Opinions needed, V8 Vantage or XKR?
Discussion
Hello folks. I'm after your opinions as Aston owners on my next purchase. I'm feverishly saving up the funds right now for a replacement for my T350 and I'm just about approaching the time to start the search in earnest.
Like most sane people with working spuds between their legs I've always wanted an Aston. Since the V8 Vantage came out I've been coveting it since day one. To me it is simply stunning, only the Alfa 8c rivals it for beauty in my mind. I have however read reviews with differing opinions on the car and I don't want to be dissapointed with the level of go available or the driving experience as a whole. If that happens it'll be heartbreaking stuff.
So I would like to spend maybe 50-55k next time around and it seems that will get me into a relatively early Vantage. In my searches I have also looked at a few other options (Granturismo- too big, Evora- wait till the more powerful one comes around) and found myself looking at the latest Jag XKR with the 500 BHP engine. This has really turned my head, while not as gorgeous as the Aston it's still lovely, although I refuse to let looks define the choice. It's interior is fantastic, shades the Aston for me and the levels of kit are also first class compared to the Vantage. That engine though, oh my...
I have read the rave reviews on the Jag and experienced the tremendous oomph that engine provides and while I really wanted the Aston, I can't help but think I'd be buying the worse car for the badge alone. That's not really me but then I have no direct experience of the Vantage.
So I'd like to get some opinions from Aston (or Jag) owners on the choice between these two. They are both great and I'd love to get some validation for my Aston craving, but probably better to get some genuine feedback from those who chose the Vantage.
Help! I need to make the right choice!
Like most sane people with working spuds between their legs I've always wanted an Aston. Since the V8 Vantage came out I've been coveting it since day one. To me it is simply stunning, only the Alfa 8c rivals it for beauty in my mind. I have however read reviews with differing opinions on the car and I don't want to be dissapointed with the level of go available or the driving experience as a whole. If that happens it'll be heartbreaking stuff.
So I would like to spend maybe 50-55k next time around and it seems that will get me into a relatively early Vantage. In my searches I have also looked at a few other options (Granturismo- too big, Evora- wait till the more powerful one comes around) and found myself looking at the latest Jag XKR with the 500 BHP engine. This has really turned my head, while not as gorgeous as the Aston it's still lovely, although I refuse to let looks define the choice. It's interior is fantastic, shades the Aston for me and the levels of kit are also first class compared to the Vantage. That engine though, oh my...
I have read the rave reviews on the Jag and experienced the tremendous oomph that engine provides and while I really wanted the Aston, I can't help but think I'd be buying the worse car for the badge alone. That's not really me but then I have no direct experience of the Vantage.
So I'd like to get some opinions from Aston (or Jag) owners on the choice between these two. They are both great and I'd love to get some validation for my Aston craving, but probably better to get some genuine feedback from those who chose the Vantage.
Help! I need to make the right choice!
Not had an XKR but OH had a new XK8 the same time as my V8V. Reliability with electrics and other issues as well as general poor service from a main dealer blighted the Jaguar experience. His was forever going back for niggly things that just didnt get sorted.
Granted it may have just been a poor choice of dealer, but the things shouldnt have gone wrong in the first place. We tossed up between getting me an XKR convertible or the V8V roadster. After about six months now with the Aston, it was the best choice we have ever made. The everyday grin of driving it doesnt go away.
For me its not about the all out power as for everyday use a 4.7 is ample. And I guess yes the badge says a lot, well to me it does.
For me the Aston is a dream fulfilled, but your choice in the end.
Would we get another Jag? Probably not. Would we get another Aston? If we could afford it then hell yes.
Good luck
Di
Granted it may have just been a poor choice of dealer, but the things shouldnt have gone wrong in the first place. We tossed up between getting me an XKR convertible or the V8V roadster. After about six months now with the Aston, it was the best choice we have ever made. The everyday grin of driving it doesnt go away.
For me its not about the all out power as for everyday use a 4.7 is ample. And I guess yes the badge says a lot, well to me it does.
For me the Aston is a dream fulfilled, but your choice in the end.
Would we get another Jag? Probably not. Would we get another Aston? If we could afford it then hell yes.
Good luck
Di
I had the same problem, (although a nice problem to have) a 911 Turbo, XKR or V8 Vantage.
Tried the Porsche, fast holds the road well etc, etc but did not look very special.
Tried the XKR looks good both inside and out, but is a large car when compared to the 911 and V8V and XKR only available in auto.
