V12V to Macca before V12VSM?
Discussion
Been a good year at work, and despite having thought since getting a monster EV daily driver that I would never again get another petrol car, I found myself at the local Mclaren dealer considering to trade in the old V12V. Had to check the Maccas out before I went for a V12VSM. Had a go in a 570s spider. Amazing car - a great ride as well as performance from a conventional suspension. But ultimately didn’t feel special enough. The top end scoot didn’t make up for the, well 1980s, turbo lag and the bland interior.
But then I also had a go in a 650s. Wow, that was something else. Yes a bit of lag, but nothing like the 570s. The performance level is now really making me consider going to the dark side a bit before heading perhaps ultimately back to a V12VSM.
Thoughts, please?
But then I also had a go in a 650s. Wow, that was something else. Yes a bit of lag, but nothing like the 570s. The performance level is now really making me consider going to the dark side a bit before heading perhaps ultimately back to a V12VSM.
Thoughts, please?
570, 650, 675, 540... meh, they all look the same. Feels like a new model gets released every month. And all using the same generic engine with the boost turned up/down so hardly inspiring. They are fast and flash toys for the Playstation generation. Nothing enduring about them whatsoever.
Well, this is the AM enthusiasts forum, so here goes;
To me, a McLaren sports car on the race track looks great.
When I see one on the road, my first thought sometimes is, which kit car is that?
The appearance confusion is possibly due to the body shape having a mid-engine, and therefore being very low at the front.
I can tell the difference between the first McLaren (MP4 ?) and the current models, but could not distinguish a 575 from a 655, or a 670 from a P5.
Performance and handling are I am sure, exceptional, but an Aston Martin is just so special in many other ways.
Edited by Jon39 on Friday 14th December 14:24
To save you the bother T S, of posting your question on the McLaren forum, I think all you need to do, is reverse all of the above answers.
What a wonderful looking Aston Martin V12 Vantage you own.
The biggest engine in the smallest model, naturally aspirated and manual gearbox. What more could anyone want?
Just to add some balance to this, I've owned a couple of Vantages and recently moved into a 540C.
In my opinion, and I loved my Vantage, but the McLaren's are better in just about every way. Sound is a big win for the Aston though, which may matter more to some. I'd probably say the dealerships and after sales are better with Aston aswell.
Looks wise, the McLaren's look genuine supercar. The 'old' Vantage is starting to look it's age now that the new one is out, and looks quite prehistoric next to the McLaren. Looks are subjective I guess.
To drive, the Vantage can't compete IMO. Even the 540 being the baby of the range is an absolute rocket, and so easy to drive. It reminds me of a very (very) fast Lotus in driving feel/handling. The performane I find is so much more accessible.
Servicing/tyres/mpg are cheaper on the Mac aswell, but guess the weight contributes to this.
I dare say I'll be back in an Aston some day, but I would highly recommend trying a McLaren for a while. A lot of ex-Aston owners have jumped into the fold and don't think many have gone back.
In my opinion, and I loved my Vantage, but the McLaren's are better in just about every way. Sound is a big win for the Aston though, which may matter more to some. I'd probably say the dealerships and after sales are better with Aston aswell.
Looks wise, the McLaren's look genuine supercar. The 'old' Vantage is starting to look it's age now that the new one is out, and looks quite prehistoric next to the McLaren. Looks are subjective I guess.
To drive, the Vantage can't compete IMO. Even the 540 being the baby of the range is an absolute rocket, and so easy to drive. It reminds me of a very (very) fast Lotus in driving feel/handling. The performane I find is so much more accessible.
Servicing/tyres/mpg are cheaper on the Mac aswell, but guess the weight contributes to this.
I dare say I'll be back in an Aston some day, but I would highly recommend trying a McLaren for a while. A lot of ex-Aston owners have jumped into the fold and don't think many have gone back.
Thanks for the responses, gents. No real surprises in your thoughts. And would honestly walk away if the performance difference was limited to up to what the 570 offers (which as justin220 said is actually quite a bit). But the 650s was something else entirely. And it’s a hard top spider. No doubt the Aston looks better, but the performance difference makes it feel like a bit of a poseur. Still will be hard to give it up. Not there yet.
Currently have a V12VS which I adore but do feel the need to scratch the Mclaren itch at some point especially given the 650S is down around the 120k region, huge amount of car for the cash...after sales service seems to be a problem though with no independent specialists and 5k a yr warranties are pretty eye watering! Cutting edge tech though next to the very analogue V12V
12pack said:
Thanks for the responses, gents. No real surprises in your thoughts. And would hones
tly walk away if the performance difference was limited to up to what the 570 offers (which as justin220 said is actually quite a bit). But the 650s was something else entirely. And it’s a hard top spider. No doubt the Aston looks better, but the performance difference makes it feel like a bit of a poseur. Still will be hard to give it up. Not there yet.
Might be worth asking somewhere other than the Aston forum to get a bit more balance. tly walk away if the performance difference was limited to up to what the 570 offers (which as justin220 said is actually quite a bit). But the 650s was something else entirely. And it’s a hard top spider. No doubt the Aston looks better, but the performance difference makes it feel like a bit of a poseur. Still will be hard to give it up. Not there yet.
Of course on an Aston forum you’re going to get a biased view 
I have a V12V and a 570S Spider - to be honest, when I bought the 570, I thought I’d only keep the car six months as I had a new V8 Vantage coming and my plan was to sell the 570 once the new V8 came. The reality was after a very short time with the 570 I’ve realised it too good a car to let go and the only thing I’d change it for would be a 600LT.
In the flesh the 570 looks much better than pictures - to me it’s the best looking McLaren yet, but it’s the way it drives that sets it apart. Sure you can’t leave the car in 7th gear and expect the same level of acceleration you’d get from a V12V in sixth but the gearbox is so fast and smooth that it’s easy to drop a couple of cogs and then performance is like being in the millennium falcon!
The 570 just ‘feels’ right - it’s very tactile, inspires confidence both on road and on track. As a drivers car it’s a big step up over a V12V but to be fair the V12V has something ‘special’ about it. In a ideal world, having both is the best option and hence why I didn’t sell my V12V. The noise from the V12V is much better than the 570.
The public reaction to the 570 is very positive and it certainly attracts more attention than the Aston, which can be good & bad. Both feel very much an ‘event’ to drive but for very different reasons. Brute in a suit vs precision scalpel.
At current prices I think McLarens represent amazing value - they are so much car for the money. I’m sure you wouldn’t regret buying one - they are simply stunning cars.
I have a V12V and a 570S Spider - to be honest, when I bought the 570, I thought I’d only keep the car six months as I had a new V8 Vantage coming and my plan was to sell the 570 once the new V8 came. The reality was after a very short time with the 570 I’ve realised it too good a car to let go and the only thing I’d change it for would be a 600LT.
In the flesh the 570 looks much better than pictures - to me it’s the best looking McLaren yet, but it’s the way it drives that sets it apart. Sure you can’t leave the car in 7th gear and expect the same level of acceleration you’d get from a V12V in sixth but the gearbox is so fast and smooth that it’s easy to drop a couple of cogs and then performance is like being in the millennium falcon!
The 570 just ‘feels’ right - it’s very tactile, inspires confidence both on road and on track. As a drivers car it’s a big step up over a V12V but to be fair the V12V has something ‘special’ about it. In a ideal world, having both is the best option and hence why I didn’t sell my V12V. The noise from the V12V is much better than the 570.
The public reaction to the 570 is very positive and it certainly attracts more attention than the Aston, which can be good & bad. Both feel very much an ‘event’ to drive but for very different reasons. Brute in a suit vs precision scalpel.
At current prices I think McLarens represent amazing value - they are so much car for the money. I’m sure you wouldn’t regret buying one - they are simply stunning cars.
In an ideal world OP you, or I for that matter, would have both. They are different enough to justify having both in the garage if space and funds allow.
Predictably you've had a slightly skewed response on here but some of the comments have some merit. The tumbling values, warranty cost and limited servicing network are all valid points to be considered carefully, although with regard to values at least, most marques are in the same boat to a certain degree.
As for 'they all look the same' and 'kit car' comments, really?? Aston have hardly been known for their diverse model range look over the past decade or so, along with a history of minor niggles, or TADTS, that isn't so far removed from other lower volume manufactures.
Don't get me wrong, I'm on my third Vantage and wouldn't be if I didn't love every one of them. But I'm not so blinkered that I'd never consider something else if it felt right.
Predictably you've had a slightly skewed response on here but some of the comments have some merit. The tumbling values, warranty cost and limited servicing network are all valid points to be considered carefully, although with regard to values at least, most marques are in the same boat to a certain degree.
As for 'they all look the same' and 'kit car' comments, really?? Aston have hardly been known for their diverse model range look over the past decade or so, along with a history of minor niggles, or TADTS, that isn't so far removed from other lower volume manufactures.
Don't get me wrong, I'm on my third Vantage and wouldn't be if I didn't love every one of them. But I'm not so blinkered that I'd never consider something else if it felt right.
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