Aston? Ugly Pork? Prettier Pork? ... in London

[rossyl]

Hi Again

Firstly thanks to all who contributed to my thread about being tired of the Aston in London.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

It's led me to these thoughts...

I realise
- I'm precious about the Aston. Concerned it'll get bumped or scraped by bad drivers or bad parking.
- I'm aware that it's a good time to sell it and driving it will put it into a different mileage bracket and drop the price.
- It's an expensive car to run, insurance, servicing and parts wise.
- But i love the Aston, its looks, interior and noise

The Aston is worth about £38k.

Audi R8

The original plan was an Audi R8 V8, but I wondered about putting more money into the car, for it to just sit outside. I did think the R8 looks and drives brilliantly. The legs were very much stretched on the test drive and it really inspires confidence, is well built and grips the road very well.

However, I am likely to run into the same issues as I've set out above.

Cheaper Car?

So, I thought maybe I should get something much cheaper, will hold value but is still a little exotic.

Porsche 996 C2

Those are less than half the price of the Aston. But, it's a bit of an ugly Pork. The interior is very dated. The front end I've never liked.

Am I answering my own question?

But, I would not be anywhere near as precious about it. It would owe me little and has already reached the bottom of its depreciation curve.

However, the RMS and IMS could prove costly if I was unlucky.

A Prettier Pork?

The 996 C4S starts around £25k. It therefore offers not much in the saving money stakes. Looks great on the outside but remains dated inside. Great car though. However, I'll probably care about it.

997.1 3.6 or 3.8?
Probably about £20k. I think it's a much nicer car all round.
But, bit concerned about the engines which seem to be quite unreliable. Which is better 3.6 or 3.8?

997.2
This is straying into £25k.

Or
Just use the Aston, lose some money and try and be less precious?
Or, spend the money on the R8?

Thanks very much. I'm pretty lost on all of this, but I'd greatly appreciate your views.

[will_]

What about something at the cheaper end of the market, which is still fun but doesn't cost as much to run, and which you don't need to be precious about?

GT86? 370Z?

[Cactussed]

Sell the Aston.
Buy this.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Pocket the change and just leave this as looking filthy / well abused.

Job done.

[Turbotechnic]

Keep the Aston and make more time for it and enjoy it.

[CS Garth]

I think many of your concerns re the Aston will be replicated by these cars as they are equally high profile.

Regardless I would personally seek out a 997.2 to remove IMS issues. Some will say get an earlier car with it done but I think the .2 is a considerably more modern place to be than a 996 and there are fewer around than a 997.1 due to the financial crisis so I suspect values will hold up better.

NB they also have 2 year service intervals and service costs are reaonsable for this type of car in my view

[Cactussed]

370Z is also a good shout.
They cost relative buttons and have all the pace of the Aston with similar dynamic feel and drive.

[anonymous-user]

I think only you can answer the question. Personally, if I was in that position in London, I'd keep the Aston - it won't lose money (or much money). It sounds like you want a change anyway though, but I'd keep it..that's just me though.

[culpz]

I'd say that you can't go much wrong with a Porsche. They blend in much better, especially in London, and don't seem to attract much negative or unwanted attention. However, your mindset of being very precious of you Aston will probably translate to the Porker, or any decent car, for that matter.

[Big E 118]

I have a V8 Vantage S Roadster at the moment, preceded by a 997.2 GTS and a V10 R8, here are my thoughts.

Aston certainly feels and looks special and is noticed, good to drive on open roads but not great in traffic. Interior although dated is a nice place to be. The car has character.

The 911 is a better car all round, a great handing sports car, reliable, nice but functional interior and will sit in traffic or blast up your favourite mountain pass without blinking an eye. Also cheaper to maintain and better residuals. No one notices a 911 (even modified like mine was) and to me it was so good and accomplished it was a bit dull although I enjoyed my time with it. I'll certainly have another at some point but I'm in no hurry.

My R8 was a lovely looking thing and had a wonderful, characterful V10. It was very fast and it's level of grip was way past my level of skill or bravery. It was reliable although I found Audi dealerships were useless.The cabin is dull, I had extended leather and contrast stitching etc but it looked like an A4 cabin to me. It just didn't get under my skin like the 911 and Aston.

[Shaoxter]

R8: exactly the same issues as the Aston, if not worse.
996/997.1: wouldn't risk it at the £25k mark, if you could still get cheap 996s for £10k then that might have been a good choice but those are gone now.
997.2: I'm biased but it's the sweet spot imo, in terms of useability, moderness, being great in town and on an open road. I'd be happy to show you around!

[rossyl]

I do love the R8...but you are right.

Wow the more I read about the Porsche the worse it gets. I've never heard of a modern car requiring so many rebuilds, replacements etc. How on earth does a Porsche maintain the public's view that it is a bulletproof everyday sports car?

[rossyl]

Cactussed said:

Sell the Aston.
Buy this.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Pocket the change and just leave this as looking filthy / well abused.

Job done.

That is a not bad idea.

Car has to sit outside all the time. So always a bit concerned abou Lotus'. This is quite nice.

[culpz]

rossyl said:

I do love the R8...but you are right.

Wow the more I read about the Porsche the worse it gets. I've never heard of a modern car requiring so many rebuilds, replacements etc. How on earth does a Porsche maintain the public's view that it is a bulletproof everyday sports car?

It is pretty shocking. However, the 997.2 should solve most of your problems.

[rossyl]

After all of this...I'm thinking of getting an R8! But then i think, get the 911 996. It so much cheaper. But then I think, god the 996 is ugly. Then i think, ok, get the 997. But then I think, but the engine is made of fudge. Get the 997.2. But then i think, if I'm spending that much, I might as well keep the Aston. Which leads me to thinking, well, if i'm going to keep all that money in the car with the Aston, I might as well put some more cash in and buy an R8.

Then i realise my head hurts!!

[Hungrymc]

Trouble is, I think any of those cars will drive better than the Aston.

The Aston is the prettiest car on the road by some margin (In my view anyway). But even a 996 Is more of a drivers car. The Aston works much better as a GT than a sports car... And it’s utterly beautiful of course.

If beauty is the most important thing, keep the Aston, if you want something that tempts you to get up early and go for a drive for the hell of it, I don’t think that the Aston works.

[CS Garth]

This reminds me of a book I read my children called a Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson

[Harry Flashman]

rossyl said:

Cactussed said:

Sell the Aston.
Buy this.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Pocket the change and just leave this as looking filthy / well abused.

Job done.

That is a not bad idea.

Car has to sit outside all the time. So always a bit concerned abou Lotus'. This is quite nice.

I went through the same thought process as you a year ago, kept the Aston, but the Z4M was on the list.

As we're having a kid, I am having to do the same thing. Choice is really for a fast estate of some description, as I only want to run one car in addition to the older classics.

I'd look at the V8 M3. I have access to a DCT equipped convertible owned by a friend, and it's a great car, if rather anonymous.

[SidewaysSi]

I said it on the other thread but test drive an Elise. Won't have the cabin quality of the others (though the 996 is hardly great) but will have steering, damping and handling that the others can't match.

There is a car for every budget from around £12-50k. Do some trackdays, do some Sunday morning drives and you will love it.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look at the 370Z Nismo, they're a good drivers car they won't cost you world to maintain & a drive in one will let you know that they're a true drivers car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...