Dealer vs Independent and V8 Vantage Vs DB9
Discussion
Hey guys thank you for your advice so far. I have spent the last 2/3 months trying to decide which car to go for. The background is that I have recently separated and realised life is way too short and to essentially do things in life and be with the people who make you happy. It has always been my dream own a nice sport car so lately by process of elimination I have been shortlisting my options:
1) Maserati GT: Lovely car, but something about the interior makes me wish to vomit, it seems so dated and boring. I am keen on the interior of cars, as its what you spend most of the time looking at! Let someone else admire the exterior :-) It does however make a fantastic noise, but not the car me. It doesn't seem to have the aura of an Aston or R8 etc.
2) Aston Vantage: Lovely car and great noise. Within my budget and great interior. However my personal opinion is when I place it next to a DB9 it seems like...well exactly how it is perceived... a baby Aston. Being 6ft 3, although the internal space seems similar/same, it just doesn't seem to suit a tall fellow.
3) R8: Here is a tricky one, this is the only alternative to the DB9 in my eyes. Interior is great, very usable and modern, reminded me of an iphone in that the menu is very intuitive and simple. The interior seems solid and well built. In terms of the exterior the car has fantastic lines and a great shape. For 40K (if you are lucky) it seems a great deal of car for the money. Again I found the interior slightly snug for headroom etc, but manageable given that it will be an evening and weekend car.
4) DB9: Main choice is the DB9. Love the length and lines of the car, and the interior is well built and quite minimalist which I quite like. Given the models I am looking at (35k budget for a DB9 or £40k for a R8) then the interior looks quite modern for a 8 year old car.
Any one had the same deliberations as above? Which did most forum members opt for between the R8 and DB9, or did anyone go for the Masa or V8 Vantage?
My main decision is that there is a DB9 for £31k (Red Leather 40K miles) from an independent versus £40k from Stratstone (grey leather 39k miles) who give a 1 year warranty. £9k difference is a a lot of money given that its nearly 25% less and the lesser priced Independant DB9 has just had a major service at a cost of £4k with a 1 years MOT. What are everyones thoughts on which to go for and why? I am finding it really hard to go for the Stratstone DB9 just for the warranty when I can buy a R8 for the same money...
1) Maserati GT: Lovely car, but something about the interior makes me wish to vomit, it seems so dated and boring. I am keen on the interior of cars, as its what you spend most of the time looking at! Let someone else admire the exterior :-) It does however make a fantastic noise, but not the car me. It doesn't seem to have the aura of an Aston or R8 etc.
2) Aston Vantage: Lovely car and great noise. Within my budget and great interior. However my personal opinion is when I place it next to a DB9 it seems like...well exactly how it is perceived... a baby Aston. Being 6ft 3, although the internal space seems similar/same, it just doesn't seem to suit a tall fellow.
3) R8: Here is a tricky one, this is the only alternative to the DB9 in my eyes. Interior is great, very usable and modern, reminded me of an iphone in that the menu is very intuitive and simple. The interior seems solid and well built. In terms of the exterior the car has fantastic lines and a great shape. For 40K (if you are lucky) it seems a great deal of car for the money. Again I found the interior slightly snug for headroom etc, but manageable given that it will be an evening and weekend car.
4) DB9: Main choice is the DB9. Love the length and lines of the car, and the interior is well built and quite minimalist which I quite like. Given the models I am looking at (35k budget for a DB9 or £40k for a R8) then the interior looks quite modern for a 8 year old car.
Any one had the same deliberations as above? Which did most forum members opt for between the R8 and DB9, or did anyone go for the Masa or V8 Vantage?
My main decision is that there is a DB9 for £31k (Red Leather 40K miles) from an independent versus £40k from Stratstone (grey leather 39k miles) who give a 1 year warranty. £9k difference is a a lot of money given that its nearly 25% less and the lesser priced Independant DB9 has just had a major service at a cost of £4k with a 1 years MOT. What are everyones thoughts on which to go for and why? I am finding it really hard to go for the Stratstone DB9 just for the warranty when I can buy a R8 for the same money...
Can't really help with the decision on the DB9s, thats down to where you see the best deal, personally I would try the independant but get a 140 point check carried out by a main dealer to try to avoid the unexpected bills.
With regard to the R8 it was the only other alternative I looked at seriously when I purchased the Vantage V8 recently.
