DBS or Ferrari 612

[steve1224]

I have never owned a Ferrari and the 612 might be an alternative to a DBS.

Are they alot more money to service/monthly running costs than a aston.
The reason for the 612, i have two children.

[Newc]

How old are your children ? I was going to swap my 456 for a 612 but my eldest (12 y.o., average height) vetoed it after sitting in the back. More room in a 612 than a DBS I believe but still tight in the back.

[steve1224]

The children( 3 and 8)fit in the DB9 ok.

[Newc]

I think the costs will be the usual thing - regular servicing and maintenance will be comparable, but if anything goes bang it will cost more for the F.

[jontysafe]

The 612 is actually more generous in the rear than you`d imagine, certainly more than the M6.

[andy355]

i reckon the dbs is pretty much the best looking car out there. 612 is really not. read on here problems with wheel wobbles/vibrations on dbs, may be worth checking out if they have found a cure

[simonspider]

Mine and Andy's DBS has done 25,000 miles on road and track. Uses a fair bit of the black stuff which is to be expected but has not once let us down. I've never been that keen on the Aston's but can't fault the DBS. Have no experience of the 612 I'm afraid but the DBS is a cracker (apart from anything else the best bird puller I've ever owned

Edited by simonspider on Sunday 28th November 20:18

[TurboTerrific9]

The 612 is an utterly brilliant car, although personally I wouldn't look at one withought the handling pack. Unfortunately not the prettiest motor - although the looks do grow on you. Much more space at the rear than the DBS but being more of a 'four seater' brings horrific depreciation. Still, i love mine to bits - does everything really well.

[Jonara]

Buy a Granturismo which is a genuine four seater. Save a packet. Drive a bit more slowly. And chill out.

[ticketmaster123]

I used to hate the 612 but the more I see them the more I love them. They look much better in the flesh than when you see them on TV or in Evo etc. The DBS is a stunning car but cannot match the Ferrari for performance...and whilst the 612 rear seats are pretty small...the DBS's are worse. I would go for 612 personally.

[Sneaky Schnell]

Jonara said:

Buy a Granturismo which is a genuine four seater. Save a packet. Drive a bit more slowly. And chill out.

I didn't realise the DBS had rear seats.

Anyway, if I was looking for a front engined 4 seat coupe, the Maserati GT S is where my money would go. Or even the GranCabrio.

Edited by Sneaky Schnell on Monday 29th November 10:41

Edited by Sneaky Schnell on Sunday 5th December 10:39

[mr_tony]

This is a pretty tough choice I think, and at the approx 80-110k level there are several option here all with pro's and cons.

612 - bigger rear seats than DBS - likely higher running costs - potentially gentle depreciation
DBS - small rear seats, likely better day to day prospect from lower running costs and less sensitivity to mileage on resale compared to Ferrari.

The other options are

GranTurismo - at 80-100k you're getting a pretty much new 4.7 - so should be a reliable ownership proposition with low running costs, but will likely depreciate more than the above two, so will probably work out a trifle more expensive as a 'total cost' package over a couple of years.

Vanquish - a mint Vanquish S is also an option at this price point, it has the rear seats, the cache of being the last car from Newport Pagnell and sounds epic. Likely to be more expensive to run than the DBS perhaps...

THe smart money probably

Buys a Bentley Continental GT, supposedly reliable. Questionable image, and perhaps the engine note is a bit dull..

Not bad dilemma to have though!

Personally I'd have to drive them both and make up my mind...

[jontysafe]

I want a 612! But the depreciation is anything but gentle. It`s cataclysmic from new and only slows down after 5 years or so. Sooooo, might find myself a 4-5 yr old next year. Difficult to find the right spec though. Black with GTC pack, tan leather.

[TurboTerrific9]

Vanquish S probably holds up best in terms of resale, but is costly to run as needs servicing at 6monthly intervals.

Bentley is such a different car, and whilst their made increadibly well and are super reliable, they just don't go round bends like the 612, DBS or Vanq. I had a Quattroporte for about a year and it was an amazing car, but it did feel like it would fall apart at any moment!

