Vantage vs Grandtourismo vs M5
Vantage vs Grandtourismo vs M5
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Discussion

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

163 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Broke my ack coming off my motorbike a couple months ago, I'm fine. But apparently not allowed another motorbike. I don't strongly disagree.

So, life is short. And since I am now an inch shorter I feel a fancy car is in order.

V8 Vantage. 2006/7. 40k on the clock is around 40k
pro - Manual, looks, sense of occasion.
con - costs

Maserati Grandtourismo. 40k on the clock is around 30k
pro - looks great, sense of occasion
con - flappy gearbox, a lot of them seem ropey compared to the Vantage.


The other hat is a sensible hat. That says, your commute is st and the clapped out old focus your rattling about in is better at country roads, carparks and traffic jams.


Is there anything in between?

MarcelM6

586 posts

128 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Porsche 911
BMW M6
Jaguar XFR

Less sense of occasion but probably more reliable and cheaper to fix


hyphen

26,262 posts

112 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Prizam said:
The other hat is a sensible hat. That says, your commute is st and the clapped out old focus your rattling about in is better at country roads, carparks and traffic jams.
Electric?Tesla

davek_964

10,574 posts

197 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
MarcelM6 said:
Porsche 911
BMW M6
Jaguar XFR

Less sense of occasion but probably more reliable and cheaper to fix
Admittedly I'm not comparing to an NA 911, but my 996 turbo was no more reliable than my Vantage, and cost more over the same period.
Vantage can have big bills occasionally (mine hasn't yet in 2.5 years) but so can a 911. Especially if you're looking at the models with the chocolate engines - if you're unlucky, they can really hurt your wallet.

(P.s. buy a Vantage. Fabulous cars, and I have no regrets about ditching my 911)

Prizam

Original Poster:

2,447 posts

163 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Thanks all...


The 911's at this price point are leggy and look dated inside. they are also mostly auto or semi-auto.

M6 is a nice consideration, but not much sense of occasion.

My only, very slight concern about a Vantage is the heavy controls, and paint chipping.

davek_964

10,574 posts

197 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Prizam said:
Thanks all...


The 911's at this price point are leggy and look dated inside. they are also mostly auto or semi-auto.

M6 is a nice consideration, but not much sense of occasion.

My only, very slight concern about a Vantage is the heavy controls, and paint chipping.
I assume you mean the paint bubbling (I'm not aware of a problem with them being prone to chips). It is a known issue but just check the car carefully. Mine doesn't have it.

Not sure what you mean by heavy controls. Clutch gets a bit heavy with age but that's common with other cars (don't buy one that needs a clutch though!) but I don't find anything else heavy.

Yiliterate

3,789 posts

228 months

ZX10R NIN

29,893 posts

147 months

Wednesday 10th January 2018
quotequote all
Prizam said:
Broke my ack coming off my motorbike a couple months ago, I'm fine. But apparently not allowed another motorbike. I don't strongly disagree.

So, life is short. And since I am now an inch shorter I feel a fancy car is in order.

V8 Vantage. 2006/7. 40k on the clock is around 40k
pro - Manual, looks, sense of occasion.
con - costs

Maserati Grandtourismo. 40k on the clock is around 30k
pro - looks great, sense of occasion
con - flappy gearbox, a lot of them seem ropey compared to the Vantage.


The other hat is a sensible hat. That says, your commute is st and the clapped out old focus your rattling about in is better at country roads, carparks and traffic jams.


Is there anything in between?
I'm bias but I bought a GT after a DB9 (I've been in & driven a lot of Vantages) & the GT is a much better car IMO. it's proper GT car with a feel good factor of noise (especially if you add a Larini system) as well as quality so even low speed jaunts have a sense of occasion.

Make sure you get the 4.7 as it's the better/more reliable engine, now you don't have to have the MC Shift box if you get the S you can have the full ZF auto box which suits the car, personally I preferred MC Shift as it suited my driving but if you'll be in town a lot you can find you'll go through clutches with the MC Shift.

To be fair you get the sense of occasion with the Aston but I think the Maser is the better car.

CrouchingWayne

746 posts

198 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
quotequote all
Evora and Cayman (or Boxster) spring to mind. Not quite in the same league as an Aston/Maserati on the badge front.

I am also one of the few who like the Panamera and for sub-£40k you have quite a bit of choice.