Decisions! Aston / Ferrari / Other

Decisions! Aston / Ferrari / Other

Author
Discussion

Chris355

Original Poster:

790 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all

I’m contemplating my next car and I’m looking at a Ferrari California (or T) and Aston Martin V8S Roadster. Both around 2011 and both with paddleshift.

Which would you buy and why? Anything else you would consider?

I commute during the week so only use the car at weekend and the occasional evening.

Thanks

Chris

PompeyReece

1,484 posts

88 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
What are your top 5 considerations in order of priority? i.e.

- Budget
- Planned usage? Track, weekend blast, Euro trips etc.
- Are you OK with a lot of public attention
- Maintenance costs
- Attitude towards depreciation
- Length of ownership

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
Chris355 said:
…...Anything else you would consider?

…...
I'm not a fan off the California, and I found my V8 Vantage lacking grunt.

For me, in addition to those I'd be test driving:-

Vantage V12 roadster
Audi R8 V10 roadster
Porsche 911 Turbo convertible
Much newer 5.0 Jaguar F Type,
or go brave and buy the best TVR Tuscan you can find

Chris355

Original Poster:

790 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
PompeyReece said:
What are your top 5 considerations in order of priority? i.e.

- Budget
- Planned usage? Track, weekend blast, Euro trips etc.
- Are you OK with a lot of public attention
- Maintenance costs
- Attitude towards depreciation
- Length of ownership
-Budget is flexible, but ideally under 100k.
-No track use. Weekend and occasional evening, maybe a euro trip.
-No problem with public attention
-I don’t like depreciation! Lol. So ideally not something that will drop like a brick.
-Maintenance; I come with a history of Porsche/Ferrari etc so I know what I’m letting myself in for potentially.
-Length of ownership; often a year, but sometimes more (had a 355 spider 5 years). Ideally something that will not take forever to sell if I decide I want to!


Chris355

Original Poster:

790 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
The Surveyor said:
Chris355 said:
…...Anything else you would consider?

…...
I'm not a fan off the California, and I found my V8 Vantage lacking grunt.

For me, in addition to those I'd be test driving:-

Vantage V12 roadster
Audi R8 V10 roadster
Porsche 911 Turbo convertible
Much newer 5.0 Jaguar F Type,
or go brave and buy the best TVR Tuscan you can find
I would consider an Aston Vantage v12 roadster if I could find a black one at a respectable price. Love the looks and sound.

As much as i try, I cant talk myself into an R8 (logically its a great car, but it just doesn't do it for me).

Had a 997 turbo and it did nothing for me. It was fast, but strangely boring to drive.

Im not into Jags at all.

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
Chris355 said:
The Surveyor said:
Chris355 said:
…...Anything else you would consider?

…...
I'm not a fan off the California, and I found my V8 Vantage lacking grunt.

For me, in addition to those I'd be test driving:-

Vantage V12 roadster
Audi R8 V10 roadster
Porsche 911 Turbo convertible
Much newer 5.0 Jaguar F Type,
or go brave and buy the best TVR Tuscan you can find
I would consider an Aston Vantage v12 roadster if I could find a black one at a respectable price. Love the looks and sound.

As much as i try, I cant talk myself into an R8 (logically its a great car, but it just doesn't do it for me).

Had a 997 turbo and it did nothing for me. It was fast, but strangely boring to drive.

Im not into Jags at all.
Fair enough, no wrong answers on threads like these thumbup

As an alternative to the California, have you thought about it's close relative the Maserati GranCabrio :-

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Chris355

Original Poster:

790 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
Totally agree with you Surveyor; no wrong answers. Hadn't really looked at Maserati's. Will venture down to my local dealer as only 5 mins away.

Chris355

Original Poster:

790 posts

195 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
quotequote all
MAC 720S said:
Weirdly Maclaren's dont do anything for me (apart from the P1, which i cant afford!). Plus i have several friends with different models all with many issues arising.

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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Chris355 said:
I would consider an Aston Vantage v12 roadster if I could find a black one at a respectable price. Love the looks and sound.

I test drove a Vantage V12, albeit a coupe, when I was considering a number of options (R8 V10, SL63 AMG) and found it to be much more of a GT rather than sports for my liking. Lovely looking thing though and sounded fabulous.

