Is this a really, really stupid idea?

Is this a really, really stupid idea?

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Discussion

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
About £20-30k less than they usually go for. But will the total loss thing mean that this will always be a £60k car or lower?

The V600 Vantage on this page. Lovely thing.

http://www.runnymedemotorcompany.com/ForSale.htm


StottyZr

6,860 posts

164 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Edit: Just seen you've mentioned the Vantage hehe

Du1point8

21,612 posts

193 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
which one?

you just linked the whole for sale url

Krikkit

26,550 posts

182 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Cat. C will always tarnish a valuable car like that- unless you keep it until they're crazy rare it won't appreciate like an untarnished one.

ETA: Link to car: http://www.classicdriver.de/uk/find/4100_dealers2_...

DonkeyApple

55,474 posts

170 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
I've been looking at that one.

Personally, I think the 40-50% discount on market says it all. It will be a nightmare to shift on.

Values of these cars has not moved north for some time and stock tends to sit around for a long time in any case.

If they suddenly do start moving again then obviously this car will be dragged up and arguably, if they fall in value then this one will fall less in real terms.

Tough call biggrin

I'd certainly be very wary of the yarn told regarding the Cat C and would gamble on other dealers like Mee or Williams knowing a lot about this car's history.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Shame. I love them, but probably can't tie up £60k in a car for 10 years, and I guess the total loss thing will make it hard to turn around quickly if required.

Situation is I have £50-60k to go on a car (hard budget). I could increase to finance a 90-100k one and get rid of my Aero 8, but in reality, something as depreciation proof as possible for a max of £60k would be best to complement the current fleet: for the finance costs, I can continue to insure and service the Morgan, which seems more sensible than spending £400 a month on the finance of one supercar - better two interesting and different vehicles that won't shed too much money in depreciation.

I had formerly decided on a 360 Spider (and that is still in play, as is the hardtop Modena - testing another Spider tomorrow), but as I now intend to keep my Morgan, so very different cars welcome - hardtops, autos etc. GTs and sports cars - no saloons/estates. 1990s is as early as I want to go, as don't want something horribly maintenance heavy that will rot before my eyes (Runnymede also have a lovely looking 1973 AMV8, but I think leaving it standing for weeks on end will kill it, so can't just go and buy it!)

Not keen on the modern V8 Vantage, Gallardo running costs are a bit too bonkers (I think/assume?). Good F430s are still £70k+

Simon Furlonger also have this, which is floating my boat. Saw it when testing a 360 there - it's lovely. Vantage looks, V8 noise - but not Vantage pace or (running costs). Anyone have any idea if these will appreciate? Gut says yes, but that's not enough to go on - they only made 99 and there are precious few for sale!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3933307.htm


Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
I've been looking at that one.

Personally, I think the 40-50% discount on market says it all. It will be a nightmare to shift on.

Values of these cars has not moved north for some time and stock tends to sit around for a long time in any case.

If they suddenly do start moving again then obviously this car will be dragged up and arguably, if they fall in value then this one will fall less in real terms.

Tough call biggrin

I'd certainly be very wary of the yarn told regarding the Cat C and would gamble on other dealers like Mee or Williams knowing a lot about this car's history.
You make sense. If that were a 10 year keeper, probably worth it. To shift on in a couple of years, probably not. Shame - I love them!

Alfa numeric

3,027 posts

180 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Simon Furlonger also have this, which is floating my boat. Saw it when testing a 360 there - it's lovely. Vantage looks, V8 noise - but not Vantage pace or (running costs). Anyone have any idea if these will appreciate? Gut says yes, but that's not enough to go on - they only made 99 and there are precious few for sale!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3933307.htm
As much as I love them, aren't they about as reliable as a politicians promise?

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
No idea! Guessing that's true of all 90's Astons.

Sigh. Back to 90s/noughties Italiana it is then. A good Ferrari 550 may fit the bill.

DanDC5

18,818 posts

168 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
996 GT3 RS? These seem pretty depreciation proof at the moment?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4141648.htm

edited link.

Edited by DanDC5 on Friday 10th August 11:46

DonkeyApple

55,474 posts

170 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Shame. I love them, but probably can't tie up £60k in a car for 10 years, and I guess the total loss thing will make it hard to turn around quickly if required.