The R8 offerd a great drive and with the magnetic ride was great at doing the cruise part but with the ability to go round the corners so well.
Two things did however put me off one I looked at some with higher mileages, not with a view to buy but to see how they wore and I was disappointed with the way the seats in particular did not stand up to the mileage very well at all especially when compared to high mileage Vantage's.
The other was the limited luggage space, may not be a problem for you but we regularly use our cars for european trips and I didn't see us getting much luggage into the R8.
Didn't look at DB9's but I am sure that like the "baby" Aston they will give a much better sense of occassion for want of a better term than the R8.
to any R8 owners this isn't having a go as I felt the drive was actually better than the Vantage but as an overall package the Aston was better.
With regard to the R8 it was the only other alternative I looked at seriously when I purchased the Vantage V8 recently.
The R8 offerd a great drive and with the magnetic ride was great at doing the cruise part but with the ability to go round the corners so well.
Two things did however put me off one I looked at some with higher mileages, not with a view to buy but to see how they wore and I was disappointed with the way the seats in particular did not stand up to the mileage very well at all especially when compared to high mileage Vantage's.
The other was the limited luggage space, may not be a problem for you but we regularly use our cars for european trips and I didn't see us getting much luggage into the R8.
Didn't look at DB9's but I am sure that like the "baby" Aston they will give a much better sense of occassion for want of a better term than the R8.
to any R8 owners this isn't having a go as I felt the drive was actually better than the Vantage but as an overall package the Aston was better.
Get the DB9 from the Indy having had it inspected first. You can always buy a warranty for the car if that's all that is drawing you to the main dealer. Just shop around and check the small print. I'm sure there are many people on here far more qualified than me to make reccomendations on that score. For me, the car of choice from your short list would be the DB9, but then I'm biased and proud of it. The amount of pleasure mine has brought me is worth the purchase price one hundred times over. Yes they have their flaws and don't have the sterile efficiency that our Teutonic friends bring to the table, but that's just it! That's what makes it what it is. An Aston is a very special place to be, go with your heart and f
k the statistics. You won't regret it and you know you want to. Life is not a rehearsal!
k the statistics. You won't regret it and you know you want to. Life is not a rehearsal!Edited by Russwhitehouse on Saturday 10th August 15:13
JJ, I would think your best approach is to list out your requirements first and then choose the solution rather than looking at all the potential solutions first. For example, you say that the V8V is a baby Aston. Well, one of my requirements was to get something that looked sportier and smaller than a DB9, so a V8V was perfect. If you want a GT car then there is no point looking at a V8V (in my opinion). I certainly could not live with a manual clutch on the V8V on a long journey.
The DB9 and R8 are very different cars, so I strongly suggest you figure out why you would go for one over the other before any decision making. We all make decisions with our hearts, especially on these cars, but it doesn't hurt to be practical as well where possible.
Cheers
Gerry
Im surprised you have issues with headroom and space in a Vantage. Are you sure you have adjust the seat to its lowest setting? There is a lot of adjustment in the seat and the quite a bit in the wheel. I am 6 ft 2 inch and find it the most comfortable sports car position wise i have had yet, a far better seating position and better leg room than in my previous 911, however the cabin does feel intimate, however thats that not the same thing.
gibbon said:
Im surprised you have issues with headroom and space in a Vantage. Are you sure you have adjust the seat to its lowest setting? There is a lot of adjustment in the seat and the quite a bit in the wheel. I am 6 ft 2 inch and find it the most comfortable sports car position wise i have had yet, a far better seating position and better leg room than in my previous 911, however the cabin does feel intimate, however thats that not the same thing.
To follow on from that, I also understand there is more room for the driver in a V8V than there is in a Db9.Thanks for your advice guys. Agreed I should go with my heart and Gerry you are right with respect to requirements. The only reason I am looking at an approved dealer versus Indy is the warranty. Both cars were near identical except the indy one had Iron ore interior which still doesn't warrant a £10k difference.
I am looking for a Weekend/ocassional weekday evening use car. I have no kids so no need for 4 seats, and a moderate boot will suffice (enough for a gym bag and spare suit etc). In terms of style of car, the only reason I didn't like the V8 Vantage, was I prefer the sleekness and maturity of the DB9, whereas to me the V8 looks more sporty (not a bad thing at all!)
