A friend in a quandary
Discussion
A close friend of ours who knows more about cars than I will ever has now given us this dilemma.
He races Radicals, has an M3 and a Caterham. He wants to out the Radical and get a performance car to use as and when. He has driven my car and loves it but is now undecided between a 911 or a V12V or a V8VS roadster.
He has around £80,000 English pounds to spend.
My thoughts are a well sorted 2nd hand V12V, but he likes roof off motoring.
I need some help guys as I'm sure he could get a virtually new V8VS Roadster for that money.
Possibly a decent Porsche, but I have tried to veer him off this option.
Any ideas?
Di
He races Radicals, has an M3 and a Caterham. He wants to out the Radical and get a performance car to use as and when. He has driven my car and loves it but is now undecided between a 911 or a V12V or a V8VS roadster.
He has around £80,000 English pounds to spend.
My thoughts are a well sorted 2nd hand V12V, but he likes roof off motoring.
I need some help guys as I'm sure he could get a virtually new V8VS Roadster for that money.
Possibly a decent Porsche, but I have tried to veer him off this option.
Any ideas?
Di
What a nice quandary to be in 
As much as everyone on this site will hate it, a decent 911 will outperform a V12V BUT not with quite as panache or style
If he likes tracking/racing the radical then it sounds like enjoys handling, racing performance. The sad answer is the Astons probably won’t give him the performance he desires over a 997turbo or GT3. That being said no way would I ever pick a porca over an Aston!
I still don’t understand why I love my Aston so much when I’ve had faster better handling cars. It just IS a more emotional ownership experience! That’s something someone will never get from test drives!
I always figured people buy Astons with their heart not their mind. A 977tt or Gt3 will be quicker but it won’t be the same experience and I’d suggest not as fun as they handle far too well! V12V will keep on his toes and smiling (mostly sideways) for a lot longer

As much as everyone on this site will hate it, a decent 911 will outperform a V12V BUT not with quite as panache or style
If he likes tracking/racing the radical then it sounds like enjoys handling, racing performance. The sad answer is the Astons probably won’t give him the performance he desires over a 997turbo or GT3. That being said no way would I ever pick a porca over an Aston! I still don’t understand why I love my Aston so much when I’ve had faster better handling cars. It just IS a more emotional ownership experience! That’s something someone will never get from test drives!
I always figured people buy Astons with their heart not their mind. A 977tt or Gt3 will be quicker but it won’t be the same experience and I’d suggest not as fun as they handle far too well! V12V will keep on his toes and smiling (mostly sideways) for a lot longer

Molly GT said:
Hmmm, is Mikey K due a new one? 
Not a bad dilemma to have really!

Di I'm biased


Triangle 004 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
lady topaz said:
...He has around £80,000 English pounds to spend....
Is that the same as British Pounds Di, or do you Sassenachs now have your own currency ??He is severely limiting his market by restricting choice to rag tops, and it's difficult to see a suitable one in the Aston range for that kind of money.
If he could settle for a coupe I would certainly go in the direction of a V8VS - you get a lot more for your money than a V12V

Jockman said:
He is severely limiting his market by restricting choice to rag tops, and it's difficult to see a suitable one in the Aston range for that kind of money.
Nonsense! A DB9 Volante here, in the best possible colour combination - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3538628.htm
with enough change left over for a brand new Ducati 1199 Panigale S Tricoloure! Best of both worlds

George H said:
Nonsense!
A DB9 Volante here, in the best possible colour combination - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3538628.htm
with enough change left over for a brand new Ducati 1199 Panigale S Tricoloure! Best of both worlds
Georgeous, for the 2nd time you've missed the point of the original question - OP doesn't want a GT !!!A DB9 Volante here, in the best possible colour combination - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3538628.htm
with enough change left over for a brand new Ducati 1199 Panigale S Tricoloure! Best of both worlds

Try to focus in on what he is actually seeking, rather than what you would like him to seek

Some great comments guys, I shall point him away from the Radical forum to here. When we chatted last eve he really wanted to know whether the V8VS would give him the wow factor, or would he regret not stretching to a V12. Not having driven the 'S', I cant comment. The roof off option would be nice but isnt essential as he still has the Caterham.
Like someone said, not the worst dilemma to have.
For anyone like Yeti and SteveB who came on the 2010 Cotswolds hoon, he's the guy who led our run out in his Caterham due to him having 1st hand local knowledge of the roads.
Di
Like someone said, not the worst dilemma to have.
For anyone like Yeti and SteveB who came on the 2010 Cotswolds hoon, he's the guy who led our run out in his Caterham due to him having 1st hand local knowledge of the roads.
Di
mikey k said:
Lightning silver? Really like this color!Jockman said:
Georgeous, for the 2nd time you've missed the point of the original question - OP doesn't want a GT !!!
Try to focus in on what he is actually seeking, rather than what you would like him to seek
You tell Yeti the DB9 isn't a sports car!Try to focus in on what he is actually seeking, rather than what you would like him to seek

I was merely trying to find the best soloution - V12, convertible and within budget. The Ducati for the Radical level of performance

jeremyc said:
That's a very hard looking roof for a cabriolet, wouldn't you say..?Hi Di, I remember the chap well - we also met up at Castle Combe on a charity track day and he took me out in said Radical! I'm sure he's not trying to replace that with a 1.5-2 ton car, his Caterham is probably enough for the track day buzz.
So he is looking for a Sports GT then, well into Aston territory. Talking of 'decent Porsches' I assume we're on about GT3s and so on - all hard tops! The Turbo cabriolet is just a bit... well, bling perhaps. The DB9 can be a sports car but only after a lot of work and obviously that effects resale, takes a while and so on - only worth the massive effort for a keeper!
The right car is probably a V8S Roadster if he wants Sportshift, a 4.7 V8R if not. Bamford Rose manifolds and cats will give him the performance he needs as well, sniffing around 460-470bhp, that will keep up with all but the very fastest of 911s even in a drag race if such things are important!
I hope he goes with Astons as it would be great to see him at a meet and have him lead some routes for a proper drive out! He could be the South's answer to Mikey K
So he is looking for a Sports GT then, well into Aston territory. Talking of 'decent Porsches' I assume we're on about GT3s and so on - all hard tops! The Turbo cabriolet is just a bit... well, bling perhaps. The DB9 can be a sports car but only after a lot of work and obviously that effects resale, takes a while and so on - only worth the massive effort for a keeper!
The right car is probably a V8S Roadster if he wants Sportshift, a 4.7 V8R if not. Bamford Rose manifolds and cats will give him the performance he needs as well, sniffing around 460-470bhp, that will keep up with all but the very fastest of 911s even in a drag race if such things are important!
I hope he goes with Astons as it would be great to see him at a meet and have him lead some routes for a proper drive out! He could be the South's answer to Mikey K

yeti said:
jeremyc said:
That's a very hard looking roof for a cabriolet, wouldn't you say..?My vote (if liking track work) would be a C4S 'vert or a V8S roadster, the Porsche will have the edge on track, but the Aston has the road presence. Yes I am bias

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