Aston Martin V8V or Mercedes SLK 55 AMG

[jonspectre]

I've now been looking at buying an Aston Martin V8V for a few months. I'm not in a hurry and just absorbing all sorts of useful and useless information whilst enjoying the on-off search for something. I absolutely love the shape and beauty of the Aston and buying one would be fulfilling a lifelong ambition. I'd love to be able to say I owned an Aston Martin.

It'll be used as a daily driver and possibly my only car, unless I buy a runaround. I don't usually do more than about 10-12k per year and I've noted various others use them as daily drivers. I'm fairly comfortable with the running costs and potential maintenance.

This is the sort of thing I'm looking at; an early 2006/7 car with c50k on the clock for £30-35k.



However, it occurred to me that for similar (or less) money, I could instead get an SLK 55 AMG. Now, this clearly isn't an Aston but on paper it's faster, more powerful, newer and of course, convertible. This is a bonus on days like today when the weather is glorious.

There are now a few in the £25-30k category; 2012-13 cars and that lovely 5.4 V8 engine.



The only thing with the above, compared to the Aston (aside from the fact that it's not an Aston!) is the likelihood of further considerable depreciation. Aston's values are likely to be fairly stable - they may dip down to mid/low £20ks but is probably a fairly safe longer term bet. The Mercedes is likely to drop a higher percentage and not recover.

I then started looking at the earlier cars. I know this model gets a bit of a slating but I actually quite like the looks of them. I used to have a V6 version and always liked the idea of that big V8 in such a small car.

The earlier versions are now in the £12-20k bracket, with a car such as the one below towards the top end of that. Again, clearly not an Aston but would keep a good amount in the 'fighting fund' for those pesky front brakes!



So, for my Sunday afternoon musing: which would you think the best (if any) or what else would you consider up to £30/35k of a similar ilk?

[DamnKraut]

OP what makes you think the 172 gen SLK55 should still drop significantly in value? There aren’t many around and it’s the last NA V8 in such a tiny roadster package. You should drive it back to back against the Aston and then bin the latter for some proper German muscle

[jonspectre]

DamnKraut said:

OP what makes you think the 172 gen SLK55 should still drop significantly in value? There aren’t many around and it’s the last NA V8 in such a tiny roadster package. You should drive it back to back against the Aston and then bin the latter for some proper German muscle

Good question. I based this purely on the 171 values [which I've tracked on and off for a few years] and the fact they are still quite 'new' compared to some of the other cars I've looked at.

[Jasandjules]

If there is a choice between an Aston and an inferior car, you get the Aston.

[48k]

Drive them back to back and see what you think. Is the Aston a manual or flappy paddles? If the latter be aware that the system is very much "of its time" and can be a bit annoying to use when manoevering which may be an issue if it's your daily driver. I have not driven the Merc but it sounds nicer than the V8V IMO.

[anonymous-user]

2 similar but alternative suggestions -

Jaguar XKR convertible?
Looks almost as good as Aston, convertible, supercharged V8..

Late Mercedes SL55 AMG or perhaps SL63?
As above, likely to hold its value over time.

[DamnKraut]

Jasandjules said:

If there is a choice between an Aston and an inferior car, you get the Aston.

Agree, but here the choice is between an Aston and a superior car

In all seriousness though, the 172 is by leagues more modern, is a convertible for full exposure to V8 ear porn and even as a convertible less lardy than the Aston. If you can look beyond that power beauty soul nonsense I am sure you’ll find it’s the better car pound for pound.

What has the Aston to give other than good looks? And don’t tell me it’s the better driver’s car.

[sparks_E46]

I’d go for the Mercedes myself, I prefer everything about it.

[48k]

DamnKraut said:

In all seriousness though, the 172 is by leagues more modern, is a convertible for full exposure to V8 ear porn

You know you can get the V8V in convertible form too don't you?

[colinrob]

To me the Aston is a beautiful car and the merc is a fast car, the Aston is well an Aston MArtin and the merc (and I love the SLK55aMG) is a merc

[anonymous-user]

Of course it's got to be the Aston unless of course you're an elderly bald bloke then go for the Merc.

[MikeyC]

Have always admired the Vantages, but I did see an owners experience of one over on m3cutters - see GU60's post at the top of page 2 ...

[DamnKraut]

48k said:

You know you can get the V8V in convertible form too don't you?

But surely not at the price point the OP is aiming for? Thought the convertible version of the Vantage was introduced rather late in its life so open top ones would be above budget?

[JaredVannett]

I know OP said running costs were not an issue for him, but I think it's worth being reminded just how good the little 172 SLK is on mpg given that big fat V8 under the hood.

With the fancy cylinder activation system, folk usually see between 25-30mpg:

http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r172-general-discussio...

They've been on my radar for some time

[48k]

DamnKraut said:

48k said:

You know you can get the V8V in convertible form too don't you?

But surely not at the price point the OP is aiming for? Thought the convertible version of the Vantage was introduced rather late in its life so open top ones would be above budget?

On the contrary the roadster was introduced about a year or so in to production and 35K will get you an early one.

MikeyC said:

Have always admired the Vantages, but I did see an owners experience of one over on m3cutters - see GU60's post at the top of page 2 ...

That does sound an unfortunate experience but some untruths in there as well - "then WTF does it need servicing every year at £1200+" - mine has just had the major ten year service at a main dealer which was £800 and the other services have been cheaper than that so not sure where he gets charged £1200+ at every service.

Don't get me wrong they can develop issues some of which can be expensive to fix but it really is Ford/Jaguar/Volvo bits and a good independent will soften the blow there if you want to go down that route. The reality is these cars are never going to be as cheap to run as a family hatchback.

Just remember if you want to buy a Vantage you'll be joining the over 50, red-trousers brigade

Joking aside OP you need to drive one. It's not a nippy sports car it's a slightly lazy baby GT car (especially the 4.3 where your budget is) - which is the biggest issue I have with mine (aside from not being over 50 and not owning any red trousers).

[alorotom]

colinrob]the Aston is well an Aston MArtin and the merc [snip said:

is a merc

I so wish there was a “no st Sherlock” button lol

[bennno]

Jasandjules said:

If there is a choice between an Aston and an inferior car, you get the Aston.

I did roughly that earlier this year but decided the f type was ‘almost’ as nice looking, made a much better sound and had so much more grunt... when you factored in 6 years newer & 20k cheaper @ 120bhp more it meant I didn’t buy the Aston. Last time I almost bought an Aston was 15 years back and a db7 at that time did not compare to a 456 fezza.....one day.

To OP the SLK55 is a blast, had 2 and loved them, but you should go and drive a V8 f type

[JetskiJezz]

I too had a long standing love affair with the idea of an Aston.

I finally took the plunge and purchased a manual 07 vantage roadster as a bit of the summer toy. a year before I had tried one of the paddle shift versions and found it a truly dreadful experience, it felt like stepping back into the Middle Ages.

I only owned the vantage for 6 months, every time and looked at it I thought it was just one of the most beautiful modern cars, but the more I drove it the more I just didn't like it. really hard to put my finger on exactly what I didn't like, it really was a combination of everything from being underpowered, heavy clutch, fairly heavy steering and I guess also out of date gadgets.
The year before I bought it I had spent a week in the Alps with a V6 F-type which felt so much better in every way.

So after six months I parted with it and now have a V8 F type which to me and to all my friends that are driven both is definitely a better car all round.

My advice would be if you can find an V8 f-type within budget then it would be an altogether better car.

Having said all of that, every time I see a Vantage I still think it's one of the most beautiful cars on the road - They really aren't losing any money, so it wouldn't hurt to do what I did and give it a try.

[48k]

JetskiJezz said:

I too had a long standing love affair with the idea of an Aston.

I finally took the plunge and purchased a manual 07 vantage roadster as a bit of the summer toy. a year before I had tried one of the paddle shift versions and found it a truly dreadful experience, it felt like stepping back into the Middle Ages.

I only owned the vantage for 6 months, every time and looked at it I thought it was just one of the most beautiful modern cars, but the more I drove it the more I just didn't like it. really hard to put my finger on exactly what I didn't like, it really was a combination of everything from being underpowered, heavy clutch, fairly heavy steering and I guess also out of date gadgets.
The year before I bought it I had spent a week in the Alps with a V6 F-type which felt so much better in every way.

So after six months I parted with it and now have a V8 F type which to me and to all my friends that are driven both is definitely a better car all round.

My advice would be if you can find an V8 f-type within budget then it would be an altogether better car.

Having said all of that, every time I see a Vantage I still think it's one of the most beautiful cars on the road - They really aren't losing any money, so it wouldn't hurt to do what I did and give it a try.

Agree with all of this, although never driven the Jag I've been on holiday with one (friend hired the V6 supercharged version which is the one to have over the V8 according to the motoring press) and it really is a stonking car. Which you'd hope for as it's at least 10 years newer than the Aston so they'd be doing something very wrong if they'd not moved the game on in that time. I think the only thing against the Jag is the crippling depreciation but if you can live with that it's definitely a serious choice over the Aston.

[bennno]

48k said:

Agree with all of this, although never driven the Jag I've been on holiday with one (friend hired the V6 supercharged version which is the one to have over the V8 according to the motoring press) and it really is a stonking car. Which you'd hope for as it's at least 10 years newer than the Aston so they'd be doing something very wrong if they'd not moved the game on in that time. I think the only thing against the Jag is the crippling depreciation but if you can live with that it's definitely a serious choice over the Aston.

Crippling depreciation can be your friend, in my case it enabled a 108k car to be purchased for a smidge over 40k at 2 years of age. From a dealer and with a 2 year warranty.

Motoring press say v8 is too much for uk roads, for anybody brought up on tvr’s it’s close to perfect. Just got it’s annual service, cost £340