Opinions needed, V8 Vantage or XKR?
Discussion
Speedraser said:
Hey, Angel, we agree -- I've always liked Jags, and E-Types were definitely on my dream list when I was a kid. I sorely miss the '56 XK140 I had. About the new XK, I think it's a great car. That said, nice as the new XKs are, the Aston is in still another league.
How is an Aston is another league? pricewise? They're certainly more expensive, but if you're trying to say they're better, pull the other one.
Edited by Cerbman on Tuesday 26th January 15:32
why is a Mac book better/more expensive than a Lenovo made from the same parts ?
...its all about the image/brand/price ...as are most cars once you get out of the Tata Nano bracket
..ask the man in the street what he likes best - an Aston or a Jag, and everyone will have their own perception and answer, I bet the former gets the majority though ...its human nature...the whole marketing industry wouldnt exist if we all bought products based purely on performance or value for money .........
Jaguar can make a faster car, with statistically less warranty/reliability issue, that looks similar to an Aston ....but it still wont be called an "Aston Martin" ...which is regularly voted "coolest brand in the world"
not everyone is a driving enthusiast, buying on performance terms, and the brand, like it or not, to many consumers, is what they are buying into
/after all, who cares if the Aston is 80bhp down on power compared to a cheap Jag, when it looks so cool to go to the shops in
...its all about the image/brand/price ...as are most cars once you get out of the Tata Nano bracket
..ask the man in the street what he likes best - an Aston or a Jag, and everyone will have their own perception and answer, I bet the former gets the majority though ...its human nature...the whole marketing industry wouldnt exist if we all bought products based purely on performance or value for money .........
Jaguar can make a faster car, with statistically less warranty/reliability issue, that looks similar to an Aston ....but it still wont be called an "Aston Martin" ...which is regularly voted "coolest brand in the world"
not everyone is a driving enthusiast, buying on performance terms, and the brand, like it or not, to many consumers, is what they are buying into
/after all, who cares if the Aston is 80bhp down on power compared to a cheap Jag, when it looks so cool to go to the shops in
Cerbman said:
How is an Aston is another league? pricewise? They're certainly more expensive, but if you're trying to say they're better, pull the other one.
Cerbman, I don't get why half of your posts are anti AM despite never owning one. 
Ownership of a 4.0ltr XK8 was a major disappointment. It never sounded like a proper V8; caused in part by the awful transmission. Looking for a daily drive, Jaguar almost tempted me back with the XF until the finished model was finally unveiled.....light years away from the fabulous looking design of the XF concept car...
Seems that fate was on my side with my final decision as the XF, in a top 10 of least reliable cars for 2010, came 3rd
Steve*B said:
Cerbman said:
How is an Aston is another league? pricewise? They're certainly more expensive, but if you're trying to say they're better, pull the other one.
Cerbman, I don't get why half of your posts are anti AM despite never owning one. Ownership of a 4.0ltr XK8 was a major disappointment. It never sounded like a proper V8; caused in part by the awful transmission. Looking for a daily drive, Jaguar almost tempted me back with the XF until the finished model was finally unveiled.....light years away from the fabulous looking design of the XF concept car...
Seems that fate was on my side with my final decision as the XF, in a top 10 of least reliable cars for 2010, came 3rd
Edited by Cerbman on Tuesday 26th January 19:25
Cerbman,
What I mean by another league is, for lack of a better word, "specialness." The XK is an extremely nice mass-produced car, whereas an Aston is mostly hand-built (not to the degree of the older Astons, but still worthy of the term). The new Astons are stunning to look at, inside and out. The quality of the materials used in a V8V is FAR above that of a new XK (and I really like the XK). On the V8V, the grille is metal, the side vent bars and mesh are metal -- the XK equivalents are plastic. Look at the interiors, literally just look at them. The XK has far more plastic than the Aston. The instruments in the XK are nice, but those in the Aston are machined from alloy and are simply exquisite. The center console is made of zinc, and most of the controls are made of metal. Compare the detailing. The hinge the sun visors swing on are metal in the Aston, plastic in the XK. Look at the way the Aston's vanity mirrors are made -- beautifully made and set into a metal base. Look at the beautifully made alloy dry-sump tank and the knurled alloy filler cap. Even the fuel cap is made of metal and feels good to hold. Everything is hefty and solid-looking and feeling. From a craftsmanship perspective, the Aston is in a league above the XK. It shows in the price, but you can see and feel where that extra money has been used.
It should also be mentioned that the V8V, in 4.7 litre form, is not inferior to the XKR in performance terms. It's faster in a straight line than the 4.2 litre XKR, and VERY close to the new 5.0 -- I haven't seen a straight comparison yet, but the test figures I have seen are virtually identical. Yes, the Aston is down on power, but it's also lighter (though not by very much) and it has a manual gearbox rather than a torque converter automatic. Around a track, the 4.3 V8V was quicker than the XKR 4.2, and I expect that the 4.7 V8V will be quicker around a track than the XKR 5.0.
For the record, I really like the new Jags. However, IMO, the V8V is worth the premium over the XKR -- it's a more special experience, much more of an "event."