[JPF40]

steve1224 said:

I have never owned a Ferrari and the 612 might be an alternative to a DBS.

Are they alot more money to service/monthly running costs than a aston.
The reason for the 612, i have two children.

Was in the exact same situation.

In the end I bought a Granturismo S that was a year old. Plenty around for around £75k.

Try one and see.

[Jonara]

I am on my second Granturismo. I only changed the first one to trade up to the Auto S. I have 2 young boys, now 6 and 7, and they are not known for being easy on anything. The first car never felt flimsy or like it would fall apart, and the only issue I had was scuffed leather on the centre console in the rear from one of the kids climbing across it with his trainers on. I use the car as my daily drive, including taking both kids to school in the morning before driving to work. It is an excellent compromise for someone who wants something other than one of the default fast family cars (RS6, AMG E Class) but has to be able to seat (properly) four people. On the last point, when the Icelandic volcano was doing its stuff my wife and kids were stuck in Southern Europe so I drove down to the airport in Rome to pick them up. Four people from Rome to London, via Paris, and not a word of complaint out of the kids who had plenty of room (and Nintendo DS to keep them quiet).

There are obviously faster, sportier cars out there. But few cars cover so many bases so well, whilst coming in comfortably under 90k new.

[PeterTheWelshman]

Glad to read the dilemma your having with these cars - i'm having a similar crisis.

Looking to change a very old (8 yrs) Range Rover and always wanted a fast coupe. But with 2 kids (similar ages to the above, and boys) i need something slightly practical. So, its got to be the Maserati but the 'S'. I'm not a fan of the german stuff as they're all like stinking fish, i love the Maser but a little scared of the 'possibility' of the reliability over a few years. It'll be a daily drive and have been looking at the used on this site for around the top £70k mark.
The 612 looks like a good option but a 5 year old version with possible large repair and running costs v's a newish Maser. It makes sense to me to go with the Maser. I'd love an Aston but the leg room in the back is pretty dismal
Anyway, some good experiences listed to help with my decision
Cheers Guys

[CliveM]

PeterTheWelshman said:

Glad to read the dilemma your having with these cars - i'm having a similar crisis.

The 612 looks like a good option but a 5 year old version with possible large repair and running costs v's a newish Maser. It makes sense to me to go with the Maser. I'd love an Aston but the leg room in the back is pretty dismal
Anyway, some good experiences listed to help with my decision
Cheers Guys

Wouldn't the lower depreciation of the 612 even up the costs against the Maser? It's all to easy to focus on the immediate running costs / repair costs and put to the back of your mind the depreciation over a couple of years on the Maserati - would be £15K+ I assume?
That's a good budget to fettle a 612 surely?

Would the odd issue spoil the ownership proposition that much? It might not even be more problematic that the Maserati

Edited by CliveM on Tuesday 30th November 15:22

[JPF40]

CliveM said:

PeterTheWelshman said:

Glad to read the dilemma your having with these cars - i'm having a similar crisis.

The 612 looks like a good option but a 5 year old version with possible large repair and running costs v's a newish Maser. It makes sense to me to go with the Maser. I'd love an Aston but the leg room in the back is pretty dismal
Anyway, some good experiences listed to help with my decision
Cheers Guys

Wouldn't the lower depreciation of the 612 even up the costs against the Maser? It's all to easy to focus on the immediate running costs / repair costs and put to the back of your mind the depreciation over a couple of years on the Maserati - would be £15K+ I assume?
That's a good budget to fettle a 612 surely?

Would the odd issue spoil the ownership proposition that much? It might not even be more problematic that the Maserati

Edited by CliveM on Tuesday 30th November 15:22

There was not near enough room in the rear of a 612 for me, I wish there was though!

[mr_tony]

IS the 612 really that cramped in the back? Looks pretty spacious to me when I've looked. Better go try sit in one.

Aston Rapide is rapidly entering the same price point - they are hovering in the just over 100k area right now, but being only a year old, would seem set to be in the sub 100k price bracket for a nearly new one in 2011...