ferrari 360 or aston vantage
Discussion
About to pull the plug on a 360 spider manual which will cost me somewhere in the 80 to 90 region, will be 14 years old and done 25k miles. Got to looking at Aston prices and found I could buy a Vantage roadster with manual box just 3 years old and 2000 miles for less than 70.
The Aston does seem like much better value for a far more modern car from an equally upmarket manufacturer. Maybe not quite so much of an out and out sports car.
How do other PH ers see the comparison?
The Aston does seem like much better value for a far more modern car from an equally upmarket manufacturer. Maybe not quite so much of an out and out sports car.
How do other PH ers see the comparison?
I think the problem is only you will be able to pick between the two. Both have their positives and negatives, but in reality if you want the Ferrari, the Aston just won't cut it, and vice versa.
It's definitely a heart over head decision IMO.
I personally prefer the Vanatge over the 360, but can see why others prefer the opposite. The 360 isn't aging well IMO, but the badge is enough to pull alot of people in.
It's definitely a heart over head decision IMO.
I personally prefer the Vanatge over the 360, but can see why others prefer the opposite. The 360 isn't aging well IMO, but the badge is enough to pull alot of people in.
They are massively different cars. Ferrari is a sports car, Vantage is a GT.
Both excellent at what they do (I think the 360 has aged well) but I think you need to decide what kind of car you want.
Regarding running costs it isn't that different between the two. Ferrari servicing and parts are not that cheap as you already know, but neither are Aston (failed front LEDs? £1500 for a new light. Condensation in the rear lights? £800 a pair)
Both excellent at what they do (I think the 360 has aged well) but I think you need to decide what kind of car you want.
Regarding running costs it isn't that different between the two. Ferrari servicing and parts are not that cheap as you already know, but neither are Aston (failed front LEDs? £1500 for a new light. Condensation in the rear lights? £800 a pair)
davek_964 said:
Regarding running costs it isn't that different between the two. Ferrari servicing and parts are not that cheap as you already know, but neither are Aston (failed front LEDs? £1500 for a new light. Condensation in the rear lights? £800 a pair)
Maybe part for part, but the OP is weighing up a 3y/o Aston against a Ferrari well into its second decade with 10x the mileage! There again, there was no mention of warranties...Yiliterate said:
davek_964 said:
Regarding running costs it isn't that different between the two. Ferrari servicing and parts are not that cheap as you already know, but neither are Aston (failed front LEDs? £1500 for a new light. Condensation in the rear lights? £800 a pair)
Maybe part for part, but the OP is weighing up a 3y/o Aston against a Ferrari well into its second decade with 10x the mileage! There again, there was no mention of warranties...Well, that’s good to hear! 
I’d still be inclined to say, on average, that a 3y/o V8 Vantage with 2k miles would incur lower (or less high!) ongoing maintenance costs than a 14y/o 360 with 25k on the clock. However, fingers crossed for the OP that he picks a good’un whichever way he goes...!
I’d still be inclined to say, on average, that a 3y/o V8 Vantage with 2k miles would incur lower (or less high!) ongoing maintenance costs than a 14y/o 360 with 25k on the clock. However, fingers crossed for the OP that he picks a good’un whichever way he goes...!
It's hard for anyone else to make the decision, as they're quite different propositions - it's really a classic vs modern conundrum.
The 360 is probably a safer bet in terms of depreciation, but it's an old car and will feel it compared to the Aston (not a 'young' car either in terms of design). A 3 year old Vantage will have some depreciation, but they still have much lower depreciation than almost any other similar car.
I have a 4.7 V8 Vantage roadster and love it - recently bought to replace my 4.7 coupe; they’re a great ownership experience. However, I like the fact it's not too "in your face".....a Ferrari really wouldn't appeal to me for this reason, even though I do like them.
You need to drive both!
The 360 is probably a safer bet in terms of depreciation, but it's an old car and will feel it compared to the Aston (not a 'young' car either in terms of design). A 3 year old Vantage will have some depreciation, but they still have much lower depreciation than almost any other similar car.
I have a 4.7 V8 Vantage roadster and love it - recently bought to replace my 4.7 coupe; they’re a great ownership experience. However, I like the fact it's not too "in your face".....a Ferrari really wouldn't appeal to me for this reason, even though I do like them.
You need to drive both!
Edited by johnnyBv8 on Saturday 30th December 00:26
andrewparker said:
Have you considered a California?
That's a good suggestion, a comparable car to the Aston - being front engined V8 - and more modern than the 360. It also has the lovely F430 engine in it.It's all very well OP saying you can buy a newer Aston for the money but when it comes to selling it, it will have dropped a lot more than a Ferrari. Having said that I'd rather do miles in an Aston than pile them on a 360 so it would depend on what you're using it for!
I currently own a 360, I had it now for 11 years.