As an aside, a good friend has a 2012 California and has been very happy with it. Plenty quick enough for today's roads and looks different from the 'norm' in pale blue.

Edited by Trev450 on Wednesday 12th February 12:05

ANOpax

818 posts

165 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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I’ve owned a F355 and a V8V - both fixed head.

I now have a Cali and an FF.

If you’ve enjoyed the F355, the Aston will feel like a step backwards. The suspension is poorly resolved and the car feels underpowered (hence the suggestions from other posters to consider a V12V).

The Cali is not as engaging as the F355 and the seating position is much higher. However, the raw speed and DCT box make it entertaining and the whole package is much more useable in terms of everyday driveability and weekends away. Even though it’s naturally aspirated, the exhaust doesn’t sound anywhere as good as the F355.

The Aston’s exhaust is good but I never bonded with the car. It was a lovely thing to behold and felt like it was hewn from granite. It also drove like it was made of granite too.

Of the two cars I now have, the FF is my favourite. There are some around under the 100k mark. Take one for a drive and surprise yourself.

AndyC_123

1,115 posts

153 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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Aston - much prettier than the Cali.

I wouldn't go for either though, would probably look at a Mclaren 650.

Gallardo SL might drop into budget?

F355GTS

3,721 posts

254 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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Hi Chris

Have owned/ own both

California,
For engine, more modern than the Aston

Against Some don't like looks, a good one will be £30k more than a good Aston

Aston,
For Fantastic looking car, torque, sound, ride and comfort, lower cost than the Ferrari and any depreciation would be proportionate.

Against Older tech - gearbox particularly, nothing wrong with it but imagine 360/430 F1

Both feel about the same performance wise

I couldn't get on wit the T, too lower rev limit for a Ferrari

I'm selling my black Vantage S roadster (Sportshift) happy to meet and talk over a deal 👍👍

cayman-black

12,625 posts

215 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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The Aston all day pref v12v roadster they are great value if you can find one. California is just awful.

CitySlicker

300 posts

92 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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Another vote for the Aston. Both boxes work well, my personal choice was the automated manual. V12V really seem the popular choice now as the market is correcting. Also have a look at the 599 if you want to focus more on cruising but both great for weekend blasts.

Zippee

13,440 posts

233 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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I had a similar dilemma recently, albeit at around the 80k mark so a few on your list weren’t options for me.
Aston – I drove a V8 and the V12. V8 just didn’t have a nice feel to it. Couldn’t put my finger on it but no real sense of awe and didn't feel quick.
The V12, I drove a manual, was a different kettle of fish altogether but felt a little too heath robinson old school – though maybe it was a poor example I drove.
R8 – Loved the Gen 2 (Gen 1 V10 plus was great but felt dated) but wanted a little more practicality.
Porsche 991 – Great drive but unless you were really pushing it just felt like a nice place to be rather than something special
Maserati Granturismo – didn’t drive it as I just wasn’t bowled over by the one I looked at.
I opted for a Mercedes AMG GTS – loved the theatre of it, interior is lovely and it is practical as well should I need the space – I saw it as a grown up TVR (I came from a T350, to an RS6 performance and now to the AMG). Might be worth a look? Your budget would get you into an AMG gtr.


Edited by Zippee on Thursday 13th February 08:26

Bispal

1,603 posts

150 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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My choice would be a McLaren 12C or 650S but as you are not keen then I would look at a 981 Spyder. I tried lots of cars before I bought mine and they are really engaging, more than many supercars and so much fun to drive. If its a weekend car then for a real experience you honestly cant beat an Exige 430 CUP, one of the finest drivers cars ever made and a real pocket rocket!







Edited by Bispal on Thursday 13th February 07:38

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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Instead of the Vantage, what are your thoughts on a Vanquish Volante? Obviously not as pointy as a V12V but still a handsome way of going fast.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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Bispal said:
My choice would be a McLaren 12C or 650S but as you are not keen then I would look at a 981 Spyder. I tried lots of cars before I bought mine and they are really engaging, more than many supercars and so much fun to drive. If its a weekend car then for a real experience you honestly cant beat an Exige 430 CUP, one of the finest drivers cars ever made and a real pocket rocket!


Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 13th February 07:38
My brother's just gone from 981 Spyder to Exige 430 Cup.

Fiammetta

404 posts

87 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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Bentley speed or super sports ?
Have you driven one ?