Aston itch - but which one?! Sensible, moderate & stupid!!
Discussion
Hi all
Having got rid of a GT4 I’m looking for more of a grand tourer. I have been increasingly tempted by an Aston lately and have had very good experiences of chatting to a couple of dealerships.
I have realised in my late 30s what I actually want in a car rather than what makes sense / is the car of the moment etc.
Chief among this is that I don’t like anything too low or too stiff.
Running costs are a consideration but need to be taken into context of overall costs and depreciation primarily.
Starting with the sensible :
This ticks all my boxes for a weekend car - manual / engine / convertible:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023072600...
Moving to the ‘moderate’ - just feels so exotic and a step up from the vantage. Doesn’t tick so many boxes but I think special enough that I’d love it and very good reviews:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023111338...
The stupid option! I have been having a think about more of a classic. Very emotive but no mod cons / a fortune to run?? Etc.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023102533...
Having got rid of a GT4 I’m looking for more of a grand tourer. I have been increasingly tempted by an Aston lately and have had very good experiences of chatting to a couple of dealerships.
I have realised in my late 30s what I actually want in a car rather than what makes sense / is the car of the moment etc.
Chief among this is that I don’t like anything too low or too stiff.
Running costs are a consideration but need to be taken into context of overall costs and depreciation primarily.
Starting with the sensible :
This ticks all my boxes for a weekend car - manual / engine / convertible:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023072600...
Moving to the ‘moderate’ - just feels so exotic and a step up from the vantage. Doesn’t tick so many boxes but I think special enough that I’d love it and very good reviews:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023111338...
The stupid option! I have been having a think about more of a classic. Very emotive but no mod cons / a fortune to run?? Etc.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023102533...
It's up to you, but my thoughts are (1) if you have £80K to spend it would be a pity to spend only £50K... and (2), one is a convertible, the other two coupes - is that important?
But at least you've decided on colour - and there's no shortage of black Astons. The next thing might be to go and drive some
But at least you've decided on colour - and there's no shortage of black Astons. The next thing might be to go and drive some
You use the word stupid for the Newoirt Pagnell built Vanquish.
Certainly there can be a reputation for massive repair bills.
Front steel subframe and automated manual transmission come to mind.
The Vantage is considered the sports car, although with standard suspension (Sportspack = hard suspension) is a good GT as well.
Boot is bigger than one would expect. Most owners use as fun second/third cars.
Vanquish - It was the range topper in its day. A mighty GT.
You’ve got both generations of Vanquish, but not what came in between them:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15423412
Fwiw, I have a gen 2 Vanquish and a Vantage (v12), the latter is good to drive but it’s not really a GT. I’d happily take the Vantage in a pure driving holiday with friends, but for a long trip two up with wife/child it’d be the Vanquish. I’ve considered adding a gen 1 Vanquish on a few occasions. Love the exterior but I find the interior (mainly the centre console) a bit dated and challenging.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15423412
Fwiw, I have a gen 2 Vanquish and a Vantage (v12), the latter is good to drive but it’s not really a GT. I’d happily take the Vantage in a pure driving holiday with friends, but for a long trip two up with wife/child it’d be the Vanquish. I’ve considered adding a gen 1 Vanquish on a few occasions. Love the exterior but I find the interior (mainly the centre console) a bit dated and challenging.
Nice dilemma, OP!
As a v8VS owner myself, I would imagine a few people on the forum have started with a Vantage and then progressed to a Vanquish/DBS (or stayed with the Vantage). I suspect fewer have gone the other way, though I could be wrong.
You say the v8 roadster “ticks all the boxes”. What are those boxes? If it’s convertible, manual and v8 as you note, you may have reached an early conclusion.
Anything else? Folk on here can then maybe give you the pros/cons of all the suggestions. Believe me, this site is a wealth of knowledge and certainly helped me with my thinking.
As a v8VS owner myself, I would imagine a few people on the forum have started with a Vantage and then progressed to a Vanquish/DBS (or stayed with the Vantage). I suspect fewer have gone the other way, though I could be wrong.
You say the v8 roadster “ticks all the boxes”. What are those boxes? If it’s convertible, manual and v8 as you note, you may have reached an early conclusion.
