Porsche 911 to AM V8V
Discussion
I did the same in 2008 having owned 4 911’s over a 16 year period. The first being a 2006 V8 Vantage which I loved and had no regrets over at all. I however fell into to the drive a V12 Vantage and you’ll want one trap, so in 2014 I stepped into a 2011 V12 and as you’d expect I’m still smiling!
Just do it, it’s an altogether different car, and possibly still one of the best looking designs on the planet.
Just do it, it’s an altogether different car, and possibly still one of the best looking designs on the planet.
I changed from a 997 GTS to a V8 Vantage S Roadster and no regrets. The Porsche is no doubt a more capable sports car especially at the limit but the Vantage mixes a bit of luxurious GT with a very good sports car. Dynamically I'm quite surprised how good the Vantage is when pressing on a bit.
I used to track the 911 and I don't think I will with the Vantage but I have another car to track anyway so no loss there.
911's are extremely effective, efficient and extremely well engineered. The Aston offers 90% of that but with more character and more exclusivity.
I still want a 911 GT3 so will go back to Porsche at some stage but I'm in no hurry and I'll see what the AML/S new Vantage is like before making that choice.
I used to track the 911 and I don't think I will with the Vantage but I have another car to track anyway so no loss there.
911's are extremely effective, efficient and extremely well engineered. The Aston offers 90% of that but with more character and more exclusivity.
I still want a 911 GT3 so will go back to Porsche at some stage but I'm in no hurry and I'll see what the AML/S new Vantage is like before making that choice.
I came from a 2008 997.1 C2S to a 2007 Vantage V8 and had the vantage now for 7 years and still looking back at the car when walking away.
Cracking cars both of them, was always a dream to own an Aston, stunning car.
If you dont need the rear seats then go for it.
Word of warning they are totally different cars to drive. Porsche nailed it with the complete all rounder with the 911 including being well capable on trackdays (albeit a switch to cup tyres in my case)
You certaininly will notice the extra weight when pushing on in the Aston and I found it underbraked for its weight but with the noise, interior full of leather, real steering feel, looks...and did i mention noise :-) makes driving a pleasure.
Would i consider going back to a 911?... porsche build some great sports cars although for me it would have to be the last of the real analog ones like a 997 GTS (now reflected in the price)
Cracking cars both of them, was always a dream to own an Aston, stunning car.
If you dont need the rear seats then go for it.
Word of warning they are totally different cars to drive. Porsche nailed it with the complete all rounder with the 911 including being well capable on trackdays (albeit a switch to cup tyres in my case)
You certaininly will notice the extra weight when pushing on in the Aston and I found it underbraked for its weight but with the noise, interior full of leather, real steering feel, looks...and did i mention noise :-) makes driving a pleasure.
Would i consider going back to a 911?... porsche build some great sports cars although for me it would have to be the last of the real analog ones like a 997 GTS (now reflected in the price)
i went from an 2004 C4S to a 2007 DB9. Aston was slower but felt far more upmarket. Better received on the road as well, cars let you out of junctions and that never happened with the Porsche. Biggest surprise was running costs, every time the Porsche went into the garage it needed something. DB9 only had annual service costs (about 1/3 more expensive than OPC) and fuel (which was around the same). Kept the Porsche for 4 years and it lost £15k. Kept the DB9 for 5 years and it lost £3k on the trade in but was retailed £5k more than i initially paid. On a V12V now which is definitely faster than the Porsche!
Had a 1989 964 c4 cab and later a 996 x50 turbo .
Vantage is very different both in performance and handling to the 996 t .
I feel the Porsches are better developed in the way that German cars will be but the Aston has more “soul” . Reflecting on what others have said about TVR’s , I suppose the vantage is a sophisticated version of those ?
Vantage is very different both in performance and handling to the 996 t .
I feel the Porsches are better developed in the way that German cars will be but the Aston has more “soul” . Reflecting on what others have said about TVR’s , I suppose the vantage is a sophisticated version of those ?
Edited by ds666 on Thursday 1st March 13:25
Edited by ds666 on Thursday 1st March 13:25
ds666 said:
Had a 1989 964 c4 cab and later a 996 x50 turbo .