Situation is I have £50-60k to go on a car (hard budget). I could increase to finance a 90-100k one and get rid of my Aero 8, but in reality, something as depreciation proof as possible for a max of £60k would be best to complement the current fleet: for the finance costs, I can continue to insure and service the Morgan, which seems more sensible than spending £400 a month on the finance of one supercar - better two interesting and different vehicles that won't shed too much money in depreciation.

I had formerly decided on a 360 Spider (and that is still in play, as is the hardtop Modena - testing another Spider tomorrow), but as I now intend to keep my Morgan, so very different cars welcome - hardtops, autos etc. GTs and sports cars - no saloons/estates. 1990s is as early as I want to go, as don't want something horribly maintenance heavy that will rot before my eyes (Runnymede also have a lovely looking 1973 AMV8, but I think leaving it standing for weeks on end will kill it, so can't just go and buy it!)

Not keen on the modern V8 Vantage, Gallardo running costs are a bit too bonkers (I think/assume?). Good F430s are still £70k+

Simon Furlonger also have this, which is floating my boat. Saw it when testing a 360 there - it's lovely. Vantage looks, V8 noise - but not Vantage pace or (running costs). Anyone have any idea if these will appreciate? Gut says yes, but that's not enough to go on - they only made 99 and there are precious few for sale!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3933307.htm
If I wanted a fun car with a downside as protected as you're going to find and had an interest in a 360 I'd actually be tempted by a 328? Makes sure it has no big service requirements within the time period you want to own it and that it's a goodun.

will_

6,027 posts

204 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
No idea! Guessing that's true of all 90's Astons.

Sigh. Back to 90s/noughties Italiana it is then. A good Ferrari 550 may fit the bill.
At that money a Diablo would be my "bonkers" car.

will_

6,027 posts

204 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Alfa numeric said:
Harry Flashman said:
Simon Furlonger also have this, which is floating my boat. Saw it when testing a 360 there - it's lovely. Vantage looks, V8 noise - but not Vantage pace or (running costs). Anyone have any idea if these will appreciate? Gut says yes, but that's not enough to go on - they only made 99 and there are precious few for sale!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3933307.htm
As much as I love them, aren't they about as reliable as a politicians promise?
And you might as well save yourself £20k+ and have a Virage.

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Everything I read about the original Virage seemed to suggest it was a half baked, poorly engineered bus of a thing. All the reviews of the Vantage focussed on the (at the time) mind blowing power, with very little mention of what it was actually like to drive - this was also at a time when british reviewers were very gentle with Aston Martin. I got to drive a V600 in 2001, and I have to say that once you got over the squelching acceleration it really was a horrible lumpen pig of a thing to drive. I wanted to love it and I love what it represents, but no thank you.

The standard V8 though - without the power of the Vantage it really would be a pointless thing. A prettier Virage really.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

164 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
I think you need to clear your mind here. I don't think buying a supercar should be as logical as this.

I'd sit and think, I'd think really hard. Is their a car you've always dreamt about owning? You've imagined driving it down a certain street and imagined the feeling you would get?

Is their a car you want so bad, you feel a pain in your chest when you see one? Could you hear it, and drop whatever you are doing to focus on the noise it makes?

I remember the first time I heard a V8 vantage roar away. I took a sharp intake of breath followed by a sigh, nothing else seems to matter. I was calm and relaxed, it was a very happy feeling. I intend to own one at somepoint, even if its for a few months, I will own an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. You could buy one outright with cash to spare, can you imagine what I would feel like owning one of those machines? A little bit of prespective could do you some good here.


Ramble over.

vixen1700

23,030 posts

271 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C267996#

This would be on the shopping list if my numbers come up tonight. smile

StottyZr

6,860 posts

164 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
I want to feel like this, I'd expect you do too.

Pugsey said:
Depreciation? Finance??

