Opinions needed, V8 Vantage or XKR?
Discussion
Age-wise, still have a 4 handle, not bald and do not own a pair of white trousers, but I am fortunate enough to have both an XKR and V8V. If AM ownership is an itch then you have to scratch it. I did, and have not regretted it, although something I will say about the XKR is that having only kept it because the trade-in price made me laugh I'm really glad I did. Mine is now 8 years old, 45k on the clock, but still drives like new and I still get in it and think wow this is a nice car. It's also pretty damn quick and whether on the motorway or in town it's a more comfortable ride than the AM if not as much of a driving experience. And there are days when you just want to relax in that comfy chair, drive effortlessly and smoothly and watch the world go by.
This is probably more an advert for having both; I'm just so grateful to the AM dealer who tried to steal the Jag off me. Will I get another AM, probably. Would I have another Jag, definitely.
This is probably more an advert for having both; I'm just so grateful to the AM dealer who tried to steal the Jag off me. Will I get another AM, probably. Would I have another Jag, definitely.
Edited by GR1FF1F on Wednesday 20th January 12:58
Thanks for the feedback everybody. there seems to a split in opinion on this one, in fact I'm surprised there are so many posters on the Aston forum who recommend the Jag. I wonder of that is telling. One other consideration i'm thinking about is depreciation. Spending 50-55k on either is a fair old chunk and I hate depreciation at the best of times. I get the feeling the Jag will depreciate more but how far do you think the Vantage would drop down over, lets say, a couple of years?
I was looking at a possible half way house between the 2 in the prodrive Vantage, i understand thsi has 425bhp which puts it nicely in the middle. Nicholas Mee have a couple of examples of this up for not so far from my price range so perhaps that would be the thing. Anybody have any experience of these? particularly versus the nuclear engined XK?
I was looking at a possible half way house between the 2 in the prodrive Vantage, i understand thsi has 425bhp which puts it nicely in the middle. Nicholas Mee have a couple of examples of this up for not so far from my price range so perhaps that would be the thing. Anybody have any experience of these? particularly versus the nuclear engined XK?
I owned a XKR Convertible 03 and now I have a Vatange Coupe.
Both exceptional cars. No trouble with the XKR at all. Owned for 2 years I only experienced a roof fault (very typical). I exchanged it for the Vantage because the Jag was a very powerfull confortable "cruiser". I was searching for excitment while driving....including handling and feel of acceleration (while the Jag has a massive acceleration you do not feel it as the car is heavy)
The Vantage gave me what I was looking for.....just cleaning a tear in my eye as I will need to sell it during the next couple of months......
Both exceptional cars. No trouble with the XKR at all. Owned for 2 years I only experienced a roof fault (very typical). I exchanged it for the Vantage because the Jag was a very powerfull confortable "cruiser". I was searching for excitment while driving....including handling and feel of acceleration (while the Jag has a massive acceleration you do not feel it as the car is heavy)
The Vantage gave me what I was looking for.....just cleaning a tear in my eye as I will need to sell it during the next couple of months......
Not sure about this XKR and DB9 being 'faster' then a V8V...I have never had a well driven one of these keep up with me on the road or track. Perhaps if we were doing a 'Brunters' lets drive aling a flat runway test then maybe, but in the real world on real roads then I am not so sure.
As people have said there is a choice beteen old DB9 and New XKR, but XKR to V8V is a very different car going about things in very different ways.
Admire them all, but it is a V8V for me every time (until I can afford a V12V).
As people have said there is a choice beteen old DB9 and New XKR, but XKR to V8V is a very different car going about things in very different ways.
Admire them all, but it is a V8V for me every time (until I can afford a V12V).
Go for the Aston but simply don't expect it to provide the adrenaline rush that your TVR provides. I very nearly bought a V8V when they were launched and I spent a day testing them at Millbrook. Simply put they will not overwhelm you in term of performance but in every other respect they are stunning. I did go on to buy an Aston but something rather different 
RichB said:
Go for the Aston but simply don't expect it to provide the adrenaline rush that your TVR provides.
I don't agree. I changed from a T350 and, now that I have the 4.7 V8V, I don't miss the raw thrills (read <s
t, when's it going to bite back?!>) of the TVR. The Aston is more refined, and you'd certainly have to be pushing very hard before you lost it, on the road anyway.Just re-read <the Aston is more refined> - maybe it's my age!
