Audi R8 or Aston V8 Vantage?
Discussion
Well, I've just opted for the former.
I wouldnt say the R8 was on my radar but I did court the idea for a little while as it is a fantastic package. Ultimately, the Aston won out because that is what I truly wanted and, well, its an Aston.
Regardless of the level each car sits at, the examples of them can vary wildly. A £30k Vantage will be at the bottom of their market so you'll do very well if you can find an excellent example at that level.
I wouldnt say the R8 was on my radar but I did court the idea for a little while as it is a fantastic package. Ultimately, the Aston won out because that is what I truly wanted and, well, its an Aston.
Regardless of the level each car sits at, the examples of them can vary wildly. A £30k Vantage will be at the bottom of their market so you'll do very well if you can find an excellent example at that level.
In contrast to the above poster, I went for the R8 having considered the Vantage.
The Aston is an Aston, which may be sufficient. It is also smaller, in some respects more discrete, and probably a touch more practical.
But the R8 is (excluding the badge) a bit more exotic (mid engined, glass engine cover etc), and is likely to cost less to run (the servicing schedule, parts and labour for an Aston will be more demanding on the wallet than the Audi). I have heard rumours of Vantages throwing up some fairly hefty bills (anecdotally a friend with a V8 Vantage got a £4k bill for his first service after buying the car). That was enough to put me off.
Having driven both the R8 also feels considerably faster.
For equivalent cars in terms of age and mileage they are probably approximately the same cost to buy. Both have good residuals, and neither are particularly mileage sensitive.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with either, but the Aston definitely has the better badge if that matters to you.
ETA - the GTR does absolutely nothing for me so I didn't seriously consider it. The other option to consider is a 997 Turbo but I'd just come out of a Porsche and the 911 shape is relatively common.
The Aston is an Aston, which may be sufficient. It is also smaller, in some respects more discrete, and probably a touch more practical.
But the R8 is (excluding the badge) a bit more exotic (mid engined, glass engine cover etc), and is likely to cost less to run (the servicing schedule, parts and labour for an Aston will be more demanding on the wallet than the Audi). I have heard rumours of Vantages throwing up some fairly hefty bills (anecdotally a friend with a V8 Vantage got a £4k bill for his first service after buying the car). That was enough to put me off.
Having driven both the R8 also feels considerably faster.
For equivalent cars in terms of age and mileage they are probably approximately the same cost to buy. Both have good residuals, and neither are particularly mileage sensitive.
I don't think you'll be disappointed with either, but the Aston definitely has the better badge if that matters to you.
ETA - the GTR does absolutely nothing for me so I didn't seriously consider it. The other option to consider is a 997 Turbo but I'd just come out of a Porsche and the 911 shape is relatively common.
I've had both.
R8 more visceral, nicer box, better sound.
Aston more 'special', more comfortable, better looking (IMO).
If I HAD to buy one of the above again, it'd be the R8 - More fun to drive fast. But I'd happily have either. Both great cars.
ETA Aston much more expensive to own. (Main Dealer) Servicing and parts are eye watering.
R8 more visceral, nicer box, better sound.
Aston more 'special', more comfortable, better looking (IMO).
If I HAD to buy one of the above again, it'd be the R8 - More fun to drive fast. But I'd happily have either. Both great cars.
ETA Aston much more expensive to own. (Main Dealer) Servicing and parts are eye watering.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 8th July 12:52
GetCarter said:
I've had both.
R8 more visceral, nicer box, better sound.
Aston more 'special', more comfortable, better looking (IMO).
If I HAD to buy one of the above again, it'd be the R8. But I'd happily have either. Both great cars.
Im a big R8 fan, but damn, that Aston looks good! I think i'd have the Aston, purely for the "special" bitR8 more visceral, nicer box, better sound.
Aston more 'special', more comfortable, better looking (IMO).
If I HAD to buy one of the above again, it'd be the R8. But I'd happily have either. Both great cars.
About this time last year I was in the same predicament, so In one day I tried three cars that I had earmarked for test driving.
First off a lovely looking light metallic green Aston Martin soft-top from a place in Walton on Thames it had the paddle shift which has got to be the worst paddle shift in the world, I mentioned to the salesman that it reminded me of the dreadful paddle shift in the Maserati Gambiocorsa to which he said it was the same manufacturer. I really didn't like any aspect of the outbox in traffic it was horrible all in all I really wasn't impressed.
Next a V8 R8 this is what the Esprit should have been like (I owned a late V8 Esprit) this was manual and I liked it it but it just didn't have any wow factor for me.
Next (late afternoon) a Mercedes SL63 really liked it and after 10 minutes said to myself if that Aston Martin had the MCT auto box that was in the SL i'd have bought the Aston Martin. Anyway hood down with wonderful throttle blips etc I chose that car.
Fast forward to a few months back and I was thinking of swapping my daily V10 diesel Phaeton for something else so I tried a 2013 Nissan Gtr. In all honesty these later GTr's are sublime, they look pig ugly but in black I was prepared to forgive it it's badly designed American Muscle car looks and just revel in what an entertaining drive it truly was.