A few years ago I picked up my first Ferrari (an F430). There it was, sitting gleaming in the middle of Maranello's showroom but I had to endure sitting doing the last bits of paperwork and pretending to be enjoying an Expresso all the while eyeing 'my' car and taking in the sights and smells of the showroom. Finally I was allowed near the thing, but still there was the agony of enduring the 20 min hand over/explanation of controls (it's a car FFS just let me at it!), handbooks etc. And all the while I'm trying not to giggle hysterically (my young nephew who's along for the ride is!). At last the car's started, the sound bouncing round the showrooms and rolled outside and we can escape. I'm very conscious of the gazes of 'window shoppers' in the showroom. They prob think I'm rich - I'm not, but 100% interest only finance and a huge balloon mean it's me living this dream not them!

Straight out into traffic nearly all the way home but it doesn't matter. Lads on the pavement give the thumbs up and kids in the back of cars take photos - some of their dads grin, some look straight ahead. I'm here it's real, that really is the famous open ali gate I'm looking at. It's mine!

That journey home lasted about an hour and I remember every inch and every second - and how our jaws ached from grinning by the time we got home. I didn't think it could get better than that - but it did a few weeks later in the Alps. And on every trip to Waitrose or where ever. And everytime I opened the barn doors and pulled off the dust cover.

The memories are there both in my head and on camera. My nephew STILL talks about it. And it'll still make me smile when nursey spoon feeds me my soup one day.

Hard cash? I'd prob pay £1000s for the first day experince alone. But who the hell's counting.

Enjoy Chris!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
DanDC5 said:
996 GT3 RS? These seem pretty depreciation proof at the moment?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4141648.htm

edited link.

Edited by DanDC5 on Friday 10th August 11:46
Good suggestion - but RS 911s are not really my thing.

£40-50k Ferrari 550 manuals have just hit my radar - just spoke to a specialist, running costs not that different to a 360, and a bit of a modern classic, surely?

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
StottyZr said:
I want to feel like this, I'd expect you do too.

Pugsey said:
Depreciation? Finance??

A few years ago I picked up my first Ferrari (an F430). There it was, sitting gleaming in the middle of Maranello's showroom but I had to endure sitting doing the last bits of paperwork and pretending to be enjoying an Expresso all the while eyeing 'my' car and taking in the sights and smells of the showroom. Finally I was allowed near the thing, but still there was the agony of enduring the 20 min hand over/explanation of controls (it's a car FFS just let me at it!), handbooks etc. And all the while I'm trying not to giggle hysterically (my young nephew who's along for the ride is!). At last the car's started, the sound bouncing round the showrooms and rolled outside and we can escape. I'm very conscious of the gazes of 'window shoppers' in the showroom. They prob think I'm rich - I'm not, but 100% interest only finance and a huge balloon mean it's me living this dream not them!

Straight out into traffic nearly all the way home but it doesn't matter. Lads on the pavement give the thumbs up and kids in the back of cars take photos - some of their dads grin, some look straight ahead. I'm here it's real, that really is the famous open ali gate I'm looking at. It's mine!

That journey home lasted about an hour and I remember every inch and every second - and how our jaws ached from grinning by the time we got home. I didn't think it could get better than that - but it did a few weeks later in the Alps. And on every trip to Waitrose or where ever. And everytime I opened the barn doors and pulled off the dust cover.

The memories are there both in my head and on camera. My nephew STILL talks about it. And it'll still make me smile when nursey spoon feeds me my soup one day.

Hard cash? I'd prob pay £1000s for the first day experince alone. But who the hell's counting.

Enjoy Chris!
Great posts, Stotty.

And this isn't a sensible purchase. I am already bloody lucky, and own a Morgan Aero 8, which gives me goosebumps every time I take it out, and a Caterham, which scares me silly. And that's it - I want something fun but different - but not something that will bankrupt me! I am sadly sensible with money, so something like a Diable doesn't appeal (undriveable in London, where I live), and a V8 Vantage is not my thing for a sense of occasion - although it's the car I'd have if I had to own one fast car and drive to work every day.

I've decided that I don't need a loft conversion after all - a nice suite of rooms with a freestanding bath and terrace are less important than another silly car, at this point in my life. But I may have to sell in two years - and don't want to tale a depreciation/repair costs bath!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,385 posts

243 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
vixen1700 said:


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C267996#

This would be on the shopping list if my numbers come up tonight. smile
My Dada had one (in Vantage flavour like that one, but in California Sage). I loved it. But repair/maintenance costs are appalling if you don't buy a perfect one, which is out of budget (as the ad above confirms).