Advice on AM upgrade: V12V/DBS/F430

[FFM]

ciao!

let's go directly to the point: should I upgrade to a V12V / DBS / F430 (e.g. a manual LHD) before I am due my Vantage 4.7's service and warranty extension (at about £2,800 in total) in the next 2 months? if yes, what would you go for?

Background:
My idea is to move to something a bit more rarer, minimise/avoid capital-loss, continue having week-end fun (assumption is I will continue to do only 2/3k miles/year) for a budget of £80/90k.

I started focusing on the V12V but don't find that many for sale around...thus, I expanded my search into F430s but so far, nothing really caught my attention (RHD's has gone too far in value and still common with an F1, so maybe better a LHD Manual would give me what I am looking for).
Ultimately, I am also considering a DBS (manual).

I am really happy about my vantage ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1diHUkolPI ), colour combo is epic and very rare so I am not sure whether to let it go, yet.

On a relative basis I perceive the below to be the pros/cons for each car

Current Vantage 4.7
Pros: great to look and to drive, easy to move/park in London, low cost of ownership (depreciation/insurance/maintenance), feels special to sit in for it's beautiful colour spec
Cons: The shape of the vantage is more "common" that the others, in London

F430
Pros: it's a mid-engined Ferrari, sport drive-focused, feels less common, rare with the manual shift
Cons: maybe not the car for a 4 hours drive?, the most expensive to maintain, not ideal for london?

V12V: never test-driven due to little available for sale
Pros: Rare, sport drive-focused (based on reviews), v12 sound, I believe it would feel special in particular with the lightweight seats and an alcantara spec even in a common black-interior spec
Cons: on a look-basis only, would it feel more special that a V8 vantage? (assuming no "sport"-spec)

DBS: never test-driven
Pros: Rare, epic GT drive (based on reviews), v12 sound, exterior look
Cons: more expensive to maintain, purely by sitting in it, i.e. not driving it, would it feel more special that a V8 vantage?, I am too young at 30 yrs old for this type of car? (i.e. being a GT and less sport-focused will I get bored more easily?), does it feel too big for london?


thanks a lot

[Armen]

You are on the AM section but I would strongly advise you to get a manual F430, they already started to climb a lot, and it now time to get them.

The last manual mid-engine Ferrari (and naturally aspirated V8). A real sport car, very raw feeling, very nimble. It feels like a race car. An absolute blast to drive !!! A very rare car (world-wide production = 5% of total F430 production was manual).

I can assure you that an F430 with Michelin Super Sport tires is as comfortable as the DBS, if not more comfortable ! Yes, you would be very surprised.

About maintenance, it is not more expensive to maintain than the V12V and DBS. On the contrary, I would even say cheaper (especially if you have steel brakes on the Ferrari compared to the ceramic ones of the Aston). Clutch is the same price.

No more timing belts on the F430 (as it was the case with the previous 360, F355 etc...). And with the stock exhaust valve system, you can cruise gently at 60 mph without the engine screaming. But my God, when the valves open, it is such a bark ! Very impressive sound.

[outofstepuk]

if you are worried if a DBS is too big for London, I would say being sat on the wrong side of a 430 would be an issue.

[cayman-black]

The only way is to try and drive each one they are all great cars so you cant go wrong there. imo the Astons sound better than the blare that the Ferrari makes.
Both Astons are more GT than the Ferrari as well. All manual gearbox's are great in these three.
Its the Ferrari that has the more issues.

[Armen]

Except the MK1 manifolds problems on the F430, this car is BULLET PROOF.

[cayman-black]

Armen said:

Except the MK1 manifolds problems on the F430, this car is BULLET PROOF.

Plus ball joints going every other year and then theres the silencer box throwing white dust all over the engine bay and that's just what I remember.
Oh and don't forget paint issues, all though I know Aston has those as well.
Oh forgot to add brakes, they are far better on the Astons especially if the 430 has the tiny steels. Both above Astons have ceramics which if looked after are superb and long lasting.

Edited by cayman-black on Monday 7th March 14:11

[Brakke]

Dont forget the leather (especially on the bolster) inside which after 20,000 miles fade like crazy.
The switch gear which gets all sticky after a few years, the dash leather has coloration issues.
( Im not an Aston-fanboy..also have a ferrari..its the reality of owning an F-car, they all come with niggles, just like some Astons)

[jakesmith]

Brakke said:

Dont forget the leather (especially on the bolster) inside which after 20,000 miles fade like crazy.
The switch gear which gets all sticky after a few years, the dash leather has coloration issues.
( Im not an Aston-fanboy..also have a ferrari..its the reality of owning an F-car, they all come with niggles, just like some Astons)

Plus don't forget you'll look a right tt driving it compared to the Aston!

[cayman-black]

jakesmith said:

Plus don't forget you'll look a right tt driving it compared to the Aston!

[Brakke]

jakesmith said:

Plus don't forget you'll look a right tt driving it compared to the Aston!

Hahaha

I drove my 550 this weekend, you do get a different look from people. Myth = plausible

[Nijius Maximus]

jakesmith said:

Plus don't forget you'll look a right tt driving it compared to the Aston!

OP: You NEED to test drive both the V12V and the DBS in order to make an informed decision. The only way of doing so is to contact the Aston dealers and tell them. That way when one of the rare manual DBS or V12V cars are about to come into stock they can call you beforehand.