Tried the V8V on a test drive.... and bought a dealer stock one the next day.
After 3 months of ownership (and as an ex TVR owner) what do I miss.
It does not appear to be as fast as a TVR, or was that just the TVR Supersports exhaust?.
It has the same presence on the road as a TVR, people let you out at junctions and stare at you on the motorway.
Hopefully it will soon have an upgraded exhaust and clear rear lenses, everything else perfect (apart from that thing that pops out of the top of the dashboard). One last thing the XKR and V8V are all wider than the TVR, check the width of your garage I widened mine by another foot to safely reverse in, and added a new electic door well that's what I told her it needed.
Tried the Porsche, fast holds the road well etc, etc but did not look very special.
Tried the XKR looks good both inside and out, but is a large car when compared to the 911 and V8V and XKR only available in auto.
Tried the V8V on a test drive.... and bought a dealer stock one the next day.
After 3 months of ownership (and as an ex TVR owner) what do I miss.
It does not appear to be as fast as a TVR, or was that just the TVR Supersports exhaust?.
It has the same presence on the road as a TVR, people let you out at junctions and stare at you on the motorway.
Hopefully it will soon have an upgraded exhaust and clear rear lenses, everything else perfect (apart from that thing that pops out of the top of the dashboard). One last thing the XKR and V8V are all wider than the TVR, check the width of your garage I widened mine by another foot to safely reverse in, and added a new electic door well that's what I told her it needed.
XKR is really a DB9 competitor in size and purpose ...the V8V is really the next size down IMO and more "sports" than "GT"
Performance wise, its more than adequate for road use, and light track use. Out of the box its as quick on track than say an Exige, an F360, an M3 CSL (certainly in my experience - the brakes actually still work after a few laps LOL)
Of course the problem is the BHP per £ ratio, that all magazine reviews seem to focus on :
you read an M3 or RS4 review and its "awesome" or "silly fast"
the same figures delivered by a £90K V8 Aston and its "underpowered" or "not fast enough for its class"
you really have to drive it for yourself. I think its quite unusual for a V8 aspirated engine, as you expect all the torque early on, but it needs to be revved like a Jap 4 pot to get the best out of it....you need to keep it on the boil
Also there is no step change in the standard ECU map, no VVTI, Variocam or other map tweaks that are often used by some manufacturers, as much to give an impression of increased power, as to actually give other benefits...
If Aston mapped in a 20bhp hike at 4500revs, im sure it would seem quicker than it is ....like other manufacturers do ....but its completely smooth and linear, hence deceiving, if you use all the revs in the first few gears regularly you will have quite a lick on
a car that can do 60mph in 5 secs and a ton in 11secs is not slow by any stretch of the imagination, but you can always go faster for your money at any price point, and of course, this is often the obsession of many performance car magazines
So I guess you need to go and drive one, and if you think its not enough for the cash, then buy something that is...thats about the gist of it ...and the new XKR is a lot of bang for the buck...
Performance wise, its more than adequate for road use, and light track use. Out of the box its as quick on track than say an Exige, an F360, an M3 CSL (certainly in my experience - the brakes actually still work after a few laps LOL)
Of course the problem is the BHP per £ ratio, that all magazine reviews seem to focus on :
you read an M3 or RS4 review and its "awesome" or "silly fast"
the same figures delivered by a £90K V8 Aston and its "underpowered" or "not fast enough for its class"
you really have to drive it for yourself. I think its quite unusual for a V8 aspirated engine, as you expect all the torque early on, but it needs to be revved like a Jap 4 pot to get the best out of it....you need to keep it on the boil
Also there is no step change in the standard ECU map, no VVTI, Variocam or other map tweaks that are often used by some manufacturers, as much to give an impression of increased power, as to actually give other benefits...
If Aston mapped in a 20bhp hike at 4500revs, im sure it would seem quicker than it is ....like other manufacturers do ....but its completely smooth and linear, hence deceiving, if you use all the revs in the first few gears regularly you will have quite a lick on
a car that can do 60mph in 5 secs and a ton in 11secs is not slow by any stretch of the imagination, but you can always go faster for your money at any price point, and of course, this is often the obsession of many performance car magazines
So I guess you need to go and drive one, and if you think its not enough for the cash, then buy something that is...thats about the gist of it ...and the new XKR is a lot of bang for the buck...
