Coupe or Convertible?
Discussion
In October I'll have a budget of around £35k for an Aston, but will probably stretch it to £40k - man maths makes this compulsory I believe 
Over the last 12 months or so I've been reading Grant's bible and checking out forums and classifieds to get an idea of what to look out for and what I could get for my budget.
Ideally I would like a DB9 (a lowish mileage MY07). My second choice would be a V8V 4.7 Sportshift.
I really prefer the design of the coupe over the convertible, but most of my driving will probably be in fine weather so a convertible may be better.
I just can't make my mind up which to get. Has anyone been in the same situation and then regretted what they eventually got?
It's a great dilemma to have though!
Cheers.
Over the last 12 months or so I've been reading Grant's bible and checking out forums and classifieds to get an idea of what to look out for and what I could get for my budget.
Ideally I would like a DB9 (a lowish mileage MY07). My second choice would be a V8V 4.7 Sportshift.
I really prefer the design of the coupe over the convertible, but most of my driving will probably be in fine weather so a convertible may be better.
I just can't make my mind up which to get. Has anyone been in the same situation and then regretted what they eventually got?
It's a great dilemma to have though!
Cheers.
My first Aston was an 07 Manual Coupe. In terms of purity of design I think they nailed it first time. It really is a beautiful car.
Having said that I traded it for a 2013 Roadster because the Aston is a weekend toy and i missed not having a soft top. I don’t think the 2013 Roadster is as good looking as the 07 Coupe though it isn’t half bad with the roof down.
Ultimately I went with function over form this time around and don’t regret it at all.
Having said that I traded it for a 2013 Roadster because the Aston is a weekend toy and i missed not having a soft top. I don’t think the 2013 Roadster is as good looking as the 07 Coupe though it isn’t half bad with the roof down.
Ultimately I went with function over form this time around and don’t regret it at all.
I didn't even consider a roadster, because - at the time I bought the Vantage - I thought convertible cars were utterly pointless.
Since then I made a fairly spurious purchase of an Alfa Spider in the spring last year. It's bloody fabulous and if I could turn the clock back my Vantage would have a soft top.
Since then I made a fairly spurious purchase of an Alfa Spider in the spring last year. It's bloody fabulous and if I could turn the clock back my Vantage would have a soft top.
Owned quite a few cabriolets and targas over the years... but nothing fast. The nice thing about roofless cars is that you can enjoy them at lower speeds.
Apart from additional sound when roofless, it had to be a coupe Vantage for me simply from a driving purity point of view. Don’t care what others think of my tartan scarf, pink wig and flat cap combo flapping in the wind
As Vantage coupes and convertibles are strangely similar in price (unlike mundane hatchback vs. cabrio variants relative pricing), the choice is purely personal preference. Whatever floats your boat!
Good luck
Apart from additional sound when roofless, it had to be a coupe Vantage for me simply from a driving purity point of view. Don’t care what others think of my tartan scarf, pink wig and flat cap combo flapping in the wind
As Vantage coupes and convertibles are strangely similar in price (unlike mundane hatchback vs. cabrio variants relative pricing), the choice is purely personal preference. Whatever floats your boat!
Good luck
Ive had both, I prefer my Roadster. I rarely use it in bad weather unless I have to, so most of the time its roof down motoring and it is a different experience, particularly the noise
The coupe looks perfect, but the Roadster also looks great roof down, as it should be, one of the few cars that looks like it was designed to be a convertible.
Id try to get a test drive in both, obviously Roadsters are a bit more expensive, but also most years are better spec of equivalent coupes e.g some came with sports suspension as standard (check Grants book for the model years you are looking at)
The coupe looks perfect, but the Roadster also looks great roof down, as it should be, one of the few cars that looks like it was designed to be a convertible.
Id try to get a test drive in both, obviously Roadsters are a bit more expensive, but also most years are better spec of equivalent coupes e.g some came with sports suspension as standard (check Grants book for the model years you are looking at)
I have had two coupes (V8V) and four Volante/Roadsters (DB9/V12V). I just love open top motoring and have the roof down unless it is raining. We have even been up the Stelvio pass when it was snowing.
There is nothing like hearing the V12 howling away with the roof down and the sun shining, which has happened quite a lot recently. Guess it depends on what you are looking for from your car but I know which I would go for........
Try both, happy hunting!
There is nothing like hearing the V12 howling away with the roof down and the sun shining, which has happened quite a lot recently. Guess it depends on what you are looking for from your car but I know which I would go for........
Try both, happy hunting!
I currently own a db9 coupe so heres my 2p. It is the first time I have not had a convertible since 2003. My reasoning is:
- Coupe is lighter and tighter than a convertible, handles better.
- weather is not that great enough of the time, either too hot or too cold, or wet. When it is perfect I am out on a motorbike.
- dont like the lines of the volate as much as the coupe.
- arriving with ‘overdone it with the hairdryer’ hair isn’t a good look for me.
Enjoy the dilemma;).
- Coupe is lighter and tighter than a convertible, handles better.
- weather is not that great enough of the time, either too hot or too cold, or wet. When it is perfect I am out on a motorbike.
- dont like the lines of the volate as much as the coupe.
- arriving with ‘overdone it with the hairdryer’ hair isn’t a good look for me.
Enjoy the dilemma;).
I have a coupe ... my last 3 cars have been coupes.
However I bought a Mini JCW convertible last year... and that car put a smile on my face in topless driving that I could not have predicted!
