Aston Martin V12 vs Ferrari California - depreciation?

[AstonExige]

I'm considering upgrading my manual V8 Vantage Roadster. However, I'm not minted and my man maths can only justify this purchase if I can realise most, if not all of the money I put in to purchase the car. So for me, depreciation is a MASSIVE factor.

For the Vantage I'm likely to opt for the coupe as I can't stretch my budget far enough right now for a Roadster. I'm considering both V12 and V12s.

The other car I'm considering is. California. Two main advantages for me there, one it's a convertible and two the gearbox. My ideal is for a double clutch, PDK type. The rear seats may come in handy too. My reservations? Never owned a Ferrari and maintenance costs are an unknown / a concern. Servicing, I suspect to keep the value its dealer only whereas with the AM specialists seem to offer a better job and value seems to be unaffected. Although with a car getting on for nearly £100k maybe that isn't the case. Cons for the California: can't help worry I'd look like a bit of a c0ck driving it with the roof down. Maybe I should but I don't feel like that in the AM. Just a different image which I prefer. And the Cali will be a bit flash to turn up to clients in, again an AM has that understated class.

So, both cars are going to be around the £90k mark, but how much will they be worth in 3yrs with another 20k miles on them? I know no one has a crystal ball, but some educated opinions would be really appreciated.

[JW82]

I'd say your depreciation curve would be similar.

I had a 2011 California about two years ago and lost just under 10k buying and selling back to the same main dealer over 18 months. My car was quite high in spec but also had the service pack which commands a slight premium. The service pack is for 7 years of main dealer servicing and 4 years of warranty. So this would help put to ease some of your concerns over (costly) servicing.

To be fair, I drove the AM just before buying the California and the car the dealer took me out in started to fall apart. I think the Aston is a better looking, more understated and elegant car but I felt the build quality was poor. The door handles jammed; the SatNav unit rattled and the indicators did also. I probably got unlucky with that particular car but I didn't end up buying one either. The dealer was also pretty useless and remained particularly up himself throughout all dialogue despite the clear shortcomings of the car he presented to me. Also much harder to push pricing wise - I.e no movement at all sir.

[Ferruccio]

AstonExige said:

I can only justify this purchase if I can realise most, if not all of the money I put in to purchase the car. So for me, depreciation is a MASSIVE factor. .

Sensible to assume that modern high end sports cars produced in numbers to satisfy demand will depreciate.................to 30-50% of their original purchase price??

[RamboLambo]

Ferrari California will generally hold its value better than the Aston Martin Vantage but if you get a mint low mileage V12 MANUAL it might do ok in value and looks better. Personally I think this has a better chance than the V12S.

Toss a coin on the man maths so buy with your heart and not head.
If you want a change of marque with open air motoring and looking flash go the cali.
If you want to be subtle and have a stunning looking car ( even better than roadster IMHO ) go the V12 MANUAL

[Shazbat]

AstonExige said:

So, both cars are going to be around the £90k mark, but how much will they be worth in 3yrs with another 20k miles on them? I know no one has a crystal ball, but some educated opinions would be really appreciated.

Including dealer markup at the buy and sell process, budget to lose around £50k. It could be more than that of course.

[AstonExige]

Shazbat said:

Including dealer markup at the buy and sell process, budget to lose around £50k. It could be more than that of course.

50k?! I can't see either car only being worth £40k in 3 yrs. But appreciate you taking the time to give your opinion.

And thanks to everyone else too. My money is no doubt safer in my 2008 Vantage as that has done most of its depreciating. Just want something a bit quicker and prefer the updated bumpers etc

[Shazbat]

Both cars will likely be worth a lot more than 40k on a dealer forecourt but that doesn't tell you how much YOU will actually lose overall.

[RamboLambo]

Shazbat said:

Both cars will likely be worth a lot more than 40k on a dealer forecourt but that doesn't tell you how much YOU will actually lose overall.

Yes got to factor in buying at retail and selling at Trade but as the cars in question have done most of their depreciation £50k cost is harsh.

