Help and advice needed.
Discussion
At present I own a Aston Martin Vantage S . Car is about 12 months old with approx 11000 miles. It has had some serious work performed on it by a specialist indie as in lightweight flywheel, twin plate clutch, switchable suspension, ceramic manifolds and de -catted. All in all it is a very good car. It may be just man maths but I am starting to wonder whether I should make a move to a F430. The new Vantage is about 20 months away sporting a AMG sourced twin turbo V8. When it does arrive the jump from mine to the new model will be just too great to justify.
I have been looking at 2008 2009 F430 models on the net. First impression is how many there are with so few miles on them! Prices seem to hover around the 85 to 89000 which seems a lot for cars of 4-5 years old. Do I stay with main dealer cars? What problems should I look out for . How colour sensitive are they? Which are the must have options? I really do not want to drop a clanger! I understand clutches last about 20,000 miles though clutch wear can be tested via a laptop.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
I have been looking at 2008 2009 F430 models on the net. First impression is how many there are with so few miles on them! Prices seem to hover around the 85 to 89000 which seems a lot for cars of 4-5 years old. Do I stay with main dealer cars? What problems should I look out for . How colour sensitive are they? Which are the must have options? I really do not want to drop a clanger! I understand clutches last about 20,000 miles though clutch wear can be tested via a laptop.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Buy a colour you want with options you like - clutches can last way beyond 20 000 miles even with F1 not manual - many good cars are outside the main dealer network - official warranty can be purchased - mileage is pretty irrelevant but aim for a couple of thousand miles a year at least - many Astons are used more day to day - lots of 430 threads answering the same questions further
Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 27th May 09:16
With Ferraris I think it is very possible to pay low, well sold, pay high, well bought. That said, the 430 is mechanically robust and is a far superior driver's machine to an Aston (I came through a similar path - DB9, DBS to 360 and 430).
Never bought an Aston since and never been without a Ferrari in the garage. I hate to say it because I love the idea of an Aston but they're not for me anymore. If you want British, sports car and brilliant, McLaren are the only brand that matches or even surpasses (depending on your point of view) Ferrari in the driving department.
Watch out for...suspension components - expensive and considered consumables i.e. they will wear and need replacing, small items like door pins often need replacing - irritating if you miss one on the way out because the door falls off (you can imagine how I know that...), regular alignment checks needed to keep the car handling as it should - at least yearly (the only good reason to choose a Ferrari is for the driving IMV so why neglect the alignment?), general wear and tear - I think there are owners who have bought cars and tried to cut down the maintenance which means there are many cars out there with lots of costly small jobs to get the car right - the sort of stuff a talented spanner guy could do himself (rules me out) but which costs a bit to have done properly otherwise. That's why buying cheap is not always buying best.
Another 30 to 40k buys you a 458 or 12C which are both a big step on from the 430, but then, that is a big chunk of money.
Worth it if you can stretch but otherwise a 430 is a brilliant choice.
Never bought an Aston since and never been without a Ferrari in the garage. I hate to say it because I love the idea of an Aston but they're not for me anymore. If you want British, sports car and brilliant, McLaren are the only brand that matches or even surpasses (depending on your point of view) Ferrari in the driving department.
Watch out for...suspension components - expensive and considered consumables i.e. they will wear and need replacing, small items like door pins often need replacing - irritating if you miss one on the way out because the door falls off (you can imagine how I know that...), regular alignment checks needed to keep the car handling as it should - at least yearly (the only good reason to choose a Ferrari is for the driving IMV so why neglect the alignment?), general wear and tear - I think there are owners who have bought cars and tried to cut down the maintenance which means there are many cars out there with lots of costly small jobs to get the car right - the sort of stuff a talented spanner guy could do himself (rules me out) but which costs a bit to have done properly otherwise. That's why buying cheap is not always buying best.
Another 30 to 40k buys you a 458 or 12C which are both a big step on from the 430, but then, that is a big chunk of money.
Worth it if you can stretch but otherwise a 430 is a brilliant choice.
