DB9 or V8 Vantage 4.3 with BR mods....

[yeti]

EBruce said:

Perhaps a Vantage without the sports pack.....but it does not handle like a Vantage when the Vantage has the sports pack as well...

Fact or hyperbole? In real-world on-road situations? Been through this before, handling on V8 Vantage is set up to be different than the DB9. Weight difference is negligeable, but power difference is huge, weight distribution (i.e. higher, longer engine) is also minor. Chassis is virtually identical. 'Handling' is all about set-up.

Progressive H&R springs on my DB9, lowered an inch, Rick did the geo and some very good brakes, plus sports-pack steering rack and wheels. Cats, filters and exhaust make for a little more oomph than standard as well.

It's more than a match for a V8 with or without Sports Pack

O/T: 911 is a 996 C4 Cabriolet manual, our new winter car with plenty of top-notch heated-seat action. Means she can use it in the colder weather while I slum about in the Landy wearing a bobble hat and gloves

[Speedraser]

A V8V is between roughly 200 and 400 lbs lighter than a DB9 depending on model, equipment, etc. -- a difference significant enough that a 4.3L V8V is virtually on par with a 450 hp DB9 through the gears, according to magazine tests. In-gear acceleration is a different story, of course. Torque, and all that...

[EpsomJames]

stevewushu said:

Plan is to buy the car first. See how I get on with it for a while then bring up to spec with a BR upgrade. But yes the money it will cost for the upgrade will be worth it.
Definitely considering vantage more over DB9.
Will just have to find a local DB9 owner and have regular exchanges of temporary ownership!

The first bit sounds sensible.

You might even find that once you get used to driving it you might not feel the need to upgrade. What a lot of people don't initially understand is the 4.3 V8 is relatively poor on torque and needs to be revved like a 4 cylinder to get the most out of it. Once you 'get' this it's quite nippy in the upper echelons.

Anther question to ask yourself is do you plan to do track days in it? If you don't then is 0-60mph in 4.9s and 0-100mph in 11.5s (Autocar's figures) not already fast enough for the road?

[yeti]

Speedraser said:

difference significant enough that a 4.3L V8V is virtually on par with a 450 hp DB9

Having been to Le Mans many, many times with different convoys every year, you find this constantly. I've taken a Tuscan, Marcos, 911, Maserati, Aston down there with friends with Bentleys, Panteras, Gallardos and Ford GTs to name a few. The conclusion is:

Fast cars are all fast! Everyone keeps up with everyone else at all times, sure on a timed track run we'd know who was 1/10sec faster to 60mph but in the real world... If you have a fast car, which both the imperious DB9 and the child-like Vantage both are, they're always going to keep up with each other providing the drivers aren't taking undue risks but are making very swift progress

In my experience, all fast cars keep up with each other, it's fun that way!

[stevewushu]

I've got to be honest I think you're all correct. Unless you are taking them on track days and competing for 1/10th of a second then stock performance may well be satisfactory to the recreational driver.
Having owned many high revving 4 pot cars when I was younger I'm no stranger to the need for high revs! Just have to get used to it in the v8 vantage!
Having owned and driven regularly a db7 vantage im hoping the step down in cylinders will be more fun and exciting to drive. I found myself being rather more conservative when driving my db7! My second car was/is an Audi S3 which was my fun car but I will trade this in for a sensible "economical" daily driver once the v8v arrives.

Thanks for the discussion everyone. It does indeed seem that the vantage is more favourable and i certainly feel more swayed to it over the DB9. And quite possibly leave it stock until I find reason to improve it!

[mikey k]

The compromise would be a 4.7 with BR breathing & exhaust mods.
Less expensive to buy, easy to take off and some good resale value if you move on.

[michael gould]

Jockman said:

If the pot is only £40k then you will get a lot more V8Vagina than DB9.

I would not even be considering the DB9 if I were you.

a decent Vanquish S are changing hands at closer to 80k now and you will still end up with big bills......I don't agree with Jockman....there is no reason why you cant find a nice 30k miles 05 DB9 for 40k.....The V8V would also be a nice "starter" Aston

[Jockman]

michael gould said:

.....I don't agree with Jockman....

Well, you could knock me down with a feather Mr G.

If OP only has £40k I would maintain that he will get substantially more for his money on the V8V front rather than going for a rudimentary DB9

[George H]

Jockman said:

Well, you could knock me down with a feather Mr G.

If OP only has £40k I would maintain that he will get substantially more for his money on the V8V front rather than going for a rudimentary DB9

I reckon he will just have more choice, not really getting any more car for his money (although the V8V might be slightly newer and slightly lower mileage)

[Jockman]

George H said:

I reckon he will just have more choice, not really getting any more car for his money (although the V8V might be slightly newer and slightly lower mileage)

OxyMORON

[Zod]

Gio1210 said:

4.3 Vantage and DB9 (450 bhp version) are actually very close in terms of performance!

Vantage gets better points on looks and has a more sporty driving feel!

My opinion!

No, the DB9 is faster and a DB9 with Sports Pack and a manual box is quite a bit faster.

With £40k to spend though, I'd be looking at a V8.

As for looks, I can't choose.

[JaseB]

Can't vouch for the accuracy but an interesting comparison:

Match : DB9 vs V8 Vantage

[George H]

Jockman said:

George H said:

I reckon he will just have more choice, not really getting any more car for his money (although the V8V might be slightly newer and slightly lower mileage)

OxyMORON

Just because it is slightly newer doesn't mean that it's any more car for the money. Going off your logic a brand new Ford Ka is better than both DB9s and V8Vs just because it's newer and has lower mileage!

[Jockman]

George H said:

.....Going off your logic a brand new Ford Ka is better than both DB9s and V8Vs just because it's newer and has lower mileage!

Nope.

The thread juxtaposes a V8V against a DB9.

It has nothing to do with any other car.

Your logic is illogical Mr Spock.

Not sure why you're trying to veer this off topic

[George H]

Jockman said:

Nope.

The thread juxtaposes a V8V against a DB9.

It has nothing to do with any other car.

Your logic is illogical Mr Spock.

Not sure why you're trying to veer this off topic

How does a V8V give more car for the money though?!! So now who's logic is illogical?

Don't pin the thread going off topic on me, you're the one with the reputation

[Jockman]

George H said:

Don't pin the thread going off topic on me, you're the one with the reputation

Harsh, but possibly true.

The entire thrust of my point is that the V8V SHOULD be newer and / or with a lower mileage. The newer the car then - potentially - the greater the likelihood of updated features.

Add to that the quandry that the OP is in - DB9 or V8V.

You just know if you want a DB9, not either or.

[IanDH]

AM Used Approved had a DB9 with 22k on the clock for £39k the last time checked. Meteorite with black interior. Looks quite tidy. All the V8V's they had were much higher mileage cars for the same money.

I believe that a decent DB9 can be had for the same money as a V8V. The dealer I've been dealing with offered me first dibs on a DB9 with sport pack for £46k with 18k on the clock. There are definitely deals to be had if you have the cash waiting, or you have the finance already organised.

Just didn't have the money ready in time or it would have been mine.

[yeti]

Jockman said:

You just know if you want a DB9, not either or.

You know what my deep-fried confectionary-enjoying friend, you might just be right. I never even entertained the idea of a Vantage, didn't really consider it elevated above a 911, Jag XKR or a Maserati 4200.

The DB9, rightly or wrongly, I consider to be in the upper echelons of the 575/599 or Conti GT, but a better GT than the former and a better sports car than the latter.

[IanDH]

Agreed. If I was tempted to do some trackdays I would have definitely gone for a V8V. However I felt that I was after a GT more than a sports car so have opted for buying a DB9 instead.

I also felt that a DB9 was more Aston than the Vantage, but I guess it just come down to personal choice.

[michael gould]

Jockman said:

michael gould said:

.....I don't agree with Jockman....

Well, you could knock me down with a feather Mr G.

If OP only has £40k I would maintain that he will get substantially more for his money on the V8V front rather than going for a rudimentary DB9

ha ha ....but you still love me don't you Jockman even though you are wrong