If you ignore service and maintenance which you would have on another car( lets say £3k pa max )the difference between those cars buying and selling price in 3 yrs time is going to be more like £30k tops and could be as little as £10k IMHO.

Its always going to be cheaper to stay in your older car unless you downgrade

Edited by RamboLambo on Sunday 27th November 20:29

[Shazbat]

RamboLambo said:

Yes got to factor in buying at retail and selling at Trade but as the cars in question have done most of their depreciation £50k cost is harsh.

If you ignore service and maintenance which you would have on another car( lets say £3k pa max )the difference between those cars buying and selling price is going to be more like £30k tops and could be as little as £10k IMHO.

Its always going to be cheaper to stay in your older car unless you downgrade

Look 50k may well be too much but one should always over estimate losses. Same when you buy a house, if all you can afford is your mortgage at 1.9% interest then you're as good as screwed.

People need to open their eyes a bit. Its ignorant to assume that you can jump in and out of these cars forever and get a free lunch everytime. The market will change at some point, it always does.

Then there's man maths ... but that's something else entirely.

[TISPKJ]

California all the way, very useable, good looking with the roof up, currently looking a bit of a bargain in Ferrari land with the money being asked for some of the models currently, value in 3 years ? Cali has been at these levels for last 2 years but who knows, 20k miles will effect the Aston less on top of already another 25k ? Say.
Plenty of very good independants for Ferrari service at sensible money.

[Yipper]

The California is a rebadged Maserati, so it lacks some Ferrari wow factor.

But the Aston will probably lose more money -- they always do.

[detee]

I ran a California for a year, great car and a much better product than the Aston in my opinion. The sound is great, gearbox is as well plus it is practical. I would say buy wth a service pack and your all good. I had a Vantage and it was streets ahead.

[bentley01]

All high end cars are a risk in terms of potential losses due to depreciation. My personal experience with the V12 Vantage is that the dealer offered me more money for it 12 months after buying it than I paid for it. Very rare car with only just over 300 right hand drive manual cars ever produced which combined with a na V12 engine and a manual gear box might limit any losses. For what it's worth I would of been hit quite hard if I had of kept my 4.7 V8 roadster instead of upgrading.

[bordseye]

Its a difficult question to be definive about AstonExige, but it looks to me as if there would be less depreciation on the Ferrari. Its quite easy to find a 30k Aston Vantage, albeit not a V12. But I see no reason why the V12 should defy gravity when the V8 doesnt. It isnt easy if even possible to find a Ferrari below 50k and certainly the California does not seem to go below 80k asking however high the miles.

I cant comment about Aston service costs. Ferrari dealer costs are a rip off - my annual service is £1k before they even do anything much. And in the age range you are looking at, buyers seem to want to see a dealer service history.

As for customer reaction - I dont think I would. The Ferrari in particular is going to have customers thinking about your charges / fees. Some would like the car. Others would see you as a flash bd.

[Granfondo]

If the California is any colour but Red then it will be less of a problem than the Aston for customers IMO.

[07satisfaction]

AstonExige said:

50k?! I can't see either car only being worth £40k in 3 yrs. But appreciate you taking the time to give your opinion.

And thanks to everyone else too. My money is no doubt safer in my 2008 Vantage as that has done most of its depreciating. Just want something a bit quicker and prefer the updated bumpers etc

This wouldn't get you an update, but would you consider stepping "sideways" to a V12 in a 2008 DB9, or DBS or Vanq? ... They would all be similarly deprecated, with some potential that 6-spd manuals are going to rise (I've spot-checked a few '06-'08 DB9's the past year and prices don't seem to be dropping at all).

Trying to be creative for you,
- Art

[Latheron]

You might want to look at a DBS Manual stunning car and will appreciate due to low numbers and desirability, if you can get one... Alternatively autos seem to be on the up too, and if you are happy with paddles and want a convertible then you cant go wrong with the DBS volante.