I have had an XK8, N400 (V8V) and a V12V. The new jag engine by all accounts is excellent (not driven) and does look good. I did wonder at one stage if I would be tempted by the new XKR. At the end of the day the size of the car mattered (jag is more comparable to the DB9 and I prefer the V8V by far), the drive & handling rather than outright acceleration(the V8V excels here), the looks (IMHO the V8V/V12V is the best looking car on the road) and the build quality ( the V8V has little things that go wrong from the hand finishing but generally are easy to put right and overall rock solid but my experience of the jag was one of disappointment despite the good looks internally creaks and groans could never be eliminated). Both jag and AM were/are admired but the AM pips the jag overall in terms of the volume of positive comment and feedback.
you can buy a very nice 450 BHP DB9 for 50 to 55k.......much better than the jag and will loose less money........let me ask you a question....next time you see an old school pal and the enevitable male question comes up
"so what you driving these days" what would you like your answer to be ??
"so what you driving these days" what would you like your answer to be ??
We own a 2009 4.2 XKR convertible and a Aston DB7 vantage V12 and a DB7 Zagato.
The XKR is a wonderful car to drive. Look nearly as good as a DB9, but not as good as a V8.
For a long, tireless, easy, fast, journey the XKR is unbeatable. Its auto TT gearbox is phenomenal.
The changes are fast and accurate. Its an overtaking machine. (The Satnav is crap but so is the Astons apparently)
The computers are always beeping, buzzing, chirping every tme you get in, but all modern cars are the same.
We purchased the XKR only because the manual clutch on an Aston V8 we tried was far to hard for my wife
(She has a bad back.) So the XKR was plan B.
At the Aston garage where I bought the Jag from even they said the Jag XKR was better than a DB9.
It probably is, but if I had a choice I would always take the Aston unless I was doing 30000 miles
a year for a living.
The Jag will be cheaper, but depreciate more and faster.
The XKR is a wonderful car to drive. Look nearly as good as a DB9, but not as good as a V8.
For a long, tireless, easy, fast, journey the XKR is unbeatable. Its auto TT gearbox is phenomenal.
The changes are fast and accurate. Its an overtaking machine. (The Satnav is crap but so is the Astons apparently)
The computers are always beeping, buzzing, chirping every tme you get in, but all modern cars are the same.
We purchased the XKR only because the manual clutch on an Aston V8 we tried was far to hard for my wife
(She has a bad back.) So the XKR was plan B.
At the Aston garage where I bought the Jag from even they said the Jag XKR was better than a DB9.
It probably is, but if I had a choice I would always take the Aston unless I was doing 30000 miles
a year for a living.
The Jag will be cheaper, but depreciate more and faster.
Edited by GaryU on Tuesday 19th January 21:06
cathalm said:
...I've always wanted an Aston. ...
Even if the Jag had 1000bhp and a couple of naked birds in the back, this will still be there at the back of your mind.As it stands, the Jag doesn't. And as much as they're nice cars, the looks are a little untidy inside and out IMO.
You will love a V8V of that I am sure.
Think it is a tough decision and no definitive answer. Having had a V8V and now running an XKR my opinion is probably a little biased and got a lot of abuse last time i expressed my opinion on 'bang for buck'. A jag will never offer the sense of occasion that an aston does and the noise it makes, whilst nice, doesn't compete. However the XKR (and i am running 4.2) feels so much quicker and comfortable. Not quite as planted as the V8V but i don't track the car and plenty of grip for my use on UK roads. I was 'forced' into the Jag by my wife after 2 attempts to steal the Aston from the driveway (via the kitchen)and therein lies the final point - the Jag is much more stealth and attracts much less attention - perfect for me but not for everyone.
I am fortunate that I hav an XKR and DB9. I have also driven the V8V. The Jag is a perect everday car and has been very reliable. Much faster than both the V8V and my DB9.I agree the XKR is closer to a DB9 than V8V. The only downside to the Jag is potential exclusivety. Having said that I have seen more Astons on the road this week than XK/XKR's.They are all excellent cars and I am sure you wont be disappointed whichever route you go. Or you could wait for the Jag 2 seater which I hear may be coming out next year?
If you get the Jag, you will always be asking yourself...'what would it feel like to own and drive an Aston'. Buying an Aston is just as much to do with the heart as is it with the head.
Buying a Jag is done with your head, pipe and slippers!
Life brings some really tough decisions doesn't it!!!
Buying a Jag is done with your head, pipe and slippers!
Life brings some really tough decisions doesn't it!!!
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