Ferrari 456 GT vs Aston Martin DB7 V12
Discussion
I'll post this one in both sections as I'd like to hear both peoples opinions.
I've always promised myself either a Ferrari or an Aston by the age of 40. Sadly that passed a few years ago, but nearly....!
anyway, I'm looking at spending around 25k on a bit of a weekend toy. After a bit of a 4 seater(ish!) GT and I've narrowed it down to:-
Ferrari 456 GT
Aston Martin DB7 V12
I've been to view a 456 today and although very nice, I went with my head and not my heart and didn't jump in to the deep end and hand over a deposit as it just didn't seem right. First instincts and all that...
So, basically after peoples thoughts on both the the above.
I'm a fussy bugger when it comes to service history, originality etc etc
I've always promised myself either a Ferrari or an Aston by the age of 40. Sadly that passed a few years ago, but nearly....!
anyway, I'm looking at spending around 25k on a bit of a weekend toy. After a bit of a 4 seater(ish!) GT and I've narrowed it down to:-
Ferrari 456 GT
Aston Martin DB7 V12
I've been to view a 456 today and although very nice, I went with my head and not my heart and didn't jump in to the deep end and hand over a deposit as it just didn't seem right. First instincts and all that...
So, basically after peoples thoughts on both the the above.
I'm a fussy bugger when it comes to service history, originality etc etc
The trouble with both of those cars is at that money, you are dangerously close to their replacements, i.e. the DB9 or the 550 (I know the 550 has two seats, but it's still a V12 GT!).
I had that choice and went for the DB7 Vantage Volante - it was a choice made largely on being able to get the roof off though. You'll get the 'Jag in drag' comments from those who watch Top Gear and it is true to certain extent, but you only need to be underneath one to see how modified and strong that XJS-derived floorpan is. As production continued, less parts were shared with the Jaguar and it became a fine car, certainly a league above the inline 6 earlier version. The engine is built by Cosworth and it is strong, a genuine 420bhp which is more than adequate. Brakes are great and it corners pretty well for what it is, I had mine on a couple of charity track days and it was a hoot!
As for the 456... One of the most beautiful Ferraris of the modern era, considering it replaced the 400i it is a triumph of design for a 2 + 2. However, I have heard of monstrous associated costs but they may be exaggerated as these often are - I think the Fezza forumites will give you a better idea. I think the DB7 is probably a simpler car and your costs will be lower of you buy the right one.
Auto or manual box? Both available with both options and the DB7 also has the TouchTronic option which is a nice compromise. By all accounts, both are driver's cars with the manual box and both waft admirably with the auto. But an automatic Ferrari is... wrong. An auto Aston is perfectly acceptable.
The 'better car for the money' has to be the Ferrari, they were in a different league of costs back then and I think still retain those costs to run them. A Ferrari V12 is a complcated thing... However, the DB7 Vantage has so much character and I miss mine, the DB9 took a long while to get under my skin, the DB7 took one drive! It drives like a rocket-ship fast classic car and has a classic feel about it with modern reliability; the interior is dated in the nicest possible way and it has a hand-made feel about it. It is a thing of lasting beauty as well and is the template for all subsequent Aston Martins really. It also has a huge boot, useful for a GT
If I wanted an auto I would get the Aston with TouchTronic, if I wanted a manual I would need to drive both... a manual V12 is a rare thing these days. Based on gut feeling only, I;d get the TT Aston or the Ferrari in manual but that's only because I have never had one
Have you ever driven a Maserati 4200/GranSport? Hell of a car, and the 4200GT with a manual was a great continent crosser for me. Old school feel with the long throw manual box, loved it.
I had that choice and went for the DB7 Vantage Volante - it was a choice made largely on being able to get the roof off though. You'll get the 'Jag in drag' comments from those who watch Top Gear and it is true to certain extent, but you only need to be underneath one to see how modified and strong that XJS-derived floorpan is. As production continued, less parts were shared with the Jaguar and it became a fine car, certainly a league above the inline 6 earlier version. The engine is built by Cosworth and it is strong, a genuine 420bhp which is more than adequate. Brakes are great and it corners pretty well for what it is, I had mine on a couple of charity track days and it was a hoot!
As for the 456... One of the most beautiful Ferraris of the modern era, considering it replaced the 400i it is a triumph of design for a 2 + 2. However, I have heard of monstrous associated costs but they may be exaggerated as these often are - I think the Fezza forumites will give you a better idea. I think the DB7 is probably a simpler car and your costs will be lower of you buy the right one.
Auto or manual box? Both available with both options and the DB7 also has the TouchTronic option which is a nice compromise. By all accounts, both are driver's cars with the manual box and both waft admirably with the auto. But an automatic Ferrari is... wrong. An auto Aston is perfectly acceptable.