Then hopefully you'll be able to make your way quickly down before someone snaps it up. I missed out on two V12V test drives as they were both sold before I had chance to come down - one before it even got to the garage. On the third attempt I quickly went down, drove it and bought it there and then.

Having owned a 4.7 V8 earlier I can tell you the positive differences to me were:

• Better sound: both startup, overrun, accelerating, echo, richness, tone... Hell, everything! It barks and growls. And it's mean. Very mean. Completely different to the V8.

• More torque: you can tell straight away (as long as the Sport button is on). It just pushes you along effortlessly. It's definitely not a slow car for 99% of people's driving circumstances.

• More fun: it really is. It's far more involving and requires RESPECT. Even routine drives become exciting. The best thing is that you can spends years learning about this car and slowly building up more confidence. You just won't get bored of it and will probably never want to sell it.

In terms of the DBS (I only test drove the automatic): I would say it's a more comfortable drive, (arguably) looks more elegant, and has the James Bond connection. But it feels bigger and less agile.

All depends on whether you want to go more to the GT side or the sports side. Good luck though!

[FFM]

Nijius Maximus said:

OP: You NEED to test drive both the V12V and the DBS in order to make an informed decision. The only way of doing so is to contact the Aston dealers and tell them. That way when one of the rare manual DBS or V12V cars are about to come into stock they can call you beforehand.

Then hopefully you'll be able to make your way quickly down before someone snaps it up. I missed out on two V12V test drives as they were both sold before I had chance to come down - one before it even got to the garage. On the third attempt I quickly went down, drove it and bought it there and then.

Having owned a 4.7 V8 earlier I can tell you the positive differences to me were:

• Better sound: both startup, overrun, accelerating, echo, richness, tone... Hell, everything! It barks and growls. And it's mean. Very mean. Completely different to the V8.

• More torque: you can tell straight away (as long as the Sport button is on). It just pushes you along effortlessly. It's definitely not a slow car for 99% of people's driving circumstances.

• More fun: it really is. It's far more involving and requires RESPECT. Even routine drives become exciting. The best thing is that you can spends years learning about this car and slowly building up more confidence. You just won't get bored of it and will probably never want to sell it.

In terms of the DBS (I only test drove the automatic): I would say it's a more comfortable drive, (arguably) looks more elegant, and has the James Bond connection. But it feels bigger and less agile.

All depends on whether you want to go more to the GT side or the sports side. Good luck though!

Thank you, I appreaciate that. I have left my details with Stratsone Park lane where I bought my car but it's quite a long time I haven't seen a DBS manual or a V12V, neither in Western Avenue.

You right, I need a test drive in both of them to make a good decision anyway.

Thanks
F

[AMDBSNick]

I will no doubt get shot down in flames for this.

When the current bubble bursts, which it will, your "LHD" 430 will be worth a round of drinks in the UK

[Manwhoneverwas]

For example, DBS (manual)

http://www.levencarcompany.co.uk/pre-owned/5548902...

A previous V8VR owner on here changed to a F430 (spyder) and has spent £20K in maintenance in his first year of ownership

Edited by Manwhoneverwas on Monday 7th March 19:16

[jakesmith]

Manwhoneverwas said:

For example, DBS (manual)

http://www.levencarcompany.co.uk/pre-owned/5548902...

A previous V8VR owner on here changed to a F430 (spyder) and has spent £20K in maintenance in his first year of ownership

Edited by Manwhoneverwas on Monday 7th March 19:16

I remember that thread, it was painful reading, I do think no matter how reliable Ferarris are, they have far greater potential for these sort of ludicrous bills than Astons.
Maybe it's due to Ford overseing Aston's quality control improvement program vs. Fiat doing the same with Fez.

[Armen]

"True" 6 speed manual clutch lasts much longer than the F1 gearbox one.
One of my friends owns one (F1) he bought new in 2006, and apart the manifolds, pads, tires and regular maintenance, he didn't spend anything else on the car.

[Omaruk]

430 is surprisingly wide

[Flugplatz]

My 2008 430 spider had £28K of warranty work in 18K miles and my 2009 430 Scud hit the £40K in warranty work in just 5k miles.

Both were great fun but the Scud was made out of lego and chocolate by children

Edited by Flugplatz on Tuesday 8th March 10:50

[AMDBSNick]

Flugplatz said:

My 2008 430 spider had £28K of warranty work in 18K miles and my 2009 430 Scud hit the £40K in warranty work in just 5k miles.

[SL550M]

Flugplatz said:

My 2008 430 spider had £28K of warranty work in 18K miles and my 2009 430 Scud hit the £40K in warranty work in just 5k miles.

Both were great fun but the Scud was made out of lego and chocolate by children

Edited by Flugplatz on Tuesday 8th March 10:50

That is absolutely horrendous, but surely is very much the exception rather than the norm? An approved warranty costs Ferrari roughly 3 grand a year; if many cars were coming back with double, triple, quadruple that in warranty repairs then surely all the dealers would have gone belly-up by now. Or is it simply that the F430 is the weak spot in the Ferrari range? Anyway, you guys are all Aston owners and fans (as I am too!) so you're not likely to care