Anything else? Folk on here can then maybe give you the pros/cons of all the suggestions. Believe me, this site is a wealth of knowledge and certainly helped me with my thinking.
Edited by ZT260SE on Monday 29th January 08:01
Edited by ZT260SE on Monday 29th January 08:02
With your budget I would get a V12.
Have a close look around and test drive a Vantage V12, V12S, DBS, Gen 2 Vanquish.
Early DB11s are within your budget, you may or may not like those.
The NP Vanquish should be looked at as a modern day classic, and may have more issues to deal with than the later cars.
Have a close look around and test drive a Vantage V12, V12S, DBS, Gen 2 Vanquish.
Early DB11s are within your budget, you may or may not like those.
The NP Vanquish should be looked at as a modern day classic, and may have more issues to deal with than the later cars.
For an NP Vanquish, an independent inspection of current condition is vital, with its prioritised list of things to do. And a good awareness of the downstream risks of not being able to fix a later fault because of non-availability of parts. There are several independent specialists out there
No connection but look at v12vanquish.com run by David Such, long time Aston owner (and successful racer)
No connection but look at v12vanquish.com run by David Such, long time Aston owner (and successful racer)
Edited by DB4DM on Monday 29th January 12:35
I find it interesting that none have suggested the 2013+ DB9. Having gone through a similar thought process recently for my own first AM, albeit in the US where we have a limited and more expensive selection than in the UK, I ended up getting a later model DB9 that was much cheaper than the Vanq2 or DBS alternatives and just about as good.
To be sure, a manual transmission did not feature in my list of wants for this car, having also a manual 911 Turbo that more than scratches that itch.
To be sure, a manual transmission did not feature in my list of wants for this car, having also a manual 911 Turbo that more than scratches that itch.
ram_g said:
I find it interesting that none have suggested the 2013+ DB9. Having gone through a similar thought process recently for my own first AM, albeit in the US where we have a limited and more expensive selection than in the UK, I ended up getting a later model DB9 that was much cheaper than the Vanq2 or DBS alternatives and just about as good.
I was keeping my head down but did notice the absence of the DB9 in the list. It's the only Aston I want. I just need to swap my early one for a later one 
In one of Harry Metcalfe's videos he was talking about buying a special car and how you should consider what you want to do with it. Consider the aim of owning the car, as much as the car its self.
So just for example, if you want to tour places like The Alps, NC 500 etc - you might want the first car because the convertible roof would be nice and the left over budget would pay for the trips and servicing.
So just for example, if you want to tour places like The Alps, NC 500 etc - you might want the first car because the convertible roof would be nice and the left over budget would pay for the trips and servicing.
Chainsaw Rebuild said:
In one of Harry Metcalfe's videos he was talking about buying a special car and how you should consider what you want to do with it. Consider the aim of owning the car, as much as the car its self.
So just for example, if you want to tour places like The Alps, NC 500 etc - you might want the first car because the convertible roof would be nice and the left over budget would pay for the trips and servicing.
Good point - all the cars the OP has suggested are all quite different . So just for example, if you want to tour places like The Alps, NC 500 etc - you might want the first car because the convertible roof would be nice and the left over budget would pay for the trips and servicing.
I’d respectfully suggest OP is not yet anywhere near buying given that the only thing he appears to have settled on is a) it’s to be an AM from sometime in the last 20 odd years and b) it’s to be black. Considering an early Vanq doesn’t completely rule out an auto or automated manual unless it’s been converted.
i’d be first deciding on era, those three represent two of the possible ‘eras’ but not the third, the second century stuff, now becoming very accessible. So it’s a choice between an old feeling car, a quite old feeling car (though there is significant bandwidth between the earliest VH the 2004 DB9 and the last VH the 2018 Vanq S) or a modern feeling (except bits of the interior) turbo car
Then it’s sports or GT, Vantage size or DB/Vanq size, V8 or V12. Or little (Vantage) with a (big) V12 engine. This is the one that a great many Aston owning PH’ers will secretly covet as a fun weekend weapon, whatever they already own.
Manual or automated manual or auto, 6 or 7 or 8 gears. Level of luxury, cost to insure and maintain - fully carbon bodies and disks are wonderful, but you will pay for them.