Three years ago I purchased an early low mileage manual vantage V8 Roadster to sit alongside the Ferrari with the intention of using it on nice sunny days, but also because I absolutely love the look of them.
I just didn't get on with it at all, with a friend of mine we took both of them out for a bit of a back to back test drive for a day in the Cotswolds and spent the day switching from one part of the other and to be honest it really didn't take long to decide that the Ferrari was by far the better car in terms of having fun.
I only ended up keeping it for six months before selling (for a healthy profit as it happens) - to me there is really no comparison, it really does depend on how you want to drive but for me the vantage just wasn't sporty enough and actually felt like stepping back in time.
Granted my Vantage was older than the one the OP is suggesting, however the client of mine owns a three year old V12 vantage S and kindly handed me the keys. I was really surprised as it didn't really feel much more up-to-date than my old Vantage and other than the glorious sending the 12 it was a disappointing car.
As others have said based on values the 360 certainly isn't going to go down, and I genuinely don't believe it would cost any more to run than the Vantage. If you add into the mix the fact that the new Vantage is going to dive into prices of nearly new current models I think the value difference will be huge when comparing one with the other in a couple of years time.
Three years ago I purchased an early low mileage manual vantage V8 Roadster to sit alongside the Ferrari with the intention of using it on nice sunny days, but also because I absolutely love the look of them.
I just didn't get on with it at all, with a friend of mine we took both of them out for a bit of a back to back test drive for a day in the Cotswolds and spent the day switching from one part of the other and to be honest it really didn't take long to decide that the Ferrari was by far the better car in terms of having fun.
I only ended up keeping it for six months before selling (for a healthy profit as it happens) - to me there is really no comparison, it really does depend on how you want to drive but for me the vantage just wasn't sporty enough and actually felt like stepping back in time.
Granted my Vantage was older than the one the OP is suggesting, however the client of mine owns a three year old V12 vantage S and kindly handed me the keys. I was really surprised as it didn't really feel much more up-to-date than my old Vantage and other than the glorious sending the 12 it was a disappointing car.
As others have said based on values the 360 certainly isn't going to go down, and I genuinely don't believe it would cost any more to run than the Vantage. If you add into the mix the fact that the new Vantage is going to dive into prices of nearly new current models I think the value difference will be huge when comparing one with the other in a couple of years time.
Yipper said:
They're all a mixed bunch.
360 = aging badly + unreliable.
AMV = unreliable + big depreciation.
California = not a proper Ferrari.
Gallardo LP560 is another option. Much more reliable than all the above, and holding value (some variants rising).
There are people above who own 360s and they say they’re “very reliable”. Do you own one? What experience are you basing your claim on?360 = aging badly + unreliable.
AMV = unreliable + big depreciation.
California = not a proper Ferrari.
Gallardo LP560 is another option. Much more reliable than all the above, and holding value (some variants rising).
Yipper said:
They're all a mixed bunch.
360 = aging badly + unreliable.
AMV = unreliable + big depreciation.
California = not a proper Ferrari.
Gallardo LP560 is another option. Much more reliable than all the above, and holding value (some variants rising).
Garbage.360 = aging badly + unreliable.
AMV = unreliable + big depreciation.
California = not a proper Ferrari.
Gallardo LP560 is another option. Much more reliable than all the above, and holding value (some variants rising).
My 360 has been very reliable (owned 4 years).
Aston (owned 2.5 years) just as reliable as the 911 turbo it replaced.
Thanks for the useful comments. Yes I have considered a California but it isnt a sports car and its more expensive than the Aston.
I think my decision is made - the 360. Yes I know its getting on a bit but it has the mid engined feel that my Lorus had and my 430 had. I wondered about a 458 but IMO its pointlessly fast and wildly over complicated electronically.. What I am really looking for is a bigger Elise with a soft top and the 360 is the nearest I have found. The Aston came into the calculation because for the same money it was far newer and lower mileage
I think my decision is made - the 360. Yes I know its getting on a bit but it has the mid engined feel that my Lorus had and my 430 had. I wondered about a 458 but IMO its pointlessly fast and wildly over complicated electronically.. What I am really looking for is a bigger Elise with a soft top and the 360 is the nearest I have found. The Aston came into the calculation because for the same money it was far newer and lower mileage
these are both slower to 60 than a Tesla, get a real sports car....
no really don't get a Tesla, I understand why you want both of these cars, they're actual sports cars built for fun and 0-60/lap times. I prefer the Aston, because I think it looks better and feels more gt like, but the Ferrari just feels more special to see on the road or on the driveway. I think go with whatever you feel more drawn to.
no really don't get a Tesla, I understand why you want both of these cars, they're actual sports cars built for fun and 0-60/lap times. I prefer the Aston, because I think it looks better and feels more gt like, but the Ferrari just feels more special to see on the road or on the driveway. I think go with whatever you feel more drawn to.
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