I would strongly suggest you try a 2013 onward Gtr.
Sod all this posing and being let out at junctions this is the car in my humble opinion as someone who has both driven and done a bit of homework on all the above cars.
First off a lovely looking light metallic green Aston Martin soft-top from a place in Walton on Thames it had the paddle shift which has got to be the worst paddle shift in the world, I mentioned to the salesman that it reminded me of the dreadful paddle shift in the Maserati Gambiocorsa to which he said it was the same manufacturer. I really didn't like any aspect of the outbox in traffic it was horrible all in all I really wasn't impressed.
Next a V8 R8 this is what the Esprit should have been like (I owned a late V8 Esprit) this was manual and I liked it it but it just didn't have any wow factor for me.
Next (late afternoon) a Mercedes SL63 really liked it and after 10 minutes said to myself if that Aston Martin had the MCT auto box that was in the SL i'd have bought the Aston Martin. Anyway hood down with wonderful throttle blips etc I chose that car.
Fast forward to a few months back and I was thinking of swapping my daily V10 diesel Phaeton for something else so I tried a 2013 Nissan Gtr. In all honesty these later GTr's are sublime, they look pig ugly but in black I was prepared to forgive it it's badly designed American Muscle car looks and just revel in what an entertaining drive it truly was.
I would strongly suggest you try a 2013 onward Gtr.
Sod all this posing and being let out at junctions this is the car in my humble opinion as someone who has both driven and done a bit of homework on all the above cars.
Having spent quite a bit of time with both, I'd say it's a difficult choice, but you can't really go wrong. They both feel special (apart from the Audi's bog-standard Audi dashboard) and they are both great to drive. Anyone who strongly advocates one over the other without having driven both is just spouting his prejudice.
I'd go for the manual with either, unless you can get a later dual clutch R8. I'd still get a manual though. I don't like the Aston SportShift or the Audi single clutch paddle shift.
I'd go for the manual with either, unless you can get a later dual clutch R8. I'd still get a manual though. I don't like the Aston SportShift or the Audi single clutch paddle shift.
I was faced with this exact dilemma just over 12 months ago. I had a £40k budget and narrowed it down to a Vantage v8 Roadster or an R8 coupe.
I finally went for the Vantage, purchased it in September last year. I managed to find a really good car, good spec and paid in the end a really sensible price for it.
However, less than 12 months later it's gone - it just didn't feel quick enough, don't get me wrong, it looked beautiful, it was well made and it sounded not bad, but I couldn't bear to have a car of that sort of value that wasn't ticking all the boxes.
I didn't go for the R8 as I have a Ferrari 360 coupe already in the garage and felt it was just too similar.
I've now got a V8 F-type convertible, picked it up a couple of weeks back and absolutely loving it. It might not have the badge snobbery of the Aston, but in my honest opinion it's just as well build if not better and certainly more modern and a huge amount quicker with an exhaust and engine noise that is truly intoxicating.
I finally went for the Vantage, purchased it in September last year. I managed to find a really good car, good spec and paid in the end a really sensible price for it.
However, less than 12 months later it's gone - it just didn't feel quick enough, don't get me wrong, it looked beautiful, it was well made and it sounded not bad, but I couldn't bear to have a car of that sort of value that wasn't ticking all the boxes.
I didn't go for the R8 as I have a Ferrari 360 coupe already in the garage and felt it was just too similar.
I've now got a V8 F-type convertible, picked it up a couple of weeks back and absolutely loving it. It might not have the badge snobbery of the Aston, but in my honest opinion it's just as well build if not better and certainly more modern and a huge amount quicker with an exhaust and engine noise that is truly intoxicating.
Nice choice to have, and you probably won't go wrong with either. I went down the Vantage route, I remember when I went along to a Lotus/Aston Martin day, where I sat in and got to listen to a Vantage and I was determined to get one since.
The R8 interior lets it down for me. Both cars look good and sound good in their own way. I think an F-Type or GT-R would tempt me instead.
It may not be built as well as the R8, or drive as well, but for me there was no competition.
Vantage on the Beauty Firth by justinking1986, on Flickr
The R8 interior lets it down for me. Both cars look good and sound good in their own way. I think an F-Type or GT-R would tempt me instead.
It may not be built as well as the R8, or drive as well, but for me there was no competition.
Vantage on the Beauty Firth by justinking1986, on FlickrCurrently in this dilemma but have put deposit down on the Vantage.
Big reason being I’m coming from a heavily modified TVR cerbera 4.5 speed six. The r8 would want to compete speed wise but tbh I don’t think it ever could so I’ve decided to go for something else entirely in that I know the Aston can’t touch it for pace but it is a special place to be.
Big reason being I’m coming from a heavily modified TVR cerbera 4.5 speed six. The r8 would want to compete speed wise but tbh I don’t think it ever could so I’ve decided to go for something else entirely in that I know the Aston can’t touch it for pace but it is a special place to be.
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