The 'better car for the money' has to be the Ferrari, they were in a different league of costs back then and I think still retain those costs to run them. A Ferrari V12 is a complcated thing... However, the DB7 Vantage has so much character and I miss mine, the DB9 took a long while to get under my skin, the DB7 took one drive! It drives like a rocket-ship fast classic car and has a classic feel about it with modern reliability; the interior is dated in the nicest possible way and it has a hand-made feel about it. It is a thing of lasting beauty as well and is the template for all subsequent Aston Martins really. It also has a huge boot, useful for a GT
If I wanted an auto I would get the Aston with TouchTronic, if I wanted a manual I would need to drive both... a manual V12 is a rare thing these days. Based on gut feeling only, I;d get the TT Aston or the Ferrari in manual but that's only because I have never had one
Have you ever driven a Maserati 4200/GranSport? Hell of a car, and the 4200GT with a manual was a great continent crosser for me. Old school feel with the long throw manual box, loved it.
Cheers for your reply, much appreciate it.
I did a bit of research on associated costs of the 456 and everyone seems to say, factor in around £3000 per year for servicing, which is a tad high for something which will only do about 3000 miles.
Only Maserati I've had was a 1992 Shamal, loved it to bits and a true drivers car.
as it happens, there was a black with cream interior 20k from new 2004 4200 GT parked next to the 456 today and my eyes kept of drifting!
I vowed never to have another Maserati unless I had another Shamal. Not everyones cup of tea, but it would be a boring world out there if we all liked the same thing!
Heart is saying Ferrari
Head is saying Aston
I did a bit of research on associated costs of the 456 and everyone seems to say, factor in around £3000 per year for servicing, which is a tad high for something which will only do about 3000 miles.
Only Maserati I've had was a 1992 Shamal, loved it to bits and a true drivers car.
as it happens, there was a black with cream interior 20k from new 2004 4200 GT parked next to the 456 today and my eyes kept of drifting!
I vowed never to have another Maserati unless I had another Shamal. Not everyones cup of tea, but it would be a boring world out there if we all liked the same thing!
Heart is saying Ferrari
Head is saying Aston
Please keep us posted with how you get on.
I'm going through something similar at the moment.
Heart says Aston, head says many reasons why not.
If one only does 1-2000 miles a year, whats the minimum level of servicing required?
Classis and Sportscar magazine have an article this month. Very short on detail on how to actually buy one though. (Costs, what to look for etc).
I'm going through something similar at the moment.
Heart says Aston, head says many reasons why not.
If one only does 1-2000 miles a year, whats the minimum level of servicing required?
Classis and Sportscar magazine have an article this month. Very short on detail on how to actually buy one though. (Costs, what to look for etc).
Agent57 said:
Please keep us posted with how you get on.
I'm going through something similar at the moment.
Heart says Aston, head says many reasons why not.
If one only does 1-2000 miles a year, whats the minimum level of servicing required?
Classis and Sportscar magazine have an article this month. Very short on detail on how to actually buy one though. (Costs, what to look for etc).
DB7 is supposed to be 6 monthly services but on that sort of mileage an annual service is fine. But it does need doing!! Also DB7s do not react well to being left idle, it's a car that needs to be used. Aircon packs up. History also needs to reflect the coil pack being done, they should all be sorted now though unless ultra-low miles and then it's a £1500 time bomb! Vanquish also 6 monthly but same applies, Gaydon cars (DB9/Vantage) are annual/10k miles. I'm going through something similar at the moment.
Heart says Aston, head says many reasons why not.
If one only does 1-2000 miles a year, whats the minimum level of servicing required?
Classis and Sportscar magazine have an article this month. Very short on detail on how to actually buy one though. (Costs, what to look for etc).
A good thread is the 'Using ones DB7 daily' which is recent. A car just out of hibernation!
It's a shame you don't have a little more money in the piggy bank.
Say another £15 - £20k would get you into DB7 GT land.
Much harder core care than the std vantage and of course the GT is a manual.
The good thing about the GT too is that surprisingly it has more room in the back for passengers. The GT seats are shaped and this adds crucial knee room. Headroom remains unchanged though.
The biggest problem with the GT I find is not anything to do with the car itself, but more-so with the myriad of uneducated articles that quote the wrong specs and figures all over the place.
I also have it under VERY good authority that the GT engines were VERY conservatively rated as is the top speed.
Aston merely quote 185mph+. During testing at Nardo and before they tweaked the final drive ratio, they had it clocked officially at 195mph.
