Aston Martin Vantage from 997 C4S

[johnbrace]

Any body made this transition, have had Porsches for nearly 10 years now and really fancy a change and the Aston is the only car that seems to fit the bill in terms of price (40k ish to spend) and looks. Had a brief test drive at my local Ason dealer in an Automatic car that took in px and are offering a good deal as they got a good underwrite on my C4S from the indie I bought it from.

Sorely tempted but my Porsche`s have cost me very little in depreciation and running costs so am a bit worried I may be going into a different league in this respect as there does not seem to be the same independent network that Porsche have .

Any feedback appreciated.

[Lordglenmorangie]

Don't do it

[Blue62]

I went from a C2S to a V8V a few years ago. It's a very different car, great to look at and sit in, lovely noise and reasonable performance, however it had a lazy way of delivering the power, maybe the 4.7 is better. Overall though it was not a patch on the Porsche, handling, stopping, acceleration, running costs and so on. I used to back off if I came across a 911 as I knew I was outgunned, so in summary, highly recommended, buy one.

[Johnfrancis]

I have owned a V8 Vantage for 3 years now, have also owned a 996 (3.6) a Boxster and two Sl mercedes, the Aston is as reliable as any of them and in a total different league when it comes to build quality. Dont get me wrong, i liked the Porsche's and the Mercedes ( I still have a SL 500) but I LOVE the Aston. Running costs? about £1k per year in servicing 17-20mpg, tyres etc are similar to 911's.
Engines are bullet proof (can't say that about the Porsche), and the SL is in workshop at the moment for rust treatment ( On a 6 year old car FFS!!!)The Aston causes comments wherever you go,(usually favourable) and is an occasion every time you drive it.
Thats my opinion anyway

[CarbonV12V]

I have just upgraded (and I meant to say that) from a 997TT to a V12 Vantage. I collect tomorrow .

[nw28840]

I went from a 996 C4S Cab to a V8V.

Loved the Porsche....

Love the Aston more.

Edited by nw28840 on Wednesday 29th February 11:16

[PHOENIXUK]

If you 'drive' your 911 you will be very dissapointed, if you just drive your 911 then the Aston will do the job fine, its a nice place to watch the world go by but it will cost more in petrol, servicing etc especially if you use AM.
My verdict I had the AM for 3 months back in 2006, my itch is now scratched..

[MadMark911]

I've always thought that it was one of the few true competitors to the 911 - particularly in 4.7 Litre form, but it does look a little heavier at 1,630kg ....

[johnbrace]

Thanks all very useful replies,
I am not really a hard driver and the Aston did feel like more of an occasion as one poster put it.
It is an itch that needs scratching and if I don't do it now probably never will and the fact that no one has really said the Porsche is miles better then I think I may just go for it, I can always get back into Porsche in a year or so if I don't gel with it.
Once again thanks for useful replies I thought I was gong to get blasted on all fronts for suggesting this.

[Lordglenmorangie]

johnbrace said:

Thanks all very useful replies,
I am not really a hard driver and the Aston did feel like more of an occasion as one poster put it.
It is an itch that needs scratching and if I don't do it now probably never will and the fact that no one has really said the Porsche is miles better then I think I may just go for it, I can always get back into Porsche in a year or so if I don't gel with it.
Once again thanks for useful replies I thought I was gong to get blasted on all fronts for suggesting this.

We have all had that itch, it's what makes us petrol heads. Enjoy the Aston

[uuf361]

Lordglenmorangie said:

Don't do it

+1 - I went from a 996 C2 Cab to a Vantage Roadster (4.3) and it was an awful car - kept it for 5 months then got rid (fortunately for a profit). i know of 3 others who kept their AM's for less time than I am.

In summary the good bits are the looks and the sound, the bad are the reliability, build quality, handling, woeful throttle lag, economy, speed (both relative of course........

[drpep]

I can appreciate the Aston desire. Much of the sentiment shared on here I agree with. A little less driver focused? That's what I came away from the test drive thinking. Lovely objects however; I can see why you would go there. Personally I think a 4.7 V8V would be a wonderful ownership proposition but not sufficient draw to get me out of Porsche GTx cars. When funds permit multiple fast metal then maybe an aston on the side but involvement is the name of the game and that's what I'm after right now.

I would have sworn otherwise driving home on the M4 the other day though.

I'd go for it; you only live once and all that. Happy driving.