I sat n a V8 Vantage and DB9 and to tbh I found them both equal in terms of headroom and legroom. I sat in the new Vanquish (£10k plus and def out of my price range) and that definitely had more headroom unfortunately.
In terms of the R8 I do like the style of it, but again the DB9 seems that much more for your money at circa 30-34k, versus 40k+ for the R8. Has anyone changed from an R8 to a DB9 or vice versa?
I am looking for a Weekend/ocassional weekday evening use car. I have no kids so no need for 4 seats, and a moderate boot will suffice (enough for a gym bag and spare suit etc). In terms of style of car, the only reason I didn't like the V8 Vantage, was I prefer the sleekness and maturity of the DB9, whereas to me the V8 looks more sporty (not a bad thing at all!)
I sat n a V8 Vantage and DB9 and to tbh I found them both equal in terms of headroom and legroom. I sat in the new Vanquish (£10k plus and def out of my price range) and that definitely had more headroom unfortunately.
In terms of the R8 I do like the style of it, but again the DB9 seems that much more for your money at circa 30-34k, versus 40k+ for the R8. Has anyone changed from an R8 to a DB9 or vice versa?
Thanks will look at the Lotus webusite. The R8 is a stunning looking car, but I think my mind is slowly being built up by the fact the DB9 is more exclusive and frankly close to £10k cheaper.... Just missed one for £31k with FAMSH and just serviced at Aston with remainder of 9 months warranty. Tungsten with Black interior. Gutted!
I have gone through something similar!
Sold my GT3 and have been looking for something new and different.
Car options were
R8 (Too Flash & Numb)
Maser GT (To big, but the engine sounds lovely, also felt it was a little old man, and more of a GT car)
997 Of some type (but bit bored of pork and driven a lot of them)
GTR (Too plastic / tacky, and computer game esk... but uber quick)
Ferrari 360 (Old and not my cup of tea)
AM DB9 (too big and cumbersome and too much of a GT)
AM V8V (Good mix of everything)
etc
And I am just about to push the button on a AM V8V
The reason is its just a great all round Sportcar / GT with class / style / pedigree / sound / drive, its not the best at everything, but its the most rounded. "And its British
"
Sold my GT3 and have been looking for something new and different.
Car options were
R8 (Too Flash & Numb)
Maser GT (To big, but the engine sounds lovely, also felt it was a little old man, and more of a GT car)
997 Of some type (but bit bored of pork and driven a lot of them)
GTR (Too plastic / tacky, and computer game esk... but uber quick)
Ferrari 360 (Old and not my cup of tea)
AM DB9 (too big and cumbersome and too much of a GT)
AM V8V (Good mix of everything)
etc
And I am just about to push the button on a AM V8V
The reason is its just a great all round Sportcar / GT with class / style / pedigree / sound / drive, its not the best at everything, but its the most rounded. "And its British
"JACK6284 said:
I don't know if he posts on here but there is someone on the SELOC (Lotus)forum that has had both the V8 Vantage and is now selling his R8. Search for posts by Epsom James and there will be some useful information on there.
Gary
He used to post on here Gary
He prefers his R8 over his Vantage it has to be said
Given you've not posted the same question on the Audi pages, I think you already know the answer!
DB9 or Vantage. You'll not be disappointed. Vantage has a bit more space for stuff in it than the DB9. The DB9 allegedly has room for small amputees. Ultimately they're both automotive art which are slightly different in character. Drive em both and decide which works best for you.
DB9 or Vantage. You'll not be disappointed. Vantage has a bit more space for stuff in it than the DB9. The DB9 allegedly has room for small amputees. Ultimately they're both automotive art which are slightly different in character. Drive em both and decide which works best for you.
JiggyJaggy said:
Some other cars seem to have more legroom in a Convertible version, e.g. Audi TT (don't laugh yes I used to own one). We all had to start somewhere!
You learn something new every day, thanks I assume because the ragtop is a 2 seater and the tin top is a 2 + 2?If anything, the Volante may have very slightly less room in the back seats, it certainly has a much reduced boot; the price you pay to have the roof fold into the body. My DB7 boot was HUGE by comparison! Front seats I believe, are unchanged.
Itls worth it for the looks though.
Edited by yeti on Wednesday 14th August 15:38
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