Comparison: V12S AMR vs GT8

[CheckSix]

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

For those that have driven or owned both the V12S AMR and GT8... which would you have and why?

Dream is to win lotto and buy the V12 V600 of course... besides that, what other manual car out there that can compete with these two?

Cheers

[guitaralmond]

I’ve had a V12S and a GT8, although no AMR, mechanically the V12S and AMR are the same car underneath. There is absolutely no comparison, the GT8’s feel and involvement is in another league. Even though the V12 is the desirable one for power the GT8 noise is much better as well, in isolation when driving it feels pretty quick, it’s only in comparisons on the road you realise that it isn’t, but for your own enjoyment that doesn’t matter. Buy another supercar if you want speed, I don’t think there is single GT8 owner that has anything less than a 2 or 3 car garage.

The proof is in the pudding, a few GT8 owners have had specifically the V12 AMR cars at the same time, every one of them prefers the GT8.

[kizzz]

I was in the same predicament in deciding between the gt8 and V12 AMR.

In the end I chose the AMR because:

1) It's a V12 there aren't many V12 sports cars about. Only Ferraris which are more on the GT side.

2) There are better V8 sports cars out there than a gt8.

3) GT8 is pretty slow by today's supercar standards. The V12 AMR is just about acceptable.

4) Everyone has heard a loud V8 car but loud V12s especially with the titanium exhausts are a lot rarer.

5) It won't be long before the na V12 is dead so get it while you can.

[silverspeed]

V12 AMR is really a narrow bodied GT12 with a manual box option - same power etc etc and added benefit of being available as a Roadster ( appreciate there were 2 GT12R s ) . I wouldn’t swap mine for a GT8 however I would, if funds allowed , put one at the side because it’s a different proposition which looks and sounds amazing ............but it isn’t a V12 .

[cayman-black]

cant answer between those two however if you were considering a GT8 surely you should also look at a Porsche GT3RS or GT3 if it had to be manual.

[AdamV12AMR]

Like so often with these kinds of questions, it's often a case of people backing up their own decisions / experience!

My username will give away my own bias, but I have spent time in the seat of a GT8 and it's a phenomenal car.

Ultimately, it comes down to how and when you'd use the car. As guitaralmond notes, I'm sure for many GT8 owners it's amongst a stable of cars (and at the more extreme end) and therefore they have other options for when the need suits.

For me, as well as the arguments above of the na/V12/manual combo, the AMR is my only sportscar. So it needs to get in and out of a sloped drive, be comfortable on long Autoroute cruises as much as back-road hooning / track work and I also like that it's a little more anonymous (mine is grey, not halo) than the more our-there GT8. Oh, and I love a drop-top...!

In an ideal world, I'd have a Vanquish S Volante and a GT8. The V12 AMR is the best middle-ground I could think of...

Edited by AdamV12AMR on Thursday 4th July 14:12

[alscar]

I've owned my manual GT8 for 2 years from new ,my automated manual V12S ,4 years from new and have only just sold my manual GT3 ( 997.2) which I'd again owned from new for 9 years.
I use the V12 as a nearly daily and that has Quicksilver pipes replacing the secondary cats - its noisy and great to drive and am perfectly happy taking it on hoons and the like as well as nice Country hotels.
The GT8 is pure theatre and the noise whilst obviously different is just ridiculous ( in a good way ) -yes its not the fastest but that matters not.
The owners club is also tremendous with some great people involved.
In direct comparison to driving the GT3 I would say in weekend fun not much in it although I felt much more special in the 8.The 3 was quicker on twisty roads but in the real world not so much that it ever bothered me.
Not sure either of your two would be a bad choice.

[RobDown]

I had a V12 AMR Roadster manual and a GT8. As you can probably tell from that statement, when it came to sell one to make space in the garage for a new Aston it was the V12 AMR that went (and really without hesitation).

But it’s not as simple as “one is better than the other”. I was more personally invested in the GT8 (it was a 1 of 1 spec whereas my AMR was in the now ubiquitous green/lime halo). So maybe more objectively:

1. The GT8 is more agile. I know everyone raves about the V12 engine, but it comes at a cost, I’ve owned four v12 engined Aston Martin’s and what they have in power they lose in weight over the nose (the engine is heavy and pushed forwards)

2. The GT8 sound is to die for. Particularly when you get a group of them together (as we frequently do). It’s real theatre- don’t use it as a daily driver!

3. The GT8 owners group is excellent

4. My suspicion is that they will hold their value better over time. I don’t really buy into the “last of the N/A V12” thing. I get the feeling that’s only a few of us on here who might care about it

5. Major downside! It’s too loud for track days (unless you find one with no limits which is rare)

V12AMR

1. Jeez it’s fast. I don’t care if on paper a McLaren can sprint from the traffic lights faster. The V12 AMR has as much acceleration as you’re ever going to need outside of a track

2. It sounds great. 9/10ths of a GT8. You’re not going to be disappointed. It’s like aiming for Scarlett Johannson and having to settle for Keira Knightly- you’re not really going to complain

3. It’s got an excellent owners group

4. It feels special, it’s an Aston Martin

I really would have liked to have kept both, the man-maths was in over-drive

You can drive them back to back. But I suspect all that will do is make you think V12 vs V8. What you really need to think about is what you’re going to use it for. If it’s meant to be used regularly/daily don’t buy a GT8. But if you’re going to be using the car on special occasions, the sun comes out and you’ve got some twisty B-Roads that need driving, buy the GT8 (that’s why, as Alex says above many GT8 owners have other cars as well).

Whichever you do buy- join the owners go - it massively adds to the fun!!

[AdamV12AMR]

RobDown said:

My suspicion is that they will hold their value better over time.

I agree. It's also the most closely related roadcar to the GTE-Pro winning car of 2017. No bad thing.

RobDown said:

I don’t really buy into the “last of the N/A V12” thing. I get the feeling that’s only a few of us on here who might care about it

For God's sake don't talk to my wife.

[jonby]

Some very interesting & informed comments there

Of course the one thing GT8 can't do is drop it's roof :-) Which is important to some, less so to others

[CheckSix]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

I felt that the V12 AMR is not really very good on the track but great on daily commute. Don’t get me wrong I’m not any good, but I do feel the weight on track.

I didn’t know the GT8 was louder! Isn’t it the same titanium exhaust system? Wow I need to hear the difference myself!

I think the GT3RS is definitely better than any Vantage for track use; and if the comments are anything to go by, I should be happy sticking with the V12 AMR for daily use.

Much appreciated... saved me some man maths

[cayman-black]

jonby said:

Some very interesting & informed comments there

Of course the one thing GT8 can't do is drop it's roof :-) Which is important to some, less so to others

lol, its a positive for me as i hate drop tops.