What I mean by another league is, for lack of a better word, "specialness." The XK is an extremely nice mass-produced car, whereas an Aston is mostly hand-built (not to the degree of the older Astons, but still worthy of the term). The new Astons are stunning to look at, inside and out. The quality of the materials used in a V8V is FAR above that of a new XK (and I really like the XK). On the V8V, the grille is metal, the side vent bars and mesh are metal -- the XK equivalents are plastic. Look at the interiors, literally just look at them. The XK has far more plastic than the Aston. The instruments in the XK are nice, but those in the Aston are machined from alloy and are simply exquisite. The center console is made of zinc, and most of the controls are made of metal. Compare the detailing. The hinge the sun visors swing on are metal in the Aston, plastic in the XK. Look at the way the Aston's vanity mirrors are made -- beautifully made and set into a metal base. Look at the beautifully made alloy dry-sump tank and the knurled alloy filler cap. Even the fuel cap is made of metal and feels good to hold. Everything is hefty and solid-looking and feeling. From a craftsmanship perspective, the Aston is in a league above the XK. It shows in the price, but you can see and feel where that extra money has been used.
It should also be mentioned that the V8V, in 4.7 litre form, is not inferior to the XKR in performance terms. It's faster in a straight line than the 4.2 litre XKR, and VERY close to the new 5.0 -- I haven't seen a straight comparison yet, but the test figures I have seen are virtually identical. Yes, the Aston is down on power, but it's also lighter (though not by very much) and it has a manual gearbox rather than a torque converter automatic. Around a track, the 4.3 V8V was quicker than the XKR 4.2, and I expect that the 4.7 V8V will be quicker around a track than the XKR 5.0.
For the record, I really like the new Jags. However, IMO, the V8V is worth the premium over the XKR -- it's a more special experience, much more of an "event."
Cerbman, I'm not going to convince you so I won't try but my comment about you being anti AM still stands and which remains puzzling. These negative comments go as far back as the DB7 and as recent as the Rapide. Examples here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Aston Martin engines.....&mid=75660
and here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As for 'image' and 'James Bond'.....I'm guessing that you missed the XJ8, driven by Daniel Craig, in Casino Royale and the XKR that featured highly in Die Another Day?
edited to add links
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Aston Martin engines.....&mid=75660
and here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As for 'image' and 'James Bond'.....I'm guessing that you missed the XJ8, driven by Daniel Craig, in Casino Royale and the XKR that featured highly in Die Another Day?
edited to add links
Edited by Steve*B on Wednesday 27th January 02:19
Steve*B said:
Cerbman said:
How is an Aston is another league? pricewise? They're certainly more expensive, but if you're trying to say they're better, pull the other one.
Cerbman, I don't get why half of your posts are anti AM despite never owning one. Ownership of a 4.0ltr XK8 was a major disappointment. It never sounded like a proper V8; caused in part by the awful transmission. Looking for a daily drive, Jaguar almost tempted me back with the XF until the finished model was finally unveiled.....light years away from the fabulous looking design of the XF concept car...
Seems that fate was on my side with my final decision as the XF, in a top 10 of least reliable cars for 2010, came 3rd
I don't understand these comparisons between the xkr and the v8. Seating, packaging and handling are both vastly different.
Cerbman said:
Steve*B said:
Cerbman said:
How is an Aston is another league? pricewise? They're certainly more expensive, but if you're trying to say they're better, pull the other one.
Cerbman, I don't get why half of your posts are anti AM despite never owning one. Ownership of a 4.0ltr XK8 was a major disappointment. It never sounded like a proper V8; caused in part by the awful transmission. Looking for a daily drive, Jaguar almost tempted me back with the XF until the finished model was finally unveiled.....light years away from the fabulous looking design of the XF concept car...
Seems that fate was on my side with my final decision as the XF, in a top 10 of least reliable cars for 2010, came 3rd
Edited by Cerbman on Tuesday 26th January 19:25
i had a jag loaner while my v8v was in getting it`s last service and i honestly can`t even remember what model it was.i just remember how good it felt getting back into my own car.image may play a tiny part in it but if you blindfolded me and stuffed me into a variety of jags and astons i know which i would prefer.
stanwan said:
You are missing out on fine car if you've discounted the xf. I got a diesel one as daily hack and it's been utterly reliable and makes a fantastic long distance gt.
stanwan, I don't doubt that it fits the bill perfectly for the daily drive, hence my interest when it was first announced. However, imho, the final production car lost the impact of the concept.
Although not known at the time, the 'Which?' league tables of unreliable cars for 2010 couldn't be overlooked if longer term ownership was the intention.
Cerbman said:
A bit childish I think.
cerbman, let me guess a couple of things. a) your star sign is Cancerian and b) you have turquoise wallpaper in your living room. Am I close? 
Personally I have no issues with Cancerians but I do hate turquoise. However, you won't find me tracking people down with turquoise wallpaper at every opportunity to tell them that magnolia rules the World.....now that would be childish.
For some reason being told that it's okay to like a different company other than AM doesn't seem to be enough for you.
Cerbman said:
Cancerian is correct, but thats allYou'll have seen this picture before, posted by Shadytree, back in 2006
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff