F**k Covid car - Bentley GT, DB9 or 911?
Discussion
Looking to purchase a suitably stupid vehicle in the next few months to replace my previous 987 Boxster S Gen 2.
With all the fun and laughter we've had over the last year and a bit, i want to get something that will make me grin every time i use it. Budget is up to £25k, will be my daily, although probably only doing around 6-8k a year tops so economy is not an issue, don't have a garage so will sit outside.
My shortlist after going round in circles for a long time are:
- Aston Martin DB9
- Bentley Continental GT
- Porsche 997.1
All will ideally be pre Mar 06 as although i'm spending the cash, i really don't want to spend £550+ in road tax for something used so little (i know it makes no sense, its just a thing i have)
The Bentley is probably the cheapest to purchase and looks great (to me), Dare i say the Porsche is probably the more sensible, as long as it get one with engine work done, but also the least "impressive"? again very subjective and the DB9 is just an Aston - which is totally awesome full stop.
Would be interested in any owner feedback on any of these cars. I know they will throw bills, but the Boxtser liked to through multiple hundreds at me too, so thats to be expected.
With all the fun and laughter we've had over the last year and a bit, i want to get something that will make me grin every time i use it. Budget is up to £25k, will be my daily, although probably only doing around 6-8k a year tops so economy is not an issue, don't have a garage so will sit outside.
My shortlist after going round in circles for a long time are:
- Aston Martin DB9
- Bentley Continental GT
- Porsche 997.1
All will ideally be pre Mar 06 as although i'm spending the cash, i really don't want to spend £550+ in road tax for something used so little (i know it makes no sense, its just a thing i have)
The Bentley is probably the cheapest to purchase and looks great (to me), Dare i say the Porsche is probably the more sensible, as long as it get one with engine work done, but also the least "impressive"? again very subjective and the DB9 is just an Aston - which is totally awesome full stop.
Would be interested in any owner feedback on any of these cars. I know they will throw bills, but the Boxtser liked to through multiple hundreds at me too, so thats to be expected.
LeroyLooser said:
At 25k from those 3, DB9.
but if your intention is for it to make you laugh & smile then there are better cars for that at 25k imo.
I'm sure there are better for 25k, but i'm a middle aged man who wants to enjoy the finer things in life. A newer Golf GTI would probably run rings around them all, but its just a Golf.but if your intention is for it to make you laugh & smile then there are better cars for that at 25k imo.
For someone who grew up on James Bond films, that Aston badge is very hard to beat, even if the technology is blooming old
I do love the Bentley as i previously drive a GTC SuperSport - it was an immense thing that made you feel like you were driving a small country.
The Porsche should be the ideal daily, thats what we are repeatedly told by everyone, but i've sort of done the "Porsche" thing, and while i'm sure the 911 is better than a Boxster, does it carry the same gravitas as the other 2?
mattman said:
LeroyLooser said:
At 25k from those 3, DB9.
but if your intention is for it to make you laugh & smile then there are better cars for that at 25k imo.
I'm sure there are better for 25k, but i'm a middle aged man who wants to enjoy the finer things in life. A newer Golf GTI would probably run rings around them all, but its just a Golf.but if your intention is for it to make you laugh & smile then there are better cars for that at 25k imo.
For someone who grew up on James Bond films, that Aston badge is very hard to beat, even if the technology is blooming old
I do love the Bentley as i previously drive a GTC SuperSport - it was an immense thing that made you feel like you were driving a small country.
The Porsche should be the ideal daily, thats what we are repeatedly told by everyone, but i've sort of done the "Porsche" thing, and while i'm sure the 911 is better than a Boxster, does it carry the same gravitas as the other 2?

In no way suggesting a more modern 4wd euro box, was talking similar cars of same era / ilk..
Depends what makes ‘you’ smile i guess but i’d be looking more toward vantage if AM really turns you on but thats V8 not V12 so maybe that makes a difference.
DB9 was a very confused car imo, BIG but tiny rear seats, very hard suspension for a gt car, vantage was much better in all respects.
dont get me wrong, i love the bentley (i’m ordering a gen3) but wouldnt be buying for ‘fun’ though wafting back from a nice restaurant does, indeed, make one smile

mattman said:
YES!!! 
(* even if i don't have a garage yet...... thats on the "to-do" list at somepoint)
Having had a DB9 I'd say go for the Maserati Granturismo 4.7S it's imo a better & more resolved car than the DB9.
(* even if i don't have a garage yet...... thats on the "to-do" list at somepoint)
Yes some of the buttons are all over the place but you get used to them pretty quickly, then you appreciate the proper (don't go to pick someone up from the airport in one unless they've packed light) boot space & four seats you can actually use.
The DB9 just edges it on looks & the engine but the Maser is a good looking car & that Ferrari derived V8 is a peach
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
mattman said:
The Porsche should be the ideal daily, thats what we are repeatedly told by everyone, but i've sort of done the "Porsche" thing, and while i'm sure the 911 is better than a Boxster, does it carry the same gravitas as the other 2?
I went from 996 turbo to AM Vantage. I had absolutely zero regrets about doing so.Definitely the DB9 from that list.
ZX10R NIN said:
mattman said:
YES!!! 
(* even if i don't have a garage yet...... thats on the "to-do" list at somepoint)
Having had a DB9 I'd say go for the Maserati Granturismo 4.7S it's imo a better & more resolved car than the DB9.
(* even if i don't have a garage yet...... thats on the "to-do" list at somepoint)
Yes some of the buttons are all over the place but you get used to them pretty quickly, then you appreciate the proper (don't go to pick someone up from the airport in one unless they've packed light) boot space & four seats you can actually use.
The DB9 just edges it on looks & the engine but the Maser is a good looking car & that Ferrari derived V8 is a peach
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011306...
Its what i went for, the DB9 & conti were both tested on the same day (DB9 last place) just avoid the robotised transmission (CAMBIOCORSA / F1) and get the later zf auto box over the earlier 6 sp, skyhook suspension was a must have option for the better ride.
Looks wise the DB9 is the ‘classier’ looker imo but the V12 couldnt match the GranTurismos noise, not even close, plug the vacuum pipe or get an EVM and its the one of best noises of any modern era car imo.
Granturismo would get my vote at the £25k price point, as budget just seems a little to low for a well-sorted 911, Conti-GT or DB9.
And as noted above avoid the prehistoric cambiocorsa gearbox.
Depending on whether you care about needing adults in the back (Granturismo and Conti-GT yes, 911-marginal, DB9-very marginal!) you could also get a nice Cayman?
And as noted above avoid the prehistoric cambiocorsa gearbox.
Depending on whether you care about needing adults in the back (Granturismo and Conti-GT yes, 911-marginal, DB9-very marginal!) you could also get a nice Cayman?
Martyn76 said:
As someone who has no chance of owning any of these cars I'd go for the Aston or Bentley, got to be a bit more special than the 911 even though it is probably the better car?
I'm not convinced that 911s really deserve the reputation they have in this respect.My turbo was a perfectly good car - but it cost about the same to service at an Indy as the Vantage and needed stuff fixed about as often. Of course, it was vastly quicker - but it had absolutely no character whereas the Aston just felt special all the time. Although I had it a long time, I found the turbo pretty dull for most of my ownership and doubt I'll ever own another 911 - but I'm pretty sure I will own another Aston.
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