Vantage is very different both in performance and handling to the 996 t .
I feel the Porsche’s are better developed in the way that German car will be but the Aston has more “soul” . Reflecting on what others have said about TVR’s , I suppose the vantage is a sophisticated version of those ?
Funnily enough, I had a rare TVR 450 SEAC before I bought the 964. 'More sophisticated" would be good - it did almost as many miles on a low-loader as it did under its own steam! I exaggerate but there was always some niggle needing attention...Vantage is very different both in performance and handling to the 996 t .
I feel the Porsche’s are better developed in the way that German car will be but the Aston has more “soul” . Reflecting on what others have said about TVR’s , I suppose the vantage is a sophisticated version of those ?
thesmithsUK said:
I'm considering a change from a 911 to a V8V.
I have a 1990 964 C4 Cab and a 2004 996 C4S Coupe. It's probably the C4S that I'd look to trade.
Any buyer's remorse from owners that made a similar change?
Anyone thinking of changing back?!
Hi thesmithsUKI have a 1990 964 C4 Cab and a 2004 996 C4S Coupe. It's probably the C4S that I'd look to trade.
Any buyer's remorse from owners that made a similar change?
Anyone thinking of changing back?!
Like the other posters here I have made the same move too. I owned three 911s all bought new in a six year period. 1999 996 C4, 2002 996 C4S, 2005 997 C2S. Ironically it was the later car that just didn’t hit the spot with me. Maybe the lack of weight over the front axle, but whatever it was, after test driving a V8V, I decided to make the change. Ordered a new one and picked it up in March 2007. It ended up being the car that I owned for the longest amount of time in my life. Made the mistake of test driving a V12V a couple of times during my ownership of the V8V, and I found a 18 month old example with low miles in late 2013. Took delivery of the V12V in Jan 2014 and I still have it now. Some may say it’s not as well built or as well equipped but I have never had any regrets and do not expect to be back in a Porsche any time soon. The looks, the sound, the interior.......all different league!
Go for it!
Best Regards
Minglar
I have a 2017 911 turbo , and a vantage V12SR manual
Even though the Porsche is 6 months newer than the Aston , the Aston has done twice as many miles !!
Why ? , it is just a more enjoyable and characteristic car to drive
Quality in Porsche is far far better than Aston , equipment in Porsche far superior to Aston , you can drive the Porsche much faster than the Aston in ALL conditions , but despite all those positives over the vantage , it still doesn’t give you the smile you get after a drive out to nowhere and back . Nor does it give you the buzzing ears :-)
If I had to give up one of them , I am afraid it would be the Porsche
Even though the Porsche is 6 months newer than the Aston , the Aston has done twice as many miles !!
Why ? , it is just a more enjoyable and characteristic car to drive
Quality in Porsche is far far better than Aston , equipment in Porsche far superior to Aston , you can drive the Porsche much faster than the Aston in ALL conditions , but despite all those positives over the vantage , it still doesn’t give you the smile you get after a drive out to nowhere and back . Nor does it give you the buzzing ears :-)
If I had to give up one of them , I am afraid it would be the Porsche
Minglar said:
Hi thesmithsUK
Like the other posters here I have made the same move too. I owned three 911s all bought new in a six year period. 1999 996 C4, 2002 996 C4S, 2005 997 C2S. Ironically it was the later car that just didn’t hit the spot with me. Maybe the lack of weight over the front axle, but whatever it was, after test driving a V8V, I decided to make the change. Ordered a new one and picked it up in March 2007. It ended up being the car that I owned for the longest amount of time in my life. Made the mistake of test driving a V12V a couple of times during my ownership of the V8V, and I found a 18 month old example with low miles in late 2013. Took delivery of the V12V in Jan 2014 and I still have it now. Some may say it’s not as well built or as well equipped but I have never had any regrets and do not expect to be back in a Porsche any time soon. The looks, the sound, the interior.......all different league!
Go for it!