The rattles, the flex, the lower power, the synthetic pops from the exhaust not withstanding. Driving response? Honestly who’s tracking their convertibles? It feels faster, louder and sillier than the coupes which makes them more fun! Fun is why we should be buying these type of cars
So my next ‘super’ car will also be a convertible!
However I bought a Mini JCW convertible last year... and that car put a smile on my face in topless driving that I could not have predicted!
The rattles, the flex, the lower power, the synthetic pops from the exhaust not withstanding. Driving response? Honestly who’s tracking their convertibles? It feels faster, louder and sillier than the coupes which makes them more fun! Fun is why we should be buying these type of cars
So my next ‘super’ car will also be a convertible!
Had two Vantage Coupes and now drive a roadster.
The coupe is better looking than the Roadster with roof up, no doubt. So if you drive in climates that require the roof on most the time then I would stick with coupe.
I remember having a TVR late 90's and thinking there was only a few days a year that the weather allowed you to drop the roof but in UK global warming sems to have arrived this summer and the roadster is in its element. My high days and holidays car is now my daily commute, nothing like the sun on your face and the wind in the hair (if I had any) along with the primary cat free roar of a V12 (V8 is just as good, some say better) in the morning to set you up for the day.
The coupe is better looking than the Roadster with roof up, no doubt. So if you drive in climates that require the roof on most the time then I would stick with coupe.
I remember having a TVR late 90's and thinking there was only a few days a year that the weather allowed you to drop the roof but in UK global warming sems to have arrived this summer and the roadster is in its element. My high days and holidays car is now my daily commute, nothing like the sun on your face and the wind in the hair (if I had any) along with the primary cat free roar of a V12 (V8 is just as good, some say better) in the morning to set you up for the day.
The UK is surprisingly the biggest EU market for convertibles. Thinking about it, although our weather is often variable, it never really gets too hot, so we probably have more months per year you can drive roof down than the rest of the EU ....or we are just natural optimists/delusional when it comes to our love of convertible cars
I guess it depends on what type of driving you are doing OP.
I use my car (currently a V8V S Roadster) on sunny days and Euro jaunts, I was a devout hardtop buyer (R8's, 911 etc) for the pure driving experience but after experiencing driving around Europe in a convertible (Boxster Spyder at the time) I'll always go soft top from now. The views, the smells (mostly) and the sounds give you so much more of an experience.
I do think the Aston Coupes are better looking than the soft tops but the soft tops are still stunning. It's like saying Cindy Crawford isn't quite as nice looking as Claudia Schiffer......
I use my car (currently a V8V S Roadster) on sunny days and Euro jaunts, I was a devout hardtop buyer (R8's, 911 etc) for the pure driving experience but after experiencing driving around Europe in a convertible (Boxster Spyder at the time) I'll always go soft top from now. The views, the smells (mostly) and the sounds give you so much more of an experience.
I do think the Aston Coupes are better looking than the soft tops but the soft tops are still stunning. It's like saying Cindy Crawford isn't quite as nice looking as Claudia Schiffer......
divetheworld said:
I’m too old and got too much salt and pepper to get away with a ragtop without the missus calling me me a cock.
Again.
To old !Again.
Nonsense.
Tell your Lady, politely to do one.
You're a long time dead.
If you keep yourself in shape, comme moi, and look the part, comme moi, you're never too old.
Even if UK weather is a bit cr* p, It's volante every time for me, nothing better than having the roof down, raybans, cool toons, exhaust note, fighting of the wimmin.
Of course, if you're a fat barsteward with a comb over wearing Farah slacks and a check half sleeve shirt then you'd be better in a coupe with tinted windows.
Then again if you're that person have you considered getting a Porsche.
Edited by avinalarf on Thursday 26th July 09:31
avinalarf said:
To old !
Nonsense.
Tell your Lady, politely to do one.
You're a long time dead.
If you keep yourself in shape, comme moi, and look the part, comme moi, you're never too old.
Even if UK weather is a bit cr* p, It's volante every time for me, nothing better than having the roof down, raybans, cool toons, exhaust note, fighting of the wimmin.
Of course, if you're a fat barsteward with a comb over wearing Farah slacks and a check half sleeve shirt then you'd be better in a coupe with tinted windows.
Then again if you're that person have you considered getting a Porsche.
PMSL.....Nonsense.
Tell your Lady, politely to do one.
You're a long time dead.
If you keep yourself in shape, comme moi, and look the part, comme moi, you're never too old.
Even if UK weather is a bit cr* p, It's volante every time for me, nothing better than having the roof down, raybans, cool toons, exhaust note, fighting of the wimmin.
Of course, if you're a fat barsteward with a comb over wearing Farah slacks and a check half sleeve shirt then you'd be better in a coupe with tinted windows.
Then again if you're that person have you considered getting a Porsche.
Edited by avinalarf on Thursday 26th July 09:31
avinalarf said:
:
...Of course, if you're a fat barsteward with a comb over wearing Farah slacks and a check half sleeve shirt then you'd be better in a coupe with tinted windows.
Then again if you're that person have you considered getting a Porsche.
Looks like it's a coupe or Porsche for me then ...Of course, if you're a fat barsteward with a comb over wearing Farah slacks and a check half sleeve shirt then you'd be better in a coupe with tinted windows.
Then again if you're that person have you considered getting a Porsche.
Edited by avinalarf on Thursday 26th July 09:31
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff