AM V8 on Top Gear tonight - 8pm BBC2!
Discussion
The BMW is ugly - it's not handsome or stricking its' just plain Ugly, it will also suffer from crippling depreciation.
The Porsche is undoubtably the best car by most logical criteria- but since when did logic apply to vehicle purchase!
I'd have the Aston every time. It has more class.
I drove one last week and I agree they don't feel quick, however it obviously was because of the speeds indicated and how quickly it reached them. The interior of the car is superb, and (answering one of Hammonds critisims) for a normal sized bloke the driving position, cand visibility are great and the car didn't feel large at all.
The Porsche is undoubtably the best car by most logical criteria- but since when did logic apply to vehicle purchase!
I'd have the Aston every time. It has more class.
I drove one last week and I agree they don't feel quick, however it obviously was because of the speeds indicated and how quickly it reached them. The interior of the car is superb, and (answering one of Hammonds critisims) for a normal sized bloke the driving position, cand visibility are great and the car didn't feel large at all.
agent006 said:
bugger I'm at work. is it repeated?
Tuesday @7
thanks.
looking forward to it.
after reading this thread it sounds like the TG basicaly agrred with all the magazine comparisons. ie the 997 is a better sportscar.
But you no what does it matter? I mean how much better is it? that does not mean that the Aston is a bad car does it.
I love Porsche's (obviously)and Im a fan of the 997 love it in fact.
But if someone put both cars in front of me and said choose i'd pick the Aston.
I've just sold a new 997S, had it 5 months. Very accomplished and very.....common. No sense of occasion. When are the 'scooby set' amongst us going to realise it's not always how quickly you get there, but how you arrive. The Aston is beautiful, a little under powered maybe, but just look at it. I've been lucky enough to have 5 911's in various guises, but nothing compares to the pure class of the Aston.
Robbo66 said:
I've just sold a new 997S, had it 5 months. Very accomplished and very.....common. No sense of occasion. When are the 'scooby set' amongst us going to realise it's not always how quickly you get there, but how you arrive. The Aston is beautiful, a little under powered maybe, but just look at it. I've been lucky enough to have 5 911's in various guises, but nothing compares to the pure class of the Aston.
I really don't agree the V8 Vantage is that stunning - it looks like a watered down DB9. The DB7 was truly staggering aesthetically and trumps all the current cars visually, imho.
Sense of occasion? Well obviously, a bit but cars need to be properly 'bespoke' rather than some reconstitution of the parts bin from the parent group to warrant such acclaim - an old William Towns mobile or mid 90s Vantage 550/ 600 Le Mans resolutely does, on the other hand, qualify for this typeof title. (Precisely the same thing happened with Bentley when the Germans took over - the sense of wheeled Balmoralism undoubtedly diluted with the removal of the dashboard organ stops...)
911s have no such pretensions because they don't really need to hark back to some realtively tenuous historical pedigree: they are teutonic to their core and need nor seek any justification for anything other than delivering a variously rewarding drive.
I've swapped various cars over the years but only the 911 remains constant because it is quite simply a unique bouquet of automotively dynamic aromas: it's ubiquity is an irrelevance to anyone revelling in the driving seat, as are others' opinions of it.
I am convinced the Aston is a triumph of badge engineering and prejudice in the face of the purer driving solution.
DB9, DB9, DB9 - every time!
derestrictor said:
I am convinced the Aston is a triumph of badge engineering and prejudice in the face of the purer driving solution.
DB9, DB9, DB9 - every time!
DeR in that case you probably think I'm bonkers selling my '9' to get a V8, but I feel the V8 is everything I crave in an Aston. Stiffer, tighter more composed handling, with I think, more aggresive styling.
Hopefully I'll win you over in the new year ?
I just watched the Top Gear episode on the AMV8 and I just don't get it. How anyone could choose a Porsche over the AMV8 is beyond me. I live in Canada and Porsches here are very frequent. I have seen very few Aston Martins in my life so when I see one it is an event. The beauty and grace are a cut above anything else on the market. There are quite a few cars that are faster than an aston martin, but who cares? If you simply put pirelli tires on it it will be faster around the 'ring than a 911S. When cars are so evenly matched (almost) the differences will not be noticeable to regular drivers in everyday life. It would take a professional driver on a track to exploit the slight advantages the 911 has on the AMV8. Given that, I would choose the AMV8 over a Porsche in a heartbeat(as a matter of fact my name is already on the list at my local dealer). I would choose the V8 over the DB9 or Vanquish in the aston line-up. If I am not mistaken, the V8 is 6-7 seconds faster around the 'ring than its siblings. I am also on the list for a Ferrari F430 but in the end I think I will opt for the V8, owning a Ferrari comes with too much stigma for my taste. Of course, if it had 450-500bhp, we wouldn't be having this discussion but I think there would be too many disgruntled DB9 and vanquish owners. Just my 2 cents.