Yes, but you're talking about the 4.7 whilst I tested the 4.2s, also I don't know about the T350 but the V8 Vantage just felt fast but nothing to write home about in comparison to the visceral experience I get from driving my Griff - and still do, as I said everything else about it was to die for. 
p.s. yes the comparison would say there's not a lot in it, from what I can see the 0-60 for the V8V is about 5 secs and the Griff 500 4.2 (mine's sufficiently modified to assume that it can do the 4.2 sec's) whilst the standing 1/4 mile is about 13 seconds for the V8V vs. 12.5 for the Griff. But... I know when I press my Griff in anger it thrills whereas I did press the V8Vs in anger and they didn't. That said I'd have one like a shot if I had garaging space and I could justify yet another 2 seater car
p.s. yes the comparison would say there's not a lot in it, from what I can see the 0-60 for the V8V is about 5 secs and the Griff 500 4.2 (mine's sufficiently modified to assume that it can do the 4.2 sec's) whilst the standing 1/4 mile is about 13 seconds for the V8V vs. 12.5 for the Griff. But... I know when I press my Griff in anger it thrills whereas I did press the V8Vs in anger and they didn't. That said I'd have one like a shot if I had garaging space and I could justify yet another 2 seater car
Edited by RichB on Wednesday 20th January 19:54
What a lovely decision you have to make....I came from a 2006 XK to a V8V last year. I'm no speed freak, just want to drive something fast under the bonnet when you need it. You'll certainly be wanting to miss the recent spate of pot holes in a Vantage as it's a far firmer ride, but............I found the Jag just too boring to drive, it done everything it was meant to do, slick quick gear change, it was fast by weight comparison and it was a true GT cruiser. With the Jag I just found that it drove itself, but I really wanted something to drive, a big consideration I feel when you conclude, manual or auto.
The thing is, in terms of comparing a V8V over a Jag, do you want a long boat or a speed boat? Everyone looks at a speed boat because they can hear it coming, a long boat, well you can make your own mind up.
Oh, and by the way, I have never once regreted buying into Aston, it really is a truly remarkable owning experience which I hope will go on for a long time......
Good luck with your decision.
The thing is, in terms of comparing a V8V over a Jag, do you want a long boat or a speed boat? Everyone looks at a speed boat because they can hear it coming, a long boat, well you can make your own mind up.
Oh, and by the way, I have never once regreted buying into Aston, it really is a truly remarkable owning experience which I hope will go on for a long time......
Good luck with your decision.
RichB said:
Yes, but you're talking about the 4.7 whilst I tested the 4.2s, also I don't know about the T350 but the V8 Vantage just felt fast but nothing to write home about in comparison to the visceral experience I get from driving my Griff - and still do, as I said everything else about it was to die for.
p.s. yes the comparison would say there's not a lot in it, from what I can see the 0-60 for the V8V is about 5 secs and the Griff 500 4.2 (mine's sufficiently modified to assume that it can do the 4.2 sec's) whilst the standing 1/4 mile is about 13 seconds for the V8V vs. 12.5 for the Griff. But... I know when I press my Griff in anger it thrills whereas I did press the V8Vs in anger and they didn't. That said I'd have one like a shot if I had garaging space and I could justify yet another 2 seater car
0-60 in the V8V is 4.7. p.s. yes the comparison would say there's not a lot in it, from what I can see the 0-60 for the V8V is about 5 secs and the Griff 500 4.2 (mine's sufficiently modified to assume that it can do the 4.2 sec's) whilst the standing 1/4 mile is about 13 seconds for the V8V vs. 12.5 for the Griff. But... I know when I press my Griff in anger it thrills whereas I did press the V8Vs in anger and they didn't. That said I'd have one like a shot if I had garaging space and I could justify yet another 2 seater car
Edited by RichB on Wednesday 20th January 19:54
Speed is relative if your closer to the ground or in an open top it will feel faster as will the torque and the way the power is delivered but until both vehicles are run side by side you can't compare.
Once you're up in these echelons, point to point speed of any of the cars is going to be very, very close. Half a second to 60 here or there means nothing.
As a road car, you need to be looking at the whole overall package.
The Aston can be smoked very nicely, you just need to rev it very hard. Which can be a bit anti-social
As a road car, you need to be looking at the whole overall package.
The Aston can be smoked very nicely, you just need to rev it very hard. Which can be a bit anti-social
RichB said:
Wow calm down tiger, I'm not diss'ing your car just saying that in comparison to my Griff 500 performance was not one of the things that impressed me. Anyway the OP's question was should he buy a Jag or an Aston and you know my thoughts
Sorry I wasn't meaning your griff at all but the jag and that people think it is massively faster.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff