time I went for a drive at 3am to just go for a drive.I think you need to drive one.
AMV8 best interior?
Worst I would say, very cheap feeling and plasticy. Worst car on the list.
Ferrari is certainly a great car to drive and probably will give the most smiles. Buy a good one and it shouldnt cost fortunes to run it.
997 Turbo manual is the safest bet, very very fast and pretty reliable, just dont get a tiptronic as its an awful gearbox.
Worst I would say, very cheap feeling and plasticy. Worst car on the list.
Ferrari is certainly a great car to drive and probably will give the most smiles. Buy a good one and it shouldnt cost fortunes to run it.
997 Turbo manual is the safest bet, very very fast and pretty reliable, just dont get a tiptronic as its an awful gearbox.
Owned one of your list; considered one more before buying what I own.
The AM for me is the prettiest, but I'd want a 4.7. If you want rear seats, the AM's off the list. And it's the slowest of a quick bunch.
Ferrari - not for me. Too impractical; A mate borrowed a 355 years ago and the fun we had laying planks to negotiate the entrance to his drive without grounding the front of the car was great fun. Not. Also don't really like the styling, but that's too subjective to be relevant.
997 - super fast, but a substantial premium over a 996TT. If the choice was between a 966 and a 997 gen 2 PDK, then you've got a head scratcher. But if it's a gen 1, you're looking at more pace and different styling, vs more money a greater depreciation.
By default, therefore, the 996 is the winner! As for it being not that powerful, well, not so much, I'd say. The most common complaint about it (after the headlights and interior) is that it's supremely competent in all conditions and therefore a bit boring (the supreme competence in all conditions is also why it's loved by many owners). If it's your thing, I understand that the 996 is easier to modify than the 997.
I'm thinking of selling my 996TT simply because it's so bloody quick that I increasingly feel that it's just a matter of time before a right foot plant results in points.
The AM for me is the prettiest, but I'd want a 4.7. If you want rear seats, the AM's off the list. And it's the slowest of a quick bunch.
Ferrari - not for me. Too impractical; A mate borrowed a 355 years ago and the fun we had laying planks to negotiate the entrance to his drive without grounding the front of the car was great fun. Not. Also don't really like the styling, but that's too subjective to be relevant.
997 - super fast, but a substantial premium over a 996TT. If the choice was between a 966 and a 997 gen 2 PDK, then you've got a head scratcher. But if it's a gen 1, you're looking at more pace and different styling, vs more money a greater depreciation.
By default, therefore, the 996 is the winner! As for it being not that powerful, well, not so much, I'd say. The most common complaint about it (after the headlights and interior) is that it's supremely competent in all conditions and therefore a bit boring (the supreme competence in all conditions is also why it's loved by many owners). If it's your thing, I understand that the 996 is easier to modify than the 997.
WEHGuy said:
Is there a big difference between a 400bhp E39 M5 and a 420bhp 996 Turbo?
http://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/bmw_m5_e39-vs-porsche_996_turbo.htmlI'm thinking of selling my 996TT simply because it's so bloody quick that I increasingly feel that it's just a matter of time before a right foot plant results in points.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 12th September 13:21
WEHGuy said:
Is there a big difference between a 400bhp E39 M5 and a 420bhp 996 Turbo?
In my experience, yes, yes there is.But if you need more then seek out one with the X50 turbo upgrade, or you could always tweak them a bit.
Really though, an E39 M5 doesn't feel like it is in the same league.
AMV8's in your price bracket will be very reliable, as any issues will have been sorted. Only potential 'reliability' issue would be the clutch, which is actually dependent on how its been treated by previous owners not its a weak point per se. Probably the slowest of the group though. Needs thrashing to get the maximum out of it and a decent Geo setup - most dealers don't do it properly.
k me!
On the road they will all be ballistic and you will very rarely get towards anything like the edge of the envelope in real life.
I'd be a bit scared at v12 running costs, certainly routinely they seemed a lot more than the 996/997 t options although every car there could give you a very bloody nose if a major issue cropped up.
Depending on what it is to be used for drive them and choose the one you like.
Daily ish: porsche weekend warrior: 360/v8
I'd be a bit scared at v12 running costs, certainly routinely they seemed a lot more than the 996/997 t options although every car there could give you a very bloody nose if a major issue cropped up.
Depending on what it is to be used for drive them and choose the one you like.
Daily ish: porsche weekend warrior: 360/v8
james_gt3rs said:
Assuming it's not an everyday car, I think the Ferrari is the most special to have in the garage. That's what supercars are about isn't it?
But he'd be buying the poverty spec one for the only reason that its the only modern day ferrari he can afford, and really wanted the 430.Its going to be older, its going to have stinking running costs, and its not even going to be the car he wants. Unless you actually want a 360, I wouldn't buy one.
WEHGuy said:
Is there a big difference between a 400bhp E39 M5 and a 420bhp 996 Turbo? I still think my M5 is great and probably will never sell it due to there not being another car in that price bracket that can do everything that it can do while always being totally reliable over the 20k miles I have owned it. However, I don't love it anymore, I can't remember the last time I went for a drive at 3am to just go for a drive.
Yes. A big difference. The turbo is much more urgent and much more chuckable.I too am considering keeping my M5 (its been 3yrs since I sold my turbo). Still cant decide what to change it for - was only expecting to keep it for a year or 2 max...
KFC said:
But he'd be buying the poverty spec one for the only reason that its the only modern day ferrari he can afford, and really wanted the 430.
Its going to be older, its going to have stinking running costs, and its not even going to be the car he wants. Unless you actually want a 360, I wouldn't buy one.
Not sure I'd use the words "poverty spec" and "Ferrari 360" in the same sentence Its going to be older, its going to have stinking running costs, and its not even going to be the car he wants. Unless you actually want a 360, I wouldn't buy one.
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