[Lordglenmorangie]

uuf361 said:

+1 - I went from a 996 C2 Cab to a Vantage Roadster (4.3) and it was an awful car - kept it for 5 months then got rid (fortunately for a profit). i know of 3 others who kept their AM's for less time than I am.

In summary the good bits are the looks and the sound, the bad are the reliability, build quality, handling, woeful throttle lag, economy, speed (both relative of course........

I am surrounded by Aston's my immediate neigbour sold his after nine months ( he is a polisher ) rather than a driver. The chap next door but one , was taken away on a low loader yesterday, the car not my neigbour !

[Johnfrancis]

The speed argument cannot be a serious point surely, today's roads are too congested to explore the performance of a Ford Mondeo, forget about "driving" a 380 bhp supercar anywhere near its limits on the road. now if your going down the " I do track days and the Porsche is a second a lap quicker than the Aston so I gotta get me one" road, then forget the Porsche....get a Nissan GTR, it will blow the Porsche into the weeds.
But that's not the point is it.?

[drpep]

Johnfrancis said:

The speed argument cannot be a serious point surely, today's roads are too congested to explore the performance of a Ford Mondeo, forget about "driving" a 380 bhp supercar anywhere near its limits on the road. now if your going down the " I do track days and the Porsche is a second a lap quicker than the Aston so I gotta get me one" road, then forget the Porsche....get a Nissan GTR, it will blow the Porsche into the weeds.
But that's not the point is it.?

With all due respect, and no offence intended; that's poppycock. I had an amazing fast road blast in Wales last Sunday morning. The GT3's 415ps helped safely dispatch dawdlers and farm traffic with consummate ease. 380 bhp makes a lot of sense in today's traffic if you have the self control to deploy it when appropriate and not simply terrorise others with it

[ForzaWhitesGen2]

drpep said:

With all due respect, and no offence intended; that's poppycock. I had an amazing fast road blast in Wales last Sunday morning. The GT3's 415ps helped safely dispatch dawdlers and farm traffic with consummate ease. 380 bhp makes a lot of sense in today's traffic if you have the self control to deploy it when appropriate and not simply terrorise others with it

Agree, there are some fantastic roads in the UK (particulary Wales, Scotland), its all about timing and indeed making the time.... had a great blast in my car last saturday in Cumbria..... like you say a bit of self control and using the power in a 'fartlek' fashion!

[mrdemon]

I don't like/get the 911 drive, so depends a lot if a 911 handles how you want, it's not for me, nor for Porsche, as they have been trying to change the way it handles for years and the 991 is longer and does NOT drive like a 911.

I would test drive a 4.7 V8V though it's a better car over the 4.3 and one with the sport pack.
Should not lose much price now and the 4.7 will be more sort after in a few years with the 4.3 holding prices up.
may be a year to early to buy a 4.7 if you are worry about how much it will fall in price, but you stand a better chance on finding a better one with warranty.

I would rather have a Cayman S over a 911 (I did :-) )
I would rather have a 4.7 sport pack V8V than a non GT 911
I would rather have a 997.2 GT3 over a V8V

depends what you want.

[mrdemon]

drpep said:

With all due respect, and no offence intended; that's poppycock. I had an amazing fast road blast in Wales last Sunday morning. The GT3's 415ps helped safely dispatch dawdlers and farm traffic with consummate ease. 380 bhp makes a lot of sense in today's traffic if you have the self control to deploy it when appropriate and not simply terrorise others with it

I think any 300BHp car can dispatch dawdlers and farm traffic with consummate ease lol harldy a test for a GT3.

a Sport pack 4.7 V8V would be no less fun on that trip, some might say more fun due to the better less bumpy ride and that noise and more torque :-p

[drpep]

mrdemon said:

I think any 300BHp car can dispatch dawdlers and farm traffic with consummate ease lol harldy a test for a GT3.

a Sport pack 4.7 V8V would be no less fun on that trip, some might say more fun due to the better less bumpy ride and that noise and more torque :-p

Yeah very true re: power.

A V8V is a very different proposition to a GT3 however. And regarding the torque,the extra 250+kg of blubber was more than enough to absorb that in my experience.

I can totally appreciate the joy of the V8V however.

Given the funds I'd have both but the GT3 holds trump cards beyond torque and pose. That however, is irrelevant for this thread.

Get the Aston! They're very very special cars.

Edited by drpep on Thursday 1st March 10:38

[F3RNANDO]

Johnfrancis said:

, today's roads are too congested to explore the performance of a Ford Mondeo, forget about "driving" a 380 bhp supercar anywhere near its limits on the road

You need to move house!