DB9 or V8 Vantage 4.3 with BR mods....
Discussion
I'm in the market for my next Aston (having previously owned a DB7).
Something around the £40k mark so early DB9 andV8 Vantage.
I have driven both in the past (DB9 Volante and 4.3 V8V)
Would like opinions on which is the better buy and why...
If I had the V8V I would have to have it improved by BR as the stock 4.3 simply isn't good enough.
I like the DB9 for its awesome V12, larger overall size, great presence and generally being an incredible car.
However!
The more aggressive look of the vantage grabs me more! Plus running costs and servicing are slightly cheaper than the DB9? Plus with the performance tuning from BR it becomes a great engine (not just a "good" engine).
If I had the cash I'd go DBS. But I don't! So one or the other.
What's your opinions please?
Something around the £40k mark so early DB9 andV8 Vantage.
I have driven both in the past (DB9 Volante and 4.3 V8V)
Would like opinions on which is the better buy and why...
If I had the V8V I would have to have it improved by BR as the stock 4.3 simply isn't good enough.
I like the DB9 for its awesome V12, larger overall size, great presence and generally being an incredible car.
However!
The more aggressive look of the vantage grabs me more! Plus running costs and servicing are slightly cheaper than the DB9? Plus with the performance tuning from BR it becomes a great engine (not just a "good" engine).
If I had the cash I'd go DBS. But I don't! So one or the other.
What's your opinions please?
That's a good idea John, but its more the aesthetics that pulls me to the Vantage. It's just the DB9 is an all round better car! Where as the DBS has the aggressive looks AND the incredible performance.
Another option is a vanq S but having just read the van vs van s thread Im also very weary of massive running costs.
Another option is a vanq S but having just read the van vs van s thread Im also very weary of massive running costs.
Oops my mistake!
£40k for van s I think not!
Would need a good £60k for that!
It's tough trying to find a standard vanq for £40k!
Incredible how they're all appreciating now. Given the top line I'd have a vanq s ultimate edition for sure, yes over a DBS. It will be a definite investment.
However back to topic, I also forgot to mention I prefer manual. But i found the clutch quite heavy when I drove the V8V a few years back?
And that V12 sound on the DB9! It's just mind blowing (not as mind blowing as the vanquish I must say!)
I would say I am 70/30!in favour of the vantage (to be BR tinkled with). Unless anyone has some good opinions on why the DB9 would be a better purchase...
£40k for van s I think not!
Would need a good £60k for that!
It's tough trying to find a standard vanq for £40k!
Incredible how they're all appreciating now. Given the top line I'd have a vanq s ultimate edition for sure, yes over a DBS. It will be a definite investment.
However back to topic, I also forgot to mention I prefer manual. But i found the clutch quite heavy when I drove the V8V a few years back?
And that V12 sound on the DB9! It's just mind blowing (not as mind blowing as the vanquish I must say!)
I would say I am 70/30!in favour of the vantage (to be BR tinkled with). Unless anyone has some good opinions on why the DB9 would be a better purchase...
Yeah I have to agree that Bamford Rose don't just "tune" Astons. If you read their threads you'll see that the work is of the highest caliber with reliability improving as a result of their "fixing" the engines to what they should have been.
The 4.3l vantage, although an excellent block was essentially de-tuned so as not to out-do the DB9 which cost significantly more.
BR undo the de-tune to unlock the true potential of the engine on the vantage.
Understandably if you've forked our money for AM warranty then obviously aftermarket modification is not clever as it voids warranty.
I think if I went vantage over db9 I'd definitely have BR work on it. I really like the car but the general consensus is that performance is the only major sticking point. BR can solve that.
The 4.3l vantage, although an excellent block was essentially de-tuned so as not to out-do the DB9 which cost significantly more.
BR undo the de-tune to unlock the true potential of the engine on the vantage.
Understandably if you've forked our money for AM warranty then obviously aftermarket modification is not clever as it voids warranty.
I think if I went vantage over db9 I'd definitely have BR work on it. I really like the car but the general consensus is that performance is the only major sticking point. BR can solve that.
Plan is to buy the car first. See how I get on with it for a while then bring up to spec with a BR upgrade. But yes the money it will cost for the upgrade will be worth it.
Definitely considering vantage more over DB9.
Will just have to find a local DB9 owner and have regular exchanges of temporary ownership!
Definitely considering vantage more over DB9.
Will just have to find a local DB9 owner and have regular exchanges of temporary ownership!
I've got to be honest I think you're all correct. Unless you are taking them on track days and competing for 1/10th of a second then stock performance may well be satisfactory to the recreational driver.
Having owned many high revving 4 pot cars when I was younger I'm no stranger to the need for high revs! Just have to get used to it in the v8 vantage!
Having owned and driven regularly a db7 vantage im hoping the step down in cylinders will be more fun and exciting to drive. I found myself being rather more conservative when driving my db7! My second car was/is an Audi S3 which was my fun car but I will trade this in for a sensible "economical" daily driver once the v8v arrives.
Thanks for the discussion everyone. It does indeed seem that the vantage is more favourable and i certainly feel more swayed to it over the DB9. And quite possibly leave it stock until I find reason to improve it!
Having owned many high revving 4 pot cars when I was younger I'm no stranger to the need for high revs! Just have to get used to it in the v8 vantage!
Having owned and driven regularly a db7 vantage im hoping the step down in cylinders will be more fun and exciting to drive. I found myself being rather more conservative when driving my db7! My second car was/is an Audi S3 which was my fun car but I will trade this in for a sensible "economical" daily driver once the v8v arrives.
Thanks for the discussion everyone. It does indeed seem that the vantage is more favourable and i certainly feel more swayed to it over the DB9. And quite possibly leave it stock until I find reason to improve it!
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