Only after all above is decided (which should involve some test drives) then it comes to spec and condition.
Until then, it’s not much use asking anyone else, because we all have our favourites, which is why we drive such different stuff and can never agree on what’s the ‘best’ choice.
Let us know when you are much closer. If you actually do a few test drives, the clever money would go on you ending up with a later Vanquish or a DB11, even if both are auto.
You have the budget for a late-ish car, and once you’ve actually been in more modern and objectively better cars, you can’t un-experience them.
i’d be first deciding on era, those three represent two of the possible ‘eras’ but not the third, the second century stuff, now becoming very accessible. So it’s a choice between an old feeling car, a quite old feeling car (though there is significant bandwidth between the earliest VH the 2004 DB9 and the last VH the 2018 Vanq S) or a modern feeling (except bits of the interior) turbo car
Then it’s sports or GT, Vantage size or DB/Vanq size, V8 or V12. Or little (Vantage) with a (big) V12 engine. This is the one that a great many Aston owning PH’ers will secretly covet as a fun weekend weapon, whatever they already own.
Manual or automated manual or auto, 6 or 7 or 8 gears. Level of luxury, cost to insure and maintain - fully carbon bodies and disks are wonderful, but you will pay for them.
Only after all above is decided (which should involve some test drives) then it comes to spec and condition.
Until then, it’s not much use asking anyone else, because we all have our favourites, which is why we drive such different stuff and can never agree on what’s the ‘best’ choice.
Let us know when you are much closer. If you actually do a few test drives, the clever money would go on you ending up with a later Vanquish or a DB11, even if both are auto.
You have the budget for a late-ish car, and once you’ve actually been in more modern and objectively better cars, you can’t un-experience them.
Edited by Calinours on Tuesday 30th January 11:56
Hi all
Thanks very much for the replies so far.
There is a big wide Aston world to consider and I must be honest and say I am unlikely to be purchasing pre June (work bonus). That being said if I bore her between now and then with non stop chat, history suggests that the Mrs may well let me dip into reserves a couple of months early (anything to shut me up!!)
As context, my last 2 fun cars have been a 981 Cayman R and 718 GT4. Being honest, they were good for a blast on the right roads but I don’t have much time for that any more and I never really enjoyed the cramped Cayman cabin. Bit over Porsche / need a break.
Previously I test drove 2016 V8 Vantages in auto and manual. I found the auto box (think SS2?) absolutely dreadful but thankfully drove the manual straight after which transformed the experience and I really enjoyed it.
So I don’t want anything that’s modern(ish) with that gearbox in it!
Usage wise, it will solely be drives for Sunday lunch and the odd domestic trip away etc.
I completely agree that the cars I have listed within the Aston range are horses for courses - but would suggest they are all much more ‘touring focused’ than what I’m coming from.
DB9 and DB11 never really did it for me looks wise.
I also wonder if the DBS is more form over function but of the other cars suggested it would be this and V12 Vantage that I would also consider.
Thanks very much for the replies so far.
There is a big wide Aston world to consider and I must be honest and say I am unlikely to be purchasing pre June (work bonus). That being said if I bore her between now and then with non stop chat, history suggests that the Mrs may well let me dip into reserves a couple of months early (anything to shut me up!!)
As context, my last 2 fun cars have been a 981 Cayman R and 718 GT4. Being honest, they were good for a blast on the right roads but I don’t have much time for that any more and I never really enjoyed the cramped Cayman cabin. Bit over Porsche / need a break.
Previously I test drove 2016 V8 Vantages in auto and manual. I found the auto box (think SS2?) absolutely dreadful but thankfully drove the manual straight after which transformed the experience and I really enjoyed it.
So I don’t want anything that’s modern(ish) with that gearbox in it!
Usage wise, it will solely be drives for Sunday lunch and the odd domestic trip away etc.
I completely agree that the cars I have listed within the Aston range are horses for courses - but would suggest they are all much more ‘touring focused’ than what I’m coming from.
DB9 and DB11 never really did it for me looks wise.
I also wonder if the DBS is more form over function but of the other cars suggested it would be this and V12 Vantage that I would also consider.
Edited by RichDS on Wednesday 31st January 21:06
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