Retirement AM Vantage which one please help Debate

[Bentley Blower]

First of all please don't just read this ... add your views and lets start the debate !

I am 12 months away from a golden handshake pot of money [so please allow for prices in 12 months time].

I have decided to get an Aston Martin Vantage over my other choices:-

Ultima GTR
Ariel Atom 300
Porsche GT3
Feel free to comment on my choice of cars...

I will have 65K for an Aston so which one from the following ? .....

1 Vantage V8 with the latest plate I can achieve at that time ?
2 Vantage V8S if they reach my price bracket
3 Vantage V12 09 plate [Bit of a dream I know]

My initial thoughts were to have a trackday toy but I am not sure that I could spend a lot of money on a car and then track it. The Aston will be a 3rd car and will not be used on the track, it will be used more for attending Le Mans and other fantastic events.

Please give me feedback, and be as honest as you like ... this is a massive purchase for me hence my research via other like minded individuals.

[J12MOC]

Ok Paul... here's my biased view!
Go for the V8Vantage S roadster. You should be able to find a nice one in your price range and it'll be a lot newer than a V12. Roadsters with the hood up are no different in most respects to a coupe ( except perhaps luggage space), and if it's a 3rd car this shouldn't be a problem. With the hood down you get the full benefit of the glorious exhaust noise and the wind in your hair etc. etc.

From a looks point of view there's no contest, and you'll be amazed at how the car is received by the public...they really do let you out at junctions.

[J12MOC]

Forgot to say that it's surprising how much stuff my wife can cram into a roadster..soft bags is the key. Ask Mikey too - he's been everywhere in his!

[Bentley Blower]

Martyn

Thank you your car looks fab ... !

[montecristo]

If the V12 comes down to £65K, a DBS might also be possible. But since you've chosen a Vantage, I'd go for the V8 on the grounds that £65K will only get you a bottom end V12 and 'they' say you should avoid the cheapest example of a car type. A V12 may also be more expensive to maintain, if that matters to you.

Also think about how you might feel if the V8 is 'replaced' by a new model type. It wouldn't bother me (look at my face), but it might some people. That's less likely to happen with the V12 (is my uninformed guess).

J12MOC's idea of getting a roadster could work well for the third car. Just make sure you're happy with the slightly different profile/shape of the roadster.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Buy the best AM with a V12 that you can find within your price limit. This means DB9, DBS, Virage or V12V. Since this is a retirement car, you'll be glad down the road that you've got one of the last V12 engined Astons.

[Jon1967x]

The only other car I'd throw into the mix is an audi r8 - by then the much rumoured new one will be either announced or spy pictures floating around which will mean price drops and a v10 will be easily within reach and possibly a newish v8 with s-tronic.

As for Astons I'm in a V8 S and compared many other cars. I went with my heart, the head might gave said differentlly. That said the the S is reviewed very well, some thinking it's the best all round Vantage they do

[montecristo]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Buy the best AM with a V12 that you can find within your price limit. This means DB9, DBS, Virage or V12V. Since this is a retirement car, you'll be glad down the road that you've got one of the last V12 engined Astons.

I like your thinking; the downside might be that for £65k the best V12V you can get may not be that good.

[Quinny]

V8S for me..... Every time

[renmure]

Get any decent V8 Vantage and enjoy it for a year. If it is a 3rd car then you are unlikely to drive it enough to get too phased whether it is an S or not. Then get the Atom and have a blast for a summer then get the GT3 and keep it.

Ultima is an interesting thing to have in the mix. I would like to have one, but I think you either need to be either a bit hands-on at tinkering, or a real fan of them to go ahead with the purchase. Similar thoughts with with the Aston V12.. a nice thought, but there are probably other ways to lose money fairly effectively.

Nice dilemma to have tho

[Ikebaddog]

Get any V8 Vantage for the foreign trips, even, dare I say it, the 4.3, its fast enough to get you in trouble on the continent ( i now prepare to be abused). Then with what you've got left over, a Caterham for fun and track days.

[cayman-black]

£65k will get you a early V12V now and if you know some one in the trade a good car as well.

[J12MOC]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Buy the best AM with a V12 that you can find within your price limit. This means DB9, DBS, Virage or V12V. Since this is a retirement car, you'll be glad down the road that you've got one of the last V12 engined Astons.

Good point, but you wouldn't get a V12 roadster / volante for that money.

[Bincenzo]

Looking at the list of other options, I'd be inclined for you to ensure an Aston is what you're really after. The others are very track focused, whereas only the V12S is truly a track type car in my opinion. If I were in your shoes, I'd plumb for the V8S, a superb development of the basic V8, and I don't think you can beat the noise of the V8 or shape of the Vantage.

Wait now for all of the v12 monkeys to come on banging on about how many cylinders and torques they have.

[bentley01]

I have to agree that for me a roadster felt the most special. I test drove various coupes and whilst they looked sublime I was disappointed at the lack of aural drama in the car. Having had various Porsches with the engine behind your ear the Aston felt too muted. Drove the roadster and thought oh my god now you are talking. Not as pretty as the coupe roof up but better roof down in my opinion.

[AdamV12V]

I like all of the cars in your shortlist, but I cant see the Ultima GTR or the Ariel Atom 300 making for a decent retirement car (assuming you are of normal retirement age).

I would go for a V12V if I were you - due to the potential to hold its value / become a classic I think that long term it is very likely to prove the cheapest to own despite higher day to day running costs. Its almost most likely to give you a little splash of an Ultima / Atom in the day to day drive too!

[George29]

A cheap used 4.3 Vantage and an Ariel Atom 245 would be my choice. Perfect garage

[Jon39]

Bentley Blower said:

I have decided to get an Aston Martin Vantage over my other choices:-

I am sure that you will not regret your choice. Just owning any Aston Martin is a wonderful experience, and being behind the wheel a delight. One surprising aspect that you will discover, are the compliments from other road users. The company and it's cars are certainly held in high regard by so many people.

On this forum we will give you many different opinions, because each of us like our own car. I will try to think of some pointers that might be of help.

1. Do you prefer a Coupe or a Roadster (convertible)? To me the Roadster looks great with the roof down, but not as attractive as the Coupe when the roof is up. That is only personal opinion though, which counts for nothing.

2. It is generally considered that the V12 Vantage will become a very desirable car in the future. Big engine, smallish car, and probably the last powerful sports Aston to have a manual gearbox. In a years time, there may be some around at £65,000.

3. If it is a V8 that you might prefer, then the following could be considered;

3a. Some people have a preference for the original 'classic' body shape. AML later added sills, front splitter, a black section above the rear diffuser, and a bigger rear lip for model year 2012.25. As with any car model, when sales slow a design refresh often occurs. You probably know about all the modifications that were introduced with the 4.7 engine (September 2008). If you do like the original shape, then a 4.7 (Model year 2009, 2010 or 2011) might be ideal. A low mileage, perfect condition car, should be well under your budget by the end of 2014.

3b. From what I remember of Worcestershire roads, you may find the standard suspension quite hard enough for comfort. The Sports Suspension might be annoyingly hard for you, but yet again, that is another personal preference matter.

Enjoy the anticipation of your purchase. You are quite right to research well ahead of purchase.

Jon.

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 26th December 21:25

[michael gould]

The DBS and the V12V at 65k would be at the crapy end of the market......but you could get lucky .......my brother has just purchased a V8S and it's mighty impressive ......you have 12 months to do your research, half the fun of ownership is finding the right car

Enjoy the hunt

[robgt]

V8S with ASM2 , I guess that I am a bit biased.