A lot of what has just been said, I agree with 100% and I too have made the transition from AM to Ferrari, indeed I ran one of each for a while - AMV8 then DB9 & 360 Modena and now sold my last AMV8 roadster and bought an F430 Spider.
In my view the F430 is a much better all round car than any AM I ever drove (though I didnt drive a DBS), though the AMs were tremendous sports cars, the F430 is a supercar and for me is a totally different experience. If you can only run one car then the AMs are superior, but if you can run two then buy the Ferrari, I have a BMW 335i as well and the complement each other.
I would like the poster above urge caution at a cheap F430, it may well check out, but you could potentially be buying something that needs loads of work - a good PPI will tell you! Also dont assume that a main dealer car is also perfect. My 360 was sold to me needing a service within 6-7 months, which I was happy with, but it needed £5k worth of work after just 500 miles or so, so was sold to me in a poor state really. I argued and the dealer discounted it massively.
If SWMBO would allow me I would buy another Aston and run that as an everyday car, I do miss the experience, but given the choice between F430 and AM, I would go Ferrari every time.
Go and test one and see what you think mate!
In my view the F430 is a much better all round car than any AM I ever drove (though I didnt drive a DBS), though the AMs were tremendous sports cars, the F430 is a supercar and for me is a totally different experience. If you can only run one car then the AMs are superior, but if you can run two then buy the Ferrari, I have a BMW 335i as well and the complement each other.
I would like the poster above urge caution at a cheap F430, it may well check out, but you could potentially be buying something that needs loads of work - a good PPI will tell you! Also dont assume that a main dealer car is also perfect. My 360 was sold to me needing a service within 6-7 months, which I was happy with, but it needed £5k worth of work after just 500 miles or so, so was sold to me in a poor state really. I argued and the dealer discounted it massively.
If SWMBO would allow me I would buy another Aston and run that as an everyday car, I do miss the experience, but given the choice between F430 and AM, I would go Ferrari every time.
Go and test one and see what you think mate!
Hi Rob
Yep - been there with the AM (as you may remember hooning around Wales!) I moved from the AM V8 to 599 and then 458. Big jump in outlay, but massive jump in performance etc right across the board. When I drove a V12S at the end of last year, it did feel 'old' compared to the Ferrari; as others have said, you need to get behind the wheel of one, and that will make your (& Molly's!) mind up!
Graham
Yep - been there with the AM (as you may remember hooning around Wales!) I moved from the AM V8 to 599 and then 458. Big jump in outlay, but massive jump in performance etc right across the board. When I drove a V12S at the end of last year, it did feel 'old' compared to the Ferrari; as others have said, you need to get behind the wheel of one, and that will make your (& Molly's!) mind up!
Graham
Like others I came through the AM route , Vantage , DBS to Ferrari California. Don't write the California off, it really is a better performing car than critics might have you believe. A 2011 California with a 7 year service plan would I guess retail at about 110. As the 458 yes it really is very good. Again if you are going to make the jump, 2011 car with free servicing is a benefit.
California is a good shout and one that shouldn't be dismissed. Fantastic cars. Obviously you don't get the mid engined thing but you do get that brilliant DCT gearbox which makes the car feel so energetic and full of go. Much more modern feeling than the 430, mainly due to the 'box.
What ever Ferrari you decide on avoid the Hele and stop start system.
Not sure what cars are fitted with it but my 2011 California has it,
I went from a Vantage roadster to a California 6 months ago car has been in the dealers now for over 2 weeks with faults.
Which both the dealer and Ferrari uk seem unable to fix.t To date the car as had :-
2 new batteries in 6 months
2 right side engine ECU s
1 throttle body
Still not fixed and no time line of when it will be fixed.
A technician from Ferrari uk will look at the car on Monday.
Not sure what cars are fitted with it but my 2011 California has it,
I went from a Vantage roadster to a California 6 months ago car has been in the dealers now for over 2 weeks with faults.
Which both the dealer and Ferrari uk seem unable to fix.t To date the car as had :-
2 new batteries in 6 months
2 right side engine ECU s
1 throttle body
Still not fixed and no time line of when it will be fixed.
A technician from Ferrari uk will look at the car on Monday.
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