To be honest calculations of the new ratios only put's it at 196mph.. the law of diminishing returns apply here.
The GT is where the V12 DB7 should have STARTED life... but I guess they had to allow for sales of the Vanquish, which funnily enough the original DB7 V12 prototype looked VERY similar to.
I originally wanted a Ferrari and ended up with the GT, more so because of its rarity and the fact they hold their money better than other std DB7's with only the Zagato and AR1 doing better from this stable.
I guess should you choose to go down the Vantage route, then you can over time fit GT parts to them and increase their handling and braking.
The Aston in my mind would be cheaper over time to keep on the road, and if you know where to look you can find new parts from some very surprising sources.
Say another £15 - £20k would get you into DB7 GT land.
Much harder core care than the std vantage and of course the GT is a manual.
The good thing about the GT too is that surprisingly it has more room in the back for passengers. The GT seats are shaped and this adds crucial knee room. Headroom remains unchanged though.
The biggest problem with the GT I find is not anything to do with the car itself, but more-so with the myriad of uneducated articles that quote the wrong specs and figures all over the place.
I also have it under VERY good authority that the GT engines were VERY conservatively rated as is the top speed.
Aston merely quote 185mph+. During testing at Nardo and before they tweaked the final drive ratio, they had it clocked officially at 195mph.
To be honest calculations of the new ratios only put's it at 196mph.. the law of diminishing returns apply here.
The GT is where the V12 DB7 should have STARTED life... but I guess they had to allow for sales of the Vanquish, which funnily enough the original DB7 V12 prototype looked VERY similar to.
I originally wanted a Ferrari and ended up with the GT, more so because of its rarity and the fact they hold their money better than other std DB7's with only the Zagato and AR1 doing better from this stable.
I guess should you choose to go down the Vantage route, then you can over time fit GT parts to them and increase their handling and braking.
The Aston in my mind would be cheaper over time to keep on the road, and if you know where to look you can find new parts from some very surprising sources.
mikey k said:
For that money I would echo Yeti's suggestion of Maser 4200 Gransport
I don't know why I had discounted the Gransport in to the final list really. Albeit a V8, I've not really read a bad report about them.Do the ones fitted with Skyhook suspension suffer from any costlier associated risks!?!?
Coxy914 said:
I don't know why I had discounted the Gransport in to the final list really. Albeit a V8, I've not really read a bad report about them.
Do the ones fitted with Skyhook suspension suffer from any costlier associated risks!?!?
All GranSports have Skyhook as theoretically do all 4200s. Only the 4200 GT (rather than CC) is available with a 3-pedal manual gear change, all the others are robotic manuals and all 4200s post 2004 are pretty much the same spec as GranSports, just some differences in trim. They are fast, well made, sound wonderful and have proper back seats. Its engine is a close relative of the F430, brakes and suspension are 360 Modena and gearbox 550/575. Guigiaro designed body and interior and as a sports GT package at the price I don't think it can be beaten! Only issues are with F1 gearbox pumps but they've mostly been sorted now with a precautionary fuse change! Otherwise very reliable and rare cars. There are zero issues with Skyhook, very simple system that occasionally needs switching between settings to stop it seizing. Do the ones fitted with Skyhook suspension suffer from any costlier associated risks!?!?
I ran a manual GT alongside my Touchtronic DB7VV for ages, loved them both. They both disappeared to enable my purchase of a DB9 manual Volante which combined the best of both worlds I thought - Manual and soft top!
I have owned both a 3200GT and a 4200GT .......early CC autos burn clutches out very quickly......my manuel Spyder was so much fun and reliable......chain driven normally aspirated engine is much cheaper to run than the 3200GT.......the coupe has two good back seats and you can pick them for sub 20k........great buys........normal rules apply do your homework and buy one with a full service history.........good luck
michael gould said:
I have owned both a 3200GT and a 4200GT .......early CC autos burn clutches out very quickly......my manuel Spyder was so much fun and reliable......chain driven normally aspirated engine is much cheaper to run than the 3200GT.......the coupe has two good back seats and you can pick them for sub 20k........great buys........normal rules apply do your homework and buy one with a full service history.........good luck
The n/a bit makes things cheaper. My Shamal required 2 new turbo's at one point.That kind of put a dampener of ownership for a while!
Coxy914 said:
Looks overpriced to me ........it's 8 or 9 years old .......I would have thought closer to 20k .......maybe 22Coxy914 said:
Heart is saying Ferrari
Head is saying Aston
If this is a weekend / evening toy, surely you are short changing yourself if you go with your head? These are both fantastic looking cars and no doubt great to own and drive. Drive both and see which insists "buy ME" Head is saying Aston
Happy hunting!Kris
krisdelta said:
If this is a weekend / evening toy, surely you are short changing yourself if you go with your head? These are both fantastic looking cars and no doubt great to own and drive. Drive both and see which insists "buy ME" Happy hunting!
