DB9, Bentley Continental or XKR ?
Discussion
Depends on your budget for getting things fixed 
I've an XKR conv. I considered Aston or Bentley a few times over the last few years. But... I've seen the cost of spares and parts on Bentleys and could not countenance having to spend literally thousands of pounds on something relatively inconsequential just because it has a Bentley logon on it... and I don't imagine Aston parts are any cheaper.
Also, Jag Dealers / Jag specialists, lots around, not so many for Bentley and even fewer for Aston.
So I went with the Jag... where although the parts are not exactly give away, they are at least sensible.
If you're happy to spend £40k on the car, and aren't too worried about spending several more grand a year on servicing/repairs and have a decent slush fund for bigger repairs I'd probably go for the Aston. The DB9 still looks good, the Bentley rear lines have never looked right to me.
P.S. the XKR (5.0 s/c) is as docile as a lamb in normal use, but when you hit the loud pedal all hell breaks loose, it's like when the SS Enterprise goes into hyper drive, everything just blurs around you as your perceptions play catch up.
I've an XKR conv. I considered Aston or Bentley a few times over the last few years. But... I've seen the cost of spares and parts on Bentleys and could not countenance having to spend literally thousands of pounds on something relatively inconsequential just because it has a Bentley logon on it... and I don't imagine Aston parts are any cheaper.
Also, Jag Dealers / Jag specialists, lots around, not so many for Bentley and even fewer for Aston.
So I went with the Jag... where although the parts are not exactly give away, they are at least sensible.
If you're happy to spend £40k on the car, and aren't too worried about spending several more grand a year on servicing/repairs and have a decent slush fund for bigger repairs I'd probably go for the Aston. The DB9 still looks good, the Bentley rear lines have never looked right to me.
P.S. the XKR (5.0 s/c) is as docile as a lamb in normal use, but when you hit the loud pedal all hell breaks loose, it's like when the SS Enterprise goes into hyper drive, everything just blurs around you as your perceptions play catch up.
I'd say the Bentley & DB9 will feel like more of an occasion than the XKR but I'd say the XKR is a better drive, if you're considering the DB9 then I'd suggest taking a serious look at the Granturismo.
I say that because I had a DB9 & found the Maserati a much better car & feels like just as much of an occasion as well as having a great engine note.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I say that because I had a DB9 & found the Maserati a much better car & feels like just as much of an occasion as well as having a great engine note.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Aston - because its an aston and instantly gets mahoosive man points whereever you go
Jag is nice, but is still a Jag and not even in the same pecking order as the aston or bentley
Bentley is beautiful and comfortable GT and feels the luxury every time
I've driven all 3 and if it was me i would be buying the Aston - just so i can say i own/drive an aston for however long it maybe
indulge your inner-kid and sod the resale value - life's too short
Jag is nice, but is still a Jag and not even in the same pecking order as the aston or bentley
Bentley is beautiful and comfortable GT and feels the luxury every time
I've driven all 3 and if it was me i would be buying the Aston - just so i can say i own/drive an aston for however long it maybe
indulge your inner-kid and sod the resale value - life's too short
What about an F Type?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
O/T but put in £35-40k on Atrader and the first thing that comes up is this!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...
Over £35k for a Mini Hybrid?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
O/T but put in £35-40k on Atrader and the first thing that comes up is this!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...
Over £35k for a Mini Hybrid?
Definitely discount the bentley - horrendous owning costs and they're still depreciating, they're below £20k now so at £40k you've got a fair bit to potentially lose.
The Aston will have almost bottomed out at £40k, especially a good one in a desirable spec. But beware - older astons need TLC and maintenance costs can be high, even if using indies and well sourced parts. My V8 Vantage needed £5k worth of bits in a 6 month stretch over summer, all consumables that unfortunately just needed doing. At around 50-60k miles stuff like wishbone bushes and maybe even dampers will be past their best, bushes aren't really swappable and control arms are expensive. Dampers are known to go soft and are very expensive to replace. It's great to own and be able to say you own an Aston, but the reality of it for me was just more hassle than I could be bothered with. Obviously buying well mitigates this - you might just get a 'Timeless' approved car for around £40k, but probably in a less desirable spec.
I sold my vantage and bought a V6 F type instead for a little more than your budget. It's by far the better car and 2 years/20k old vs the nearly 10 year old Aston. The XKR is a nice car, but they're still depreciating a lot and again at £40k you're near the top of the market, it still has a lot to lose. I've been tracking F type prices and after the savage first couple of years the depreciation seems to slow right down, so get a well specced car and the total cost of ownership could be less than on an older XKR. Any AUC Jag comes with 2 years warranty which is also worth remembering.
If it bothers you at all - just as many people stare/point/comment on my F type as they did the Aston. Probably aided by the fact it's bright red with the loud exhaust, whereas the aston was a more subtle black.
The Aston will have almost bottomed out at £40k, especially a good one in a desirable spec. But beware - older astons need TLC and maintenance costs can be high, even if using indies and well sourced parts. My V8 Vantage needed £5k worth of bits in a 6 month stretch over summer, all consumables that unfortunately just needed doing. At around 50-60k miles stuff like wishbone bushes and maybe even dampers will be past their best, bushes aren't really swappable and control arms are expensive. Dampers are known to go soft and are very expensive to replace. It's great to own and be able to say you own an Aston, but the reality of it for me was just more hassle than I could be bothered with. Obviously buying well mitigates this - you might just get a 'Timeless' approved car for around £40k, but probably in a less desirable spec.
I sold my vantage and bought a V6 F type instead for a little more than your budget. It's by far the better car and 2 years/20k old vs the nearly 10 year old Aston. The XKR is a nice car, but they're still depreciating a lot and again at £40k you're near the top of the market, it still has a lot to lose. I've been tracking F type prices and after the savage first couple of years the depreciation seems to slow right down, so get a well specced car and the total cost of ownership could be less than on an older XKR. Any AUC Jag comes with 2 years warranty which is also worth remembering.
If it bothers you at all - just as many people stare/point/comment on my F type as they did the Aston. Probably aided by the fact it's bright red with the loud exhaust, whereas the aston was a more subtle black.
Edited by Shrimpvende on Thursday 21st December 18:52
Hi I’ve had all 3 the Bentley I had for 2 years never had anything other than tyre pressure sensor ecu go wrong,I have had 2 XKR’s a 2009 5.0 I had a aircon condenser and compressor failure on that then I had a 2013 with no problems at all.
These where bought in between owning Aston’s I am now on my 6th I’ve had 5 various V8 Vantage’s and now have a DB9 I’ve had nothing major on any of these other than fairly routine stuff like thermostats,a broken coil spring,and on my DB9 a water level sensor,as you can probably tell because I keep coming back to them the Aston is the one I would go for.
These where bought in between owning Aston’s I am now on my 6th I’ve had 5 various V8 Vantage’s and now have a DB9 I’ve had nothing major on any of these other than fairly routine stuff like thermostats,a broken coil spring,and on my DB9 a water level sensor,as you can probably tell because I keep coming back to them the Aston is the one I would go for.
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