Best Regards
Minglar
People seem to love this “not as well built as a Porsche” nonsense. As a serial Lotus owner, couldn’t care. Lotus and Aston are special to me, I would never look twice at a Porsche of any variety..........Like the other posters here I have made the same move too. I owned three 911s all bought new in a six year period. 1999 996 C4, 2002 996 C4S, 2005 997 C2S. Ironically it was the later car that just didn’t hit the spot with me. Maybe the lack of weight over the front axle, but whatever it was, after test driving a V8V, I decided to make the change. Ordered a new one and picked it up in March 2007. It ended up being the car that I owned for the longest amount of time in my life. Made the mistake of test driving a V12V a couple of times during my ownership of the V8V, and I found a 18 month old example with low miles in late 2013. Took delivery of the V12V in Jan 2014 and I still have it now. Some may say it’s not as well built or as well equipped but I have never had any regrets and do not expect to be back in a Porsche any time soon. The looks, the sound, the interior.......all different league!
Go for it!
Best Regards
Minglar
[quote=Ikobo]
People seem to love this “not as well built as a Porsche” nonsense. As a serial Lotus owner, couldn’t care. Lotus and Aston are special to me, I would never look twice at a Porsche of any variety..........[/quote
As an s1 elise owner as well as the Vantage I would agree they are special .
A manufacturer producing =/- 5000 cars pa, however , will never have the development resources of one producing , very very profitably , 200000 (?) p.a. and as such is unlikely to produce as well built cars .
Just because you don't care does mean it isn't true
People seem to love this “not as well built as a Porsche” nonsense. As a serial Lotus owner, couldn’t care. Lotus and Aston are special to me, I would never look twice at a Porsche of any variety..........[/quote
As an s1 elise owner as well as the Vantage I would agree they are special .
A manufacturer producing =/- 5000 cars pa, however , will never have the development resources of one producing , very very profitably , 200000 (?) p.a. and as such is unlikely to produce as well built cars .
Just because you don't care does mean it isn't true
thesmithsUK said:
davek_964 said:
I went 996 turbo to V8V almost 3 years ago.
I can honestly say I've never regretted it for a single second.
Yes, I followed your 'V8 Vantage - what's it really like?' thread. Very helpful...I can honestly say I've never regretted it for a single second.
I came to Aston via Porsche, a Cayman S in my case. Same interior, engine, gearbox all that as the contemporary 911 just in a different order! I have to say the overall build quality of the Aston I am finding much better and satisfying than the Porsche. Porsche is a posh sports car. AMG (my other keeper) is fast luxury. Aston, a gentleman's express (or Lady's express!).
My Gen 1 Cayman came with all sorts of fun and games (corrosion of steel contacting aluminium in the coolant hoses (I mean REALLY? what sort of engineering is that?), a/c that has corroded out at the front condensers, leaking main seal and IMS leak too) so the presumption that German = total brilliance in build quality and reliability is a bit lost on me. The battery also went flat every 3 weeks... Loved it, great track car, easy to drive and a hoot. Got it sorted but then wanted.... more! And I got it.
The Aston has much more complexity in emotion. It's just so cool, the engine is magnificent and the interior pure class, beauty on 4 wheels. Build quality? Handmade (by robots) NOT homemade. Handling sublime - accurate, quick, foot-balancing. I've yet to experience it going properly fast but if it get s a bit soft on the edge, what the heck? A gentleman's express!
If you value these things, go for it.
My Gen 1 Cayman came with all sorts of fun and games (corrosion of steel contacting aluminium in the coolant hoses (I mean REALLY? what sort of engineering is that?), a/c that has corroded out at the front condensers, leaking main seal and IMS leak too) so the presumption that German = total brilliance in build quality and reliability is a bit lost on me. The battery also went flat every 3 weeks... Loved it, great track car, easy to drive and a hoot. Got it sorted but then wanted.... more! And I got it.
The Aston has much more complexity in emotion. It's just so cool, the engine is magnificent and the interior pure class, beauty on 4 wheels. Build quality? Handmade (by robots) NOT homemade. Handling sublime - accurate, quick, foot-balancing. I've yet to experience it going properly fast but if it get s a bit soft on the edge, what the heck? A gentleman's express!
If you value these things, go for it.
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