Kris
If i went with my heart, I'd have another Shamal tomorrow, or just jump straight in to the deepend and buy the first 456 I saw!! Happy hunting!Kris
Going to enjoy 'the chase' a bit this time me thinks! No rush! Well, a month or so tops! Summer is nearly here, apart from the giant snow flakes we've had this morning!
Coxy914 said:
Heart is saying Ferrari
Head is saying Aston
We always see the Aston as the 'heart' choice, never the sensible one!Head is saying Aston
Toss a coin... as it's on the air, you'll actually know what you're hoping for. Get that one.
Are you after auto or manual? Have you considered the DB7 Volante? Have you considered an early Vantage?
the coins was tossed and it landed on it's edge so a 3rd car is now in the mix
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858573.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858573.htm
I am obviously biased but the Aston is such a fantastic car with a huge amount of character.
I would dearly love a Ferrari, but when I compared the two I just preferred the Aston, it really is such a pretty car. The interior is a bit old fashioned and they do squeak a bit, but it really is a special place to sit.
Also, as GTDB7 wrote, if you do a little bit of homework, it is pretty amazing where you can get your spare Aston bits from! One of the plus points of it coming from the Ford Group. This obviously helps with running costs. I also found on a steady run I can get around 22 mpg out of mine, which isn't bad for a 6.0 V12.
It rarely get's that mind as I love the noise it makes (factory sports exhaust) and that lovely in gear shove you get!
I would dearly love a Ferrari, but when I compared the two I just preferred the Aston, it really is such a pretty car. The interior is a bit old fashioned and they do squeak a bit, but it really is a special place to sit.
Also, as GTDB7 wrote, if you do a little bit of homework, it is pretty amazing where you can get your spare Aston bits from! One of the plus points of it coming from the Ford Group. This obviously helps with running costs. I also found on a steady run I can get around 22 mpg out of mine, which isn't bad for a 6.0 V12.
It rarely get's that mind as I love the noise it makes (factory sports exhaust) and that lovely in gear shove you get!
Coxy914 said:
the coins was tossed and it landed on it's edge so a 3rd car is now in the mix
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858573.htm
Lovely - although the technical cloth inserts are not loved by the community, full leather was available as an option. You might like the cloth, it;s certainly grippy!http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3858573.htm
I suggest you have a look at sportsmaserati.co.uk for all the information ever (I'm marcos on there!). Far more useful than the Maserati section on here. The GS would (sad to say) destroy a DB7 or 456 in every measurable way, it's just a much more modern car. You have stated you prize originality... but if you can swallow that, there are some terrific upgrades which will have you at 440bhp and the ability to outhandle most things, although they're a great car out of the box.
Be aware the CC gearbox takes a while to get the hang of, a 10min test drive might not do it. Spend the time and it's very rewarding, and very quick when used right.
Have you driven a DB7 Vantage yet?
yeti said:
Coxy914 said:
I don't know why I had discounted the Gransport in to the final list really. Albeit a V8, I've not really read a bad report about them.
Do the ones fitted with Skyhook suspension suffer from any costlier associated risks!?!?
All GranSports have Skyhook as theoretically do all 4200s. Only the 4200 GT (rather than CC) is available with a 3-pedal manual gear change, all the others are robotic manuals and all 4200s post 2004 are pretty much the same spec as GranSports, just some differences in trim. They are fast, well made, sound wonderful and have proper back seats. Its engine is a close relative of the F430, brakes and suspension are 360 Modena and gearbox 550/575. Guigiaro designed body and interior and as a sports GT package at the price I don't think it can be beaten! Only issues are with F1 gearbox pumps but they've mostly been sorted now with a precautionary fuse change! Otherwise very reliable and rare cars. There are zero issues with Skyhook, very simple system that occasionally needs switching between settings to stop it seizing. Do the ones fitted with Skyhook suspension suffer from any costlier associated risks!?!?
I'd be looking at these
http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I ran a manual GT alongside my Touchtronic DB7VV for ages, loved them both. They both disappeared to enable my purchase of a DB9 manual Volante which combined the best of both worlds I thought - Manual and soft top!
GranSport gains a body kit, exhaust (for 5 BHP more!)really nice alloys and some interior trims (basically all the options
), they did a couple of nice editions - LE's being run outs and the MC Victory edition (holds value REALLY well!). They also did a few GranSport cabrios towards the end but the cabrios suffer from scuttle shake 
Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 15th May 09:38
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