birdness said:
I just watched the Top Gear episode on the AMV8 and I just don't get it. How anyone could choose a Porsche over the AMV8 is beyond me. I live in Canada and Porsches here are very frequent. I have seen very few Aston Martins in my life so when I see one it is an event. The beauty and grace are a cut above anything else on the market. There are quite a few cars that are faster than an aston martin, but who cares? If you simply put pirelli tires on it it will be faster around the 'ring than a 911S. When cars are so evenly matched (almost) the differences will not be noticeable to regular drivers in everyday life. It would take a professional driver on a track to exploit the slight advantages the 911 has on the AMV8. Given that, I would choose the AMV8 over a Porsche in a heartbeat(as a matter of fact my name is already on the list at my local dealer). I would choose the V8 over the DB9 or Vanquish in the aston line-up. If I am not mistaken, the V8 is 6-7 seconds faster around the 'ring than its siblings. I am also on the list for a Ferrari F430 but in the end I think I will opt for the V8, owning a Ferrari comes with too much stigma for my taste. Of course, if it had 450-500bhp, we wouldn't be having this discussion but I think there would be too many disgruntled DB9 and vanquish owners. Just my 2 cents.
and an extremely well put 2 cents worth to boot
my sentiments exactly 
Hughesie2 said:
The Colour of a Vets Forearm ??
(or was that the M6 ??)
Yup - it was the pig ugly M6.... Unless they've done something with the M vs the normal 6, I find this one of the biggest disappointments in the 'looks department' for many a year. Just looks like it was designed for the US market only (no offence to our US members!)
but then agin F
k it I still want my DB9S!stanwan said:
I am convinced the Aston is a triumph of badge engineering and prejudice in the face of the purer driving solution.
:
Porsche, of course could never be accused of "badge-engineering"....
This is a question of emphasis: everything Porsche have done has been in the typical German spirit, even the unholy (but sensational Cayenne Turbo) stampedes the sector with typical aplomb but I must confess, the V6 engined version is anathema (note, the 'S' is also perfectly acceptable, btw.)
That abberration aside, a Porsche has always been exactly what it say on the label, no false evocation of an idea perhaps diluted by the reality, either in delivery (A-B) or construction (pretentious partsbinitus.)
I sense that many people who 'mindlessly' slate the pork salute the V8 Vantage with equal ignorance.
This is simply my feeling and as Shady suggests, experience can be the great leveller.
I remain, of course, more than open to conversion!
derestrictor said:
I am convinced the Aston is a triumph of badge engineering and prejudice in the face of the purer driving solution.
:
Porsche, of course could never be accused of "badge-engineering"....
This is a question of emphasis: everything Porsche have done has been in the typical German spirit, even the unholy (but sensational Cayenne Turbo) stampedes the sector with typical aplomb but I must confess, the V6 engined version is anathema (note, the 'S' is also perfectly acceptable, btw.)
That abberration aside, a Porsche has always been exactly what it say on the label, no false evocation of an idea perhaps diluted by the reality, either in delivery (A-B) or construction (pretentious partsbinitus.)
I sense that many people who 'mindlessly' slate the pork salute the V8 Vantage with equal ignorance.
This is simply my feeling and as Shady suggests, experience can be the great leveller.
I remain, of course, more than open to conversion!
Your points De, echo my own thoughts in lots of ways, albeit my thoughts are in English :-)...
I have debated the point with myself for what seems eternity, V8 or stick with my Porca. Without a doubt the V8 is pedestrian in comparison and I will miss the out and out neck hurting acceleration. I fancy a change for a while though, until the 997tt turns up and has me dribbling.
DB9 is far too big and heavy looking, no offense shady. Its a thing of beauty but I couldnt live with it, there is only 2 large cars id have, a Murci and a Zonda... Neither of which are on the cards at the moment for me.
cirks said:
The Colour of a Vets Forearm ??
(or was that the M6 ??)
Yup - it was the pig ugly M6.... Unless they've done something with the M vs the normal 6, I find this one of the biggest disappointments in the 'looks department' for many a year. Just looks like it was designed for the US market only (no offence to our US members!)
I found a jet black M6 with Anthracite wheels strangely Groin stirring though
Hughesie2 said:
I found a jet black M6 with Anthracite wheels strangely Groin stirring though
Add a few flames out the back and you've got the latest Bat-Mobile
rich1231 said:
DB9 is far too big and heavy looking, no offense shady. Its a thing of beauty but I couldnt live with it.
No offence taken , I totally agree. It's a fantastic GT and belittles it's size, but it's not a tight, nimble sports car which I crave in an Aston. Hence my change
>> Edited by shadytree on Tuesday 15th November 13:50
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